Golf1 said:
Not trying to change the subject of the thread but has anyone used Tilson Homes? I am kind of in the same spot as OP about possibly building and don't want to go through the work just to get quoted $250+ / sqft. I had someone tell me about Tilson and I like I can see a ball park area of the cost in Burleson county and it isn't $200 sq/ft but obviously that number can change.
This isn't in regards to Tilson, specifically, I don't know anything about them. But I do think the builders that do semicustom/spec homes get an unwarranted bad rap. In my experience, most people should not go true custom.
For example, I have some family going through it now. There are just things they don't think about and would kind of expect an architect to plan around, but they don't, or at least their architect didn't. There many things they had to suck up and deal with during the building process or spend the money to make changes and try to get permits approved, etc. Just stuff I know about...master bedroom windows didn't really allow for a wall to have the headboard of the bed, they had to delete one window then spread the other two out so they were on either side of the bed, similar for outlets and where they were in relation to the beds and in the living room and where the couch would be, end tables, lamps, etc., they are
very unhappy with the sizes of their kids rooms, a window in their kids' bathroom being too low and realizing the neighbors have a perfect view into their shower, etc.
Now, sure, these are things they maybe should have recognized when going through the designs. But not once did anyone else say anything about them either...Never a "hey, these bedrooms are on the really small side, you sure that's what you want?"
I feel like if you have a good spec/semi custom builder it's the best of both worlds. They have spec homes and keep building them because they work. They're lived in and are adjusted accordingly. And you aren't having to pay an architect $15k to do your custom plans either.
Now, there are obviously exceptions to this. Some people know exactly what they want, they want a huge kitchen, dining space because they host large gatherings every month, etc.
