The Best Custom Home Builders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Last updated on August 7th, 2024 at 02:29 am

Building your dream home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a significant investment, and choosing the right custom home builder is crucial to bringing your vision to life. One of the primary benefits of hiring a custom home builder is the tailored design and personalization they offer. Unlike pre-built homes or cookie-cutter designs, a custom home builder takes the time to understand your needs, preferences, and lifestyle, ensuring that every detail of your new home reflects your unique personality.

The demand for quality custom homes is high in Milwaukee, where the population stands at 563,305, and the median home value is $208,972. The average project cost ranges from $50,000 to $100,000, with an average cost per square foot of $10. These projects can take up to 24 months to complete, making it essential to choose a builder who can manage the complexities and deliver on time. Finding the right one with 55 relevant contractors in the area can be daunting, but ensuring your project runs smoothly and meets your expectations is vital.

This article will highlight some of the best construction companies in Milwaukee that specialize in custom home building. These builders have been selected for their unmatched expertise, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Whether you’re looking to build a modern urban home or a sprawling suburban estate, these contractors will work closely with you to create a home that truly feels like yours, giving you the confidence that you’ve made the right choice.

Overview: The Best Custom Home Builders in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more.

Highland Builders, LLC

1221 Eder Ln., West Bend, WI 53095

Todd Wolff and Shane Pionkowski established Highland Builders, LLC to provide the five-county Milwaukee area with premier services. Rather than aim for high volume, Highland Builders focuses on crafting functional spaces that meet its clients’ structural and design requirements. Among the most commended affordable home builders in Milwaukee, the firm’s exacting attention to detail and consistent on-site construction oversight help create homes that result from the highest standards and practices.

Milwaukee Home and Fine Living has recognized several homes it builds and won Design Awards under various categories, including Best New Custom Home Under $1 Million and Best Remodel/Addition Over $100k. One such building is a custom-designed, story-and-a-half Craftsman home with a raised porch accented with large stone piers and paneled columns. Its roofs are accented with board and batten siding, and large cedar brackets above the garage door support the standing seam metal roof.

Design Group Three

5050 N Port Washington Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217

Design Group Three delivers consistent quality, service, and detail to every project it undertakes. The designs created by the firm’s architects are skillfully realized by construction crews using proven systems and procedures; this ensures that every aspect of the building process meets industry standards and client expectations. According to former clients, what sets the firm apart is its innovative designs and meticulous communication. An outstanding firm that is one of the leading Milwaukee custom home builders, it was hailed the 2022 National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Regional CotY Award Winner for Residential Exterior between $100,001 to $200,000.

Design Group Three has been cultivating a reputation in Southeastern Wisconsin and the United States for its unique design solutions. The spaces created by the firm are highly acclaimed and have won several awards, including a Gold Award for Bathroom Remodeling and the Best Home Remodeler at the Wisconsin Remodeler Awards. These spaces have also been featured in various publications, such as Qualified Remodeler Magazine and Milwaukee Magazine.

Ruebl Builders

W358 S8401 State Road 59, Eagle, WI 53119

Ruebl Builders has been developing custom luxury homes in Southeastern Wisconsin for eight decades. All Ruebl homes are built to exacting standards and expectations and come with a five-year warranty. They are also constructed with sustainability in mind, as the firm commonly uses SIPs, engineered lumber, floor and roof trusses, and other similar materials in its projects. Every Ruebl project is given the same level of care and efficiency.

One reason clients prefer Ruebl Builders to other firms is its open-book accounting policy, which provides transparency across the board so clients can easily make financial decisions. Additionally, many commend the firm’s designers, builders, and home automation consultants, who provide extensive design and product expertise and know how to accommodate the client’s structural and functional requirements. This dedication to the best industry practices is evidenced by the firm’s affiliations with prominent industry organizations, such as the NAHB, the MBA, and the LBA.

PEA Builders

W195 S7548 Woodland Pl., Muskego, WI 53150

As his first venture into sustainable building, Steve Homa started a deck building and remodeling business after graduating in 1991. Soon after, his passion for high-performance construction drove him to pursue home building in a new way. He built his first home in 1995 using structural insulated panels (SIPs) and insulated concrete forms. Homa saw how these materials outperformed traditional stick frame construction, so he continued his research and used other alternative building methods. These methods became the foundation of Progressive Environmental Alternatives (PEA) Builders.

PEA Builders provides the Metropolitan Milwaukee Area with sustainable home-building services. The firm’s distinguished work has been recognized by several industry organizations, such as the MBA and the Lakeland Builders Association (LBA), and in publications such as Milwaukee Home and Fine Living and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. One notable project is the Elmhurst, which is a sun-tempered home. High-performance meets Rustic barn in this building, with SIP walls covered with 100-year-old recycled barn boards and a stone veneered foundation insulated with polystyrene foundation foam. The home’s interior décor is an eclectic mix of modern and traditional materials centered around a custom booth the owners brought from their previous home. The building’s radiant hydronic floors, air conditioning, and domestic hot water are all powered by a geothermal and solar power system.

Clark Design Build, LLC

124 W Freistadt Rd., Mequon, WI 53092

Over the past decade, Clark Design Build, LLC has developed strong relationships with the best craftspeople and suppliers in the state. This has allowed the firm to provide Milwaukee homeowners high-quality construction services at a great value. Specializing in home building and remodeling, Clark Design Build, LLC is proficient in developing spaces of various styles.

Numerous clients vouch for the boutique builder’s excellent attention to detail, quality of design, and customer service. As members of the NARI and the MBA, the firm upholds professionalism and industry standards by ensuring that its residential building projects are handled using precise skills and techniques and with great care. As a result, the firm’s projects have been featured in the Milwaukee Journal and M Magazine Northshore Edition.

Lakeside Development Company

1500 W Market St. Suite #200, Mequon, WI 53092

Lakeside Development Company has been constructing and remodeling homes across Southeastern Wisconsin and has built a brand that clients trust and industry veterans acclaim. From the Metropolitan Builders Association (MBA) and Ozaukee Realtors’ Association to Better Homes and Gardens, several industry organizations and publications have validated the firm’s building experience and expertise.

Over the years, the firm has perfected its trade by staying abreast of the latest industry technology and techniques and emphasizing purpose and longevity in every construction project it undertakes.

Perthel Homes, Inc.

N61 W13495 Cattail Ct., Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

With more than 30 years in the building industry, Perthel Homes, Inc. has developed significant expertise in the design and construction of Milwaukee homes. Many of the firm’s projects have received positive recognition and feedback from clients and industry experts, like the MBA and the NAHB. Known as one of the top custom home builders in Milwaukee, the firm has grown into one of the area’s most prominent family-owned home-building companies.

Each Perthel home is carefully crafted from the ground up to maximize space and guarantee coordination and balance in the design. In addition to precise architecture, the firm ensures exacting standards, durable materials, and superior craftsmanship, all of which are evident in the firm’s award-winning home, the Bristlecone.

The Bristlecone nabbed several awards at the 2017 MBA Parade of Homes, including People’s Choice Awards for Overall Home, Best Landscaping, Best Room, and Best Interior Design. It is a two-story home with a two-story foyer, a great room with a winding staircase, and an overlooking catwalk. Built-in Bosch appliances, granite countertops, a custom tiled backsplash, and expansive cabinetry give the kitchen a luxurious feel. At the same time, the spacious master suite touts a custom two-person tile shower and separate “throne” room. Additionally, the house has a game room and theater room, which is pre-wired with surround sound and a projector.

JFK Design Build

36055 Ravinia Park Blvd., Oconomowoc, WI 53066

JFK Design Build’s work is driven by the philosophy of “practical luxury,” in which clients can decide what luxury means to them— whether it entails an expansive house with lavish features or a cozier home with finer amenities. This and the firm’s commitment to exceptional craftsmanship have helped JFK Design Build’s homes earn recognition from the MBA and Milwaukee Home and Fine Living.

Over the years, JFK Design Build has developed proficiency in building spaces of various styles. One of the firm’s most notable projects is a Contemporary home on a three-acre land full of mature pine trees in Delafield. The house is characterized by sharp corners and varied roof angles set against a simple stone and wood exterior, creating a Modern and Rustic look.

Bear Homes, LLC

3809 23rd St., Kenosha, WI 53140

A family-run company spanning multiple generations, Bear Homes, LLC has built numerous homes across Southeastern Wisconsin. The firm has high expectations for its team and high regard for its clients, as it ensures precision and professionalism in every home design, development, and construction project it undertakes.

Clients and industry experts alike laud Bear Homes, LLC for its knowledge, high industry standards, and, above all, the diligent follow-up that defines and distinguishes the firm’s customer service. The firm creates each home with careful consideration of architecture, materials, community amenities, and economics. As members of various industry associations, such as the NAHB, the Wisconsin Builders Association, and Focus on Energy, the firm can select the best and most appropriate designs and materials for specific client needs. Additionally, being affiliated with these organizations enables the firm to learn and employ better and more sustainable building techniques continuously.

Joseph Douglas Homes

N50 W13740 Overview Dr. Suite D, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

Joseph Douglas Homes has provided Southeastern Wisconsin homeowners with award-winning building and remodeling services for nearly three decades. The firm can build a space according to its own or a client’s plans or design a one-of-a-kind home from the ground up. 

All Joseph Douglas homes are not only built to Energy Star standards but are also certified by an independent entity, which ensures that every Joseph Douglas home conforms to the highest energy efficiency standards. The firm ensures sustainable practices and the use of energy-efficient equipment, such as high-efficiency furnaces, direct-vent fireplaces, power-vented hot water heaters, and more.

Joseph Douglas Homes built an award-winning split-bedroom ranch called the Bristol in the Sussex subdivision. With many custom features, the 3,809-square-foot French country residence has an impressive roof line and a grand porch. The home features a luxurious master suite with plenty of space for a sitting area, a king-size bed, and two walk-in closets. A private bath houses a double vanity, a big shower, and a separate water closet.

At the other end of the first floor is another bedroom with a private bath, a laundry room, a guest powder room, and a mudroom. Meanwhile, the lower level houses a bar, a theater area, and a billiards room, making it the perfect place to hang out and relax. This same level is completed by a third bedroom with a full bathroom and an exercise room.

Belman Homes

1407 E Sunset Dr., Waukesha, WI 53189

For over 35 years, Belman Homes has served many communities as land developers, realtors, and home and green home building experts. Founded by Don Belman and his son, David, the firm quickly built a reputation for constructing and selling outstanding properties. The firm’s projects have been acclaimed by distinguished industry associations, such as the NARI and the MBA, and have won prestigious awards, such as the MBA Builder of the Year Award. A preferred pick among the many Milwaukee custom home builders. it won the 2022 Wisconsin Builders Association Builder of the Year Award.

One of the firm’s most prominent builds is a 4,667-square-foot home with five bedrooms, three and a half baths, a three-and-a-half car garage, and smart home features. The house touts a full-view screened-in porch and bright windows against a beautiful hand-split stone exterior. Meanwhile, the interior features a grand foyer with a barrel vault ceiling leading into a 13-foot-tall great room. Similarly, the first floor houses a lofty master suite with tall ceilings, a spacious wardrobe closet, and an impressive bath with a freestanding Kohler VibrAcoustic tub and a digital shower system.

On the second level, there are four spacious bedrooms, twin computer workstations, and a compartment bath that accommodates two people at the same time. A hidden room can also be accessed through the double staircase and features an indoor tree fort, swings, and play areas. On the other hand, a finished lower level features a rich bar accented with stone, columns, glass, and custom cabinetry. Found on the same level are a large activity room, a fifth bedroom, and a full bathroom.

Tim O’Brien Homes

N27 W24075 Paul Ct., Pewaukee, WI 53072

Tim O’Brien Homes has been striving to improve the home building experience for nearly two decades by concentrating on energy efficiency, innovative designs, green building practices, and renewable technologies. The firm provides a five-year energy savings guarantee, a ten-year limited warranty, and green saving benefits that ensure value, longevity, and comfort. One of the best custom home builders in Milwaukee, it was given the National Association of Home Builders 2016 Silver NHQ award.

The firm’s projects are reflections of its dedication to sustainable living. Tim O’Brien Homes’ building processes are based on preserving natural resources while ensuring value and comfort. For every project, the firm’s team of knowledgeable and dedicated experts create smart floor plans and select eco-friendly features with lower maintenance costs and help save money on utility bills. Tim O’Brien Homes has earned various awards, including the MBA Builder of the Year and Energy Star Leadership in Housing awards. One of the firm’s homes was recognized as the First NAHB Certified Green Home in Wisconsin.

Korndoerfer Homes

7900 Durand Ave., Building 10, Sturtevant, WI 53177

From the first Korndoerfer home built in 1926 to the many homes that followed, the firm has maintained its commitment to using the finest materials and employing sustainable techniques. Korndoerfer Homes provides homeowners in Southeastern Wisconsin with custom home building and land development services while always striving for quality, value, and architectural character. The firm is a Racine Kenosha Builders Association (RKBA) member, which has constantly recognized and awarded its projects for their quality and design.

One of the firm’s most impressive builds is the Summerhill in the Shadow Wood neighborhood in Mount Pleasant. The 2,622-square-foot home features an open concept for cooking, dining, and lounging and includes three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and a three-car garage. The house has a great room with a corner fireplace made of stacked stone and a sunroom with three walls made entirely of windows. The main floor is finished with a flex room with double glass doors, a laundry room, a mudroom, and a master suite. The master suite boasts a spa-like bathroom that showcases a tile shower with a bench, vanities with quartz countertops, and a large walk-in closet. Upstairs are two bedrooms, a homework loft, and a full bath with a double-bowl sink.

Aspen Homes, Inc.

325 Oakton Ave. Suite #202, Pewaukee, WI 53072

For the past 29 years, Aspen Homes, Inc. has built hundreds of homes throughout Wisconsin. Whether selecting the perfect countertop or finding a special lighting fixture, the Aspen team is dedicated to building clients’ custom homes to suit their individual personalities and lifestyles. This has helped the firm position itself among the leading affordable home builders in Milwaukee.

The Kacey exemplifies the firm’s creativity and building expertise. Rustic stonework, decorative brackets, and Cedar shakes flavor this home’s exterior with Old World French styling, while a Modern open-plan layout characterizes the interior. The core of the home is comprised of a great room with expansive windows and an intricate fireplace, a kitchen with a granite island and a spacious pantry, and a roomy dining area perfect for a sit-down meal. Just past the dining area is a secluded master bedroom suite with a bathroom, a walk-in closet, and personal laundry facilities. Meanwhile, the upper level includes three bedrooms, a loft, a large bathroom, and an additional laundry area.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of contractors, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the custom home builders in the Milwaukee area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.