SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT–Drees Build on Your Lot

Production Versus Custom Building—With Drees, Buyers Now Can Enjoy Benefits of Both

There are pros and cons in building with a “production” builder versus a custom builder. The Drees Build on Your Lot program was started in 2007 to offer client the best of both worlds.

Build on Your Lot means buyers can now build a new home with Drees outside its existing Drees communities—on land they already own, in custom communities or in infill neighborhoods. The custom home program was rolled in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2010, joining a network that now includes Build on Your Lot divisions in Austin, Houston, greater Cincinnati, greater Cleveland, Indianapolis, Nashville, and Raleigh.

So what has made buyers in the Park Cities and Hockaday Estates areas of Dallas, and established West Fort Worth and Las Colinas neighborhoods decide to build custom homes with Drees?

Tried and True Plans Ready To Go

Behind the scenes of every major national builder is a team of experienced designers who have designed a library of floorplans that have been tried and tested.  Production builders know which plans are best-sellers and exactly why that is so.  This also means that any flaws that might arise with a new plan have already been worked out.  The Drees Build on Your Lot division of Drees offers award-winning floor plans in DFW, priced from the $380s to over $1M (not including the price of the lot).  Their buyers enjoy the flexibility to modify the plan, add options and choose from a wide variety of interior and exterior finishes—all in less time and at a fraction of the cost of starting from scratch with a custom designed and built home.  A plan that has already cleared approval by local building authorities can also mean getting a building permit is faster and easier.

Processes Designed To Save Time and Money, Avoid Mistakes and Surprises

Buyers benefit from the well-defined processes and buying power that a national builder brings to the table. Potential buyers can visit a Drees model home to explore floor plans in person. They can also use the Interactive Floor Plan tool on dreehomes.com to select a plan and review options.  The interactive tool allows them to make notes, place furniture, add outlets and lights, and personalize selections from a vast array of pre-priced options.  Before making a final decision about which plan best suits their needs, they can usually visit a model home with a similar design.

Next, Build on Your Lot clients are scheduled for two four-hour sessions with the expert Drees Design Consultants at the one-stop Design Center. The Drees team will guide buyers through the selections process.  In DFW, the center is centrally located just off State Hwy 161 in Irving.  Drees Design Consultants are equally experienced as the floorplan designers; having a pulse on the latest styles and products and evaluating their long-term staying-power is vital in the world of production building.  The staff at the Design Center also includes home technology experts versed at working with clients to determine their wiring and home tech needs.  Build on Your Lot clients can not only make all their selections under one roof, but also benefit from Drees’ volume pricing discounts that are passed along to them.

Firm Contract Pricing

 Whether the client already owns a lot or needs help finding a site on which to build the home they have designed, guidance and support from an experienced team is available to them every step of the way.  Drees provides free site analysis to evaluate what improvements a home site might need, such as tree clearing, utilities and grading. Drees also buys the lot so buyers don’t have to take on a second loan, and finances construction so buyers don’t need a construction loan.

A final step in the design process is a meeting held at the home site, where the builder and client review all site features and address any concerns involved with starting construction.  Then, clients meet for a final plan review with their builder. The process of making changes to the plan and making all selections before ground breaks means that contract pricing is firm.  There are no surprises.

Permits are applied for and issued, and construction begins.  The process is efficient and concise.  Clients are scheduled for a Pre-Drywall Review to be assured that their home is being built just as they ordered it and address any questions they have prior to drywall being placed.  Then, about eight days before closing, a warranty representative will inspect the home to ensure all construction items are complete.  Just before closing, clients meet their warranty representative who provides them details about the  10-year Transferrable Structural Warranty Drees provides on every home, demonstrates how to use the various home systems, and offers tips on how to maintain their home.

Tim Brown, General Manager of Build on Your Lot at Drees Custom Homes in DFW says they have completed over 50 of On Your Lot homes locally since the launch of the program and anticipates to complete about 20 in 2021.   Brown heads the DFW team which also includes Market Manager, Tonya McNair, who manages Drees’ custom projects in Dallas, Rockwall, and Collin counties and Market Manager Maureen Farris who oversees Tarrant, Parker and Denton counties.  Brown says Drees’ activity is not limited to these counties.  The custom home division is poised to build in the surrounding growth areas in response to demand.

“Most builders are good at one or two things, but at Drees we have a reputation for doing it all, be it quality construction, stylish design customer service or financial savvy,” said Brown, noting that Drees consistently receives both national and regional industry recognition for quality and excellence in construction, business and sales practices.  “This has translated well in growing our custom divisions across the country, and DFW is poised to be a huge contributor to its success.”

Life On The Estate

Life On The Site

Life On The Set

Life With A Twist

About The Savvy List