For many homeowners, the excitement of building a custom home starts with the design, and reaches its peak the day construction begins. But what happens between those milestones is just as important.
The pre-construction phase is where dreams take shape on paper, expectations are aligned, and the roadmap for your future home is defined. In high-demand areas like Menlo Park, Atherton, and Palo Alto, it’s also the stage where timing, permitting, and budget risks can either be avoided or magnified.
At Supple Homes, we believe that a successful project starts long before the first wall is framed. Here’s a closer look at what happens during pre-construction and why thoughtful planning in this phase leads to better outcomes, both during your build and long after you move in.
Why Pre-Construction Matters
Pre-construction is more than administrative prep. It’s where decisions get made, schedules are established, and the foundation of your entire experience is laid.
Benefits of a well-executed pre-construction phase include:
- A realistic, detailed project timeline
- Cost clarity and alignment with your investment goals
- Reduced change orders and mid-build surprises
- Permitting that moves forward efficiently
- Early coordination between architecture, engineering, and construction
It’s the difference between hoping a project runs smoothly and planning for it too.
What Happens During Pre-Construction?
Every builder handles this phase differently. At Supple Homes, we take a collaborative, transparent approach to help clients understand exactly where they stand and what’s coming next.
Here’s what you can expect.
1. Site Evaluation
We start with a deep dive into your property. Whether you're building on an empty lot in Woodside or replacing an older structure in Menlo Park, this phase includes:
- Reviewing lot size, slope, and utility access
- Evaluating zoning and FAR (Floor Area Ratio) limits
- Identifying site constraints like trees, easements, or grading issues
- Reviewing neighborhood design guidelines or overlays
This site-specific information informs everything from architectural massing to drainage strategy and helps avoid delays during city review.
2. Design Development & Preliminary Budgeting
Once plans are developed by your architect, we step in to provide detailed pricing and begin preparing for construction. Our role starts after design, ensuring the vision on paper can be delivered with precision and quality.
Rather than waiting until plans are complete to talk numbers, we build in budget feedback from the beginning.
During this stage, we:
- Define the overall scope and square footage goals
- Develop early budgets based on proposed layouts and elevations
- Flag materials or systems that may impact cost or timeline
- Align design with both aesthetic goals and long-term investment strategy
Our goal is to help you make informed decisions early, so you don’t face difficult trade-offs later.
3. Permitting Strategy
In the Peninsula, the permitting process can vary widely from city to city. Your architect will handle the submittals and approvals, and once the permit is issued, our team takes it from there, ready to move your project into construction.
We coordinate:
- Planning review (if applicable)
- Architectural control or design review boards
- Structural and energy code compliance (including Title 24)
- Tree removal or heritage tree assessments
- Utility disconnection or service upgrades
With clear timelines and expectations, you’ll know exactly where your project stands—and what’s needed to move forward.
💡 Tip: Starting early on surveys, soils reports, and arborist reviews can shave weeks—or even months—off your project timeline.
Ready to build in Menlo Park, Atherton, or Palo Alto?
Start with a pre-construction consultation from Supple Homes. We’ll help you understand your site, map out your next steps, and build the right foundation for your future home.
4. Pre-Build Specifications and Selections
This is where the home starts to take shape beyond the drawings. Your architect and designer will guide you through selections such as fixtures, flooring, cabinetry, and appliances. Once those choices are finalized, our team reviews them carefully to ensure they’re translated into accurate budgets and a smooth build process.
To make this manageable, our process includes:
- Structured selection meetings with clear deadlines
- Support from interior designers, as needed
- Allowance tracking and real-time budget updates
- Product lead-time management to prevent schedule delays
By locking in key selections before construction begins, we eliminate most of the back-and-forth that causes cost overruns and slowdowns.
5. Final Construction Budget and Schedule
With your plans permitted and specifications in place, we finalize:
- A comprehensive construction budget
- A detailed build schedule
- A list of milestones and decision points
- Subcontractor and trade partner timelines
- Site logistics (access, staging, safety, etc.)
This is the final checkpoint before we mobilize crews and break ground, and where the strength of pre-construction planning truly pays off.
Common Questions We Hear from Clients
“Can I change things during construction?”
You can, but the more we finalize in pre-construction, the fewer delays or extra costs you’ll face later. We aim to answer all major questions now, so you can enjoy the build phase with fewer decisions and more confidence.
“What happens if the city delays permitting?”
We plan for that. Our permitting strategy includes buffer time and contingency planning. Having a team familiar with your city’s workflow helps reduce delays and gives us the tools to respond quickly if issues arise.
“Will I need to be involved every day?”
Not at all. We structure pre-construction to give you clear input points, and we handle the coordination in between. Our clients often appreciate the way we simplify a very complex process while keeping them fully informed.
Pre-Construction Done Right = A Better Custom Home
Your custom home should feel purposeful, personal, and perfectly executed. Pre-construction is what makes that possible. It’s not just preparation—it’s strategic problem-solving, creative planning, and value engineering before construction ever begins.
With Supple Homes, you get a builder who treats this phase with the same attention to detail as the build itself. We review the plans thoroughly, walk the site with you, and prepare for construction with precision. While your architect and designer guide all selections and systems, our focus is on ensuring their plans are executed seamlessly in the field.
Because the difference between a good build and a great one starts long before the shovel hits the ground.
Planning Your Home? Let’s Talk
Whether you're still choosing a lot or already working with an architect, Supple Homes can help you plan a smarter, smoother pre-construction process.
Reach out to our team to schedule a consultation and explore how we can guide your custom home journey step by step, from day one.
