The Actual Cost of a Custom Home

In episode three of the Dream Builders Podcast, host Adrian Kizy sits down again with Randy Najjar, founder of Sapphire Luxury Homes & Landscaping, to unpack what custom home building actually means — and why the answer is more nuanced than most people expect.Randy walks through how Sapphire balances a curated portfolio of pre-designed plans with full custom, blank-sheet-of-paper builds, why finding the right piece of property is often the single hardest part of building in Metro Detroit, and why "cost per square foot" is one of the most misleading questions a client can ask. He shares real examples — from a 7,000-square-foot custom home on 160 acres of hunting grounds, to a Moroccan-style build with materials imported from overseas, to a recent Bloomfield project where the right lot finally checked every box after years of searching.The conversation also gets practical: which decisions are worth investing in upfront, which can be deferred, and why Randy almost always recommends finishing the basement, landscaping, and major selections during construction rather than after move-in. Throughout, the theme is the same — guiding clients through hundreds of decisions, separating real needs from preconceived notions, and making sure no one builds a home they'll regret.In this episode:00:00 Welcome back to the Dream Builders Podcast00:31 What it actually means to be a custom builder (and Sapphire's niche)01:17 Portfolio plans vs. full custom design03:01 Walking clients through homes at different stages of construction04:30 The questions Sapphire asks every client — and the myths about formal dining rooms and resale08:11 Lot constraints, tear-downs, and why the right property is the hardest part12:02 A real example: years of searching, finally landing in Bloomfield13:00 "How much does it cost per square foot?" — Randy's least favorite question15:00 Why finished basements skew the math (and the million-dollar basement)17:34 Why no two Sapphire homes are ever the same18:00 Sapphire's typical price range, minimum engagement, and what's included19:30 Custom vs. production builders — decisions you didn't know you had to make20:30 The Sapphire style: Modern, French Country, Tudor, Mediterranean, and more21:46 The biggest cost drivers in a custom build (and why land isn't just land)23:30 Design phase budgeting and the 20% rule for upgrades27:00 Needs vs. wants: what Sapphire won't cut corners on29:30 The Sapphire Standard for structural components30:00 Why finishing the basement during construction saves 20–30%32:30 Landscaping, pools, and the case against phased projects35:00 Educating clients so they never get blindsided later36:18 When a plan gets over-modifiedConnect with Sapphire Luxury Homes: www.sapphireluxuryhomes.cominstagram.com/sapphireluxuryhomesAbout the show:The Dream Builders Podcast is the unfiltered story of Sapphire Luxury Homes — what it actually takes to build a luxury custom home company from zero. Honest conversations about craft, cost, client experience, and the difference between luxury and expensive. New episodes every other week.If this episode resonated, hit subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone building (or building toward) a home of their own.If this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share it with someone building something of their own. New episodes coming soon.#LuxuryHomes #CustomHomeBuilder #DesignBuild #MetroDetroit #BirminghamMI #BloomfieldHills #DreamBuildersPodcast #SapphireLuxuryHomesConnect with Sapphire Luxury Homes: www.sapphireluxuryhomes.com www.instagram.com/sapphireluxuryhomesIf this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share it with someone building something of their own. New episodes coming soon.