Your Builder Says You Are On Budget. Are You?
Your builder has told you throughout the build that you're on track. One week before closing, the final number arrives. It is $43,000 more than the contract price. Every change order was approved. Nobody was adding them up.
Three Builders, Same Plan, Three Different Numbers: What You're Actually Comparing
Three builders. Same plan. Three completely different numbers. Here's why those bids aren't comparing the same thing and what to actually look at before you choose.
What Builder Allowances Actually Cover (It's Not What You Think)
A builder allowance is a placeholder, not a promise. The number in your contract reflects what the builder expects to spend, not what you expect to build. Those two numbers are rarely the same.
Change Orders Aren't Just for Buyers Who Change Their Minds
Change orders don't happen because buyers are indecisive. They happen because building a custom home involves hundreds of variables — and reality rarely matches a set of plans exactly.
Your Draw Schedule Is a Leverage Document
Your draw schedule is not logistics. It determines what you can do if something goes wrong six months into your build , and most buyers sign it without questioning it.
