ABOUT ROOKE CUSTOM HOMES

Charleston’s Most Trusted New Home Builder

Rooke Custom Homes stands as Charleston’s premier family-owned home builder. With Michael Rooke at the helm, we ensure each project is meticulously overseen from start to finish, staying true to our community roots and commitment to enduring value.

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Thrive in Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC, blends a thriving job market with rich cultural heritage and endless outdoor adventures. From historic landmarks and renowned Lowcountry cuisine to year-round mild weather, it’s the perfect place to build a life and grow.

We’ve GotYou Covered

Whether you’re looking for a custom-designed sanctuary or a semi-custom retreat, Rooke Custom Homes offers comprehensive building solutions focusing on reliability, quality and peace of mind.

Headshot of Michael Rooke, Owner

MICHAEL ROOKE

Michael Rooke, the driving force behind Rooke Custom Homes, brings decades of industry expertise and a personal touch to every project. As owner and project manager, Michael ensures every build meets and exceeds expectations, solidifying his reputation among Charleston’s most talented and dedicated home builders.

What Our Clients Say

“For some reason we thought it would be a good idea to buy the property and plans prior to even having signed a contract with a builder. The first builder we contacted ended up bailing on us after having his engineer look over the Allison Ramsey plans we had already purchased. After contacting several others over the next 2-3 months and being quoted as much as twice what we could afford, we were ready to throw in the towel before someone recommended Rooke Custom Homes. From start to finish, it was obvious that Michael not only genuinely wanted to help us out but he and his team was determined to build the nicest home possible within our budget. Michael was also really patient and reasonable with us along the way on multiple change orders, credits for fixtures & appliances we purchased out of pocket, punch list items (before and after move-in), etc. We’ve been in the house for a few months now and couldn’t be happier. It turned out even better than we had anticipated.”

Patrick McGinnis

“Building a home is of course quite the process. Issues come up and things happen, but all we can expect is for someone to be responsive and accountable.

Michael and his team made us feel comfortable from day one. Not only were we able to build our dream home at an affordable price, but they SERIOUSLY exceeded our expectations. We will be the first to admit we aren’t always the easiest people to deal with and are VERY particular. That being said, Michael too is very detail oriented and stands behind his work. He genuinely wants us to be happy and we so appreciate that.

From framing to finishes they never took shortcuts, our inspector is known as a stickler, and he complimented their work many times.

Thanks so much Rooke Custom Homes, we appreciate everything you’ve done for us.”

Dana Gregg

“Build Your Dream Custom Home” – those were the words promised to me and they turned out to be true! Michael Rooke was recommended to me and not knowing anything about building a home, I went ahead and am glad I did! Michael’s biggest asset is his patience, I had a lot of change orders and he patiently worked through them keeping calm all the while. I especially appreciated his crews, each and every one, were expert in their fields and super nice to deal with and believe me I was at the site every day keeping an eye on things. Building a home is an all-consuming activity and requires patience, delays can be expected and it’s important to stay calm and go with the flow. Michael’s coolness under pressure, attention to detail, and his sense of humor and expertise on the job were all greatly appreciated. At the end of the project we are still friends and I’m thrilled with my beautiful new home.”

Wendy Allison

“We encountered a fire at our rental house. It was a complete loss. Per our request, Michael came to us with a few house plans. We chose one and we were off. He was extremely accommodating when we decided to add a window and change flooring during the building process. It was amazing at how quickly everything come together. He was very courteous and professional, and we had a great working relationship. The completed house was absolutely beautiful. He used nice upgrade features that you would not likely receive from a pre-planned community builder. He was awesome because he really cared about the final outcome. We would definitely hire him again!”

Tonya & Mike Heckendorn

“After doing some research about custom home builders in the Charleston area, I stumbled upon Michael and decided to work with him after I had a look at one of his previous projects. Now, a year later, I would not hesitate a second to make the same decision again. He takes full ownership of a project, builds great quality homes, accommodates all special requests and most importantly: No matter what might come up (and there’s always unforeseen things coming up when building a house) he stays calm and works patiently to resolve the situation. Highly recommended!”

Rudy Fu

“My husband and I recently purchased a home from Rooke Homes and couldn’t be happier with it and our experience. We are second-time home buyers and were attracted to the work of Rooke Homes found in one of the homes we were shown by our realtor. We found that the overall quality and attention to detail were superior to that of the big ‘cookie-cutter’ builder. Michael Rooke was a pleasure to work with and he took great care in making us happy. What would be considered extra by some builders was standard with Rooke Homes. My parents, owners of a number of homes over the years from Miami, to West Palm Beach, Atlanta, Asheville, and Savannah, custom built to previously owned, were impressed by the craftsmanship and ‘standard’ inclusions. We highly recommend Rooke Builders to prospective home buyers/builders – you will not be disappointed!”

Katie Jones

FAQ’s

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How close do you stay to estimated timelines and budgets?

We establish a budget and timeline together, formalized in a contract before any project begins. The contract includes an Act of God provision for unforeseeable events like hurricanes. Delays, as confirmed by our references, occur only due to external forces; otherwise, we deliver as promised.

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When and how are payments made?

Payment terms are outlined in the contract, reflecting progress towards a set completion date. Initially, a 10% deposit covers materials, with subsequent payments scheduled based on milestones. Final payment is due upon project completion.

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Do you have repeat customers?

We are very blessed to say that over 50% of our customers come to us or are referred to us by customers we’ve built for in the past. When you check our references, you’ll learn why our homeowners are so loyal and enthusiastic about our work.

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What about permits?

Permits are mandatory for all projects. We handle permit acquisition, conduct all inspections, ensure compliance with building codes, and meet all legal requirements thoroughly.

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What about materials?

Our contract specifies all essential building materials. While substitutions may be necessary (e.g., due to supply shortages), any changes will be of equal quality and require your approval. For items like lighting fixtures or doorknobs not selected at contract signing, a specific budget is set to manage costs.

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What about change orders?

A change order is a written statement authorizing additional work beyond the original contract. It is ideally signed before the work starts to keep the project on track. This order adjusts the project’s scope and cost, which are due when completed, and addresses unforeseen issues.

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