The Best Custom Home Builders in Maryland
Discover the very best Custom Home Builders and Design-Build Firms in Maryland, including Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, and Maryland’s Eastern Shore
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
What is a Custom Home Builder?
Among the many skills and specialties involved in building a new home in Maryland, the role of a Custom Home Builder is integral. Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA), and certified by the Maryland Consumer Protection Division, a Custom Home Builder in Maryland typically works in collaboration with an Architect to develop the plans for a new home and an Interior Designer to help execute and construct the built environment. Conversely, a Custom Home Builder in Maryland may extend the scope of their service to include architecture and interior design within the context of their engagement. In either capacity, a Custom Home Builder in Maryland takes plans, ideas, hopes, and dreams and makes them a reality.
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Featured Maryland Custom Home Builders
Explore a curated selection of the very best Custom Home Builders in Maryland
Bradley Village Colonial of Bethesda, Maryland. Image courtesy of Jennifer Hughes.
The Ship’s Point Estate of Easton, Maryland. Image courtesy of Anice Hoachlander.
MILLERSVILLE, MARYLAND
Winchester Construction Co.
Winchester Construction Co. is a Custom Home Builder in Millersville, Maryland
Riverwood of Potomac, Maryland. Image courtesy of Peak Visuals.
NORTH BETHESDA, MARYLAND
Classic Homes of Maryland
Classic Homes of Maryland is a Custom Home Builder in North Bethesda, Maryland
THE HOMES COLLECTION
The Homes of Maryland
Explore a curated collection of Maryland’s most iconic homes
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Find a Custom Home Builder in Maryland
Whether a new build or home renovation, The Rappahannock River Company can help you find the best Custom Home Builder for the job.
Bradley Village Colonial of Bethesda, Maryland. Image courtesy of Jennifer Hughes.
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Annapolis, Maryland
Discover the best Custom Home Builders in Annapolis, Maryland
Bradley Village Colonial of Bethesda, Maryland. Image courtesy of Jennifer Hughes.
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Montgomery County, Maryland
Discover the best Custom Home Builders in Montgomery County, Maryland
The Ship’s Point Estate of Easton, Maryland. Image courtesy of Anice Hoachlander.
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Baltimore, Maryland
Discover the best Custom Home Builders in Baltimore, Maryland
The Ship’s Point Estate of Easton, Maryland. Image courtesy of Anice Hoachlander.
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Discover the best Custom Home Builders on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Riverwood of Potomac, Maryland. Image courtesy of Peak Visuals.
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Power Rankings
Explore the most popular Custom Home Builders and Design-Build Firms in Maryland for the year ending 2024
5). Fajen & Brown
8). West & Callahan
9). Horizon Builders
CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore frequently asked questions about working with Custom Home Builders in Maryland, including common fee structures, services, and more.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A CUSTOM HOME IN MARYLAND?
In Maryland, a “custom home” is defined as building a new home on land you own.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO FIND A GOOD CUSTOM HOME BUILDER IN MARYLAND?
The best way to find a good Custom Home Builder in Maryland is to ask friends who have recently purchased new homes for recommendations. Once you have a list of Custom Home Builders, conduct interviews with each candidate and ask to review an example of their completed work. Finally, ensure your Custom Home Builder is registered, as Custom Home Builders in Maryland must be registered with the Consumer Protection Division to get building permits and to ensure you are covered by all protections afforded by Maryland state law.
WHAT BUILD OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE WHEN WORKING WITH A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER IN MARYLAND?
Typically, consumers working with a Custom Home Builder can choose from three different build options: Buy a spec home (a completed new home), build a model home based on a design the Custom Home Builder already has in place with light customization, or build a custom home from scratch, which is usually more expensive and a long build process but offers the most options for customization.
DO CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS IN MARYLAND HAVE TO BE LICENSED?
Yes. All Custom Home Builders who build homes in Maryland must be registered with the Consumer Protection Division before they enter into a contract with a consumer for the construction or sale of a new home. Note, Custom Home Builders building homes in Montgomery County, Maryland do not need to be registered with the Consumer Protection Division.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE IN A CONTRACT WITH A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER IN MARYLAND?
In Maryland, a “custom home” is defined as building a new home on land you own. As such, Maryland law requires contracts with Custom Home Builders to include specific items, including: the construction plans and specifications detailing the scope of work, the price, the completion date, default provisions, notice provisions, and remedies for dispute resolution.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER AND A DESIGN BUILD FIRM?
A Design Build Firm is a type of Custom Home Builder where the disparate parts of the project — specifically the upfront design and then the subsequent construction or build — are contextualized under one agreement and one entity. While many Custom Home Builders offer Design Build services, some may only offer construction services, which means a separate entity may be required to satisfy other phases of the project.
WHAT IS A PRINCIPAL OF A CUSTOM HOME BUILDER?
All Custom Home Builders in Maryland have at least one Principal. A Principal is either: a sole proprietor, officer, director, general partner, or limited liability company manager; a person with at least 10 percent ownership, or: parents, spouses, and children with a combined 10 percent ownership in the registered business or a subsidiary of the registered business.
HOW ARE CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS IN MARYLAND TYPICALLY PAID?
Typically, the buyer pays the Custom Home Builder a deposit and then a series of “progress payments” as stated in a “draw schedule” as each stage of the building is completed. Within 30 days after each progress payment, the builder must provide the buyer with a list of the subcontractors and suppliers who have provided more than $500 of goods or services to date and indicate which of them have been paid. The buyer pays the last progress payment after the Custom Home Builder has completed the house and has provided the buyer with the “waivers of liens,” which shows that all subcontractors have been paid and will not file a mechanics lien on the house.
THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER COMPANY
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