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Custom Home Builder · Central Iowa
Since 2004, families across Central Iowa have trusted Claman Custom Homes with their biggest investment. We design from scratch. We build with fixed-price certainty. We treat your home like the best home builders in Central Iowa should, as if our own family were moving in.
20+ Years of Custom Home Excellence
Contracts. No surprises, ever.
Your vision, drawn by our team — not outsourced.
Our Story
You’ve built before. Or you’ve watched someone close to you go through it. Either way, you know the risks. You’ve heard about budgets that doubled. Builders who vanished mid-framing. Homes that were sold as “custom” but looked identical to every other house on the street.
That fear is real. When you’re investing in new construction in Central Iowa, you deserve more than a handshake and a hope. You deserve a builder with a proven system. A team that communicates before you have to ask. A fixed price that holds.
That’s exactly why we do things differently.
Where We Build
Whether you’ve found a lot in an established neighborhood or you’re developing private acreage, our team has the experience to bring your vision to life on any site.
One of the most sought-after suburbs in the metro. Families building here want established neighborhoods, top-rated schools, and proximity to Jordan Creek.
Waukee is one of Iowa's fastest-growing cities. New developments are opening regularly. Lot availability moves fast.
A tight-knit community between Central Iowa and Urbandale. Clive offers mature tree-lined streets and smaller, more exclusive developments.
Team
Claman Custom Homes is intentionally small. That means you’ll work directly with the people who are making decisions about your project. No call centers. No layers of management. Every person on this page will know your name, your floor plan, and your priorities.
Owner & Founder
Jeff founded Claman Custom Homes in 2004. He brings over 20 years of building experience and a hands-on approach that most company owners abandon once they scale. Jeff meets with every client in person before construction starts. He sets the quality standard for every project. He expects his team and his subcontractors to meet it every time.
Project Coordinator
Melissa keeps the entire operation running. She brings a background in banking and deep knowledge of residential construction. She manages the details that most people never see, such as schedules, subcontractor coordination, client communication, and documentation. Multiple clients have named her as the reason they felt zero stress during their build.
Lead Designer
Erin has over 15 years of professional design experience. She's the person who translates your taste into real selections of countertops, cabinetry, fixtures, flooring, and lighting. She understands construction timelines and budgets, so her guidance is grounded in what actually works. Clients consistently say she has a talent for understanding their style and suggesting ideas they'd never think of on their own.
Licensed Realtor
As the founder of the Scheib Real Estate Team with Real Broker, Tim Scheib is one of the most trusted and recognized real estate agents in Ankeny and the Greater Des Moines metro. Since 2004, he has helped thousands of families buy and sell homes, earning a reputation as a go-to resource for anyone moving to Ankeny, Des Moines, Waukee, Bondurant, Urbandale, or the surrounding Central Iowa communities.
Realtor — Sales
Sonya has been part of Claman Custom Homes from the very beginning, first as Jeff's biggest supporter, then as an active participant in countless builds. Her firsthand knowledge of The Claman Way led her to obtain her license and officially join the team. She partners with Tim to represent Claman clients in every real estate transaction.
Project Manager
As the Project Manager for Claman Custom Homes, Bryce Strumpfer has a strong background in construction trades and service dating back to 2018. His experience has shaped a hands-on, detail-focused approach to project management and client communication. Bryce keeps every build on schedule and on budget .
Plan Drafter
With a background in residential design since 2015, Ashley combines formal Interior Design training from Iowa State University with hands-on residential construction experience to create homes that are both beautiful and functional. Ashley specializes in residential drafting and design, bringing experience across a broad range of home styles and projects.
Bookkeeper
Marci is a licensed CPA with more than 30 years of accounting experience, including 13 years specializing in the construction industry. At Claman Custom Homes, she oversees all aspects of accounting, bringing extensive industry knowledge, accuracy, and financial expertise to the company’s operations.
Our Process
From your first conversation to the day you get your keys, here's every phase of the custom home build process and who's involved at each stage.
Secure your mortgage or home build pre-qualification to set a clear budget foundation.
Our team will select the perfect lot or location across Central Iowa, Waukee, Clive, Urbandale, Johnston, and Ankeny. where your dream home will take shape.
You meet Jeff personally before construction starts. Every question answered. Every concern is addressed directly. He never delegates this meeting.
Your home plan is designed from scratch around how your family lives, not pulled from a catalog. We refine through as many revisions as needed until it feels exactly right.
Review every detail of your home design and walk through a transparent, itemized budget to ensure everything aligns with your vision and financial goals before moving forward.
Lock in your agreement and make it official, your custom home build is a go. If you approve our offer, we are under contract and ready to get started!
Our team will conduct an Onboarding call to go over build expectations, timeline, and everything you need to know to be prepared for the build process.
The moment you've been waiting for, shovels hit the dirt, and your dream home begins. Construction runs on schedule and on budget with real-time updates.
Common Questions
Transparency is core to how we work. If your question isn’t here, just call us — (515) 329-3144.
Both. Our primary focus is on fully custom homes in Central Iowa designed around your vision and budget. We also build spec homes with the same Claman craftsmanship. Check our Available Homes page for current inventory.
Fixed-price contracts that protect your investment from day one, no surprise costs, no vague allowances, no budget creep. In-house professional designer. Construction financing that eliminates your loan burden. And direct access to Jeff and a small, experienced team throughout the entire process.
Every custom home is different, and so is the timeline. The two biggest factors are the size of your home and the selections you make along the way. A smaller home with straightforward finishes can move through the process much faster than a larger build with custom millwork, specialty materials, or complex structural features. Decision delays on things like flooring, cabinets, or fixtures can also add weeks to the schedule — sometimes more.
Yes. If you want a change, we quote it before any work is done. You approve of it, or you don’t. No surprise charges, every dollar is accounted for before it’s spent.
Yes. Full warranty documentation is provided before construction begins. After move-in, our team remains available. We don’t disappear once you have the keys.
Ready to Build?
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a direct 20-minute conversation about what you want to build and whether Claman is the right builder for your project.
