Building a bespoke home is a life-changing choice that will impact the nuances of each day for years to come. One of the first decisions someone makes to bring a home-building dream to life is choosing experts to trust. From land search to managing architects and engineers, Cedar Development Group aims to support clients every step of the way.
“We’ve refined the process to offer buyers maximum choices with minimum stress, removing the risk and guesswork but adding flexible options,” says Ryan Scully, founder of CDG.
Scully knows the homebuying journey well. As a licensed realtor, he spent years helping other people find fitting homes. In 2018, he built his first spec house in the Catskills and founded Cedar Development Group. Since then, he’s seen two dozen projects through to completion, from site selection to move-in day.
Cedar Development Group offers custom stick-built homes and luxe finishes across three distinctive models—the Window Wall, Upstate Icon, and Modern series. Scully walks potential clients through the models first, which helps clients visualize what they might want, and then helps them modify floor plans as desired. The firm either builds on client-purchased land or helps with land search, permitting, and architectural drawings, along with the full suite of services expected from a general contractor.
“We’ll be your single point of contact and you’ll have access to our trusted network, from surveyors, architects, and attorneys to interior finishers and landscapers. We handle the tasks involved and pass you the keys,” Scully says.
The majority of Cedar Development Group’s builds are in Ulster and Greene counties, but the firm is happy to create dream homes in the greater Hudson Valley.
As far as tweaking the existing models to fit your needs, CDG offers the flexibility to dream big. “You can add a screened porch, a sunroom, a Trex deck—you decide exactly what to get,” Scully says. “The process is less overwhelming than working directly with an architect, where there are 500 decisions to make. We give you that quality of experience, with lots of flexibility involved, but set parameters up front that leave you with less to worry about.”
For a custom plan set, homes are ready within a year and typically completed in seven months.
During the process, clients are free to be as hands-on or -off as they prefer. “We keep in close touch, sending tons of pictures, videos, and updates,” says Scully.
Scully is always happy for clients to peek in on progress. “Our aim is to have the process fit your life, he says, “whether that means remote collaboration or even getting muddy with us—our goal is to do everything it takes to facilitate your dream home.”
