Custom Home Building Estimate Turnaround Times

Some of the most common questions we receive pertain to turnaround times for custom home building estimates. Those looking to take the first step toward building a custom home in the Bay Area can learn about the Supple Homes estimation process and timeline in this article.

The Estimation Process Requirements

Creating an estimate for a custom built home requires the evaluation of plans provided by the client and their architect. In order to ensure that an estimate is accurate, the plans provided must be clear, detailed, and all-inclusive; essentially a permit ready submittal set.

Less refined plans that exclude:

  • finish elevations
  • cabinet design
  • fixture schedules

and other details will affect the accuracy of the estimate (this means more allowances will be included, rather than firm bids for exact materials or selections).

Our Estimation Timeline

Once the plans are received, we schedule a meeting with the client and their architect and/or designer to discuss the project's scope/vision to better understand what the client is envisioning for the completed home.

Initial Review Process

To begin the estimating process, we review the client's plans and determine which of our skilled team of subcontractors will be needed. From there, we send the plans to each potential subcontractor so they can provide us with an estimate (or bid) for their respective scope of work.

Subcontractor Bidding Phase

Subcontractor estimates take an average of two weeks to complete before we receive them.

Proposal Development

Once we've received the subcontractor bids, it takes us around a week to select the most applicable subcontractors, confirm their accuracy and scope and combine their bids to form a comprehensive custom home proposal. The proposal is then reviewed and cross-examined by our lead estimator/owner, Sean Supple, as well as our admin team.

Final Consultation

Once the proposal has been finalized on our end, we schedule a meeting with the client, preferably in-person, to go over the details of the proposal and address any remaining questions or concerns.

Expected Turnaround Time

While the estimation process consists of multiple moving parts, clients interested in custom-built homes in the San Francisco Bay Area and the surrounding areas can assume an average turnaround time of three weeks for a detailed and accurate estimate from Supple Homes.

Next Steps

Have any questions or ready to request an estimate for your custom home construction? Let us know.