Builder recommendations (Madison, Middleton, Stoughton: real estate, home builders, purchasing)

[Tkoziol]

Hi there,

My husband and I will be relocating to Madison. We are purchasing a lot on Lake Mendota in Maple Bluff which we would like to build on. What builders are known in the area for building high end custom homes ($300/sq ft). I feel overwhelmed by the number of builders in the area and am not sure where to start. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[JoshB]

Try visiting MABA.org It's Madison area builders association. Good luck and I'm sure you'll love Maple Bluff.

[ranger17]

Originally Posted by JoshB

Try visiting MABA.org It's Madison area builders association. Good luck and I'm sure you'll love Maple Bluff.

this is a great suggestion. And though it's already past for this year, click on any links for the parade of homes they run, to see what builder info may be listed (and possibly their parade home details as well) as you may find something that catches your eye right from the start (maybe take a drive thru those 'hoods if you are in the area).

You'll likely notice that there are custom builders who only do a couple homes a year, and other builders who normally build in higher volume but also have a "division" that can build a nice high-end home as well. I've seen nice well built custom homes from both types of builders and others that maybe needed some work on the details.

The main point i'd offer, is not to get "wowed" first by someone's design, but rather by their recommendations and reviews from current and previous owners/customers. just my .02

Best of luck!

[BadgerGrl]

Bumping this, could anyone give any specific names? There are so many cookie cutter, low end builders that are hard to sort through. OP probably won't see this, but wondering who she went with.

[Megan1967]

Kegonsa
1200 Nygaard St Stoughton, WI 53589

(608) 873-3381
Acker Builders, Inc.
Jennifer Acker
101 E Main St, Ste 2 Waunakee, WI 53597
Phone: (608) 850-6650
Fax: (608) 850-6653
e-mail Acker Builders, Inc.

Acker Builders, Inc. & Acker Realty, LLC. - Construction & Real Estate - Wisconsin Home

Design Shelters, LLC
Dick Wasserburger
3207 Glacier Ridge Rd Middleton, WI 53562
Phone: (608) 662-9090
Fax: (608) 662-9095
e-mail Design Shelters, LLC

Wisconsin Home Builders | Home Builder Madison, WI | Design Shelters

Not to be confused with Don Simon
Simon Builders, Inc., Michael F.
Phil Simon
817 S Division St Waunakee, WI 53597
Phone: (608) 849-5916
Fax: (608) 849-7983
e-mail Simon Builders, Inc., Michael F.


Yahara Builders
Yahara Builders, LLC » Quality Home Building

[ranger17]

we actually had Acker build our home in '01 in Deforest (worked with Jenny as well) and overall we were quite happy with the process and the home itself. Understand no home is perfect, its how the builder reacts to any concern that pops up. I know then they were able to do both a more standard build as well as a custom home. I'll just say that we had far fewer problems then others we knew at the time who were building true custom homes with smaller customer builders.

I'd again recommend hitting the Madison Parade of homes unless its done for the year, and visit model homes as well just to get a feel for the builders and what they offer. Doing homework (no pun intended) is critical when picking a builder, a home plan, and even a 'hood to build in.

[BadgerGrl]

Originally Posted by ranger17

I'd again recommend hitting the Madison Parade of homes unless its done for the year.

This is the last weekend of the parade. My limited understanding of it was that only builders that aren't busy participate. The popular, busy ones don't have the time or need to participate. Is this true?

[Megan1967]

The big guns wilk be there, maybe not the smaller custom builders. Just avoid Veridian and Princeton homes.

[Megan1967]

Signature Construction Inc. of Belleville WI is a Custom Construction Company specializing in New Home Construction, Remodeling, Room Additions and Renovations | Bathroom Remodeling, Block Walls, Custom Closets, Custom Showers, Decks, Drywall, Family

These guys do great quality renovations and additions. Might be worth calling to see if they'd take on a whole house.

[ranger17]

Originally Posted by BadgerGrl

This is the last weekend of the parade. My limited understanding of it was that only builders that aren't busy participate. The popular, busy ones don't have the time or need to participate. Is this true?

I never heard that one. Its been some years since we would walk the parade (we'd even go just to get paint and landscape ideas) but there used to be 3-4 sites, each one with a different theme and price point and seemed every builder was in there at one of them.
I'll make an assumption that with the economy still turning around, that not all builders made it thru the crash unscathed and just may not have the time or $$ to invest in a parade spec home (most were usually sold by the time the event would start).