About Us
The Watts Difference
With a genuine love for this community and a passion for building homes that families are proud to live in, Watts Homes & Construction has been part of Kalamazoo, Michigan for over 50 years. Three generations of the Watts family have built their reputation here, not through advertising, but through the trust of the families they've served.
We know that building a new home is a big decision. Our job is to make sure you feel confident every step of the way and that the home we deliver is one that truly fits your life.
Our Community Is Our Home
We’re not just building in Kalamazoo, Michigan – we live here. That means the relationships we’ve built with local suppliers and subcontractors run deep, and the pride we take in our work is personal. When we build a home in this community, our name goes with it. That’s something we’ve never taken lightly.
Quality You Can Count On
We’ve spent decades building strong relationships with skilled tradespeople who share our standards. They were chosen not just for their technical ability, but for their dedication to doing the job right. From the first conversation to the final walkthrough, that commitment to quality runs through everything we do.
We Work With You
Every family is different. Every home should be too. Whether you want to be involved in every detail or prefer to hand things over and trust us to handle it, we're happy to work the way that suits you best. We take the time to understand what you want, what you need, and what matters most and we build from there.
Our 9 Step Home Building Process
Choosing a custom home builder in Kalamazoo, Michigan is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. We want you to feel informed and confident from day one. Our straightforward nine-step process takes you from that very first conversation all the way to move-in day — and we'll be right there with you through every single step.
Initial Consultation
Every home we build starts with a simple conversation. We'll discuss where you'd like to build, whether you'd like to build in one of our communities or on your own lot, your must-haves, wish list, and budget. No pressure—just an honest conversation to see if we're the right fit. Need to sell your current home first? Through our affiliation with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan Real Estate, we can help guide you from selling your current home to building your next one, making the entire process as seamless as possible.
Secure Your Financing
Once you’ve decided to move forward, the next step is getting your financing in place. If you don't have a lender yet, we're happy to point you toward trusted local options. Your lender will issue a pre-approval letter for your construction loan so that everyone — you, your lender, and our team — is aligned before we take the next step.
Home Design
This is where your vision starts to become real. You'll meet with our designer to explore your style, your must-haves, and your wish list. Bring whatever inspires you — floor plans, photos, magazine clippings, Pinterest boards. The more we understand about what you love, the better we can translate it into a home that's uniquely yours. We'll develop a concept design and refine it together through follow-up appointments until it feels right. The process wraps up with a full set of CAD drawings for your final approval — so there are absolutely no surprises when we break ground.
Selections and Estimating
This is the part people enjoy the most. You'll choose your colors, flooring, surfaces, and appliances with guidance from our team and vendor partners. Once your selections are finalized, we send everything to our trade partners for accurate estimates and put together your final build price. If adjustments are needed to stay within budget, our designer will work through the options with you.
Contract Signing
With your price confirmed and your plans approved, we'll prepare all contract documents and walk you through them. After signing, you'll bring those documents to your lender to finalize your construction loan. Loan processing typically takes between 30 and 60 days.
Loan Closing and Pre-Construction
After your loan closes at a title company, our team gets to work behind the scenes — pulling permits, finalizing the construction schedule, and locking in pricing with our trade partners. This preparation stage sets the entire build up for a smooth, efficient process.
Construction
When permits are secured, we break ground on your new home. From excavation to finished mechanicals, you'll have regular touchpoints with your project manager and our trade partners so you can see the progress and ask questions at every stage. We'll always be upfront with you if there are delays — whether we're waiting on an inspection or materials to arrive. Behind the scenes, we're always pushing things forward.
Completion and Final Walkthrough
As construction wraps up, your project manager performs a detailed builder walkthrough to make sure everything meets our standards. Then we walk through the home together — reviewing features, explaining systems, and noting any final items to address. Once everything is signed off and the occupancy permit is issued and final payment received, we hand over the keys to your new home.
Warranty and Ongoing Support
Moving in is just the beginning of our relationship. We follow up at 60 days and again at 11 months to check in on you and your home. If an item is a warranty issue and needs attention, we schedule an appointment and take care of it.
Call Watts Homes & Construction today at 269-345-3859. We'll be happy to help you build the home of your dreams.