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TRUSTED BY AMES, IA HOMEOWNERS

  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.3
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon14
    Verified custom home building reviews

Find Custom home builders in Ames

Avatar for deWit Construction & Remodeling
deWit Construction & Remodeling
4.8(
26
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2008

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Our son hired this company to finish his basement a few years ago and was so pleased with their work he hired them to
demolish an existing back porch and construct a large 3-season room on the back of his house.  As he expected, the work
was done in a timely manner and the room is beautiful and very well constructed.  These guys are excellent finish carpenters.
My husband was a carpenter in his younger days and if anyone is critical of workmanship, he is the one!  He may one day
hire this company to do some work for us.  All of us would highly recommend Neil and his brother for any job you may want
done.  I'm sure our son would be very proud to show his two rooms to any of you who might be looking for a experienced and
detailed team.  Thanks guys!  Keep up your good work.

Jon, Jo Ann Cloyd of Ankeny, IA.
Scott Cloyd, Des Moines, IA.

submitted by:  Jo Ann Cloyd"
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+8

Recommended by95%of homeowners
Avatar for Addition Doctors
Addition Doctors
4.7(
22
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 1985

Free estimates

"My husband and I had spent 13 years remodeling our 1873 house by ourselves. When it came time to do our dream project of adding a sunroom, finding a contractor to do the work instead of doing it ourselves was a very important decision to us. We met with several contractors and knew instantly that John and his son Nate at Addition Doctors were the people we wanted taking on this project. John and Nate were so great to work with. They were the only company we met with who gave us a computer generated model of what the project would look like so we had a very clear vision of the end product. They were the only company to quote us the project under the budget we told them we had to work with. They kept us up to date at every step of the project and there were never any surprises about cost or timing. They had great ideas for the project when we weren't exactly sure what should or could be done. We love our finished sunroom. The quality of work and service they gave was excellent. We would highly recommend Addition Doctors for anyone who is looking to have quality work done to their home."
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Need a Cabin?
Enjoy the Porch

+18

Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Daughenbaugh Construction & Restoration
Daughenbaugh Construction & Restoration
4.5(
37
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2002

Free estimates

"We couldn't be more pleased with Dave's work! He was punctual, trustworthy, honest, helpful, professional, and all around a fantastic builder. He worked very quickly and we were amazed how fast the addition was added! Dave had GREAT ideas and has tons of real experience, adding practical and beautiful details that we never would have thought of. He built a large custom arch window that was incredible! Every step of the way, Dave made sure that we were happy with the design and how everything was carried out. He answered all our questions with ease and made this such a positive experience for us. We feel so lucky to have found a builder with such skill and experience, quickly creating beautiful, high-quality results. We really can't say enough good things...we were beyond impressed!"
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+2

Recommended by90%of homeowners
Avatar for Des Moines Area Roofing
Des Moines Area Roofing
4.8(
275
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2008

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"From the beginning to the end we had excellent customer service. Jan, office manager, kept us informed every day on the progress of the job. The owner, Tim, was very courteous, informative, and easy to work with. The last day finishing up the skylight the derecho hit and they worked quickly and safely to remove the equipment off the property. I'm sure they remember that day! The crew on the roof were excellent and they were meticulous in the final clean-up stage. We are pleased with our new skylights!"
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Recommended by99%of homeowners
Avatar for Konstruct Pros LLC
Konstruct Pros LLC
4.1(
26
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

Free estimates

"Mike is a very talented and responsible contractor. I sought estimates from many different contractors and Mike was by far the most courteous and responsive. He made sure he understood my interests, provided feedback, and offered suggestions. The project was completed quickly and on budget. Mike was conscientious about minimizing dust in my home which I appreciated. I will be contacting Mike for future projects. Mike and his team are honest people that you can trust in your home."
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Recommended by90%of homeowners
Avatar for American Home Shield – Home Warranty
American Home Shield – Home Warranty
3.5(
5,689
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 1971

Credit card accepted

"It's a $75 service fee every time they send somebody out. It's cheap, you know it's insurance. They're excellent. I have no problems. I've been with them for years. They're fair. They give you a warranty on the repairs that are made. They're always responsive, I've never had any issues with their punctuality. The only problem I have with them is the wait time. The wait time to get to a human is sometimes extended to 20 or 30 minutes sometimes. They got prompts; you can do everything online, but sometimes you need to talk to a customer service representative about something. It takes so long, you'll get to them and once you get to them they're always responsive it just takes them a long time. I renew every year; it's a one-year renewable."
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+2

Recommended by65%of homeowners
Carlson Built, Inc.
5.0(
2
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 1987

We are a locally owned and operated company with over 20 years of industry experience. We specialize in custom home builds but also offer a wide range of expertise for a variety of other home improvement projects. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work as well as our commitment to outstanding results. We look forward to building lasting relationships, and guarantee your satisfaction!

Response time1 day
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Custom Home Builders questions, answered by experts

Custom homes can take an average of 18 months to build, mainly due to the lengthy design process, and most projects take somewhere between 12 and 24 months. When you work with the right custom home builders near you, they can help you map the road ahead and understand what can speed up or delay the timeline. Choosing locally available materials, for example, can speed things up without losing that customized touch.

A custom home is one that you design from the ground up, allowing you to customize everything from the square footage to the interior layout to all of the materials used. A spec home is one that a builder has designed and gotten approvals for. Spec homes may give you some limited options for the layout and materials, but most of the build is pre-set. Custom homes cost more and take longer to build.

The average cost to renovate or remodel a home is $52,300, with most projects ranging from $19,500 to over $88,400. However, costs can vary significantly, from as low as $3,000 for a small project to $170,000 or more for a complete home remodel.

Several factors influence the total price, including:

  • Project Scope and Size: The extent of the renovations, whether it's a single room or the entire house.

  • Location: Geographic location affects labor and material costs.

  • Materials: The quality of materials chosen.

  • Room Type: Kitchen remodels ($14,500 - $70,000+) are generally more expensive than bedroom remodels ($1,500 - $5,500).

  • Other Factors: The time of year, complexity of the work, and any additions or expansions.

On a per-square-foot basis, you can expect to pay between $15 and $60 for standard projects and up to $150 for luxury renovations.

Examples of specific project costs include:

  • Basement remodel: ~$20,200

  • Garage remodel: ~$27,900

  • Loft conversion: ~$20,200

  • Disability accommodation remodel: ~$4,300

  • Major home repairs: ~$11,700

If you are financing the project, note that some loan programs, like the FHA 203(k), may require a minimum project cost (e.g., $5,000) and will necessitate a home appraisal and professional cost estimates. Using a home renovation cost estimator can also help you budget for your project.

Whether a prefab home is worth it or not will depend on your personal needs and preferences. Overall, prefab homes tend to cost less than traditional homes, although they also tend to have lower resale values. Another thing to consider is that prefab homes usually last 50 to 60 years or longer, while traditional homes last 50 to 100 years or more.

A construction-to-permanent loan is the most common type of mortgage used to finance a house teardown and rebuild. These loans include financing for construction costs and convert to a long-term mortgage once construction is complete. Check the terms of the loan closely before beginning work—there are often restrictions requiring you to use licensed contractors for all work.

The Ames, IA homeowners’ guide to custom home building

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.