ARH Custom Homes, LLC

I think it is important to get to know my clients and find out their goals and purpose for building a home.  What factors are driving the idea of building a custom home instead of a buying existing home and what are their dream design features versus the necessities.  From this conversation, I am able to mold the process around the client's needs.  I have built a lot of homes, for many types of personalities and many budget ranges.  I feel I can best serve that wide array of clients by adjusting my process around them rather than try to have them fit into a rigid process that can add unneeded stress to an exciting life event.  

Like many in the trades, most of my construction-related education has been hands on training.  Nothing better prepares a person for building a custom home for someone than practical experience. 

I have been building homes for over twenty years, but thinking about the building industry since I was a kid.  I remember clear back in elementary classes, I would draw floor plans between assignments.  I have always had a joy for homes and the desire to be the person people look to when they want to create their family home.

I don't have a standard pricing system.  Much like the custom process I create for each client, my pricing is job specific as well.  I do not charge as much for a smaller home on a flat lot as I do for a larger home on a sloped lot.  I basically look at what my time commitment will be based on the level of difficulty and price my time accordingly.  

I typically like to use a flat fee approach to my contracts and avoid adding additional upcharges to Change Orders.  I feel it simplifies things and creates a more trusting relationship between the client and myself.  It has always felt awkward to me that a builder could make more money in fees if the cost of the build increased.  Seems like salt in the wound to me.  But, again, I am negotiable if my client has specific needs or concerns. 

I touched on this earlier in my profile, but I have wanted to be an architect and builder since I was a kid.  It was either that or a major league baseball player and I came up just short in that goal.  I worked construction jobs between college semesters and then in the baseball off-seasons.  Once my baseball dream was in the rearview mirror, I set my sights on building homes.  I quickly got a job as a site supervisor assistant that I parlayed into a full-time site supervisor.  I have been building homes ever since.   

I have worked with all types of clients.  You name it.  I am non-discriminatory in who I will work with on a build.  I respect and support individuality.  

This is a little vague, but I love move-in day.  Handing over the keys to a person(s) is greatly satisfying.  Often, a home I build specifically for a client is the realization of a lifetime goal for my client.  It is great to play a role in that achievement.

Be wary of the bait and switch.  Make sure they are being real about what things cost.  It is far too common for a custom builder to suggest one price up front and then provide different numbers when you become responsible for writing checks.  Construction costs are mostly driven by market prices, so question someone that comes in the lowest on the hard costs.  Put more weight in feeling comfortable with who you are working with and their total fee at the end.  You are going to spend a lot of time together and it can be a stressful process.  It takes someone you can trust to manage the budgets and your emotional well-being as much as the construction.  

Here is a list of a few questions:

-The main question is to ask oneself what you can afford to spend.  Talk to a construction loan lender, they have different lending practices than standard mortgages.  See what amount fits in to your financial plan.

-What is a necessity and what is a "want"?  Sometimes, considerations need to be made to fit a particular budget.

-What is more important, investment or your style?  Pink houses and bird wallpaper can be tough to re-sell.

-Do I want to be hands on or hands off?  The amount of flexibility you have in your work schedule can sometimes make this decision for you.  If you can't be flexible during working hours, plan on hands off, and try to have a clear path of construction before a shovel goes in the ground.

-How do I find property?  Find a realtor that specializes in land acquistion.  It is also very helpful to engage in a relationship with a builder that can assess the property prior to purchase.  Sometimes there are hidden costs that you should lean on your builder to identify for you.

-Why haven't I called Roy Miller from ARH Custom Homes, yet?  That is a great question.  I look forward to hearing from you.