01
The assembly, not just the finish
Land readiness and building scope must be separated. Access, grading, drainage, utility connections and design constraints can change the project without changing interior square footage. Floor area alone cannot express structural spans, glazing systems or custom finish fabrication. The existing custom-home Santa Barbara guide owns parcel due diligence; this guide owns bid cost boundaries.
NAHB · homeowner remodeling preparation02
Ownership and maintenance
Compare lifecycle decisions for envelope, mechanical equipment and replacement access with the design team. Do not equate a premium selection with lower lifetime expense without project evidence. Commissioning and records belong in the handover budget so future owners understand what was installed.
03
What the proposal must include
Separate building construction, siteworks, utility work, design/professional services, reviews/fees, financing/land costs and owner furnishings. List allowances and quantities; identify which are outside the constructor’s contract. Contingency is an owner planning reserve, not proof that unknowns have been investigated.
04
Resolve before procurement
Advance design and site investigations before treating proposals as equivalent. Use explicit owner-entered amounts; no regional cost-per-foot benchmark is supplied. Confirm the parcel’s public and private review path, and professional scope, before assuming buildability.