Six years later... Not a review you normally see. So time flies. What has not lived up to expectations? Not a thing. Things that have exceeded expectations? The roof, has come threw three major hail storms with no damage, not a single ding, none. GCH told us that like all their homes they would be putting thicker than the norm roofing on the house. Insulation... Our power bills are much lower than we expected, We moved from a "green" energy saver house in Houston and expected higher costs to cool. No, turns out our bills were about half what the were in our old home. Much better insulation. Didn't ask for it, they just did it. Does this "older" home creak, groan, pop, or make other older home sounds? No, not even in heavy wind storms. Has anything fallen off, broke or failed in any way? Well, the tornado that went right over our home two years ago did loosen the chimney cap to the point that extra screws had to be put in. The cost? Ten minutes of time and 4 screws. (Now we did opt for the much more expensive stainless steel screws.) So, six years down the road. Did we make the right choice? Absolutely. Would we hire GCH again? Absolutely. World we recommend GCH to friends, family and neighbors to be? Absolutely. We are on what we call the GCH corner in our subdivision. From our front yard we can see 4 other GCH homes. Do it. You will get the home you have dreamed of. You won't regret it. And you will have fun.Read More
Rick and Melba Rodriguez
It’s been a year and a few days since we moved into our beautiful new home built by Genuine Custom Homes. What can we say, we absolutely love it! Throughout the design, construction and one year follow up, Genuine Custom Homes has been both receptive to our desires and attentive to the level of detail we expected in a custom home. Genuine Custom Homes has been understanding, responsive and a pleasure to work with throughout the process of constructing a new home as well as the follow up the occurs post move in.
So, to Michael Bryant and Karl Heinen a BIG Thank You for making it happen! We are so glad we went with your Genuine Custom Homes!! To all the support folks who helped make our ‘forever home’, Thank You All for making it a home of comfort and joy. You ALL are the best!!
We certainly are recommending Genuine Custom Homes to those looking to build and letting everyone know about our successful journey from hill country rock to hill country home!
Thank You and God Bless,
Rick and Melba RodriguezRead More
Michael & Christine Heikkinen
Genuine Custom Homes built us an incredible top quality home. Their attention to detail was outstanding! Michael and Karl’s many years of experience and expertise ensured a beautifully constructed home. They made our entire building experience very enjoyable...and this was our second build with them! They never flinched when we asked for changes, did what was required to ensure we were happy. What a blessing to be living in our Genuine custom home. We wholeheartedly would do it all over again with Genuine as our guide!Read More
Marlene Schmidt
They were awesome! Great team that was very easy to work with. Excellent quality throughout the construction process resulting in an exceptional home.Read More
Shelly Eriksson
Fantastic experience with Genuine Custome Homes, LLC! My husband and I knew we had made the right decision to use them from the moment we walked into their office and toured a few of their homes. The whole process from signing our contract to moving into our home was pleasurable and they made it feel easy and fun. Thank you Michael, Karl and Dennis for truly a wonderful experience and a home that by far surpassed our dream!Read More
Houzz User
We believe that no other home builder could do what GCH was able to do in building our dream house. We started with photos of homes that are not seen in TX and they built us a fully customized unique home with everything we wanted (and some things we didn't know we wanted until they started building). We believe the biggest reason for GCH's success is that you get to work directly with the owners from start to finish. They were incredibly responsive to our questions and kept us updated on the progress with frequent photos, emails, and meetings. GCH uses architects, designers, electricians, etc. that they know and have trusted for years. They let us fully customize our home, even accommodating new ideas and changes mid-build. In the end, the quality of the work was superb and the final look was absolutely stunning! Thank you GCH for making our dream a reality!Read More
greg
We interviewed quite a few builders. We met Michael & immediately felt confident with the company. We met with the architect & created a set of plans that my wife & I felt filled our needs. My wife met & worked with the interior designer, Anya, during the whole process to help with color combinations & kitchen, bath, bedrooms & living spaces look. It took a lot of pressure off my wife. The builder, Karl, was always a just a phone call away along with the super Dennis who kept us appraised & informed of the building process. All in all, they treated us as friends. One of the benefits we enjoyed was change orders fees. Most companies charge $500 per change order whether large or small. Genuine doesnt charge for change orders. We had something like 75 change orders. Most people just decide to live with the problem instead of changing & paying the fee. Our home took one year to build. Other houses which started before us, are still building. We appreciate the professionalism, dedication, & work ethic of Genuine home builders.Read More
Stolz Haus
Genuine Custom Homes is best described as partnership and with superior performance. They listen to you and create home plans incorporating those ideas, make recommendations, offer alternatives in a transparent process from beginning to end. They are quality, on-time delivery, and on budget home builders. There was never a surprise during the our entire association with Geniune Custom Homes - what was planned is what was delivered. Our home was completed in 8 months during COVID-19, and the supply chain distortions that followed, while other builders were taking 20 to 26 months to complete builds. The shorter build time and quality of product are a testament to the relationship Genuine Customer Homes has with its subcontractors and customers. Anyone who is thinking of building a home in south central Texas needs to talk to Geniune Custom Homes - they will not be disappointed.Read More
Patti Beehler
Over 1 yr after moving in and we couldn’t be happier with our experience w/GCH.
Michael helped us select the lot, then gave us advice in the design phase. Sometimes we followed it, but also able to make our own decisions. Either way, he was always happy to help us and was very personable.
Anya & Jordan, walked us through the big job of design selections so that we made selections that we loved.
Karl and Dennis were dedicated to doing things right. The work was high quality and, when there was an issue, they fixed it. They were also accommodating with changes that we requested.
A few issues were found after move in. Small ones were addressed quickly. Larger issues came up with the flooring the patio ceiling. We weren’t happy with attempts to repair them so they replaced them with new. Each look amazing now!
We were surprised with the total bid at the end of the design phase. We knew there were cheaper builders, but felt GCH would do the job right. The end result is a house that we love.Read More
Houzz User
We could not be happier with our new home. From the studs to the finishes, everything has been done right! We interviewed many builders before deciding to go with Genuine Custom Homes and it was the right choice! The care, helpfulness and understanding from Michael, Karl, Dennis and Anya was more than we could have ever hoped for. From last minute framing changes to additional electrical requests, they could not have been more easy to work with! If you or anyone you know is looking for a custom home builder that is fair, approachable, professional, available and all around very genuine, look no further! Thank you guys for helping us build an absolutely beautiful home that our family will fill with love for many years to come!Read More
Tamara Landry
Genuine Custom Homes built our dream home. It was everything we imagined and so much more! Michael Bryant and the team at Genuine, listened and helped guide us through the entire process. My husband is very particular and there wasn't a request he had that they didn't bend over backwards to accommodate. I would highly recommend Genuine Custom Homes to anyone looking to build their dream home in the hill country!Read More
Jay Killen
When it came time for us to build our "Forever" home we interviewed several builders but only one stuck out. From the moment we met Michael we knew that we wanted Genuine Custom Homes to build our house! We were very nervous because there is so much more that comes with building instead of just buying a new home and Michael, Karl and the Genuine Custom Home team made it seem so easy. They explained the steps and kept us informed every step of the way, from talking through the design via face time with the architect to picking out all the finishes with a designer to walking us through the closing process. Even the lenders they work with were amazing and they made their process so understandable. Now that we are moved into our new home, we know we made the right decision to go with Genuine Custom Homes and we would recommend them to anyone who is interested in building a custom home. Thanks Genuine Custom Homes!!!Read More
Melissa Scott
Thank you, Genuine Custom Homes, for making our first (and only) house building experience so smooth! When there was a problem, you fixed it. If we didn't' like it, you changed it. If YOU thought it should be changed, you offered us a CREDIT to make it happen. AMAZING customer service! How many people can call their builders friends by the end of that process? We are so thankful we found you!Read More
Houzz User
There are many builders and they all claim to do great work. We believe you can tell a lot about a company by the people running it. So for us it came down to, not only what the builders could do, but also who we’d be on the home building journey with.
That being said, we interviewed several builders and thought we had made a decision, but we kept thinking about how Michael from Genuine Custom Homes had reached out to us a couple years before. After meeting with him we knew we wanted to go with GCH. We could tell right away that he was honest and straight forward. We were never disappointed. In fact, once construction began, we were equally impressed. His partner Karl was always quick to respond to all of our questions, requests, or concerns. If you’re looking for a builder you can trust and enjoy working with, go with Genuine Custom Homes, you will not be disappointed and you will be able to rest at ease knowing that your new home will be built with quality and pride.
Thanks for your kindness and thoroughness Genuine Custom Homes!Read More
Sarah Tovar
Five stars are not enough! Before building with Genuine Custom Homes, my husband and I started with another builder with whom we were very dissatisfied. How fortunate we found Michael and Karl! The difference in the experience was like night and day. Genuine is completely transparent with their fees and there are no hidden costs. They started with our budget in mind and never swayed from that. When issues came up during construction, the only answers we got from them were "we're already on it" or "no problem, we'll make it right". There is a reason they have won best customer service on Houzz 4 years in a row! Plus, they build truly stunning homes. I cannot recommend them enough!Read More
Wayne Bennett
I hired Genuine Custom Homes in the Spring of 2015 to design and build my custom home in Helotes Texas. They brought in a terrific architect to work with me and they put me in the capable hands of a great interior designer who helped coordinate all of my choices in flooring, interior/exterior materials and colors, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, etc. Because of the time spent in design, the build itself went relatively smoothly (there will always be a few hiccups in a custom build) and change orders were minimized. I moved in just before Thanksgiving 2016 and I am delighted with the house. I would not hesitate to recommend Genuine Custom Homes without reservation.Read More
Christopher Oliver
I spoke with a dozen builders when we started looking for someone to build our home, and usually came away with a less than excited feeling. Then we were referred to Genuine Customer Homes and we could not have been happier. Once I went to an open house and spoke with Michael and Karl I knew something was different. They had past and current customers just raving about the entire process and how wonderful an experience it was. It was refreshing after hearing so many horror stories from other people working with customer builders to find someone who would made you feel like they were apart of this as much as you were.
And I have to say, we have had the exact same experience from start to finish as everyone else had talked about. They were upfront and honest about expenses and how much to expect in the end. Any change orders went smoothly without a hitch. The entire design team they work with was amazing and helped us stay within budget and gave alternatives if we what we thought we wanted went way over budget. They kept us up to date on how things were going and updated an icloud site with pictures of our house's progress. Everything was painless and easy and we didn't have to worry about a thing. Anytime we did have concerns about something it would usually get fixed before we even mentioned it to them. And if we did say something it was addressed faster than I would have thought possible.
I could keep saying more, but ask Michael for a customer contact and there will be several satisfied customer willing to talk to you about their experience and can give you even more details.
Thank you Michael and Karl for making it so easy to choose ya'll and never have a second thought.Read More
CA & Company, REALTORS
As a real estate professional, you want to bring the best options to the table to satisfy your clients and meet their needs. Michael and Karl with Genuine Custom Homes not only bring the best to the table, they bring the freaking table. The best builder firm I have ever worked with , hands down, every client satisfied, their attention to detail is bordering on clinical, these guys operate with such precision that every item is taken care of. If you are looking for a builder for that special home or that special client, look no further, they will make you look like a rock star every time. If you are looking to build your home, I highly recommend them, incredible work done by these two.Read More
Greg D
UPDATED 6/13/2017.
Very happy clients here - GCH completed our custom home a few weeks ago and we could not be happier. The customer "touch" (calls, text messages, emails, photos), listening (and more listening) and solid advice are abundant with this organization. Throughout the build we were "in touch".
The building designer, interior decorator, cabinet maker, etc. are all some of the best out there and they show the same customer care that Genuine does. Custom home building isn't for the faint of heart, but everyone made this so easy for us.
From the up-front marketing through design, price and contract we knew we were working with people who took their work seriously and who have integrity. The final result is a wonderful home and a builder and homeowner who are friends and not enemies. They even check up on us after completion!
There are several very good builders in the SA area (do your homework) but we can only speak for this one. A "genuinely" great experience. What a blessing to have found these guys.
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We are currently building our home with Genuine Custom Homes. After interviewing several well-respected builders, it was clear that GCH was going to take the time to listen, answer our questions and form a relationship based on integrity, trust and customer service.
While we just now broke ground, the design and spec stages have gone very smoothly and the level of communication and responsiveness has been second to none.
Michael Bryant is resourceful, knowledgable and highly responsive to customers and just a really nice guy to work with. His partner Karl, who runs the project management side displays solid experience and a calm demeanor that makes you feel like everything will be 'ok'.
The materials suppliers, finance & title and design personnel they work with have been very customer focused and a pleasure to work with.
Everything that we are doing is new to us and we ask many questions, but the Genuine team has earned our trust and business. We look forward to completing the project with them and enjoying our new home.Read More
Houzz User
We had a hard time deciding on a builder for our custom built Texas Tuscan home. We were seriously considering three other builders and just about ready to make a decision on one. We were asked by our realtor to add another one into the mix and speak with Genuine Custom Homes. We went on a walkthrough at a building site at the framing stage and it was there we saw the quality of the build. We declined the other three builders and chose Genuine. Completion of the build took place in mid-December 2015 and have been living here for 2 months. With Genuine you work with the owners/builders directly. Karl and Michael were just a text away whenever answers were needed. We have gotten so many compliments on our home and look forward to enjoying our house for years to come.Read More
Houzz User
We built our home from 5 1/2 hours away. We kept waiting for "the disasters" to happen....they never came. The few times we came across something we weren't satisfied with we wouldn't even have a chance to mention it before Karl would have brought it up and offered a solution. We are so very thankful for the day we met Michael that ultimately lead us to Genuine and all the talented folks that came with that relationship. The bonus is we ended up creating great friendships with our builder and crew.....who says that?! ;)Read More
Houzz User
Michael and Karl did a superb job of building our dream home. They listen to what you want and quickly and efficiently execute it all! Our family couldn't more excited about our house. From the day we started with Genuine to the day we moved in, it was always an excellent experience. I HIGHLY recommend anybody looking to build in the San Antonio/Hill Country Vicinity to consider working with Genuine Custom Homes.Read More
Houzz User
It's a big decision. Deciding to build a custom home is easy. Picking a builder...not so easy. I can make it much easier for you. If you are building in the San Antonio area, go ahead, go visit a lot of builders for there are a lot of 'good' builders in San Antonio. Once you have done that, go visit Michael Bryant and Karl Heinen at Genuine Custom Homes. Now, you have met the 'great' builders in San Antonio.
Michael and Karl will listen with the pure intent to design and build your dream, with your vision, and in your budget. Their sincerity, honesty, and extreme professionalism blend to deliver a custom experience that is extremely well planned, logical, trustworthy, and, just as importantly, fun.
So, go ahead, visit the others. Then come home to Genuine Custom Homes.Read More
Houzz User
I would like to express my gratitude for the excellent service that Genuine Customs Homes provided for my family. Being over 600 miles away, Michael and Karl with great patience listened to our ideas over Skype and the phone, helping us find land, design and build our home. The group of professionals that they work with ( Anya Hahn Interior Design, Debbie Villarreal and Lisa Cross From Starky Mortgage) truly added to a positive building experience. For a custom home built the way you want by people that make you feel like family look no further then Genuine Custom Homes.Read More
Ana Sita
After many years of visiting builders from all over Central/South Texas, we are indeed fortunate to have found Karl and his TEAM at Genuine Custom Homes. We have made a number of personal sacrifices to get here, TRUSTING Karl's guidance the entire way. Karl's OPTIMISM kept us in the process even when we were not sure we could make things work out. The "thing" with Karl is that he is completely "GENUINE" in every sense of the word. Frankly, it's hard to believe Karl has other clients because he is able to completely meet our every need. We are just starting to frame our Retirement Home and have found the entire process to be an absolute PLEASURE.
It has been a long journey to get this far but we would not be where we are without our relationship with the "Genuine" TEAM. Michael B. helped get the house in budget and Debbie V. got us financed. Karl and his "KREW" provide top-shelf service, have TONS of experience, and make a profound difference in the way they take care of business. I simply can not say enough good things about the "Genuine" experience.Read More
Houzz User
There are only two men in San Antonio that can turn a dream home vision into a reality. Karl Heinen and Michael Bryant owners of Genuine Custom Homes have decided to revolutionize how Texas builds homes, and they make the competition look like complete amateurs.
Genuine Custom Homes are true custom home builders. Some builders unlike Genuine do not have an eye for specialty lots. They don't have ambition to meet your timelines and aren't trust worthy to give you the actual costs to build.
The first time we met Michael, our building consultant, he immediately gave us answers to questions that other builders couldn't. He took the time to visit our unique piece of land and identified flaws in the competitor’s attempts to build on it. Michael immediately got us on the drawing board and started sketching out plans that would be most conducive to our extremely graded lot and beautiful views of the hill country.
Since then, Genuine Custom homes has continued to make us feel Genuine. Our house is almost complete in 2 weeks and truly looks like a master piece with enhanced incredible views, an amazing pool, and a property that looks and feels enormous. We couldn’t be happier with the choices we have made going with Genuine Custom Homes.
Thanks Michael and Karl! You guys are amazing!
We can’t wait to move in!
Roman and LindsayRead More
Lindsay Blodgett
Genuine Custom Homes is an outstanding builder. With working in the real estate business and knowing a lot of different builders we did our research to make sure we went with the best of the best to build our home.
I am exceptionally glad that we chose Genuine because that is exactly what they are “Genuine”. They didn’t stretch the truth or push us to get us to go with them. They gave us all the facts and when they say they can do something they do! I know several builders that unfortunately I cannot say the same about.
I also like how they keep us in the loop every step of the way. Getting to be a part of the process and see our house shape and form is amazing! Karl and Michael do an excellent job of making sure you don’t miss anything. They treat their clients like family and I look forward to our continued relationship even after the house is complete. They truly are one of a kind and I recommend them to anyone that wants the custom experience in building their custom home.Read More
Houzz User
The Genuine Custom Homes team is outstanding! The attention to detail along with the guidance through the process is amazing. Michael and Karl take a unique approach to the home building experience by spending more detailed time upfront to ensure the actual building process is an enjoyable journey and not left second guessing while minimizing/eliminating change orders. The hours spent on capturing details of specifications from the exterior design to the interior details with any idea you bring to the table will work, even on a napkin, as the team will extract it out and make it a reality. They use only the best in town designers and craftsman to build the home we only expected in our dreams. There should be no doubt nor question who should build your home, Genuine Custom Homes should be your only stop to build the highest quality custom home while maximizing your budget along the way!Read More
Houzz User
My wife and I chose Genuine Custom Homes to build on our property for the simple fact that their product stands out among other builders in the San Antonio area. They are the only home builder that walked us through the custom home building process step-by-step. We met with a multitude of different home builders during our search to build, and found that Genuine was the most knowledgeable and transparent.Read More
Houzz User
Karl Heinen, and Genuine Custom Homes, works diligently to provide impeccable customer service. He completely understands and effectively communicates the entire new home building process.
We have been working with Genuine Custom Homes during 2013 to design and build our dream home. All timelines and workmanship have been exceptional and we would highly recommend Genuine Custom Homes!Read More
Houzz User
Building a custom home can be quite overwhelming...so we were told! Decisions are endless and opinions change through the process. Our experience of building our first custom home was SO much better than what we had anticipated based on the horror stories you often hear of! Genuine Custom Homes was with us each and every step of the way and Karl was amazing to work with!!! His organization skills speak volumes for themselves. We were constantly kept in the loop of what the current status was and what we could expect to come and it was so nice to know that we had someone supervising our project who cared about our home just as much as we did! Karl was always in contact with us and set up appointments for us with his chosen professionals who already knew about our style before we even arrived to meet with them to discuss specifics. We were involved in the entire process and when we were not immediately available we had the confidence that Karl knew our goals and style well enough to make things happen as we would have them. We would absolutely recommend a Genuine Custom Home to our friends and family-- we have now been in our home for six months and from the date of move in we have not been disappointed! On top of that...Karl has been in contact occasionally to check in with us which is nice...it's not often you get taken care of after the completion of your project (sale)!Read More
Gwyneth Hobson
What can I say kudos to this team - Michael, Karl, Dennis, Anya, and Jordan made our dreams come true. We came to San Antonio because we decided to retire in the area. We began to look for a builder. When we were introduced to Michael, we knew GCH was the builder we wanted to work with because we always dreamed of a custom build. He took a tour of our lot the day we asked to work with him and gave his honest opinion on where to build on the lot. He kept in touch with us even before we moved into the area. He was honest from the beginning of what our cost estimate would be.
Michael took his time in meeting with us through each phase of the build by explaining what we needed to know before we started. Anya was patient and creative, in helping us to design the interior of our home. Jordan gave us the slam dunk with our fixtures. Karl was fantastic in explaining everything on-site. Dennis was detailed in ensuring the interior was completed correctly. Throughout the process, his entire team took their time with us to make our home beautiful and unique. Even when we had questions, his team was patient and efficient with their answers. Their perseverance throughout the process was just a testament to their integrity and professionalism. I am so glad we chose this team to build our forever home. If you are in the market for a true custom builder in the San Antonio area, do yourself a favor and look no further. Choose Genuine Custom Homes to make your dreams come true.Read More
John Stolz
My wife and I have built 6 custom homes over the years and we were fortunate to have Genuine Custom Homes build our most recent. The Genuine Custom Homes team is professional, considerate, organized and efficient. The product they produced is at the top of all the home builders we have used in the past.
From the very beginning of our project to the end and after the Genuine Custom Homes team was communicative, received feedback constructively and were willing to make any changes necessary. Genuine Custom Homes completed our home in 9 months during supply chain and labor shortages created by COVID-19 when most contractor were taking 18 to 24 months - a testament to their effectiveness and relationships they have with their subcontractors.
Anyone building a home in south central Texas should contact Genuine Custom Homes.Read More
Angeline Arreola
We had an exceptional experience working with Genuine Custom Home builders. From start to finish, their team demonstrated outstanding professionalism and expertise. Communication was top-notch throughout the entire project—they kept us informed every step of the way and were always quick to address our questions. We were especially impressed by how seamlessly they collaborated with our architect (George) and designer (Anya), ensuring our vision of our forever-home, came to life exactly as we’d hoped.
The construction process was remarkably streamlined, and they completed our home in a timely manner without ever compromising on quality. Their attention to detail was evident in every corner of the house, and they managed to stay on budget, which we greatly appreciated. Michael was a pleasure to work with from the very beginning—friendly, approachable, and incredibly helpful in getting us started. Karl and Dennis were equally impressive, bringing their deep knowledge and responsiveness to the table whenever we needed guidance or updates.
What truly stood out was their flexibility and positive attitude. Deep into the building process, we decided to make some significant changes that required redoing portions of the framework and drywall. I was worried this might frustrate the team, but Karl’s response was, 'No problem, I want you to love the house.' True to his word, he and the team made the adjustments quickly and efficiently, keeping the project on track. That kind of customer-first mindset made all the difference.
We also can’t say enough about Anya, our amazing designer. I can be very particular and indecisive, which can be daunting when you’re choosing every single detail of a custom home. Anya was incredibly patient, yet she kept us moving forward and helped us make decisions with confidence. Our meetings with her were always fun, productive, and left us excited about the next steps.
Genuine Custom Home made what could have been a stressful process feel smooth and enjoyable. We couldn’t be happier with our new home and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable, professional, and easy-to-work-with builder!Read More