One of the best parts of living in Western Michigan is the proximity to the absolutely stunning Lake Michigan. Charming small towns dot the shores of Lake Michigan, offering outdoor fun and prime access to the beach. One great example of this type of town is Saugatuck – an art community with easy access to beautiful beaches.
Saugatuck is a small town approximately 40 minutes west of Grand Rapids that is a popular tourist destination – and a wonderful place to live. Just 1.5 square miles in size, Saugatuck is the perfect place to build a custom house as a primary home or a vacation residence. If you’re interested in building a custom house in Saugatuck, our team is here to help.
At Snowden Builders, we are renowned for building luxury custom homes throughout Western Michigan. We take a customer-centric approach, focusing on your desires and needs, and making the process as seamless as possible. If you want to build a high-end custom home in Saugatuck, reach out to our team to learn more about our design and building process.
Why Choose Snowden Builders for Your Custom Home?
For nearly 30 years, Snowden Builders has worked with the best designers and craftsmen in Western Michigan to build premium custom homes. We take pride in building homes that are beautiful, timeless, and expertly crafted. Our homes don’t just look good – they are also built to last.
Unrivaled Craftsmanship
The cornerstone of our work is exceptional craftsmanship. We prioritize using the highest-quality materials possible on your budget, never cutting corners. We know that what we put into your house will be reflected in the finished “product,” so we never skimp when it comes to quality.
We exclusively work with the most respected and trusted tradespeople in West Michigan. We’ve worked with many of our partners for over 25 years. As builders, our reputation is based on the quality of our homes. As a result, we hold our partners and ourselves to a very high standard. By working with well-regarded carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other tradespeople, we can ensure that your home will last for generations.
Personalized Experience
Our team is also known for our commitment to unprecedented customer service and a personalized approach. We don’t treat your build like it’s just another job – we coordinate as a team to provide proactive communication, clear guidance, and unwavering support. We want the process of building your home to be just as enjoyable as getting to live in it.
Collaborative Approach
We don’t just work for you. We work collaboratively with you. Before getting started, we’ll sit down and chat with you. What is your vision for your house? What are your values? How should your home reflect your lifestyle? We want to know all about you – and your dreams for your special space in Saugatuck – so that we can build the perfect home for you.
By taking this more personalized approach, we can make sure that every detail of your house matches your vision and meets your unique needs. We pay attention to the details – both big and little – to make sure that your house is exactly what you have dreamed of when it comes to a Saugatuck retreat.
We know that our clients have a lot of choices when it comes to homebuilders in West Michigan. We are proud of our reputation as one of the best general contractors in Grand Rapids. If you’re in the market for a new custom home in Saugatuck, we’d love to talk to you about your dreams and how we can make them a reality.
Building a Custom Home in Saugatuck
Most people will only build one home in their lifetime. Even if you have previously built a custom home, you might be surprised to find that our process is a bit different. We treat our clients like family, building strong relationships so that we can work collaboratively to achieve a common goal: an absolutely beautiful, expertly-crafted custom home. So, how does it all happen?
Initial Consultation
We always start with a consultation. Essentially, we want to get to know you and what your vision is for your Saugatuck custom house. While each consultation is a little different, our ultimate goal is to find out more about you and what you want in your home. We might ask questions like:
- Why do you want to build a home in Saugatuck? Do you plan to live there full-time? Will this be a vacation home? Do you plan to rent out your house?
- What do you like to do? Are you into entertaining and hosting guests? Do you want a place where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life?
- What type of property do you want to build your house on? Are you hoping for a waterfront site? A more wooded piece of land? Do you need help finding a plot of land?
We can also dig into the specifics a bit, including the general process and how long it will likely take to build your house. We can also give you a ballpark estimate of the proposed cost so that you can assess financing options if necessary. We are happy to answer any questions that you might have about any aspect of the custom home building process during this first meeting.
Homesite Inspection
If you decide to work with our team, we’ll get to work on the next steps: inspecting your home site. Basically, we will need to take a look at the land where you want to build to figure out what might need to happen before we can break ground. For example, will we need to clear trees or large rocks? Are there any zoning issues or restrictions on development? This assessment will factor into both the total cost of your project as well as the construction timeline.
Home Design
Once we know what we’re working with, we’ll start to design your home. Although the thought of designing your own house can seem overwhelming, we are here to help. You can start by checking out our work for home design inspiration. We work with some of the best architects and interior designers in Western Michigan to make the process easier – and to make sure that your final design meets your expectations.
Contract Review
Once your design is finalized, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty: a contract with the estimated cost, material terms, and an estimated completion date. These estimates are a good starting point, but it is important to remember that things outside of our control (like tariffs, bad weather, or shipping delays) can affect them. We will always keep you updated about any delays, unexpected costs, or other changes.
Finishing Decisions
With the contract signed, you can obtain financing (if necessary). We can then finalize your home design before breaking ground. This is where you will get to pick out everything from the type of tile you want in your primary bathroom to the style of doors that you want to lead to your deck. While you are making these decisions, we will get to work on obtaining permits so that construction can begin.
Construction
Once everything is finalized and we have the right permits, it’s time to break ground! We’ll prep the land for construction and start digging and pouring the foundation. We’ll then move step-by-step through the construction process – roughing in the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems and framing walls. We will get your approval and make any requested changes before we move to the next phase of the construction.
As part of our commitment to customer service, we welcome homeowners to the construction site. At any point, you can reach out to your project manager to request a tour of the property. This can happen during initial construction stages, all the way through the final touches and finishing work.
Generally, it takes us 7 to 9 months to build a custom house from start to finish. This timeline could change based on your home size and design, lot features, and things like the weather. The most important thing to know is that we will always keep you updated about what you can expect, both in terms of time to completion and any cost changes.
Final Walkthrough
When all of the walls are painted, the appliances are installed, and every light fixture is hung, we will do a final walkthrough of the house with you. This is our chance to show off every detail of your home and how to operate and maintain the different features. It is also your chance to ask us to complete any punch-list items.
Closing
When your Saugatuck custom home is finished to your specifications, we will schedule a closing. This last legal step allows us to transfer the title to you. Once all the paperwork has been signed, we will hand over the keys, and you’ll get to start enjoying your new home in Saugatuck!
About Saugatuck
Located along the shores of Lake Michigan and the Kalamazoo River, Saugatuck is a small town in Allegan County. While Saugatuck has a relatively small population of residents who live in the city year-round (just 865), it is a popular tourist destination. In the summer, the population often swells to over 3,000 people.
Founded in 1830, Saugatuck has long been known as an art colony. With more than a dozen art galleries and great small shops to browse, tourists from throughout the Midwest flock to the city each summer. There are art and music festivals throughout the year. The Saugatuck Center for the Arts is also a major contributor to the town’s culture, featuring concerts, art exhibits, educational events, equity theater, and a green market.
There is plenty to do in Saugatuck beyond the art scene. Given its prime location on both the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan, residents and tourists alike can enjoy the water. The Star of Saugatuck offers tours of these bodies of water, while the Saugatuck Chain Ferry allows people to travel across the river to Oval Beach. Tourists can also take in the view from atop Mount Baldhead, visit the Saugatuck Dunes State Park, or check out the Allegan State Game Area.
Offering a welcoming environment for all, Saugatuck is a wonderful place to visit – and to live. With a strong tourism-based economy and proximity to Grand Rapids, Saugatuck is an ideal location to build a luxury custom home.
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Build Your Dream Home In Saugatuck with Snowden Builders
Saugatuck is an idyllic town nestled along Lake Michigan. It offers art, culture, history, and immense natural beauty. It is a great place to vacation and to live year-round. If you are interested in owning a custom home in Saugatuck, Snowden Builders should be your first call.
Based in Grandville, our family-owned construction company focuses on building high-end custom homes throughout Western Michigan, including the gorgeous beach town of Saugatuck. With decades of experience, relationships with the best craftsmen, and a client-forward approach, we can help translate your dreams of a luxury custom home into reality. To learn more about building a custom home in Saugatuck or to schedule a consultation with a member of our team, give us a call at 616-532-1800 or fill out our online contact form.
