23
I finally picked a custom builder that was more expensive but way slower
Every forum thread I read said to go with the cheaper timeline and get the fastest build possible. But I had a bad feeling about one of those high speed crews after visiting their last project. So I went with a small builder who quoted $85 per square foot and said it would take 10 months instead of 6. They spent 3 extra weeks just on the foundation prep and it drove me crazy at first. But now that we are done, I have zero cracks in the drywall and the floors are dead level. Has anyone else gone against the popular advice and picked the slower option?
4 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In4 Comments
jana_hernandez1mo ago
I mean the whole "faster is always better" thing is such a trap. The part where you said they spent 3 extra weeks on foundation prep really got me. That's the kind of stuff you can't see after the walls go up, but it's what makes a house last. I really think most people just look at the timeline and price tag without thinking about what those shortcuts actually cost down the road. You can't un-crack a wall or un-settle a floor. So yeah, I'm totally with you on this one.
2
hayden5871mo ago
Oh man, @jana_hernandez you nailed it with that "can't un-crack a wall" line. I had a similar thing happen with my place actually. The contractor kept telling me they could save two weeks by skipping extra drainage work, but I pushed them to do it anyway. And now three years later, the neighbors who went with the faster build are dealing with water pooling in their crawl space. It's wild how much of that invisible stuff really matters down the line. People just don't get that you're paying for peace of mind as much as the actual work. My place was more expensive and took longer, but I sleep a lot better knowing it's built right.
4
ryan_clark401mo ago
We did something similar with our kitchen renovation a few years back. The contractor wanted to rush the subfloor leveling to save a week, but I insisted we do it right. Ended up adding about 10 days and some extra cost, but those floors are still dead flat after five years. My brother in law took the cheap route with his house and now has a noticeable slope in his dining room. You can't fix that without tearing everything out. Slow and steady really does win the race when it comes to building.
4