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Grand Rapids · West Michigan
Design-Build Remodeling & Custom Homes

Building & Remodeling.
The home you've been planning.
On Budget. On Time.

Guaranteed.

We're the West Michigan design-build firm that puts both budget and schedule in writing. The price on the contract is the price you pay. We finish by the date we promised — or we pay you for every weekday we're late.

$18M+ Work Completed
10+ Years in West Michigan
36+ Projects Over $100K
0% Contractor-Side Change Orders

Our Two Guarantees

Most remodels run over budget and finish late.
We put both risks on us, in writing.

Two guarantees, built into every contract. Terms spelled out — not slogans. Calculation method, remedy, and exceptions are in the agreement before you sign anything.

01 · Zero Change Order Guarantee
On Budget.
The price you see is the price you pay.

The price on your signed contract is the price you pay. We do not issue contractor-side change orders for missed scope, underestimated quantities, forgotten allowances, or labor we should have caught. If we missed it, we own it.

02 · Finish-By Guarantee
On Time.
Miss the date, and we pay you for every weekday late.

Before construction starts, we deliver a Notice of Scheduled Commencement that sets a Guaranteed Completion Date. Miss it for any reason within our control, and we pay you 0.1% of the contract sum every weekday until substantial completion — up to a 5% cap. On a $400,000 project, that's $400 per weekday in your pocket, $20,000 maximum.

The only exceptions, spelled out in the contract

Truly concealed conditions discovered after demo — rot, insect damage, hazardous materials. Code-required corrections mandated by the city or an inspector. Changes you request after signing. That's it. Every other risk is ours.

The problem with most remodels

You already know what you want your home to become. The question is whether the process of getting there is going to put your life on hold for a year.

Most projects don't fail because of bad craftsmanship.
They fail because of bad process.

Vague scopes. Decisions forced mid-construction. Schedules built on optimism rather than lead times. Contractors who build well but manage poorly. These are process failures — and they are entirely avoidable. The homeowners who end up saying "I'd never do it again" didn't find bad craftsmen. They found craftsmen without systems.

We see this constantly. One homeowner came to us after their bid jumped from $150K to over $300K between design and build. Another had a $150K budget against architectural plans that priced out at $500K.

The pattern is consistent. The cause is always the same: decisions deferred until they were forced — by which point the homeowner has no leverage and no clean way out.

78%
of homeowners go over budget on their last project
Clever Real Estate, 2024 · 1,000+ homeowners surveyed
74%
of remodeling clients have regrets after their project
Clever Real Estate, 2024 · 24% spent too much, 22% say it took too long
58%
face significant delays of 4+ weeks on their remodel
Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University

The Peace of Mind Process™

Designed to eliminate surprises.

Every step narrows pricing accuracy and eliminates risk. Change orders don't come from bad builders — they come from deferred decisions left unanswered until walls are open and options are gone. Our five-step process front-loads every decision so the first time you see a single number, it's a number you can trust.

01 · Measure
Measure Meeting
We document and scan every detail of the space. Existing conditions, dimensions, structure, mechanicals — recorded before we design anything.
What's there is documented before we design anything.
02 · Redline
Redline Meeting
We confirm the plans against what we measured and provide a budget update. The first place the design meets reality.
The design meets the field before pricing is locked.
03 · Selections
Selections
Every fixture and finish is locked. No "we'll figure it out later" line items. No placeholder allowances.
Every finish is selected before pricing.
04 · Trades
Trades Day
Every trade bids the actual scope with the actual selections. Labor is locked from all trades before we move forward.
Every trade has bid the real scope.
05 · Budget
Budget Review
The first time we show you a single number. No more ranges. One fixed price for the scope you approved, the finishes you selected, and the trades that bid it.
One number. The number we build to.

Who we work with

We are not the right contractor for every project.
And we say so on the phone — not after a deposit.

Most of our projects fall between $50,000 and $1 million. Full bathroom remodels can be done for as little as $30,000. Kitchens start around $75,000. The process is the same at every price point — what varies is whether the project is large enough to justify the rigor we bring to it.

$30K+
Full Bathroom Remodels
$75K+
Kitchen Remodels
$50K–$1M
Typical Project Range

What we build

The spaces you've been imagining —
built without the chaos.

We specialize in complex, multi-trade projects where process discipline and design sensitivity matter as much as craft. If you are investing in your home and expect professional execution at every step, you are in the right place.

01

Remodels &
Renovations

Major kitchen and main-floor transformations, primary suite renovations, and whole-home remodels for homeowners who are staying — and investing in the house they have.

  • Luxury kitchen remodeling
  • Primary suite renovations
  • Whole-home remodels
  • Bathroom renovations
  • Basement finishing
Explore remodeling
02

Additions &
ADUs

Primary suite wings, family room expansions, in-law suites, and accessory dwelling units — character-matched to your home and built for the street it's on.

  • Primary suite additions
  • In-law / ADU suites
  • Mudroom & garage expansions
  • Family room additions
  • ADU & permit expertise
Explore additions
03

Custom Home
Construction

New construction on infill lots in East Grand Rapids, Forest Hills, and Ada, or on acreage and lakeshore properties — designed to fit your life, not a speculative floor plan.

  • EGR infill & Forest Hills lots
  • Holland & lakeshore builds
  • Design-build process
  • Energy-efficient construction
  • Tailored to your routines
Explore custom homes
Featured Project
Garage Conversion · Wildwood
Two-stall garage converted into finished living space — workout area with lake views, private office, and half bath. Delivered on the contract price and on the Guaranteed Completion Date.

What our clients say

In their own words.

We can't thank them enough for making our little house in the woods a home. Their work and attention to detail was outstanding. Marc, Ryan and the team answered all my many questions and calls with no hesitation.

Reanna Addition & whole-home remodel

The design phase was thorough, and they understood and made some big improvements to my own vision of the space. The contractors were professional, friendly, and effective.

Sam B. Remodel · Design-build project

In just about 4–5 months, Amber Valley Construction transformed our cold, concrete box of a basement to a warm and inviting living space, including an entertainment area, bonus room with egress, utility closet, storage and full bathroom — nearly doubling the size of our home.

Maude S. Basement finishing · Full transformation
$18M+
completed project volume
10+
years in West Michigan
0%
contractor-side change orders
100%
licensed & insured
36+
projects over $100K
Derek Anderson — Builder, Remodeler, CAPS. Founder of Amber Valley Construction.

Meet the builder

Derek Anderson
Builder · Remodeler · CAPS

I've been in West Michigan since I was two years old. I founded Amber Valley in 2012, and I'm the person who answers when you call. Every fixed-price contract we sign is one I stand behind personally — because my name and my family's reputation are on every project we build.

More about Derek →

Ready to start?

Let's talk about your project
before anyone signs anything.

No pressure. No commitment. A real conversation about your home — what you want it to become, what it would take, what it would cost, and whether we're the right contractor for what you have in mind. We'll tell you straight if we're not.

Already have plans or a competing bid?

Send us what you have and we'll deliver a written analysis — the Project Risk Snapshot™. Where the budget risk sits, where the scope is thin, where the schedule will slip. Free.

Get Your Project Risk Snapshot™ →
Office & Showroom 5060 Broadmoor Ave SE · Grand Rapids, MI 49512