CMB was started in 2010 by Colin Bushong, before that Colin helped run Bushong Construction with his father.

What sets CMB apart from other home builders is our expertise in custom carpentry and creative custom details. We employ our own in-house craftsmen, some of whom have worked with us for over 25+ years. We also use the same top notch subcontractors on every project to ensure quality.

No, we at CMB Construction do not build spec homes. Instead we prioritize building our customer's custom dream homes. From beautiful custom trim to stunning architectural details that make a house truly one-of-a-kind. At CMB Construction, we're passionate about bringing your vision to life, ensuring every aspect reflects your individuality and style. No custom home is the same and we enjoy the variety of what our clients choose for their dream home. From the first sketch to the final nail, every detail is tailored to your vision, your lifestyle, and your needs. We're not just building houses. We're creating spaces where memories are made and families gather, where passions flourish, and comfort is abundant. Discover the difference a custom built home can make. Contact us today at www.CMBquality.com. Let's build your dream together.

CMB Construction is location in Traverse City and in general serves anywhere within a 30 mile radius. This includes Old Mission, Suttons Bay, Torch Lake, Maple City, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Omena, Northport, Elk Rapids, Empire, and more! If you'd like to see a more comprehensive list of locations we serve, check out www.CMBquality.com/locations

Hey, I'm Colin Bushong. I'm the owner of CMB Construction. I'm just here to tell you about what we do and how we do it. So we specialize in new custom homes. We really love custom homes that have a high level of detailing. We love custom aspects, we're very creative, and in that we love doing creative, built ins, creative detailing around like we really get excited about this type of stuff. So we have a team of in-house skilled craftsmen this team, some of them have been with us as much as 25 years. They are the same team that has worked on virtually every house we've built. They do all of our trim work, they do all of our cabinetry installs, they do all of our door installs our custom built ins, basically any aspect of wood work. So, you know, the quality that you've seen on any of our past homes is the quality that you're going to be getting on your home. Our vendors and subcontractors are top of the line. We work with the same vendors and subcontractors every time they know our process. We know their process and the products that they they can provide us. So that way we can ensure that we can provide you the look, feel and function you want at a cost that's reasonable and ensure that there are no untied ends in the process. For design on the home, we can help you connect with a list of designers that we have so you can decide who's a good fit for your vision of your home. And in some circumstances, we can help with the design ourselves in kind of a design build capacity. But we are very flexible in our process. So you can come to us with pre done plans. We can help you get plans done with an architect or designer or in the right circumstance. Sometimes we can help you design that as well. One of the main things that we strive for is a smooth process with good communication throughout the process. We want you to understand what's happening at all points, understand where we are in the budget. We utilize an online project management system that you'll have a portal that you can actually go and see where we're at on the budget. You can look at different selections and make selections within that. we can communicate through there. We try to touch base regularly, you know, multiple times a week. Just so you know, what's happening in the project. We like to have regular selections meetings so you can work with us to, pick the items that are going to be installed in your home. And we'll also have regular budget meetings just so we can answer any questions and walk you through where we are in the budget. Another thing that we focus on is large scale renovations. you know, if you're looking to completely renovate an entire home, maybe, maybe a large scale exterior remodel with some interior aspects, we can talk about that. sometimes we'll do a full house renovation with an addition. That's something that we can definitely take care of for you. One benefit that we provide is any and all of our past customers. We will always help them with any home service items that they need. Our goal is to be your one point contact, not only through the construction process but after as well. So say 15 years down the road, you need some deck boards replaced. You need some assist in getting things done? We are always going to be your resource to get that done. We want to be your one and only builder.

At CMB, We handle all labor, subcontractors, vendor logistics and materials delivery so you don't have to worry about. We're a turnkey contractor, so what that means is we're going to be your one point contact throughout this process. We are going to pull permits. We're going to take care of the build construction for you, the clean up. In the end, we're going to hand over keys to a completely finished home for you. We like to try to give good advice. So when you have any questions, we're here to bounce your ideas off of. We can help you decide what type of item might be best in a certain situation based on our experience. We also love to help elaborate on your your design ideas. Sometimes as the house evolves, we can give some advice that might really make it better than expected. Our Selections manager will work with you throughout the selection process to provide context of our trusted, vetted team of vendors and suppliers. You'll work with those points of contact. Ask the vendors and suppliers to choose the items that you can see, feel and touch in your house. This is where you get to make it your business. If flooring is your priority, they're going to help you connect up with our flooring vendor and then the flooring vendor can help you see the selections. They're going to then get that estimate that is provided by the vendor uploaded into our online project management software. And from there you'll have the opportunity to approve both the price and the item that has been chosen. So ultimately you have complete control. But this this selection process is designed to be as easy and flexible as possible for you, just so it makes a more enjoyable build process. One thing that's really important to us is open communication. We want you to always understand what's happening on your project where we are on the budget. If you ever have any concerns, we encourage you to reach out. Talk with us. We want to help with any concerns and make sure that this is all going exactly as you had dropped. So that's very important to us. We try to be reachable at all points. You can reach us by phone, email. Any of our team is accessible when you need them as well. Managing budget and tracking finances is pretty easy with us. We have an online project management software that gives you a portal that you can see our original budget, where we're at in our current budget, where we expect things to be under and over. So we'll know exactly the dollar value of the project at any given point. We choreograph with all of our subcontractors to keep your project on schedule. We have site managers on site, so we're doing daily checks for quality control. I myself personally walk through every site once a week to ensure that the quality level hits the standards that we expect when we're nearly complete with the home. We have a professional cleaning service come through to ensure we get all construction dust, debris out of the home. So it's brand new and clean when you move in. As part of every construction process, we obtain the normal building permits that are needed, which is land use well on septic soil, on erosion and building permits. And we'll take care of all of those permits for you so you don't need to worry about it. One of the things that you'll handle while working with us is choosing the items in your home. So, for instance, your wood floor, your tile, your kitchen cabinets, countertops, those types of items, you'll get to actually choose the exact items that that you need. But this is a job that you will have is working with those vendors. But we're here to make it easy. So you'll go in, you'll pick some items that you like, and then we'll take care of the rest for you. Once we've come to an item that you want in your home, we will upload the final cost estimate to our project management software and you will approve that in there. So that way we're all on the same page on the item that you want and what it does to the budget. So once we've got the items decided, you'll actually select them in our project management software and this will tell us to go ahead and buy this item and it will also lock that cost in our budget. So we're going to know exactly what that aspect is going to cost. One responsibility of yours is when we submit a dryer request monthly, it will be your job to approve that dryer request. So if there's a bank involved, they will fund the payments for the dryer. So it's important to us that our customers come visit our job sites at least once every two months. This just ensures that the two of us are moving cohesively with the vision that you want on your home. And it's also a lot of fun just to see your house under construction. One thing our customers typically take care of is furnishing the home themselves. If you need an assist with that, we can definitely connect you with the local partner. But most of our customers take care of furnishing the home on their own. Our customers will be in charge of taking care of their own window coverings. So blinds, shades, things such as that. You'll need to connect with the local company to help facilitate that. Landscaping is an item that most of our customers take care of themselves, whether they hire a landscaper or do it themselves. If you would like us to handle the landscaping aspect for you, we can work with some of our landscaping vendors, but most typically our customers handle that themselves. The last responsibility, and probably the most important responsibility is for you just to live in and love and enjoy this all. This is a reflection of you and this is something you've worked for your entire life. Live, love and enjoy the home.

Yes, we can talk on the phone, and even meet on site and to discuss your build project.

Starting from the beginning, we start with an initial consultation to ensure we are a match. This is where we can discuss your dream build and address expectations, finances, and timelines. Once we have discussed your build, we can start developing plans with a CMB-approved designer. If you already have buildable plans we can skip this step. After the designer has created the plans for your dream home we will review it to identify any concerns and confirm these plans.  Now that the plans have been confirmed, we will establish a preliminary budget to give insight to what the cost of this project will be. Once you have approved the preliminary budget, we will have you sign a pre-construction agreement. With a signed pre-construction agreement, you get to start your selections process, choosing your preliminary and secondary wants and needs for your home. If you need assistance we can assist with input from our experience in building custom homes, or we can help you bring in an interior designer to help design your dream home! After you have made your selections, we will finalize blueprint and address any other special requests that you may have. Once we have finalized the blueprint and you have made all of your selections, we can then establish final budget for your review and approval. With a reviewed and approved final budget, we will then have you sign the construction agreement for the final scope of work Once you have signed the construction agreement we can then start pulling permits for your build.  After permits have been pulled, we will then walkthrough the site together, discussing how your build will take shape. Permits can have an affect to location of utilities and driveway, ultimately affecting your builds location.  Once we have discussed your build on site, we will create a production schedule for your build, giving you a timeline to completion.  Now we can start building your dream home! We ask that our homeowners visit the site at least once every two months (we welcome you to view your project as much as you'd like) so that you can see the progress we are making, and address any changes you might want before the build is complete.   When it is appropriate, we will walkthrough the electrical plans together and address where you want your outlets, specialty plugs, etc. When the build is complete, we will do one final walkthrough and address any final items you would like. After that we will turn over the keys to your completed dream home where you can relax and enjoy your new home for decades! Lets build together!

While we utilize the same subcontractors for much of the project throughout our builds, we also employ our own master carpenters that do all of our custom woodwork in-house.

We do not have model homes as we build unique custom homes for our clients, but for serious customers we may be able to tour past customers’ builds with their consent.

We can! We regularly participate in the parade of homes, we have an active portfolio here on our website,you can view our active construction sites, and we may be able to, dependent on their consent, set up viewing of past client’s homes!

Yes, we do have client testimonials hosted here on our website. We also have a reference list that we can provide to serious customers, we do respect past client’s privacy, so we do not have that list publicly available.

If you are looking to build a custom home and you don't have property yet, there are still some important decisions we can help you with before committing to a property. Before you have property we will happily talk about what you are envisioning for the design of your home and, with that vision, connect you with our trusted, local architects to help design your home. We can also help vet various sites with both our knowledge of the area and building unique, custom homes. With over 20 years of experience building custom homes in Northern Michigan, we can provide a lot of helpful insight into the locations you desire and what developing that property will take. If you already know where you'd like to build, we can assist you in purchasing your property for your build! Start the conversation today, at www.CMBquality.com

Of course! If you've already established a relationship with an architect or designer, or just prefer their work, you can bring them on to the project. If you don't have a preference or don't even know where to start, we can help with that! We have a list of preferred architects and designers that we have worked with in the past, and customers were very impressed with their services. After we have discussed your vision, we can then connect you with an appropriate professional to help shape that vision. Finding an architect can seem like a daunting task, but our list makes it easy! So let's start talking about your build today!

Selecting a home builder can be an intimidating task, but it can be made easier when you know how to identify who will be a good fit. One of the best resources available to utilize when selecting your custom home builder is reading reviews and testimonials of their past customers. This will reveal a lot about the experience of building with them, and any concerns over their process. Another huge resource is reviewing a builders past work so that you have a good understanding for the product they are capable of producing. That way you can see if their work aligns with your dream home. What sets them apart from other builders? Its important to understand why you want to work with a builder. Whether it's their attention to detail, communication, or overall quality. Another important factor to consider is how efficient their process is. Do you have a clear timeline of where your project will be and when it will be completed? Delays can happen in building, but if your builder is familiar with build times, and manages their team well, you should be able to have an accurate timeline of your home's construction. Also Consider how experienced your builder is. Complications do happen in home building and more experienced builders can identify and overcome these issues as they arise, or even before. Ultimately, we recommend first starting a conversation with your potential builders to see if their style will suite your needs. Building a home is a long journey, and it is very important to consider if you'll work well together. Consider their communication, commitment, and team behind them when making your decision.

Yes, we have an excellent team of Project Managers who have been with us since CMB was founded. Each having more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry, these professionals know exactly what it takes to deliver an exceptional custom home on time. They will ensure that everything in your home is built to the exact specifications that you have designed and that nothing gets overlooked. They will also ensure that the quality of your build is the same that you'll see in every other build of ours. That's not all! We also have a selections manager who will help you every step of the way when choosing the materials, fixtures, and appliances for your home. Learn more about our team at www.CMBquality.com/aboutus

We are constantly educating ourselves by attending trade shows and following new developments in the building industry. Innovative engineered construction materials have revolutionized how we build homes. Paving the way for the large open concept homes we enjoy today. Other materials like zip sheathing have helped create comfortable living spaces, helping eliminate drafts, and in turn increasing energy efficiency. Even innovations like rendering builds from design so that you can see the look of your home before it's built have changed the way we build homes. You no longer have to feel locked into a design without seeing what the end result would be.   Ultimately, we like to keep our finger on the pulse of our industry so that we can continue to build the homes our clients are dreaming of. Build your dream home with CMB Construction.

First off, thank you for choosing us once again for all of your custom home needs! To contact us about a future project or renovation please visit our website at https://www.CMBquality.com/contact or click on the button in the top right of our page. Fill out this form with your information and accurate details about your desired build or renovation. Although we will be sure to remember you, you can include that you have worked with us before in the comments. Once you have accurately filled out the form, hit submit and we will get back to you as soon as we can! Thank you for your interest in working with us again, we appreciate your business!

How does CMB Construction stay involved in the community and support local initiatives?

How does CMB Construction stay informed about the latest building materials?

After we have buildable plans, we will build a quick rough budget from where we expect cost to be based on your designs and wants for your home. If you do not have buildable plans that's okay! We are happy to connect you with one of our trusted architects. If the client approves the rough estimate, we will sign a pre-construction contract and obtain a detailed cost estimate from our subcontractors and vendors as well as figure out all required work so that we can build a completely accurate budget. On average, the process to create a complete budget takes about a month and a half. It is common for the first budget to be higher than what you may expect it to be. This is where value engineering may be useful to reach your budget. By selecting more cost efficient materials or fixtures for spaces like laundry rooms or secondary bathrooms, you can save budget for more important spaces. Start your estimate process today at https://www.cmbquality.com/contact

Please watch this video explaining the layout and navigation of Coconstruct, the online software we utilize for making selections, project updates, and communication!

In general, new home construction takes about 12-14 months from creating plans to handing over the keys. There are many factors that determine the final timeline of a custom home so lets cover how we estimate it. We start with site selection which can be a time consuming process. That's why we have in house real estate agents to aid you in your site selection process with both our expertise in the area and home building. After site selection, we can connect you with one of our trusted local architects to help develop build plans for your dream home. If you already have buildable plans developed this will help shorten the timeline of your home being built.  Next it is important to establish a preliminary budget for your home, we recommend consulting your financial institution of choice about a realistic budget for you. After establishing your budget, we must complete the selections process. This is where you get the chance to choose all the unique custom materials and details that will make your home feel tailored to you. If you are struggling, we have trusted local interior designers and our own experience to aid you in your decisions along the way. After the selections phase we must finalize the blueprints, establish and approve the final budget, and get all necessary permits.  There are also aspects of construction that may affect your build timeline including, site preparation, size of the house, level of finish chosen, and any design changes that happen during construction as these affect material lead times and coordinating with our subcontractors. We are here for you throughout the entire process and work to make it as easy as possible from start to finish so that you can focus on enjoying your new home! Chat with us today and we can get started on your build timeline!

A building permit allows the building codes official to maintain a record of your construction project, regarding its completion in compliance with standards of safety, to protect the public by reducing potential hazards of unsafe construction. Who Needs to apply? We will apply for building permits. A soil and erosion permit required for any land change on an acre or more of land or which is within 500 feet of a lake or stream. Who needs to apply? We will apply for soil and erosion permits.  Well and septic permits are for homes not on municipal systems, well and septic permits evaluate the land and review submitted plans to ensure proper installation. Alternatively DPW Permits are for homes on municipal systems, DPW permits evaluate land and submitted plans to ensure proper installation of water and sewage to municipal systems. Who needs to apply? We apply for well and septic as well as DPW permits. Electrical and plumbing permits are provided by licensed electricians and plumbers for their respective work. Permits make sure that the work we are doing follows code and follow up inspections to ensure that code was achieved. Alternatively the Homeowner will occasionally have to apply for other permits such as wetland permits, critical dune permits, approval by local HOA, and even Fire Department or Road Commission waivers.

In Michigan, homes that are being built today have a much larger focus on energy efficiency than they did a decade ago. With energy code updates that were implemented in 2016, the standards of all homes being built have raised significantly. Here are a few more ways you can increase your home's energy efficiency... By creating an effective air barrier through advanced building materials like zip sheathing and sealing up all seams in the home, you can reduce airflow and moisture from your home. This creates a more comfortable living environment and decreases your energy consumption to maintain a constant home temperature. Blower door tests quantify the airtightness of a home and are mandatory under Michigan building code.  Energy efficient insulation is a major way to increase your homes energy efficiency. By increasing your homes insulation, your HVAC system has to run less. Speaking of HVAC, installing high efficiency HVAC systems will lower your energy consumption by including smart features, having more consistent heating and cooling, and improving airflow.  Solar panels are another great way to decrease your long term energy consumption and reduce your carbon footprint, but at a significant upfront cost. This may change as the consumer market for solar panels matures. Solar panels on average save households $1500 a year on electricity, depending on your configuration. We can also install any smart home features you'd like. Whether its a smart thermostat to optimize your heating and cooling, or controlled lighting so you never leave a light on again. Another resource for energy efficiency is in lighting. Utilizing LED bulbs can use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Even better including more natural lighting in your design has no recurring cost, and it can greatly improve the feel of your home.  Learn more about our custom home building capabilities on our website!

When starting the journey of building your dream home, securing financing is an important initial step. While we do not handle the financing process, we are here to guide you through it. If you are not self funding your new home, customers will work directly with the banks to attain a home construction loan. We recommend working with your chosen bank to navigate the finances. While we are not involved in the process of financing new homes, we do have a list of preferred vendors for customers to choose from. These financial professionals have expertise in handling home construction finances, and come highly recommended by our clients. Before seeking loan approval, it's crucial to engage in a detailed conversation with your chosen bank. They will be able to provide valuable insights into what kind of budget is realistic for your envisioned project. To make sure you are prepared for the loan approval process,  it's important to know the bank will require a few key documents: a comprehensive budget, detailed plans, specifications outlining the project scope, a sworn statement affirming the accuracy of provided information, and an executed contract. Rest assured, our team is here to support you every step of the way, ensuring you have the necessary resources to move forward confidently. Building your dream home should be an exciting and rewarding experience, and we're dedicated to making that vision a reality. For any further questions or assistance, feel free to reach out to us at CMBquality.com

The estimate process takes about a month and a half. We have to procure detailed quotes from all of our subcontractors, vendors and our CMB team to put together an accurate detailed cost estimate.

We have a list of architects that we have used in the past that our clients enjoyed working with that we would be happy to provide. We can also do in-house designing for the right projects

Yes, you get to choose all of these items and fixtures in your home. We have a selections manager that will work with you and our vendors to give you options and quotes for various materials.

Yes absolutely, we are a fully custom home builder, we can accommodate any and all special requests.

Ultimately, you will have the freedom to choose everything that you can see, feel, and touch. This includes flooring, tiling, cabinets, countertops, etc. The full scope of your selections will be defined in the proposal. We have a selections manager on staff who will help you stay ahead of all selection deadlines, facilitate all quotes and materials from our vendor partners, and in general make your life easier. We encourage you to take this opportunity to make your home truly yours. This is your dream home, and we are here to make your vision a reality. If you are struggling to make your selections, we can aid you in bringing in an interior designer, or give our own insight! Start your dream home journey today at https://www.cmbquality.com/contact

2023 was a year of being bold, especially in interior design, here are some popular trends we saw for custom homes... Earth tones and neutral colors are trumping the ever popular white walls. We are seeing people less afraid of color, especially in bathrooms we are seeing a lot of saturated colors like blues. Continuing the trend of bold colors, colorful accent walls, wallpapers, and colorful furniture are becoming more popular as people have become less afraid of adding vibrant colors. Relaxation rooms are incredibly popular whether it be a room for meditation, a study or library for reading, or even a sauna or steam room. The pandemic has left people wanting a space to unwind and enjoy themselves.  The raw beauty of natural stone slabs and live edge wood are extremely popular options to add to your home. People are also making a lot of sustainable and environmentally friendly design choices in their build from reclaimed wood to increased natural lighting. Statement piece countertops, tables, tiling, and backsplashes have also been popular among home builders, whether its unique stone material or graining.  Lastly, in 2023 we saw a rise in minimalist and modern design and with that we have seen popularity in raw or polished concrete floors. Lets talk about your design choices today!

Constructing your dream home is a significant investment, and you should protect yourself. Here are a few types of insurance to consider to ensure that you are properly covered! We have a builder's risk insurance policy to cover property owners and ourselves from loss due to property damage on their construction project. This includes vandalism, theft, and natural disaster. To protect your investment, your builder may, and should, have builder's risk insurance themselves. It is important to start a conversation with them to see what types of coverage they have.  You will also want general liability insurance to protect yourself from any injuries that occur on the property, we recommend opening your own policy to protect yourself from any injuries that may occur on the property that isn't construction related. General liability insurance will also protect you in the event of someone trespassing and becoming injured on your property. Once your build is completed and has received the Certificate of Occupancy your Builder's Risk policy will no longer cover damage that occurs to your home. You will want to open a Homeowner's Policy as soon as possible to continue covering your new home. Ultimately we recommend consulting your insurance agent over making sure you are properly covered when building your brand new dream home!

Yes we can! With the popularity of working from home, we have seen an increase of interest from our clients in including home offices in their builds. We have plenty of examples of beautiful studies and workspaces that we have created for our clients. whether it's a simple home office or an entire workshop, we can build it for you. So let's start building a home optimized for you today!

Absolutely, we are well versed and commonly build on challenging terrain. In Northern Michigan we have a lot of desirable waterfront that our clients often choose to build on. As well as more remote locations, commonly in the woods. On every project, we put in tremendous effort to deliver the same quality on all of our builds no matter the difficulty of terrain and we will work with the architect if any concerns are present. Houses on unique terrain can make some of the most creative and beautiful homes.

How can I ensure my custom home is energy efficient?

Yes we can make changes, we believe that home building can be an evolving process and we embrace that.

We upload photos to our project management software approximately every other day from the site, we also check in with you at least once a week about the project status.

We welcome you to view your project as much as you'd like, we even require that you visit the site at least once every two months, although many of our clients choose to visit the site weekly or biweekly.

We provide regular training for our employees, our site managers do daily walkthroughs and quality checks, and Colin goes through once a week at minimum to do a project walkthrough and verify the quality.

We take jobsite security very seriously to ensure everyone's safety. We have cameras on every jobsite 24/7 to keep track of who enters and leaves, verifying that if anyone unauthorized enters, we can have them removed safely. Cameras also help document any potential thefts or damage they may occur on the jobsite. We also keep every jobsite locked up whenever we can (given walls, windows, and doors are installed) to keep any unauthorized person out. The safety of our workers and your investment is our top priority.

We are in the business of building our client's dream home and it is very natural for their vision to evolve as construction of their home takes shape. While the earlier you make changes in your design is the easiest, we embrace the evolution of our client's ideas throughout the building process. Whether it's a change in countertops, paint, fixtures, etc. We will obtain new quotes and make the necessary changes as fast as possible for you! The last thing we want is for our clients to feel trapped in a decision they made before seeing their build take shape. Start your custom home build process today!

We have a professional cleaning crew come in and they clean the home from top to bottom to remove all construction dust.

Final payment is due when construction work is complete and upon issue of occupancy from the building department.

We are always there to deal with any warranty issues. We also always help past customers out with any home construction needs, no matter how small, our goal is to always be your builder.

Once your build has completed, we will provide a link to a form for feedback and either written or video testimonial. Google reviews can be left here.