Custom home building questions, answered
Straight answers about building a custom home with Sudon Brothers in Northeast Ohio: who we are, where we build, land, design, cost, financing, permits, construction and what happens after you move in.
About Sudon Brothers
Who is the best custom home builder in Youngstown, Ohio?
Sudon Brothers, Inc. of Girard is one of the Mahoning Valley's most decorated custom home builders: an NAHB Certified Master Building Professional, a Best of Ohio Homes winner, a Builder Magazine Builder of the Year and a 2025 HBA Leadership in Housing Advocacy Award recipient. The family designs each home with an architect we work with, and Donald Sudon and our general contractor oversee every job. Read what clients say.
Who is Sudon Brothers?
Sudon Brothers, Inc. is a family-owned custom home builder in Girard, Ohio, owned and operated by Donald Sudon. We design and build luxury custom homes across Youngstown, Mahoning County and Trumbull County, with an architect we work with, a general contractor who supports Donald on every job and a full-time office.
Who owns Sudon Brothers?
Sudon Brothers, Inc. is owned and operated by Donald Sudon. Donald is supported on every job by Jim, a general contractor, and plans are drawn with an architect we work with. Meet the Sudon family.
Where is Sudon Brothers located?
Our office is at 1616 E. Liberty St., Girard, OH 44420, open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call 330.759.3776.
Is Sudon Brothers a certified builder?
Yes. Sudon Brothers is an NAHB Certified Master Building Professional (CMBP). The National Association of Home Builders awards the credential to builders with at least five years in a leadership role at a residential building firm and 50 hours of qualifying education within five years, who also pass the CMBP exam. See all awards and credentials.
What's the difference between a custom builder and a plan-based builder?
A plan-based builder starts from a catalog of existing floor plans and lets you change finishes and some options. A custom builder like Sudon Brothers designs the house from scratch for your family and your lot, so the plan, elevations, structure and features are all specific to you.
Land and where we build
What areas does Sudon Brothers build in?
We build across Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Northeast Ohio, including Youngstown, Canfield, Poland, Boardman and Austintown in Mahoning County and Girard, Liberty Township, Howland, Vienna, Hubbard and Niles in Trumbull County. See where we build.
Can you build on my lot?
Yes. We build on land you already own. We start by walking the lot to understand its slope, drainage, utilities, access and zoning before design begins.
I don't own land yet. Can you help?
Yes. We help clients evaluate lots before they buy, so you know what it will take to build on a piece of land before you commit to it. See what we check on every lot.
What should I check before buying a lot?
Check zoning and setbacks, whether the lot has public sewer or needs a septic system, public water or a well, flood plain status and drainage, slope and soil, the availability of gas and electric service, and which school district the parcel is in. We're glad to walk a lot with you before you buy.
How do I find out which school district a lot is in?
School district boundaries don't always follow township or city lines, so check the specific parcel in the county auditor's property records, or ask the district directly, before you buy.
Design
Do you design the house?
Yes. We design each home with you, working with an architect who prepares illustrated plans that are revised until the layout fits how your family lives, down to furniture and appliance placement.
Can I make changes to the plans?
Yes. Plans are reviewed and revised with you before construction. One homeowner wrote that “a set of illustrated plans was prepared and we were able to make changes to suit our needs.”
Can you build a pool, guest house or tennis court?
Yes. We build pools and pool houses, tennis courts and pavilions, guest houses, home gyms, wine cellars, residential elevators, smart home systems and outdoor living spaces, planned together with the house. See estate features.
Cost and financing
How much does a Sudon Brothers custom home cost?
Every Sudon Brothers home is priced from its own plans and selections, so there's no catalog base price. The biggest cost drivers are size and shape, foundation and site work, exterior materials, interior finish level and estate features. For context, the National Association of Home Builders' 2024 survey put the average construction cost of a new U.S. home at about $162 per square foot before land, and luxury custom homes typically cost more. See the cost guide.
What affects the cost of a custom home most?
Five things: size and shape (including rooflines and corners), foundation and site work (basements, driveways, sewer or septic), exterior materials (brick and stone versus siding), interior finish level, and estate features such as pools or guest houses.
How do construction loans work?
Most custom homes are financed with a construction-to-permanent loan. The lender pays the builder in stages, or draws, as work is completed and inspected, and the loan converts to a standard mortgage when the home is finished. Lenders need plans, specifications and a construction budget to approve the loan.
Building and after move-in
How long does it take to build a custom home?
It depends on the size and complexity of the home, the season you break ground and how quickly selections are made. Design and permitting come first. We set a construction schedule with you before work starts and keep you updated against it.
Do I need a building permit to build a house in Ohio?
Yes. A new home needs zoning approval from the township, city or village, a residential building permit, and sewer or septic approval. In Mahoning County, residential permits for county projects come from the Mahoning County Building Inspection Department; in Trumbull County, from the Trumbull County Building Inspection Department. As your builder, we coordinate the approvals and inspections.
Will I know what's happening during construction?
Yes. Donald Sudon and our general contractor oversee every job, and our full-time office keeps you informed and answers questions. As one client family put it: “You always kept us informed and updated on everything.”
What happens after we move in?
We stand behind our work. Clients describe the family helping remedy problems after move-in and continuing to visit after completion.
Have a question we didn't answer?
Call our Girard office or send us a note. We're happy to talk it through.