Planning a custom home renovation or new build on Chicago’s North Shore? Pickell Builders walks you through every step, from architectural design to move-in day: one family-owned team, one accountable process, no handoffs. For nearly five decades, North Shore families have trusted us with their most important project.
Our process is built on five core values: Timing, Communication, Service, Craftsmanship, and Value.
Finding the Right Location for Your Custom Home
Your location shapes everything that follows. Our team handles the full search process so you can focus on your vision.
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Already Love Your Neighborhood?
We can tear down an outdated structure and build your custom home on the same site. Our team manages every step of demolition and permitting so you stay in the community you love without compromising on the home you want.
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Looking for a New Area?
We help you find the right lot based on school district, commute, and lifestyle. Our team has placed families throughout Glencoe, Winnetka, Hinsdale, and Highland Park, and also works in Kenilworth, Deerfield, Bannockburn, Northfield, Long Grove, Lincolnshire, Barrington, Lake Forest, Wilmette, Evanston, Northbrook, and Glenview.
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Already Working With a Real Estate Agent?
We welcome that relationship. Our team evaluates lots alongside your agent, assessing siting, setback requirements, and floor area ratio so everyone is working from the same information.
Building on Your Own Lot
Already own land? We help you make the most of it. From feasibility review through move-in, our team manages the full process alongside you, including our comprehensive home remodeling services for clients who want to transform an existing structure rather than start fresh.
- Lot suitability: Determining whether your chosen lot fits your goals.
- Lot comparison: Weighing the pros and cons of multiple options.
- Lot sourcing: Finding the right parcel if you have not chosen one yet.
Site Preparation: Where Projects Are Won or Lost
Our team manages every technical and municipal requirement before construction begins.
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Soil Testing:
We assess ground conditions before a foundation is planned. Soil composition affects structural integrity, drainage, and cost. Identifying problems early means you are never surprised mid-build.
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Grading:
Our team grades every site to ensure water moves away from your home and your foundation has a stable base to sit on.
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Setback and Height Requirements:
We know the specific regulations in every community we serve and make sure your plans meet them before a permit is filed.
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Variance Processes:
We manage the full variance application process, prepare documentation, and present your case directly to the appropriate local authority.
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Architectural Review Boards:
We prepare submissions, attend hearings, and advocate for your plans directly so you never have to navigate that process alone.
Communities Where We Have Done This Before
| Region | Communities |
|---|---|
| North Shore and Lake County | Bannockburn, Deerfield, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Long Grove, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette |
| Northwest and Western Suburbs | Barrington, Naperville, Oak Brook, Riverside, Western Springs |
| Southern Wisconsin | Fontana, Lake Geneva, Williams Bay |
| Harbor Country, Michigan | New Buffalo, Three Oaks, Union Pier |
What Is a Design/Build Firm?
A design/build firm integrates architecture, design, and construction under one team from day one. When design and construction are managed by the same firm, changes made during the design phase are reflected in the budget right away. Nothing gets lost in translation between two separate companies.
Our architectural design services and construction work are managed under one roof at Pickell Builders. Faster decisions and a smoother experience from the first sketch to the final walk-through.
The Custom Home Design Process, Start to Finish
Good design starts with listening. Before we meet, collect photos, save magazine clippings, and build a Houzz ideabook.
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Dream Without Editing Yourself:
Bring everything that inspires you, whether that is a kitchen layout from a magazine, a ceiling detail from a hotel lobby, or a bathroom finish you bookmarked years ago. The more specific you can be, the better we can translate it into a home that actually feels like you.
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Revisions, Open Communication, and Informed Sign-Offs:
Updated drawings are provided at every stage. Reach out to your design team anytime with questions or new ideas. We walk you through every choice so you always know what you are agreeing to. Nothing moves forward until you are confident.
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Final Working Drawings:
Completing your working drawings marks the last milestone before construction begins. By the time we break ground, every detail has been reviewed, approved, and documented.
Materials, Selections, and Buying Power
Our buying relationships save you money across fixtures, flooring, and finishes. You are always free to source your own materials, too. We work with leading suppliers across fixtures, flooring, and finishes. You are always free to source your own materials, and we accommodate that at every stage.
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Staying on Schedule:
We flag every upcoming selection point well in advance. Delays in material selections push completion dates back, create subcontractor scheduling gaps, and trigger cost overruns from expedited shipping. Staying proactive protects both your timeline and your budget.
Reviewing Your Contract
Every detail is confirmed before a single shovel hits the ground.
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Selection Confirmation:
Every finish, fixture, and material choice is documented in writing before construction begins. Nothing is carried over on assumption.
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Line-by-Line Walkthrough:
Our team reviews every section of the contract with you before you sign. You are never handed a document and left to figure it out alone.
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Full Transparency:
Nothing is vague, and nothing is assumed. If a clause needs explanation, we explain it before signatures are on the page.
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Revision Tracking:
Any change made during the design process is reflected in the final contract. What you agreed to in the design phase is exactly what you will find in the document in front of you.
What to Expect During Construction
Your Project Superintendent leads the build from groundbreaking to completion. One person owns your project from start to finish, attends every milestone, and serves as your direct point of contact. You are never passed off to someone who has to catch up on your history.
| Stage | What Gets Reviewed |
|---|---|
| Foundation and framing | Structural work confirmed against approved drawings |
| Rough-in systems | Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC reviewed before walls close |
| Finish selections | Materials and finishes confirmed on site before installation |
| Final walk-through | Every detail checked against the punch list before closing |
Progress photos are uploaded to a private, secure project website throughout the build so you can follow along and share updates with family.
Move-In Day and Long-Term Support
Before you take the keys, your Superintendent and our Maintenance Group Manager walk through the entire home with you. Every item needing attention is noted and resolved before closing.
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Final Walk-Through:
Your Superintendent and Maintenance Group Manager walk through every room and system with you in person. Nothing is signed off without your eyes on it.
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Punch List:
Our maintenance technicians document every item that needs attention and resolve it before closing.
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Follow-Up Visits and Warranty Coverage:
We schedule walk-throughs at 60 days and one year after closing. Our home maintenance program is available after your included warranty period ends.
| Coverage | Details |
|---|---|
| One-year workmanship warranty | Included with every build |
| Limited lifetime warranty | Covers structural components and specified systems |
| How to keep it active | Enroll in the annual preventive maintenance program |
| Full terms | Provided in writing before you sign |
Why North Shore Families Have Chosen Pickell Builders for Nearly Five Decades
Pickell Builders is a family-owned firm. When you work with us, you deal directly with decision-makers, not a sales layer or a rotating project team.
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Full Service From Start to Finish:
Design, site prep, construction, and post-move maintenance all handled under one roof.
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Renovation at Every Scale:
From whole-home remodels to targeted upgrades like bathroom remodeling, every project gets the same level of care.
Ready to Build the Home Your Family Deserves
Choosing the right builder is one of the most important decisions you will make. The right firm offers accountability, transparency, and a team that stays with you from the first conversation to the final walk-through. That is exactly what Pickell Builders has delivered for nearly five decades across Chicago’s North Shore. As a proud custom home builder, we can be reached to schedule your consultation.