7 FAQs About Custom Country Homes in Austin

If there is one place that sets the standard for absolutely beautiful custom country homes, Austin is it. To some, that may be a surprising answer considering the very concrete nature of Austin proper. But to understand Austin, it is important to keep in mind that for the residents of central Texas, Austin is more than just the capital city of the Lone Star State. It is the name given to the entire sprawling metroplex that has grown almost exponentially in just the last few years.

There has been a recent movement among the Hollywood glitterati, major corporations, and those looking to cast off what they feel is ‘Big Government’s’ overreach lately. Populations to Austin and central Texas as a whole have skyrocketed. This has led local city governments, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, and area alliances to go into overdrive so as to rethink conservation and preservation efforts, general infrastructure plans, and resource allocation efforts for the foreseeable future.

Then again, Austin brings a lot to the table in terms of coolness, laid-back swagger, and hipness. Plus, when it comes to companies swarming the area in terms of an education and available talent pool, central Texas is littered with institutions of higher education including the granddaddy of them all, The University of Texas at Austin.

But Austin really cannot hold a candle to the awe-inspiring Texas Hill Country, a massive multi-county swath of land right smack-dab in the middle of the state. There is access to everything from history, culture, wineries and distilleries, foodie paradises, and sports. There’s also art, leisure, and a wide variety of music. Most of all, there is the serenity that is simply the landscape itself. It is calm, peaceful, and strips the worries of the world away.

It is all of this and more that custom home buyers want to experience, all, of course, without negatively impacting the world around them. As such, if you are a prospective home buyer looking to build a custom home in or around the Austin area, there are a few questions to consider. For example: 

Is there such a thing as too unique? Sometimes going for a unique custom home can get in the way of having a home that works for the homeowner. The right builder will play a pivotal part in helping bridge the gap between the two worlds.

What about a return on investment?  Customization usually means paying a bit more for something different. That’s OK, but in terms of getting back a return on the amount of difference you went for, that’s a different matter. ‘Different’ to some may be some oddball architectural feature with no purpose except to create discourse. To others, it may mean building a net-zero home with an intricate water collection system for irrigation purposes. Inevitably, the latter will start paying for itself much sooner than the former.

Are there any limitations? It is important to talk with prospective home builders about issues that may arise with building materials, permits, designs, etc. Sometimes, some custom home builders cannot execute designs that are a bit ‘out there’, even if there are no particular restrictions placed on the construction itself.

Does design come into the mix? Be sure to ask a prospective builder how involved they are in the design portion of the build. Experienced custom home builders have the ability to work with clients from the ground up.

How about new perspectives? Going the custom route can often create a bit of an echo chamber. The right home builder can help add a third-party to the mix as a helpful, critical component to help get the most out of every custom detail in the end.

Is there a dependance on trends? Some building contractors stick with one model of home they build based on proficiency…and laziness.

Are custom country homes all about looks? If you and/or your prospective home builder answered, ‘Yes’ to this, it’s time to go back to the drawing board.When it comes to custom country homes in Austin, T. Locke Construction is the name folks choose when they want the best. See why today.