With a population sparsely spread throughout its vast landscape, South Dakota has an enviable environment perfect for a serene and well-balanced lifestyle. Homeowners and those who are eyeing to come to the Mouth Rushmore State should consider this list of the best custom home builders in South Dakota. Custom home building is tedious and elaborate, but with the right builder, this process could easily be accomplished in a swift and correct manner.
Our editorial team gathered these firms by compiling a number of local home builders and assessing their capacity through a set of criteria that gauges the builders’ overall work history. The criteria consider each firm’s awards, accolades, and the overall capability to make quality custom homes.
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
A-Plus Construction
411 E 41st St., Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Since 1994, A-Plus Construction has been producing award-winning homes with a customer-first approach. In A-Plus’ more than 400 completed homes, several have won the Parade of Homes award in the spring and fall seasons of 2012 and 2013.
A-Plus assures that the customer is involved in the process as much as possible. The firm assists in picking a location, creating a design plan, and mobilizing the construction process. This streamlined method is reflected in the firm’s projects, such as this charcoal black home with a high elevation and several stories. The home may have traditional elements, but the color and the layout make it one of the most stylish projects completed by A-Plus.
Boden Construction
When it comes to custom homes in the Black Hills, Boden Construction has emerged as one of the primary names in the area. The firm is known for building numerous types of houses, from mountain homes to modern buildings. This minimalist mountain home was built to accompany the environmentally-conscious lifestyle of the homeowners. The facade of the home has a unique two-tone wood color, and the irregularly-placed window panels give the home a modern touch.
Boden is run by Adam Bodensteiner, a second-generation builder. The Bodensteiner family has been running the firm since 1972. The firm was founded by Don Bodensteiner and passed to his eldest son, Jon. After Jon’s untimely passing in 2013, the leadership was passed to his younger brother, Adam.
Brookings Built Green
120 Main Ave. S, Brookings, SD 57006
Specializing in custom homes and green building, Brookings Built Green has made a name in this area of South Dakota. The firm has been featured in publications such as 605 Magazine. Founded by Dusten Hendrickson in 2011, the firm has built its customer base through a strong adherence to the principles of making homes that match the specific lifestyle of homeowners.
The company creates custom homes, such as this modern home with bungalow design elements. Brookings Built Green was able to capture the needs of the homeowner’s lifestyle in this compact home. The layout and styling of the home were paired with a highly personalized set of storage spaces and related home systems to optimize the building for its homeowners and their pets.
Dakota Territory Custom Homes
2821 E 10th St. Suite #7, Sioux Falls, SD 57103
Dakota Territory Custom Homes is among Sioux Falls’s most revered custom home builders. Kelvin and Patty Lawrence, native South Dakotans and Sioux Falls residents, understand the local market well and the demands of their fellow South Dakotans. This gives them the edge to provide unparalleled customer service to homeowners.
Dakota Territory Custom Homes provides both speculative homes and custom homes for locals. Homes such as this Colonial Bungalow home can be found in the firm’s portfolio. In this project, Dakota Territory used a combination of stonework and wood to achieve a refined home in neutral and earth tones. The home’s mature and confident design choices lead to a strong, traditional appearance.
Deffenbaugh Homes
4301 W 57th St. Suite #110B, Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Deffenbaugh Homes is one of the primary names in Sioux Falls for home building and remodeling. The company has made a name for themselves, thanks to their artisan approach and admirable portfolio of contemporary homes rooted in more traditional styles. Dudley and Jesse Deffenbaugh lead the team of craftsmen in building distinctive and highly-personalized homes. The family business gained local prominence through excellent build-outs that have been praised for their elegant, contemporary appeal.
The featured home is the Oak Hollow Residence, a property completed in 2017. Through the aid of 4D Design + Consulting, this massive residence in Sioux Falls was completed with no frills. The home is a contemporary reimagining of the traditional home structure, finished with the tasteful use of several materials that contrast with each other. The wood with dark tones complements the neutral tones of the stonework very well, resulting in an impressive facade that is truly unique to the home.
GA Johnson Construction
27153 SD-115 Suite #101, Harrisburg, SD 57032
GA Johnson Construction is a true Sioux Falls contractor. With projects in commercial, agricultural, manufacturing, and residential aspects, GA Johnson has maintained a diverse and loyal customer base. Accredited by the Home Builders Association (HBA) of the Sioux Empire, the firm is trusted to comply with the specifications and standards of the state.
GA Johnson’s lengthy experience in homebuilding has led to a portfolio filled with impressive home styles from Ranch to modern masterpieces. The firm has also built a wide range of home types, making it one of the most flexible firms on this list when it comes to the array of home types and styles.
Glammeier Homes
25474 475th Ave., Baltic, SD 57003
Hailed as one of Sioux Falls’ most admired contractors, Glammeier Homes operates with a premium on budget-friendly finishes, in-house design, and construction team, on top of a wide range of home building options. A member of the HBA of the Sioux Empire, Glammeier has positioned itself as one of the area’s most acknowledged builders.
The firm has a portfolio that encompasses homes with truly unique designs and layouts. Featured here is a custom residence with earth tones and a classic combination of stonework and wood. The elevated home has predominant shades of brown.
Heilman Homes
507 11th St. SE, Watertown, SD 57201
Heilman Homes has been constructing commercial spaces and custom homes all over South Dakota for over 30 years. Heilman has attracted its following by offering versatility in options, building everything from starter homes to high-end custom homes and remodels to commercial projects.
Heilman generously offers to create the floor plan of its customers’ dream homes free of charge, as an effort to make the building process more immersive and welcoming to the homeowners. As a result, homes built by Heilan Homes have a personalized and authentic feel. Take, for example, this home done in shades of black and dark gray. The home’s uniqueness shows the personal and bespoke nature of Heilman Homes.
Jarrod Smart Construction
820 E Amidon St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Separating itself from the competition through unparalleled craftsmanship, Jarrod Smart Construction serves Sioux Falls and its immediate areas. Complete with certifications from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the firm maintains up-to-standard construction methods.
Jarrod Smart Construction’s bold business direction is evident in its portfolio. This Mediterranean home, for example, could only be built through proper and thoughtful building methods. The home has intricate design and specifications that could easily be wronged by inexperienced builders. Despite the stakes, Jarrod Smart Construction completed the massive project in an accurate and efficient manner. As depicted in the photo, the home has earth tones and a traditional Mediterranean structure, paired with a highly complex arrangement of detailings and patterns.
Mountain Woodworks
2023 1st Ave., Rapid City, SD 57702
Mountain Woodworks is a renowned maker of fine custom homes. For more than three decades, the firm has built picturesque homes across Black Hills, Western Wyoming, and Park City in Utah. Mountain Woodworks also has projects in Montana, Colorado, and Idaho. With this massive reach and strong specialization in wooden custom homes, the firm has amassed a strong customer base in these communities.
Projects built by Mountain Woodworks have a distinct look primarily because of the firm’s adoration for mountain rustic design and love of woodwork. Commercial establishments and custom homes alike are built primarily with outstanding woodwork and high-quality timber. Homeowners who love wooden structures should consider investing in one of Mountain Woodworks’s impressive creations.
Oakland Homes
312 E Holly Blvd., Brandon, SD 57005
Oakland Homes has been building new homes in Sioux Falls for over a decade. In those years, Oakland Homes has built a significant following by building luxury homes and providing well-received customer service. Hiring Oakland Homes means hiring a highly-experienced team of professionals that can handle all of the facets of the home building process—from home excavation to finishings to inspections.
Oakland has built multiple homes in the area, most of which are Bungalow homes with close-to-ground elevation and continuous layout. These no-nonsense and elegant homes have enabled Oakland Homes to be included in several Parade of Homes by the HBA of the Sioux Empire.
Rae Marie Homes
Hilltop Office Plz. 211 Main St. Suite #207, Spearfish, SD 57783
Spearfish-based Rae Marie Homes is a design-build contractor for home construction, remodeling, and other home services. Servicing the Black Hills and the surrounding areas, Rae Marie Homes has completed several home build-outs with an emphasis on honest, transparent, and reasonable process. Second-generation homebuilder Kurt Campbell builds his customer base through his impressive high-end custom homes for local families.
Rae Marie Homes’ design-build model involves a complete step-by-step process, from in-depth consultations to the construction proper. Looking at completed projects, onlookers will see the thoughtfulness of the design and how it fits the neighborhood lifestyle of Black Hills communities. The featured home borrows traditional and Bungalow elements but was given a literal and figurative twist by geometric lines and sloped roofing.
Shawn’s Custom Homes
1836 US-14, Brookings, SD 57006
Shawn Knapp’s contracting firm is the result of his efforts in remodeling, interior finishing, and custom build-outs. With a team of industry professionals providing exceptional workmanship and usage of high-quality materials, Knapp has captured locals of Brookings and Madison.
Shawn’s Custom Homes is known for its high standards in its services, which is a reflection of the firm’s attention to detail and its tailored approach. Looking at the firm’s previous projects verifies the qualities that made the firm revered locally. This Cabin at Lake Poinsett, for example, is a tasteful rendition of the cabin-style home. The deep blue color and the stonework setting pairs perfectly to make a sophisticated and original custom home.
Timberline Builders
125 E Colorado Blvd. Suite #2C, Spearfish, SD 57783
With four decades of industry experience, Timberline Builders is well-versed in the custom home building and remodeling of homes and establishments in the Black Hills region. Led by Michael and Jenny Greslin, the firm has focused on building client relationships just as much as building homes.
Over the years, Timberline has been acknowledged for its consistency, thoroughness, and attention to detail. These qualities are reflected in the firm’s portfolio. The Greenview custom home is a tasteful combination of fine timberwork and stonework. Timberline utilized hand-scraped logs to emulate a rustic and cozy aesthetic. This testifies the firm’s high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
WT Construction
PO Box 185, Brandon, SD 57005
Award-winning home builder WT Construction is a construction institution established in 2007. Since then, the firm has garnered multiple awards and distinctions, including multiple awards of excellence and Sioux Falls Parade of Homes awards. Willie and Becca Tschetter have spent almost two decades perfecting their craft through the principles of honesty, flexibility, and straightforwardness.
In line with these principles, WT Construction has a strong array of custom homes that are stylish and simple. The modern and stylish home in the photo is among one of the firm’s most innovative works. Straight lines lead the wood and metal into a progressive atmosphere that makes the home appealing as well as functional.
How can I find a contractor or home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best residential contractors and home builders in and near South Dakota. If you don’t see your city or project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.
Custom home builders in the United States
About Our Rankings
This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.
Get Bids For Your Build
If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
