What is the CMB custom experience?
Welcome to CMB Construction, Traverse City's premier custom home builder for over two decades. Our passion lies in building exquisite homes that reflect your unique vision. We prioritize exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail, and personalized service to make building a custom home seamless and enjoyable.
What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to quality. From meticulous material selection to skilled craftsmanship, every detail is thoughtfully considered. Our process begins with understanding your vision, helping you translate it into architectural plans, and bringing it to life with precision through our skilled construction team.
We value open communication, ensuring you're informed about your home's progress and have opportunities for input every step of the way. Our dedication extends beyond completion, backed by a comprehensive warranty and exceptional after-sales services. We proudly contribute to the Traverse City community, incorporating sustainable practices into our projects.
Whether it's your forever home, a vacation retreat, or a retirement oasis, CMB Construction turns your dreams into reality. Our passion for custom home building, coupled with a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, makes us the leading general contractor in Traverse City.
Custom Homes
Welcome to CMB Construction – your partner in creating unique living spaces. From personalized custom homes to thoughtful remodels, we bring your vision to life with a focus on quality, transparency, and collaboration.
Our dedicated team of architects, designers, and builders works closely with you to craft homes that reflect your individuality. Using premium materials and meticulous attention to detail, we seamlessly blend functionality, beauty, and lasting value.
At CMB Construction, we believe in transparent communication and stress-free project management. From elegant estates to modern retreats, our diverse portfolio showcases our commitment to quality craftsmanship.
Immerse yourself in a personalized living experience. Explore our website for inspiration and insights into the possibilities that await. Contact CMB Construction today to embark on your journey towards a one-of-a-kind home
Remodels
We appreciate the craftsmanship and detail often found in older homes in the Traverse City area, but we also understand the appeal of modern amenities. We approach remodeling projects of all sizes with the same custom approach as our new builds, helping you to improve your home in a way that suits your personality and lifestyle needs.
Our Values
CMB Construction is E.P.I.C
Education - Continually learning new, better, and more efficient ways to do our craft.
Principled - Always act with a high Moral Character.
Industrious - Always be a hardworking problem solver. Can't is not in our vocabulary.
Craftsmanship - We take pride in our work. We accept nothing but the best quality. We do what we can to keep the Carpentry alive and further progress.
Testimonials
“CMB Construction recently finished a major renovation project for us, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. They transformed our unfinished basement into an incredible living space complete with a beautiful stone fireplace, a walkout to the lake, a guest dining area, an extra bedroom and bathroom, a laundry room, custom storage, and even an additional pantry. Every detail was thoughtfully executed, and the craftsmanship truly shows.
Their work didn’t stop there. They updated both our front and back porches and converted our upstairs lake-facing porch into an EZ Breeze room—giving us a comfortable, enclosed space we can enjoy for three full seasons. They also refreshed several areas of our existing upstairs space, tying the whole home together beautifully.
Working with CMB Construction was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. They were transparent throughout the entire process, making it easy to track the budget and project status. Communication was always straightforward—they were easy to reach, quick to respond, and consistently practical and solution‑oriented. They went above and beyond to answer every question we had, not only during the project but even after completion.
Every member of their team took clear pride in their work. They were considerate, respectful of our home, and cleaned up the property at the end of each workday. We always felt completely comfortable with the crew onsite.
We highly recommend CMB Construction—and have already done so to friends. Their professionalism, quality of work, and genuine care for their clients set them apart. If you’re considering a renovation, you’ll be in excellent hands with CMB.”
“Colin and the CMB Team recently completed the construction of our new home. They communicated with us on a regular basis during the construction process, including bi-weekly zoom conference calls. They kept us well informed and solicited our input and feedback at appropriate times during the build. The construction process can be overwhelming at various times, but with the guidance of CMB it was a smooth and stress-free process for us. CMB improved the design of our home and their craftsmanship of the custom details proved to be valuable. Their attention to detail and understanding of our vision was incredible, many times completing our sentences of what we were looking for. CMB was diligent throughout the construction process and they were very conscious of staying within our budget. The professionalism of the entire CMB Team is at the highest of levels. They bring valuable experience and expertise to the construction process. We were very fortunate to select CMB to build our new home and we would highly recommend them for any new construction.”
“The team at CMB epitomizes conscientious and committed service. It's rare to find an organization (in any field or industry) with equal parts expertise and patience. It's even more rare to find an organization with the prowess to maintain its qualities during hard times, e.g. COVID supply chain issues. CMB did it.
We had never built a home (or had one built), so we began the process with every imaginable question. Through each phase, we had a string of elementary concerns. In fact, we worried that our persistent questions would wear thin. With a less attentive and patient builder, they may have. But Colin and his team were always glad to explain, re-explain, and guide us through uncertainties. We'd heard all kinds of lore about builders, but we realized early on that we could call our builder, site manager, or product/budget manager at any point and we'd get a call back immediately. We had persistent phone, email, and F2F contact.
As with any complex process, a custom home project is apt to involve revision, re-tracing, or even mis-communication. Weather, supply chain issues, and product variables will impact the process. The important question is how the team will manage such variables. CMB was agile and nonplussed. When something went off the rails, they recalibrated, managed all concerns, and put any issue to rest quickly. We learned, early on, that CMB has immense experience and knows how to weather all the strange possibilities that may come along.
We also came to understand the crucial role of a local network. So much about a new build depends upon a wide range of professionals beyond the immediate crew. CMB relies on the best (Boardman Valley Electric, Bay View Flooring, Creative Kitchens, Rite Choice Plumbing and Heating, B&Z Well Drilling, TC Mirror and Shower Door, Michigan Gutters, Northern Garage Doors, Hallmark, Thomas Building Design, ETNA Supply). It was also no surprise to hear praise about our builder as we worked with these companies. In short, CMB is part of a professional community, the best of the region.
Finally, it's important to note the budget and schedule--practical matters that can bedevil clients. Here's the thing: From day one, Colin estimated our completion date and total costs. We came in slightly ahead of schedule and slightly under those initial estimates. (Of course, individual results may vary! We made some sober(ing) decisions early on, but the CMB team helped us to see all possibilities.) We were fully aware of costs and options at each phase.
Thanks to CMB, we have a home--one we'd imagined for years--and we have total trust that it's been thoroughly considered. CMB is clearly developing longterm relationships with its clients. We're grateful to be among them.”
“CMB quality, staff, and subcontractors were great. We had started the project during supply chain issues and CMB still identified money saving materials. The project followed the design drawings. The staff are always willing to collaborate on questions, design and money saving ideas. The project finalized below budget which allowed us to add further remodeling to the covered porch and decking which was not included in the initial design.”
“We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have found and hired Colin and his outstanding team to design and build our dream second home. He is simply awesome and the results have truly exceeded our expectations. Colin (and team) emphasizes affordable, high quality design and customer satisfaction all while working hard to stay within budget. He communicates early and often - he is informative, respectful, creative and highly responsive. His team is highly skilled, friendly and focused. He took our vision, made it better and then made it a reality. Our home is a work of art thanks to Colin’s dedication to design, his eye for detail and materials, his communication and collaboration with his clients, and to his incredibly talented and skilled crew of craftspeople and trusted vendors. We cannot recommend Colin/CMB Construction enough - simply the best!! Thank you Colin and team from the bottom of our hearts for our gorgeous northern retreat!”
“We selected Colin and CMB Construction after having researched and talked with several builders in the area. We were looking for a builder that would do quality work on a mid-sized home with a custom approach. We appreciated the fact that he doesn't take on more projects than he can be personally involved in. He has an open and cost conscious perspective in these times when it might be easier to push for more costly solutions. His finish carpentry team does amazing work with great attention to detail and every team member approaches the job as if they were doing work on their own home. He was open to finding creative solutions to work with the sub vendors that we brought to the table and the overall result exceeded all of our expectations. I would highly recommend CMB Construction.”
“Colin and his team were great to work with. Made the house building process as easy as possible. Highly recommend this team.”
“We hired CMB Construction to completely rebuild our garage this past summer. We are very pleased with the end result — it is an exceptionally beautiful and functional garage! Strangers on the street have actually knocked on our door to ask for a tour! Colin involved us through the entire process and responded to every question and concern in a timely manner — he visited our site daily to ensure that work was being completed to his high standard. He followed up with contractors who were delayed or absent - he managed this project in a timely manner and consistently kept us informed of pertinent information. I would highly recommend CMB Construction.”
“Finding a qualified home builder that is organized, fair and conscientious of their work and their reputation can be hard to find. Choosing the right builder can either “make it or break it”, both physically and mentally. During our home planning phase we were already with a different contractor when we decided to change paths and hire CMB. Looking back now my wife and I are glad we did. Building a home regardless of who you choose is going to have obstacles and CMB was able to navigate ours with ease. We are very happy with the quality and craftsmanship of our home. No matter what scale or level of build we would definitely recommend CMB Construction.”
“We talked to other builders and it was our first conversation with Colin that convinced us he was the right builder for us. He was responsive and down to earth. His ability to take ideas and turn them into reality is outstanding. He worked with us from design to build in what turned out to be a home beyond what we ever imagined — this home won the People Choice Award in the 2018 Traverse City Parade of Homes. He is proof design and quality can be affordable. We highly recommend CMB no matter how big or small your ideas — he can turn them into something you will enjoy for a very long time.”
“After researching over a dozen different builders we chose Colin and his team to build our new home in Leelanau County. We couldn't be happier with our decision. This was the 3rd new house we've built in addition to being involved in a number of commercial construction projects. Out of all these experiences, Colin and his crew top the list when it comes to professionalism, quality, conscientiousness, communication and expertise. Besides being an excellent craftsman the entire team demonstrated a sincere concern for making sure things were done right. The quality of the workmanship is amazing and the entire crew was a sincere pleasure to be around. We felt we made friends and miss seeing them. We would, and have, highly recommend CMB Construction to anyone building or remodeling. We will certainly be using CMB if there is anything we need done in the future.”
“Colin, Heidi, Glen and full CMB construction team were great to work with on our project. The level of transparent , scheduled communication for each aspect of the build process was impressive and like no other builder we have encountered. We would highly recommend CMB construction to anyone looking to build in the greater Traverse City area.”
In custom home building, the kitchen often takes center stage, not just for its visual impact, but as a space where functionality and personal taste come together seamlessly. That’s why we partner with Creative Kitchens to help bring each client’s unique vision to life. Their commitment to quality, customization, and thoughtful design ensures that every kitchen reflects the homeowner’s personality and lifestyle.
Here’s how their expertise supports our approach to creating affordable luxury custom homes in the Traverse City area.
In custom home building, flooring is more than just a surface—it sets the tone for each room, and it’s important to balance functionality, durability, and design. Bayview Flooring offers a massive range of options that cater to different styles, needs, and budgets. During a recent visit, Robin Whipple shared insights into their process, popular materials, and how they help our clients make confident choices.
In custom home building, the details tell a story. From mantels to tabletops, the materials chosen for each project add warmth, character, and individuality. Magnum Lignum is a fantastic option for creating standout features, transforming salvaged and live-edge wood into functional works of art that enhance any space.