A Builder is Born

Jim Acheson grew up in Michigan and developed a keen interest in craftsmanship from his jeweler father. This may explain how Jim developed his talent for meticulous attention to detail, while also learning first-hand what it takes to run an independent family business. As a kid, he wasn’t especially sure that he wanted to work as hard as he saw his family working — but of course no one would accuse the adult Jim of being anything less than the hardest-working builder/remodeler in town.

In Jim’s own words:

My passion for architecture started as a young child sitting on the porch of our family’s historic country home. I loved the intricacy of design and latticework on the porch filigree.

photo of fancy scroll-cut wooden post of front porch in winter with snow blanketing front yard

Fancy scroll work wooden post of front porch in winter.

photo of two-story Acheson country house with full-width fancy-cut wooden post front porch in winter with snow blanketing front yard

White-painted full-width porch and matching blanket of Michigan snow.

three-quarter front angle photo of two-story Acheson country house with full-width fancy-cut wooden post front porch in winter with snow blanketing front yard

Acheson house in winter showing side entrance.

photo of white painted ornate long front porch covering full width of large country house

Jim Acheson’s childhood house front porch.

photo of front of Acheson family home showing full-width fancy porch

A fancy welcoming front porch.

As I grew up, I’d frequently be found doodling architectural ideas on scraps of paper. I later went on to study architecture at the University of Michigan and worked summers for a local builder. After 3 ½ years of college, I had to break from school in order to earn more money to keep going. The builder I worked for taught me carpentry skills, but also was impressed by my eye for design. When that builder saw a commercial opportunity he wanted to pursue, he turned over his customer base in residential work to me, and I started my own company from there (way back in 1973!) I love bringing beautiful architecture and building to the Ann Arbor area.
— Jim Acheson

group portrait photo of family of five on porch — Jim and Marilyn Acheson (center) and children (l-r) Harvey, Kathryn, and Ross visiting Jim’s family home in 1999.

45 years later, Acheson Builders is still family-run, still making homeowners happy with its highly personalized approach to house building and remodeling. While contractors and builders in general have a sometimes shoddy reputation for leaving customers feeling underserved, Jim Acheson’s insistence on listening well, assigning an interior designer and lead carpenter to every job, and offering meaningful follow-through has helped make Acheson Builders a true standout in the field.

About Acheson Builders

Services Provided

Basement Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling, Custom Home Bars, Custom Homes, Deck Building, Energy-Efficient Homes, Garage Building, Green Building, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, New Home Construction, Roof Replacement, Siding Installation, Structural Engineering, Sustainable Design, Custom Cabinets, Remodeling, Residential Home Builds . . .

Certifications and Awards

photo of James Acheson holding 2014 Keppler Award for Remodeling Achievement — Jim Acheson has been honored with the 2014 Keppler Award for Remodeling Achievement

Certified Graduate Builder, Certified Graduate Remodeler, Certified Aging in Place Specialist; Keppler Award for Remodeling Achievement 2014; Member of the Better Business Bureau: A+ rated.

Acheson Builders has been rated The Top 3 Home Builders in Ann Arbor by ThreeBest Rated two years running.

Michigan Areas Served

Ann Arbor, Barton Hills, Bridgewater, Dexter, Saline, Ypsilanti, Brighton, Gregory, Hamburg, Howell, Pinkney, Chelsea, Salem, Manchester, Plymouth, Northville, Whitmore Lake, Willis, Whittaker, Belleville, Canton, Dixboro.