The smaller builder is usually willing to customize a little more and they don't usually work from a cookie cutter mode quite as much. That doesn't mean you get a better product though. The big builders have mastered what they do, and they do it that way for a reason. If you get really lucky, you might find someone for whom building is a passion, and then you score - but other than that, I found the larger builders just as capable and they put out a superior product most of the time.

Not sure that's what you are looking for - but I hope it helps.