01 · Custom Homes
A custom home builder who treats your house as if it were her own
Custom home building in Nashville and Middle Tennessee — on your lot or ours, from plans and permits through the final walk-through, by a woman-owned builder with 113 five-star reviews.
If cookie-cutter subdivisions leave you cold, this is the page for you. Southern Belle Construction builds one-of-a-kind homes across Nashville and the counties around it: farmhouses on acreage in Sumner and Robertson, estate lots in Williamson, infill on tight Davidson County lots. You bring the land, the plans or just the idea; we bring a licensed general contractor, a project manager who answers the phone, and a schedule you can hold us to.
What does it cost to build a custom home in Middle Tennessee?
Most true custom homes we see in the Nashville area run roughly $200 to $350 per square foot for construction, before land, and well past that for high-end finishes or difficult sites. Three things move the number more than any other: the site (grading, rock, septic versus sewer, driveway length), the roof and exterior complexity, and the finish level in kitchens and baths. We price every home line by line and show you where the money goes, so you can move it where it matters most to you.
“Doug and the entire team did a tremendous job at our house.”
How long does a custom home take to build?
Plan on eight to fourteen months from breaking ground to keys for a typical custom home, plus two to four months before that for design, engineering and permits. Weather, inspection schedules and selection deadlines are the usual reasons a build slips; our project manager tracks all three on a calendar you can see.
Do you build on my lot?
Yes. Most of our custom homes are built on land the owner already has, from a half-acre in Hendersonville to twenty acres outside Springfield. We will walk the lot with you before you buy if you have not closed yet — where the house should sit, what utilities cost to bring in, and whether the soil will need engineered footings are the questions to answer before the plans are drawn.
Who designs the house?
You have three paths. Bring us a finished set of plans from an architect or designer and we build from them. Bring a plan you found online and we will have it modified and engineered for Tennessee codes. Or start from a conversation with us and we will connect you with a designer we trust and sit in on the meetings, so what gets drawn is something that can actually be built on your budget.
The work
Custom homes we have built
Answers
Custom Homes: the questions people ask
Something else on your mind? Ask us or call (615) 815-7698.
What is the difference between a custom home and a semi-custom home?
A custom home is designed for you and your lot from scratch or from plans you choose and modify; a semi-custom home is a builder’s existing plan with limited changes. Southern Belle builds true custom homes on your land, with plans you own, and can also modify a plan you found online.
Do I need to own land before I talk to a custom home builder?
No. Talking to us before you buy is the smartest order — we will walk a lot with you and flag grading, rock, septic, utility and setback issues that change what it costs to build there. Once you own it, we help with the plan and the budget.
Do you build barndominiums and modern farmhouses?
Yes. Metal-roofed farmhouses, board-and-batten exteriors and barndominium-style homes on acreage are among our most requested builds in Sumner, Robertson and Wilson counties, along with brick and stone traditional homes in Williamson and Davidson.
What size custom homes do you build?
Most of our custom homes run from about 2,000 to 5,000 square feet, along with detached garages, pool houses and in-law suites built alongside them. We also build smaller cottages and larger estates; the process and the attention are the same.
Can you build a house from plans I found online?
Yes. Purchased plans need to be reviewed for Tennessee codes, engineered for your lot and often adjusted for the way you live; we coordinate that with a designer and an engineer, then build from the finished set.
How are payments structured on a custom home?
Through a written contract with a deposit and progress draws at milestones such as foundation, framing, dry-in and finishes, whether you pay directly or through a construction loan. Your lender inspects each draw, and so can you.
Free estimate
Tell us about the house you have and the one you want.
A conversation, a site visit and a written estimate — free, unhurried and without obligation. We answer within one business day.