4 • The Beacon May 1, 2025
COVER STORY
Submitted 89 Homes offers full, all-in pricing early in the custom homebuilding process— often within an hour of the initial consultation.
CUSTOM HOMEBUILDING, on your terms
By Adam Cook
n a homebuilding market crowded
Iwith cookie-cutter designs and rising costs, 89 Homes promises its clients something different: the freedom to build a one-of-a-kind home from raw land and rough ideas— on their terms.
“ The word‘ custom’ gets thrown around a lot,” said Les Miller, president of 89 Homes.“ But for my wife Lori and me, it means flexibility, clarity and a whole lot less stress.”
That clarity starts from the very first meeting. Ashland County based company normally can give all in, generalized pricing in the first meeting.
Last year alone, 89 Homes built 73 homes across 21 Ohio counties, with more than 70 % based on entirely new floor plans. That level of customization, Miller said, is made possible through a philosophy rooted in listening first and over-communicating second.
“ If you can’ t get it, we can build it for you,” Miller said.“ That’ s what custom means to us. We’ re not trying to sell people a box. We’ re trying to help them create a home that fits their life, their land and their budget.”
That experience comes to life in the company’ s two-story design center, where clients can see, touch and compare products in one place.
To make the process easier, especially for busy or out-of-town clients, the team offers video consultations with 3D renderings. And while 89 Homes encourages customization, the process stays on track by keeping everything under one roof.
“ We’ ve learned that when clients start chasing products all over the place, that’ s when budgets blow up,” Miller said.“ We give people a wide range of options— but we keep everything within a known structure, so the pricing holds. We’ re not aiming to be the cheapest or the most expensive. We just want our clients to feel confident in the value they’ re getting and satisfied with the home they’ ve created.” More often than not, building a home
We’ re not trying to sell people a box. We’ re trying to help them create a home that fits their life, their land and their budget. – Les Miller, 89 Homes
starts with a dream, not a plan. That’ s why 89 Homes works closely with clients from the beginning to evaluate not just the design, but also the land itself and the hidden costs that can come with it.
“ People find a piece of property they
Submitted To make the process easier, especially for busy or out-of-town clients, the team offers video consultations with 3D renderings. And while 89 Homes encourages customization, the process stays on track by keeping everything under one roof.
love, but they don’ t always realize what it will take to build on it,” Miller said.“ We try to have those conversations early— driveway length, septic systems, wells, utility access— so there are no surprises later.”
With deep experience building in rural areas, the 89 Homes team helps clients anticipate site prep costs such as identifying a septic-appropriate location or pricing out a 400-foot driveway.
“ We don’ t want someone to buy land and only then realize it’ s going to cost them $ 30,000 in site work they didn’ t budget for,” Miller said.“ We’ re here to help them plan wisely, not just build well.”
Once the design and site plan are in place, 89 Homes handles all the permitting and coordination needed for construction.
“ Clients don’ t have to navigate that maze alone,” Miller said.“ We take care of the permitting and all the upfront logistics so they can focus on making design decisions and getting excited about the build.” 89 Homes sets out to prove that the
path from rough ideas to real life isn’ t just possible; it’ s refreshingly simple and always built around helping people feel confident as they move forward with one of life’ s biggest decisions. That trust starts with the relationship between homeowner and builder.
“ If I could give one piece of advice, it’ s get to know your builder,” Miller said.“ Find someone comfortable building the kind of home you want and willing to hand you the keys, not just when it’ s finished. People today want to be in the driver’ s seat, and we respect that. With the right builder, you’ re not being told what to do; you’ re being heard.”
Whether you’ re starting with land, a floor plan or just an idea, 89 Homes is there— where Route 89 meets Highway 30— to help you build something truly your own. Stop by 1905 State Route 89 in Jeromesville, call 419-368-4961 or head to 89Homes. com to learn more. This content has been underwritten by 89 Homes.