How to Build a Custom Luxury Home in San Diego
What is a Custom Luxury Home?
At Buildable, we help you design and build custom luxury homes. What makes a custom home “luxury”? We can argue that every custom home we build is luxury, but there are certain features that will set your home apart in terms of comfort and elegance. While there’s no one feature that will make a home “luxury,” a custom luxury home is the culmination of an elegant thoughtful design, high-end materials, and expert construction. When looking for luxury home builders in San Diego, many people choose Buildable because of our attention to detail and the quality that we deliver. Some luxury features can be expensive, we pride ourselves on our ability to guide our customers towards the investments that will maximize the value of their custom build. Variables that may factor into a luxury custom home build may include considerations in regard to:
Architectural style
Exterior doors & glass
Electrical system choices
Millwork
Fixtures & appliance choices
Architectural Style
When it comes to designing your custom home, there are a variety of styles to choose from at various price points. The basic custom home style in San Diego is what we would call a traditional stucco home. More intricate style homes would include Tuscan and Modern, these style homes utilize ornate textures, custom architectural features, and complicated structural plans. These features will impact the overall cost of the build based on the structural engineering, labor, and materials required.
Exterior Doors & Glass
For exterior windows and doors, luxury features can include floor-to-ceiling windows, pivot doors, and movable wall systems (such as pocketable doors to the exterior). These features go above and beyond to give the owner a feeling of luxury. It is important to keep in mind that a standard front door can cost a few thousand dollars. If you choose to upgrade to a custom Pivot door, that number can be 5-10x the standard cost. You might feel the difference of the custom door when living in the home, however, it’s always essential to plan out what custom features are most important to you.
Electrical System
There is a huge range of potential luxury features when it comes to a “luxury level” electrical system, including home automation, streaming audio, lighting scenes, climate control, security, and beyond. There are also many different brands to choose from, from DIY automation to the more reliable Lutron and Crestron systems. However, when planning your luxury home construction, it’s important to consider that there are major differences in the cost for installation for a standard build versus a fully automated system. Costs can vary wildly due to the number, type, and complexity of switches and installation requirements.
Millwork
Some of the most noticeable differences between custom luxury homes and more standard builds will be custom doors, millwork (design and trim), and custom cabinetry. Custom luxury home builders like Buildable can help you showcase different materials and design approaches to create a home with finer details, make it more comfortable to live in, and impress your guests.
Fixtures and Appliances
Another way to upgrade your custom home from standard or high-end to luxury is with quality built-in appliances. For the home cook who wants everything, Buildable can help guide you to products to create a professional-grade kitchen in your home. Or, if relaxation is your priority, you can set up your suite with a top-of-the-line shower and tub system, complete with digital thermostatic valves. However, there may be additional costs associated with installing these devices, in addition to the price of the material itself. For instance, luxury kitchen appliances often require custom cabinetry to fit them into your space. The cost of plumbing is another consideration when it comes to installing different luxury features. So, when making these decisions, it’s important to prioritize what aspects of your home are the most important to your lifestyle and family.
How Much Does a Custom Luxury Home Cost in San Diego?
At Buildable, we estimate that a standard custom home will cost around $400 - $500 per square foot as an all-in cost, including soft costs (design, municipal permits, reports, etc.) and hard costs (building materials, labor, grading etc.). The lower end of the range will be comparable to a high-end tract home or one similar in complexity to some of the larger developments you’ll find around the San Diego area. Meanwhile, the higher end of the range will have more of the fixtures, finishes, and features described above, but not all of them. When building a custom home, the biggest driver of cost will be the design of your home. This cost encompasses more than just the home’s exterior, it also includes the features, fixtures, and finishes you select. Below, please find this price breakdown of the different types of custom homes:
Custom Luxury Home: The construction cost per square foot for a custom luxury home in San Diego with high-quality material specifications (including the floor, walls, ceiling and roof, internal fixtures, and features) can be delivered at an average of $600-1000 per sq. ft., or more depending on approach.
Custom Semi-Luxury Home: The construction cost per square foot for a high-end custom home in San Diego with a few luxury upgrades can start between $450 and $500 per sq. ft. or more.
Custom Standard Home: The construction cost per square foot for a beautiful standard custom home in San Diego can start at $400 per sq. ft..
As you increase your price range, you’ll be able to include more luxury home features like the ones outlined above. A luxury home can be built on any lot, but it is important to keep in mind that you do not want to overbuild your home in a particular area. This issue can cause problems with bank assessments for investment and construction loans.
The key value that Buildable can offer is a higher level of transparency in how much everything will cost. During our onboarding process, we have our clients share design inspiration with us so that we can align our expectations. Once we know what you’re looking for, we will help you create a budget and plan a build that will give you everything you want in your custom luxury home without breaking the bank. One of the easier ways pack more luxury features into a home while maintaining a budget is to reduce the square footage to support the addition of those features.
Wondering how much your custom home will cost? Get a free estimate with our land/build calculator.
What is the Process for Building a Custom Luxury Home in San Diego?
At Buildable, we make building a custom luxury home easy. Our team of experts will manage the project from start to finish, ensuring that we maximize the value of your home and deliver exactly what you are looking for at your price point. We take the guesswork and risk out of your custom home build by working with you to align your vision with your budget and provide you with all the information you need to make informed decisions when it comes to your home. Below is an overview of the typical process for building a custom luxury home:
Determine your vision: The first step in this process is to develop your vision of your dream home with a high level of detail. This task includes your all-in budget, size of home, area you want to live, and your must-have features. This is how you will describe what you’re looking for to potential building partners so they understand what your goals are and can align with you on expectations.
Assemble your team: To make your vision a reality, you will need a land realtor, a home builder, and an A-licensed general engineering contractor. This is your team, who will help keep you on track and navigate the process of luxury home construction. If you choose to work with Buildable, we will provide all expert members of your team, so you will know you’re in good hands
Find land: Once you have a vision for your custom home, you will first need to work with a real estate agent to find potential lots in your area that will allow you to execute your vision. A real estate agent who specializes in land sales can help guide you to a lot with all the features your build requires and that fits your budget.
Determine the feasibility of the land: Each potential lot that you’re considering for your custom home will need to be evaluated with your vision in mind. Some lots may not be feasible for everything you want to build into your home, so working with an A-licensed contractor, civil engineer, or land consultant to complete these checks is crucial. You will need all of these trades to work together during this phase, which can be complicated for most people. At Buildable, we employ all the experts you need for a custom home build, so we’ve got this issue covered.
Design your home: When designing your custom luxury home, it’s important to work with a designer who understands your taste and vision. Buildable can help you find the right designer to execute your vision, and make sure the design aligns with your overall budget. At Buildable, we have the ability to find, negotiate, and connect you with the right designer to bring your dream home to life. While we are not a design-build company, our builder will be present at all design meetings to make sure everything is on track. This way you get all the perks of design-build, but with the freedom to choose from any of the world-class designers and architects you might be interested in.
Build the home: Luxury home construction requires a builder who understands your expectations, desires, and need for quality construction. Just like anything in life, you get what you pay for, and attempting luxury construction with the “cheapest” builder will most likely lead to a nightmare. At Buildable, we’ve built homes for some of the most discerning clients in Rancho Santa Fe, La Jolla, and Coronado. We understand what it takes, which is why we have so many glowing recommendations and references. If you’re looking for experienced professional builders, Buildable is the way to go.
How Long Does it Take to Build a Custom Luxury Home?
Typically, in San Diego, luxury home construction requires about 10-12 months, but that’s only includes the construction part of the process. The custom home build timeline also includes finding the land, designing the home, developing plans, and permitting. The inclusion of certain features can also impact the timeline and bring additional costs. The key to building a luxury custom home quickly is efficient scheduling and sequencing. However, subcontractor schedules could lead to delays that are outside of our control. We pride ourselves on our project management ability and firmly believe no one does it better than us, which was proven by our ability to stay on track even through the height of the pandemic.
Learn more about how long it takes to build a custom luxury home.
How to Choose the Best Luxury Home Builder in San Diego
In order to create a dream home that fits your vision and budget, you need to choose the best custom luxury home builder for your project. Remember even the most expensive fixtures and finishes, executed by low-quality professionals, can result in your home looking cheap. Here are a few questions you should always ask prospective builders before you start working with them.
What areas have you built custom homes in?
When seeking out prospective builders, you should always ask what custom homes they have built in the past, and where they have built those homes. What do they define as “luxury” vs. “standard”? What areas and locations do they have experience working in? The location and style of their previous work can offer a hint as to what you can expect them to deliver in your custom build.
What luxury homes are in your build portfolio?
If you are hoping to build a luxury home, you will want to work with a builder who has a good track record in custom luxury home construction. Ask to see some examples of their work and discuss them in the context of your project. Talk to your potential builder about what you’re looking for and what you want to avoid, and make sure they understand your vision. You should also mention some of the luxury features you’re looking to include in your build and inquire if they have direct experience working with them.
What is your approach to communication?
When choosing a builder to work with, communication is key. Your builder needs to understand what you are looking for, and be able to communicate quickly and honestly about price, timeline, and practicality. Early in the process, you should align with your builder on who will be the key point of contact throughout the project. Get to know that person, build a relationship with them, and learn how you can communicate most effectively with each other to produce the best result. The initial sales cycle when engaging a builder can tell you a lot about how a company runs its business, so be aware about how your builder communicates with you. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a builder who is poor at communicating and getting back to you.
Build Your Home in San Diego With Buildable
Customizing a luxury home takes a lot of time and effort, which can seem overwhelming to those who start their journey alone. However, building your dream home can be simple and the results will be well worth it if you have an expert by your side who can guide you through every step of the way. Buildable specializes in custom luxury home construction, which means the experts on our team can help you build your home with ease and create the luxury home of your dreams. Our team has over 40 years of home building experience and have built over 1,000 homes. Read about our team, talk to us, and get the answers to questions you may have about starting the custom home building process in San Diego.