THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME—WORTH THE HASSLE?
You’re spot on about the “little stuff.” It’s funny, when we built our place, I obsessed over the big-ticket items—layout, windows, flooring. But the things that ended up making me smile every day? Soft-close drawers and a light switch right by the garage door. The floors? They’re fine, but I barely notice them now. Meanwhile, every time I don’t have to chase a drawer back into place or fumble around in the dark, I’m grateful.
I remember agonizing over backsplash tile for weeks, but what really changed my mornings was finally getting a coffee nook with an outlet exactly where I wanted it. It’s wild how those tiny details can make or break your daily routine.
That said, building custom is a whole different beast. There’s a lot of decision fatigue—sometimes you just want someone else to pick the doorknobs. But if you’re the type who notices the sticky cabinet knobs every single day, maybe it’s worth sweating those details upfront.
Curious—if you could only splurge on one “small” thing in a custom build, what would it be? For me, it was heated bathroom floors. Not flashy, but man, stepping onto warm tiles in January feels like a little luxury every morning.
THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME—WORTH THE HASSLE?
Heated bathroom floors do sound dreamy, but I can’t help wondering about the long-term impact of all these “little luxuries.” I get the appeal—who doesn’t want to step onto warm tiles in winter? Still, for me, the small splurge would be something like a really well-insulated envelope or even a greywater recycling system. Not exactly sexy, but it’s wild how much difference it makes in comfort and utility bills down the line.
It’s funny, people rarely talk about air sealing or triple-pane windows with the same excitement as fancy fixtures or tile, but honestly, those are the things that make a house feel good year-round. I visited a friend’s place last February—she’d gone all-in on energy efficiency, and her house was just...quiet. Warm. No drafts by the windows. She barely noticed her heating kicking on, even with all that glass. It made me rethink what “luxury” means in a home.
I guess what I’m getting at is, sometimes the stuff you don’t see (or even think about) ends up being the real game-changer. Sure, picking out every finish can wear you down, but imagine not having to stress about cold rooms or high utility bills, ever. Wouldn’t that be worth a little extra hassle upfront?
Curious if anyone else has gone this route and felt the payoff? Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one nerding out over insulation instead of faucets...
THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME—WORTH THE HASSLE?
Honestly, I see more value in solid insulation and smart systems than in most “wow” features people obsess over. You can always swap out a faucet, but you’re not going to rip open your walls for better air sealing later. I’ve seen clients regret skimping on the basics when their energy bills hit. Out of curiosity, did you find it tough to convince your builder to prioritize those less-visible upgrades? Some push back hard on anything that’s not flashy or marketable...
THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME—WORTH THE HASSLE?
You nailed it—those “invisible” upgrades make a way bigger difference long-term. When I did my place, I had to push back a bit on the builder’s standard insulation package. He kept saying “most people just want granite counters,” but honestly, I’d rather have lower bills and a house that doesn’t feel drafty in February. It took some back-and-forth, but once I showed him the numbers on energy savings, he was more open. Still, it’s wild how much builders focus on stuff you can see instead of what actually matters day-to-day.
