When you start thinking about building a new home, one of the first questions you’ll face is whether to build a custom home or buy a spec home. While both can deliver a beautiful and functional space, the journey—and the outcome—are very different.
Understanding the difference between these two paths helps ensure your homebuilding journey aligns with your lifestyle, values, and vision.
What Is a Spec Home?
A spec home (short for “speculative”) is a home that’s designed, built, and finished by the builder before it’s sold. It’s constructed based on what most homeowners are looking for—popular layouts, trending finishes, and move-in-ready convenience.
These homes are ideal for buyers who want:
A quicker move-in timeline
Less involvement in the design process
The confidence of seeing exactly what they’re purchasing
Spec homes offer simplicity and speed—you can walk through, fall in love, and move in. The trade-off is that many of the decisions are made before you arrive, which means the home may not fully reflect your unique lifestyle or story.
What Is a Custom Home?
A custom home starts with you. It’s designed from the ground up to match the way you live, your aesthetic preferences, and the way you want to feel in your home every day.
When you build a custom home, you collaborate with the builder and design team to:
Select the lot and orientation
Create a floor plan that reflects your routines and lifestyle
Choose every material, finish, and detail
Shape the architecture and flow of the space
A custom home is not just a structure—it’s a reflection of your life and legacy. It’s about crafting a home that tells your story, one decision at a time.
The Key Differences
If you value speed, simplicity, and convenience, a spec home can be an excellent choice—especially if you fall in love with a floor plan that already fits your needs.
But if you’re someone who wants your home to tell your story, to feel personal and lasting, and to embody the essence of how you live—then a custom home is the better path.
At Scott Alan Custom Projects, we approach every home—custom or spec—with the same care, intention, and craftsmanship. Because to us, a home isn’t just something we build. It’s something you become part of.
Every story starts somewhere. Whether you’re ready to design your own home or discover one that’s already built for you, we’re here to help guide you through the process.
👉 Connect with our team to explore available homes and upcoming builds in Lakewood of Strathmore.