Should You Run Google Ads for Custom Homes?

Should you run Google Ads for custom homes? Don’t ask ChatGPT. Your lifelong knowledge of peer builders provides richer decision-making context than any generic AI advice.

Why Context Beats Generic Advice

You possess lifelong knowledge about competitors’ risk tolerance, growth ambitions, building pace, and financial margins. That context is superior to any AI model’s generic output.

Use the Intel You Already Have

Builders within the same circles know each other’s pricing, agencies hired, and magazine advertising patterns. This enables direct comparison of marketing strategies that no tool can replicate.

Do a Quick Marketing Recon

The Google Ads Transparency Center reveals competitor ad spending and messaging. Combined with industry intel, this creates actionable templates. You can see exactly who’s advertising, what they’re saying, and how aggressive they’re being.

Turn Anecdotes into Decisions

Understanding why peers adopted Google Ads helps determine if those conditions match your business model. Did they start because they were struggling for leads? Because they were scaling? Because their agency recommended it? The why matters.

Invest Enough to Learn

If your whole budget is $500 per month, it’s going to be nearly impossible to see what’s working. You need enough spend to get statistically significant data, and enough time to let the algorithms learn.

Remodeling Does Not Equal Custom Homes

Marketing strategies differ significantly between remodeling and custom home segments due to distinct buying cycles. Remodeling leads are often searching with urgency. Custom home prospects are researching over months or years. The keyword intent, the landing page strategy, and the follow-up process are all different.

The Takeaway

Success depends on applying peer intelligence to your specific risk appetite and growth objectives. The best answer to “should I run Google Ads?” isn’t found in a blog post — it’s found in honest conversations with builders who’ve tried it, combined with clear thinking about what you’re actually trying to achieve.