Thomas Tate has served as president and owner of Tate Builder’s, Inc., in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, since 1983. On the island, Thomas E. Tate oversees the construction of custom homes, which range from elaborate mansions to modest summer cottages. Tom Tate’s team at Tate Builders is dedicated to building honest and communicative relationships with clients in order to make sure every detail of each new home is perfect.

There are a number of reasons why someone might consider building a custom home. The main attraction is, of course, creative control. While homeowners will have to adhere to local building codes and lot limitations, the majority of the construction is completely up to the individual. The actual construction of the house may be time consuming, but it is a far more practical use of time compared to visiting countless houses for sale that do not meet all of an individual's requirements.

This leads to the second advantage of designing and building a custom home, which is satisfaction. Often, it takes months or even years for a house to evolve into an actual family home. With a custom home, however, this transition period is non-existent. The product that homeowners buy is one they and the builder have designed together. Lastly, while a custom home represents a large upfront investment, homeowners can save money over the long term. Existing homes in the $250,000 price range, for example, can be marked up more than $50,000 to account for various expenses beyond the buyer’s control. These extra charges are not an issue with a custom home, and the saved money can be used for appliance upgrades.