Custom 2 Story Home Builders in San Diego
Benefits and Considerations for Building a 2 Story Home
When building a custom home, there are many big decisions you will have to make early on in the process to achieve your vision. One of the first questions you will face is whether you want to construct a one- or two-story house. There are benefits and drawbacks of both, but many homeowners today are choosing two story homes because they are spacious, cost effective, and environmentally friendly. Below we have compiled a list of some of the benefits of building a two-story house, as well as things you will need to take into consideration. Use this as a guide to help you decide what kind of home is right for you.
Benefits of a Two-Story Custom Home
More Space with a Smaller Footprint: One of the biggest advantages of two-story homes is that you can get more square footage while taking up a smaller amount of land. Choosing a two-story home means you can always fit in that extra guest room, office, or media room that you’ve been wanting, without having to sacrifice your outdoor space on smaller lots. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to achieve higher elevation views with balconies or decks on the second or third floor.
Bigger Yard: Choosing to build a two-story home also means that you can maximize the buildable area of your lot. Because of the smaller footprint, a two-story home leaves more room for the yard, giving you plenty of space for outdoor activities. If you want to put in a pool or barbecue or a larger grassy area for children and/or dogs to run around, this is a great option to consider if you’re tight on a buildable area.
Cheaper to Build: Two story homes are generally more cost-effective than one-story homes of the same square footage, due to a variety of factors. Two story homes require smaller foundations, roof systems, less ductwork for the HVAC system, and less pipes for the plumbing system, because they can connect to other lines above and below. When looking at home construction, choosing a two-story home is a great way to get a little more bang for your buck.
Considerations for Building a Two-Story Custom Home
Height Restrictions: One of the first things you will have to consider when determining whether a two-story custom house is right for you is the zoning restrictions in the area you are searching. Particularly in coastal areas or affluent communities, you may not be able to build multiple stories. At Buildable we have experts on our team who know the zoning regulations in the area, and will work with you to make sure your dream home meets all requirements without having to compromise your vision.
Accessibility: If you intend to build a forever home, keep in mind that your comfort as you age is also an important factor to consider. Stairs can be an impediment or safety hazard for young children, older people, and anyone with physical disabilities. At Buildable your safety and comfort in your home is our #1 priority, and with our decades of experience, we can ensure that your home is a safe environment for you and your family. In fact, we specialize in helping build homes for clients with unique medical needs.
Cleaning and Maintenance: Inside the home, having two stories can make cleaning take a little bit longer as a result of going up and down stairs. Outside the home, maintenance projects such as painting, cleaning out the gutters, and washing your windows may require the use of a ladder or a trained professional. This can make maintaining your home a little more arduous.
What is the Process for Building a Two-Story Custom Home in San Diego?
At Buildable, we make building your dream 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. We take the guesswork and risk out of your custom home build by working with you, aligning your vision with your budget, and guiding you with all the information you need to make smart decisions when it comes to the home build. Below is an overview of the typical process for building a two-story house:
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 defining 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 realtor who specializes in land and a home builder you can trust. This is your team, who will help keep you on track and navigate the process of building a two-story home. If you choose to work with Buildable, we will provide all experts needed on 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 who’s a land expert to find potential lots in your area that will allow you to execute your vision. A real estate agent who specializes in land along with a builder can help guide you to a lot with all the features your vision requires within your budget. Buildable’s team and process is designed to partner you with the right experts in all areas of development to ensure you get the right lot for the right price.
Conduct Due Diligence: Due diligence is the process of evaluating each potential lot that you’re considering for your custom home with regards to buildability, improvements, and vision. Some lots for sale are not buildable or cost prohibitive to build, so it’s critical that you have the right experts with you during this process. Some lots may not be feasible for everything you want to build into your home, so working with an A-licensed general contractor, civil engineer, and/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 covered.
Find a designer: When designing your custom two-story 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 help you find, negotiate, and manage the right designer through the process 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.
Find a builder: To build your dream home, you will want to find a two-story custom home builder who understands your vision, expectations, and desires for quality. Just like most things 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 Solana Beach, but we also understand how to create modest custom homes efficiently all around San Diego County. We know what it takes, which is why we have so many glowing recommendations and references. If you’re looking for experienced, professional two-story home builders, talk to us.
How Much Does a Two-Story Custom Home Build Cost?
The cost of building a two-story house in San Diego will vary since you are in control of the lot cost, design, size, and other factors that will heavily impact the budget. The average cost to build a house in San Diego for Buildable’s clients is, all-in, $1.4M, including land, which equals approximately $400-$500 per square foot for the build. However, we have many clients that have $1.0M all-in budgets and we can create amazing custom homes for them, too. Choosing to build a two-story home as opposed to a one-story home can be a great way to maximize the value of your custom home by saving money on land, materials, and construction costs.
When it comes to building in San Diego, the distance from the coast will affect the price of the land, which impacts the all-in cost of your build. The cost per square foot to build a house in San Diego also tends to increase around certain higher cost of living areas like Rancho Santa Fe and La Jolla, due to the design expectations of the area and other requirements. When building a custom two-story home, it’s also important to keep in mind the building height restrictions of the area you’re building in. Buildable’s experts have extensive experience building in the San Diego area, so we will be able to guide you to the right lot for your dream home.
If you’re interested in learning more about the cost of custom homes, check out our article on building costs. You can also estimate the cost of your build with our land build calculator.
How Long Does it Take to Build a Two-Story House?
Building a custom home will be one of the most rewarding experiences in your lifetime, and by working with Buildable from start to finish, we will ensure the process is as seamless and gratifying as it should be. Overall, it usually takes around 24 months to build a home from beginning to end. Typically, we estimate that the lot search will last between 2-5 months, followed by 3-5 months of designing the house, and 10-12 months of actual construction time. The time it takes to build you home will depend on how quickly we can find land and design your dream home, but also external factors like the location, requirements of the municipality, HOA, and more. Buildable will advise you if a lot is subject to any of these factors during the land search or due diligence phase.
How to Choose the Best Two-Story Home Builders
Building a home in San Diego takes an immense amount of time and effort, and can appear overwhelming to those who start the journey alone. However, building a home can be straightforward when you approach the process with experts by your side who can guide you through every step. When you build a two-story home, you want to get the most bang for your buck, and Buildable's process is centered around guiding our clients through the project to do it the right way and maximize their investment. Our team is made up of experienced two-story custom home builders who will ensure that your vision is executed seamlessly.
At Buildable, all of the people you need to have a stress-free home build will work with you to create the home of your dreams. 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.
Build Your Home in San Diego With Buildable
Building a million-dollar custom home takes an immense amount of time and effort, and it can appear overwhelming to those who start the journey alone. However, building your dream home can be simple when you approach the process with experts by your side who can guide you through every step, and the result will be well worth it. Buildable specializes in luxury custom home construction, meaning we have the experts on our team that you need to have a stress-free home build, and create the luxury home of your dreams. We have over 40 years of home building experience within our team, and over 1,000 homes built. 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.
