Five phases.
No surprises.
Every Crestwell build moves through five defined phases. Each has a start, a finish, a deliverable, and a sign-off. At any point in the project, you know exactly where we are — and exactly what comes next.
How a build actually comes together.
A custom home is a complicated thing to build well. After more than fifty combined years of building, we’ve found that the difference between a build that goes smoothly and one that doesn’t usually comes down to what happens before the first shovel hits the ground — and how clearly everyone keeps talking once it does.
So we’ve put a lot of thought into the five phases below. Each one has deliverables we sign off on together, costs that are tracked weekly, and a clear handoff to the next. The goal is simple: you should always know where the project is and what’s coming next.
Discovery.
The first conversation happens in your kitchen. We listen, we ask specifics, and we leave with enough to give you a real estimate — not a range.
The Discovery phase establishes scope, site conditions, schedule constraints, and budget envelope. We visit the property, walk the lot, photograph existing conditions, and pull preliminary zoning and grading reports. By the end of week three, you have a pre-construction estimate accurate to within five percent — and a clear answer on whether Crestwell is the right builder for your project.
- Site assessment report
- Preliminary scope document
- Pre-construction estimate
- Recommended design partners
Design.
Architecture and budget develop together — not sequentially. The drawings you approve are the drawings we can build to the number we quoted.
We work with a vetted network of architects and interior designers who understand premium custom construction. The Design phase runs in tight loop with our estimating team — every material specification, every structural decision, every finish selection is priced as it’s drawn. By final approval, the budget is locked. There are no surprises in pre-build.
- Schematic design package
- Design development drawings
- Construction documents
- Locked construction budget
Pre-build.
Every variable resolved before the first shovel. Permits in hand. Trades contracted. Schedule published. The dig is not the start of the work — it is the start of the build.
Pre-build is the phase that determines whether the rest of the project runs smoothly. We hold subtrade contracts before mobilization, lock material orders against escalation, and publish a critical-path schedule that becomes the governing document for the project. You’ll know on day one which trade is on site in week thirty-two.
- Building permits issued
- All subtrade contracts
- Material procurement schedule
- Master construction schedule
Build.
Construction runs on a published schedule and a 47-point quality regimen. You see what we see, when we see it.
On site, our project managers run weekly cost-and-schedule reviews and publish them to your owner portal. Quality is enforced by checklist, not by hope — structural, mechanical, envelope, and finish inspections each have defined sign-off criteria. Change orders, if any, are presented with full cost and schedule impact before work proceeds.
- Weekly site reports
- Real-time owner portal access
- 47-point quality regimen
- Documented change orders
Handover.
The walkthrough is the start of our two-year obligation, not the end of it. The house is yours. The work is still ours.
Handover begins with a deficiency walkthrough, a complete operations manual for every system, and the warranty package. We stay on call for the first two years — for the seasonal settling, the touch-ups, and the small adjustments that come with any new build. We want the relationship to last as long as the house does.
- Operations and warranty manual
- System turnover documentation
- Year-one and year-two service
- Annual seasonal inspection
The first conversation is the easiest part.
We’ll come to your property, walk the site, ask about what you’re picturing, and answer whatever questions you have. No obligation, no pitch — just a chance to see if we’re a good fit for each other.
Set up a first visit →