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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

Top-Rated Custom home builders in Ames - Updated Nov 2026

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 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 Choice Home Warranty
Choice Home Warranty
4.0(
5,678
)
Find a Custom Home Builder

Serving Ames, IA and surrounding areas

In business since 2008

Emergency services offered

Credit card accepted

"Bruce Dixon was very nice and helpful in providing exceptional customer service and making sure I had the best experience. I purchased my home warranty and feel confident in the choice I made. Thank you Bruce. Sincerely, Kimberly"
Recommended by81%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

"The technician did an excellent job. It did take a while to get the repair finished, but that was due to Bertazzoni delivering the parts. I have had multiple problems with this particular appliance. My range now works better than it did when new, but I have a feeling that even if I have continuing problems with it, American Home Shield will just repair rather than replace due to the cost of the range. By the way, I'm not exactly sure of the date of the repair."
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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 FAQs, answered by experts

There are energy-efficient options when building a cottage. Select green building materials, high-performance insulation, and energy-efficient windows when designing your cottage. Options such as solar panels, efficient HVAC systems, and LED lighting can lower your utility bills and reduce your environmental impact. Many builders offer energy-efficient upgrades as part of the design process.

Whether it’s more affordable to gut a house than build a new one depends on the markets where you'd be buying and selling. However, it’s usually less expensive to renovate a home than to build new construction. 

Most homeowners pay between $100,000 and $200,000 for demolition and remodeling costs, whereas the average cost to build a new home is between $139,000 and $531,300.

Modular homes are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and faster to build than traditional homes. They also offer customizable designs.

In most states, you can build an in-law suite on your property as long as you follow local building codes. However, it's important that you have enough space on your property to accommodate the new structure. A functional in-law suite in your backyard will require between 300 and 800 square feet of space.

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.

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.