At Snowden Builders, custom home building in Sparta isn’t just our business, it’s our legacy. Owner Bob Snowden was born and raised in Sparta, MI, and comes from a long line of local real estate entrepreneurs who helped shape the community. His grandfather and father ran John E. Snowden Real Estate and J & J Builders, laying the foundation for Bob’s lifelong passion for quality craftsmanship and community-driven service.
Today, Bob continues that tradition by building custom homes throughout Sparta with care, integrity, and deep local knowledge. Every project is personal, an opportunity to give back to the town that helped raise him. If you’re looking to build your dream home in Sparta, partner with a builder who understands the area like only a lifelong resident can. We invite you to reach out to our team to learn more about our work and process.
Why Choose Snowden Builders for Your Custom Home?
For over three generations, the Snowden family has helped homeowners build beautiful custom homes in Western Michigan. We work with the finest designers and craftsmen in the region to ensure that our homes are built to last. When you choose Snowden Builders, you can rest assured knowing that your home will be both well-built and gorgeous.
Unparalleled Craftsmanship
As a construction company, perhaps the most important thing about our work is that it is performed to the absolute highest standards. Exceptional craftsmanship is our calling card as a custom home builder. We use the highest-quality materials available on your budget and only work with trusted tradespeople (many we’ve worked with for over 25 years) whose reputation for quality matches our own.
We also take care to use the best materials possible. We know that if we skimp on any aspect of the build, it will show in the final product. That is why we are committing to sourcing and using top-quality materials without exceeding your budget. The end result is that our custom homes are stunning visually and from a construction standpoint.
A Team Approach
We believe that any successful project requires partnership and teamwork. This includes building a custom home. We want to work with you to make sure that you are getting exactly what you want when it comes to your custom home.
We start by having an open conversation about your vision for the house, your lifestyle, and what you want for your new home in Sparta. By getting to know homeowners, we believe that we can build a better house that is more suited to their wants, needs, and dreams.
The communication doesn’t end after the design process. We collaborate with our clients at each step of the process, from the initial consultation to tours during construction. The ultimate goal is to make sure that your vision is realized, which isn’t possible unless we work together.
Individualized Attention
Building a custom home can be a highly complex and challenging endeavor. It is also a major financial investment. We understand that homeowners can easily get overwhelmed by the process, including the sheer number of decisions to be made. That is why we maintain open communication, answering questions, offering guidance, and being available for whatever you may need. In this way, we hope to make the process of building a Sparta custom home as enjoyable as possible.
Snowden Builders has been recognized as one of the best general contractors in Grand Rapids. This honor is due in part to our commitment to working hand in hand with our clients. If you are considering building a custom home in Sparta, we’d love to chat with you about what you want in a new house – and how we can make it happen.
Recent Home Builds In Sparta
Building a Custom Home in Sparta
For most people, building a luxury custom home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even if you have built a custom home with another builder before, you will likely find that our process is different. We take a more collaborative, team-based approach to designing and building a house so that we can truly translate our clients’ dreams into reality. Read on to learn more about how our process works.
Initial Consultation
Each of our custom home builds starts with a consultation. This meeting is designed to learn more about you and your vision for your home. We often ask a lot of questions so that we can understand what you want, need, and hope for in your Sparta custom house. We might ask you:
- What type of setting do you envision for your Sparta house? Do you want a more rural vibe or to be closer to downtown?
- What features are absolute musts in your home? Do you work remotely and need a dedicated office space? Do your kids have lots of friends over, so you want a space where they can hang out without disturbing the adults?
- What is your lifestyle like? Do you need space to store a boat, an RV, or other sporting equipment? Are you really into entertaining?
During this initial consultation, we can also talk about the details, such as the overall process and timeline. We can also provide a rough estimate of how much your ideal house will cost to build, to allow you to make a plan for financing (if necessary). We can also answer any and all questions you may have about our work, the process, or almost anything else under the sun.
Homesite Inspection
If you already have land in Sparta, the next step will be to inspect the property. We need to understand exactly what we are working with because it will affect both cost and timeline. For example, if the property is heavily wooded, then the expense and time of clearing and leveling the land will be included in the contract. If you haven’t purchased property yet, we can help you find a great piece of land for your new custom house.
Home Design
Once we understand where you want to build, we can get started on the design. This part of the process can be both exciting and daunting, with lots of big and small decisions to be made. Fortunately, we have been doing this for nearly 30 years and can offer a lot of insight into the process. If you need home design inspiration, you can check out our work. We can also connect you with some of the top architects and interior designers in Western Michigan for additional guidance. We know that this process can take time, so we are sure to build that into your timeline so that you don’t feel rushed or pressured.
Contract Review
With a finalized design, it will be time to dig into the details. We will draft a contract that includes the estimated cost of the project, completion date, and other material terms. Keep in mind that these estimates are just that: an approximation based on the particulars of your home design and other selections. There are things that are outside of our control that can affect both budget and timeline, such as supply chain issues, tariffs, and bad weather. We will keep you apprised of any changes, delays, or other issues.
Final Design Choices
With the contract signed and financing secured, we can make final design choices before we start construction. At this stage, you will pick out all of the finishes that you want for your house. This may include everything from choosing your kitchen countertops to selecting the type of hardware you want on your doors. While you are making these decisions, we will get permits so that construction can start on time.
Construction
With the design finalized and the permits secured, we can break ground. We will prepare your property for construction before digging and pouring the foundation. We will then proceed with construction, framing the walls, roughing in the plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems, and putting on a roof. At each stage of construction, we will get your approval and make any changes before we move on to the next phase.
We welcome you to visit the construction site at any point. You will simply need to contact your project manager to ask for a tour of the property. These tours are a good opportunity to see how your design choices look in “real life” (as opposed to on paper). You might make change orders along the way based on these tours, which we are happy to accommodate whenever possible.
It typically takes 6 to 8 months to build a custom house. This time frame might be shorter or longer based on the size of your house, its design, lot features, and factors like the weather. We will make sure that you know exactly where we are in the building process and keep you informed about any changes to the schedule or cost.
Final Walkthrough
When every last detail of your house is finished to your specifications, it will be time for a final walkthrough. We will explain how to operate and maintain the different features and take you through every aspect of your new house. During this tour, you can also ask us to complete any punch-list items.
Closing
The final step in the process is the closing. Just like with buying an existing home, the closing is a process required to officially transfer the legal title of the home to you. After all the paperwork has been signed, you will get the keys to your new Sparta home and can schedule the movers!
About Sparta
Located just 10 miles north of Grand Rapids, Sparta is a village of about 10,000 people in Kent County. Given its close proximity to Grand Rapids, it is a popular place to live if you work in the city. Sparta is also close to Western Michigan’s many gorgeous beaches, including Lake Michigan.
Sparta was initially settled in 1844 by Jonathan Nash, who named the area Nashville. Because there was already a Nashville in Michigan, the State Legislature suggested a new name of Sparta. The village was officially incorporated in 1883.
Sparta is well known as the home of Fenton Records, an independent record company and recording studio. Fenton Records mostly recorded local bands, including Michigan garage bands. Fenton Records did limited runs of records, which makes Fenton vinyl 45 rpm records very collectible.
Many residents love living in Sparta, given its more relaxed, small-town feel. When you live in Sparta, you get all of the benefits of being close to larger cities like Grand Rapids and Lansing, yet you can easily get to know your neighbors. The town hosts many community events, particularly during the summer.
Sparta also offers many different types of homes, including houses directly within the village as well as more rural options with acreage. Kids in the village attend Sparta Area Schools, including Ridgeview Elementary, Appleview Elementary, Sparta Middle School, and Sparta High School. There is also the Sparta Early Childhood Center for younger children.
Some of the more popular restaurants in Sparta include Downtown Trini’s and Margarita Joe’s, Maxine’s, the Garden Patch Restaurant, and Angela’s Italian Restaurant. There are also cute shops in Sparta, like the Sassy Chicken, MI Vinyl World, and Blondie Blossom Boutique. If you’re into the outdoors, there are 8 parks and playgrounds, including Balyeat Field, Buth Field Dog Park, Rogers Park, Library Memorial Park, Nash Park, Spartan Park, Lamoreaux Brothers Veterans Memorial Park, and Sparta Nature Trail.
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Build a Beautiful Custom Home In Sparta with Snowden Builders
Sparta is a charming village just north of Grand Rapids. It offers a small-town, family-friendly feel while still being close to the city. If you are interested in living in Sparta, Snowden Builders can help you build a stunning custom house.
Based in Grandville, Snowden Builders is renowned throughout Western Michigan for our expertly crafted luxury custom homes. We have decades of experience in the industry, partnerships with some of the top craftsmen in the region, and a client-centered approach to building. To learn more about building a custom home in Sparta 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.
