Are you looking for a quality builder to build your dream home in Naperville? Your home is the center of your life, a place to feel safe and comfortable and to enjoy family life.
Now is a great time to build your own home, as the real estate market in Naperville is booming. However, building a custom home is a big decision. It will probably be the most expensive purchase you ever make, so choosing the right builder is crucial. A good builder will make your dream a reality, whereas a bad builder can turn a dream home into a nightmare!
As a lifelong Naperville resident, I’ve seen hundreds of new homes constructed in the local area and have visited the custom homes of friends and family who have worked with the very best home builders in Naperville.
In this article, I’m going to share my tips on how to select a homebuilder, what to expect from the process, and seven of the best Naperville homebuilders based on my own experience, word-of-mouth reputation, reviews, and awards.
Top Home Builders in Naperville
If you’re looking for the best home builders in Naperville then any of these seven companies would be a fine choice. But which of Naperville’s top home builders is right for you? I’m here to guide you through their unique strengths and specialisms.
1. DJK Builders
DJK Builders has been building custom homes and remodeling homes in Naperville and surrounding areas since 1988. Founded by Dan Kittilsen and his wife Kim, DJK Builders are notable for their commitment to constructing homes that are not only beautiful but also healthy and energy efficient.
With a focus on sustainability, the company offers ‘Eco-Smart’ home designs that are built to meet LEED Platinum certification. They are also an Energy Star partner, which means their custom homes are built to meet Energy Star certification standards. Not only is this good for the environment, but it also helps to lower energy bills.
Custom homes built by DJK Builders range in price from c.$750,000 to over $5 million. The company is a consistent winner in the annual Best of Naperville Awards.
Customer testimonial:
“This spring we took ownership of a gorgeous custom home built by DJK Custom Homes. Our experience with our them has been nothing short of exceptional. From start to finish, their unwavering dedication, impeccable craftsmanship, and attention to detail have surpassed our expectations.” – David Winston via Google Reviews
At a glance
- Address: 532 S Webster St, Naperville, IL 60540
- Website: djkhomes.com
- Phone: 630-369-1953
- Email: djkhomes.com/contact-us
- Best for: Sustainability
2. King’s Court Builders
Led by owner Pete Stefani, King’s Court Builders has over 30 years of experience in building custom homes in the Naperville area. Pete still runs day-to-day operations, along with a team that strives to offer excellent customer service before your build, during construction, and after closing.
King’s Court Builders refer to themselves as “The Confidence Builder” because of the company’s focus on providing an exceptional custom home-building experience with core principles of honesty and integrity.
They specialize in single-family custom homes and offer a range of floorplans. They will also happily support customers in the customization of floor plans to design a home that incorporates the customer’s own ideas.
For added peace of mind, King’s Court Builders also offers an extended warranty of two years, rather than the standard one-year warranty that is required by state law. This extended warranty reflects the builder’s confidence in the quality of their work, and this quality has also been recognized with multiple Best of Houzz award wins.
Customer testimonial:
“My wife and I really enjoyed the home-building experience with King’s Court. Pete and his staff were truly professional and guided us through every step of the way. We were also very impressed with the subcontractors they work with. The qualify of their craftsmanship was truly top notch.” – Matthew Strauch via Google Reviews
At a glance
- Address: 4284 Lacebark Ln, Naperville, IL 60564
- Website: kingscourtbuilders.com
- Phone: 630-904-2036
- Email: [email protected]
- Best for: Extended warranty
3. Overstreet
Established in 1961 by founders Walter Overstreet and Edith Overstreet, Overstreet Builders has remained a family business for over six decades. Today, the company is led by its President, Doug Overstreet, while Greg Overstreet serves as Project Manager and Jessica Overstreet heads up Sales & Marketing.
The company specializes in constructing custom-built homes throughout the Chicago suburbs. Their current projects include Hidden Creek, Naperville, and Highland Woods, Elgin. They offer a complete end-to-end service, even helping you find and evaluate the land you need to build your home if required.
Once you have your site location, Overstreet Builders will help you set a realistic budget and timeline for your build, based on a home design from one of their dozens of floorplans. They can also customize floor plans to build a unique home to your specifications.
Customer testimonial:
“Overstreet did an amazing job on our home! We went over the top on our upgrades and they worked with us every step of the way. We were able to take a stock floorplan and heavily customize it for our needs. It is exactly what we wanted and more. They have been responsive after the closing for warranty needs as well.” – Samantha Albarran via Google Reviews
At a glance
- Address: 3952 Caliente Cir, Naperville, IL 60564
- Website: overstreetbuilders.com
- Phone: 630-226-0460
- Email: overstreetbuilders.com/contact
- Best for: Working with a family business
4. SG Home Builders
SG Home Builders has been in operation since 2007, when they began making custom homes as well as offering remodeling and handyman services around Naperville.
The company takes a personalized approach to every build, working with customers to add bespoke touches and make sure that the home matches the client’s expectations. This is reflected in SG Home Builder’s stated goal “to create a home that is not only beautiful and functional but also reflects the unique personality of its owner.”
If you choose to work with SG Home Builders on your custom home build then you can expect to fill in a lengthy questionnaire that will help the company to understand your needs. This is a crucial step in the process, as it enables the builders to create a bespoke plan for your home and tailor their plan to your vision.
Customer testimonial:
“We were so fortunate to have had SG builders to complete our custom home. They were diligent and professional to work with. We especially valued their integrity and transparency throughout the whole process. SG has solid relationships with their trades people and it shows in the quality of work.” – Kal Patel via Google Reviews
At a glance
- Address: 1312 Heatherton Dr, Naperville, IL 60563
- Website: sghomebuilders.com
- Phone: 847-602-7641
- Email: [email protected]
- Best for: Bespoke designs
5. Gander Builders
Gander Builders specializes in ultra-luxury homes in the Chicago suburbs. Operated by the Lecas Family, the owner of the company, Steve Lecas, and his son Jarrett bring decades of experience to every job.
Steve has literally written the book on building custom homes, as the author of Building a Quality Custom Home – What You Need to Know, he knows the custom-build process inside out.
Based in Frankfort, Illinois, Gander Builders has built and remodeled hundreds of ultra-luxury homes in ‘upscale suburbs’ throughout Chicagoland. The company’s work has been recognized with multiple Houzz awards for design and service.
Customer testimonial:
“Working with Steve, Sue and Jarrett was an absolute joy. From design to conception, the
process was just great and while a lot of people think the process of building is stressful, we truly enjoyed it! Their ideas and vision were just remarkable and if you just trust the process, the outcome will blow you away.” – Jeff Earll via Google Reviews
At a glance
- Address: 90 Lawndale Blvd, Frankfort, IL 60423
- Website: ganderbuilders.com
- Phone: 815-693-9288
- Email: [email protected]
- Best for: Ultra-luxury
6. 5th Avenue Construction
5th Avenue Construction was founded in 2009 by Frank Dimperio and Patrick Timmons. They have more than four decades of experience in residential construction around Chicagoland and their work emphasizes ‘inspired design, transparency, and the use of high-quality, sustainable construction materials’.
A major project for the company is Wehri Place, Naperville, where they are building ten stunning new homes. It’s a fantastic location, surrounded by parks and nature but still within easy reach of the city.
When you work with 5th Avenue Construction, the first step in their process is a design meeting, where they attempt to turn your dream and vision into reality. Design meetings are held at the company’s Naperville show home.
Customer testimonial:
“5th Avenue was just a wonderful builder to work with, they answered all my questions and were with me every step of my homebuilding process. I would highly recommend 5th Avenue Construction to everyone!” – Tine Coker via Google Reviews
At a glance
- Address: 106 Stephen Street Suite LL10, Lemont, IL 60439
- Website: buildwith5th.com
- Phone: 331-255-7500
- Email: buildwith5th.com/contact-us
- Best for: Step-by-step support
7. Oak Hill Builders
Oak Hill Builders was founded in 1988 by Nick Stanitz. He remains President of the company to this day and can often be found interacting with customers at the company’s model home.
After building their first custom home in 1989, Oak Hill Builders grew consistently through the 1990s and 2000s, building many more properties in and around Naperville.
In 2018, the company purchased Clow Creek Farm for $5.6 million where it is currently undertaking a major construction project. The development is well-positioned in a sought-after location east of Route 59 and includes 61 luxury custom and semi-custom homes ranging from 2,500 square feet to more than 5,000 square feet. It will also feature a monument dedicated to the Clow Family, who settled in Naperville in 1844.
Customer testimonial:
“Nick at Oak Hill Builders helped me design and build my home over 24 years ago. I have never had a problem with any of the construction work, detail work, windows, basement, etc, n all the years! He builds a fantastic house – one to last.” Carla Stainer via Google Reviews
At a glance
- Address: 4012 Alfalfa Ln, Naperville, IL 60564
- Website: oakhillbuilders.com
- Phone: 630-904-3701
- Email: [email protected]
- Best for: New home communities
Selecting the Right Home Builder
Choosing the right home builder is a vital step in constructing your own custom home. I highly recommend choosing a local Naperville builder for three important reasons.
- Local building codes: A local builder will understand local building codes and regulations. This ensures that your home is built to Naperville standards and avoids any costly delays or complications.
- Local relationships: The best Naperville home builders will have strong relationships with local subcontractors, which will help them to get the best prices and keep the construction process running smoothly.
- Knowledge of local geography: Local building companies will have built other houses in the area, meaning they will be familiar with the Naperville terrain and climate and can predict and prepare for any potential challenges.
Hopefully, you see the value in choosing one of Naperville’s local contractors to build your custom home. But how do you choose which of the top Naperville builders to work with? I recommend narrowing your search by quality, reliability, and reputation.
- Quality: Before selecting a builder, find out about their past projects and take the time to visit their previous builds and take a look at their work. Don’t just look at photographs on their website! You need to see what their construction work looks like in person.
- Reliability: One of the most important attributes of a builder is reliability. The last thing you need is for them to disappear when they should be on the job or fall way behind schedule. Read reviews and speak with previous clients to get an idea of how reliable each builder is.
- Reputation: As well as looking at quality and reliability, there are many other attributes of a top builder. These include communication, professionalism, price, honesty, integrity, helpfulness, and many more. The best way to judge these attributes is through reading online reviews and seeking out personal recommendations. You should also speak with multiple builders to hear what each has to say about their service.
What to Expect When Working With a Home Builder
Understanding the processes involved when working with a home builder is essential for your peace of mind and so that you can monitor the builder’s work and ensure your project stays on track.
Every project varies, but the following is a general guide to the steps and timelines you should expect when embarking upon a custom home build.
- Initial consultation (1-2 weeks): Sharing your vision with the builder, looking at their past projects, and discussing budgets.
- Evaluating your site (2-4 weeks): The builder will visit your site and discuss its unique characteristics with you, as well as issues such as zoning regulations.
- Design (4-8 weeks): Design will usually start with a standard floor plan, which you can adjust along with your designer to create a bespoke layout to suit your needs.
- Detailed budget & contract (2-4 weeks): You agree the specifics of your build with the construction company, including the final cost.
- Permitting (4-8 weeks): Your construction company will obtain the necessary permits required to begin construction work.
- Pre-construction (2-4 weeks): Clearing and preparing the site and finalizing construction timelines.
- Construction (6-12 months): The complete build of your new custom home, from foundations to exterior and interior works, finishing, and final inspections.
- Final inspection (1-2 weeks): You arrange a date to meet the builder, walk through the property together and discuss any outstanding issues.
- Ongoing support (1-2 year warranty): During your warranty period you should remain in contact with your builder and promptly raise any issues for them to fix within the terms of your warranty agreement.
Of course, no two projects are the same and the above is only a guide. Unforeseen issues with the build as well as external factors, such as weather, can often cause delays.
The most important thing is to remain in constant communication with your builder to ensure you are clear about what is happening on your project at all times.
Final Words
Building your own home in the beautiful city of Naperville is an exciting prospect. But it can be worrying too. You’ll be committing hundreds of thousands of dollars – or potentially even more – to a process that will be largely out of your hands once you sign a contract and your chosen building company starts work.
It’s critical that you choose an experienced, skilled, honest, and reliable builder to entrust with the biggest purchase of your life. Your decision will affect the quality of your home, the speed and cost of construction, and the overall experience of going through a home-build project.
I highly recommend working with a local building company, as they will have knowledge of local building codes, understand the geography of the area, and have valuable relationships with local suppliers. They will also have worked on other local projects, which will give you the chance to see their work in person and research their reputation with previous clients.
Which building company you choose is up to you, as different companies will be the right fit for different clients and projects. However, by starting with one of the seven best building companies in Naperville, you know that whichever company you choose will bring the experience and skill to get the job done well.
