Our Custom Home Building Process in Austin
Our custom home building process in Austin runs in eight steps, from a first conversation to the day you move in, and it takes about a year and a half end to end. We have followed the same basic sequence since Meridian Custom Homes was founded in 2009, across 34 homes in Central Austin, West Austin and the Hill Country. This page lays out each step, what you do, what we do, and why we structure it the way we do.
The short version: we are a builder, not a design firm. You work with an outside architect on the design, and we sit in on that design process to keep the budget honest. Once the plans are close to final we price them, sign a contract, pull permits and build. Then we walk the house with you, hand over the keys and stay available afterward.
If you are still deciding whether we are the right builder for you, our Austin custom home builder page covers who we are and where we build.
Step 1: Initial meetings and architect referrals
Every project starts with a conversation. We want to understand what you are trying to build, where, roughly what you expect to spend and when you hope to be in the house. If you already own a lot, we would like to see it. If you are still looking, we can talk about what different kinds of sites mean for cost and design.
What you do: tell us about the project, the site and the budget range you have in mind. Bring whatever you have, whether that is a plat, a list of must-haves or a folder of inspiration.
What we do: listen, ask questions and give you a candid first reaction. We do not have in-house design, so if you do not already have an architect we will refer you to architects whose work fits your project. If you do have one, we are glad to work with them.
Step 2: Budget guidance during design
This is the step that most separates our process from a builder who only prices finished drawings. While your architect is designing the home, we participate in the design process to advise on budget. As the design takes shape we give you a rough estimate to confirm that pricing expectations and the drawings are headed in the same direction.
What you do: make design decisions with your architect, and tell us honestly where your budget sits so our advice is useful.
What we do: review the design as it develops, flag choices that carry a cost you may not expect, suggest alternatives where they exist and produce a rough estimate before the plans are finished.
We go into why this matters below, but the principle is simple. It is far cheaper to adjust a plan on paper than to redesign a house after a bid comes in high.
Step 3: Final estimate
Once the plans are nearing completion, we produce a final estimate. This is the number the contract is built on, and it reflects the actual drawings, the actual site and the finish level you have chosen.
What you do: finalize selections and decisions with your architect so the estimate has as few open questions as possible. Review the estimate with us and ask about anything that is unclear.
What we do: price the complete plan set in detail, walk you through it line by line and explain where the money is going.
Step 4: Contract and initial deposit
With the final estimate agreed, we sign a contract and you make an initial deposit. From this point forward we are your builder, and we take that commitment seriously.
What you do: review and sign the contract, and fund the initial deposit.
What we do: prepare the agreement based on the final estimate, answer your questions and set the project in motion.
Step 5: Plan review and permits
Before construction can start, the plans go through review and the permits have to be issued. We handle this on your behalf and keep you informed about where the application stands.
What you do: very little, other than respond if a reviewer asks for something only the owner can provide.
What we do: manage plan review, coordinate with your architect on any revisions the reviewers request and secure the permits needed to start.
Step 6: Construction
Construction usually takes around 12 months. This is where our clients tell us the things that set us apart show up most clearly: communication, accessibility, attention to detail, problem solving, reliability and accountability. You should always know what is happening on your site and what is coming next.
What you do: stay engaged. Visit the site, make the decisions that come up on schedule and tell us right away if something does not look right. A custom home has hundreds of decisions, and we would rather talk through them with you as they come than have you discover them later.
What we do: build the house, manage our trades, hold the schedule, solve the problems that every job site produces and keep you informed. Jonathan's background is in commercial and high-end residential construction, and that discipline carries into how we run a site.
You can see the results on projects like Standing Rock, a 5,378 square foot new home in Long Canyon that is the best representation of our quality, finish-out and design, and Mountainview, a 3,576 square foot new home in Tarrytown.
Step 7: Punch walk with the owner
When construction is substantially complete, we walk the house with you room by room. The purpose is to catch everything that still needs attention before you move in, from a cabinet door that does not close cleanly to a paint touch-up.
What you do: walk the house with us, look closely and tell us everything you see. Nothing is too small to mention.
What we do: document every item, get it corrected and confirm with you that it is done to your satisfaction.
Step 8: Move-in
Once the punch list is complete, you move in. From first meeting to this day is about 1.5 years on a typical project. We know that is a long time to trust someone with your money and your home, and we do not take the finish lightly.
What you do: move in and start living in the house.
What we do: hand over the home, make sure you know how its systems work and stay reachable.
Aftercare
Our relationship does not end at move-in. Aftercare is one of the things our clients say sets us apart, alongside trust and the relationships we build over the course of a project. If something needs attention after you have moved in, you call us and we take care of it.
We think this is simply what a builder at this level should do. A custom home is a long-term relationship, and we want you to feel as confident calling us a year after move-in as you did during construction.
Why we join the design phase early
Many builders only see a set of drawings when it is time to bid them. By then, the architect and the owner have invested months in a design, and if the number comes back high the choices are painful: cut scope, cut finish or redraw.
We prefer to be in the room while the design is still flexible. Our rough estimate during design gives you a check on whether the home you are drawing matches the budget you have in mind, and our final estimate when plans are nearing completion confirms it. The result is fewer surprises and a contract number you can trust.
This applies to remodels as well as new homes. On a whole-home remodel like Shadyrock in Northwest Hills or Glenview in Bryker Woods, understanding the existing structure early shapes both the design and the budget.
Timeline at a glance
- First meeting to move-in: about 1.5 years.
- Construction: usually around 12 months.
- The remaining time covers design, our budget guidance, the final estimate, the contract, plan review and permits.
Design pace, permitting and the complexity of the home all affect the schedule, so we treat these as typical figures for our projects rather than guarantees.
Frequently asked questions
Do you design the house?
No. We work with outside architects rather than an in-house design team. If you do not already have an architect, we will refer you to one. We then participate in the design process to advise on budget.
When do I get a firm price?
You get a rough estimate during design to confirm pricing expectations, then a final estimate once the plans are nearing completion. The contract is based on the final estimate.
How long does construction take?
Construction itself usually takes around 12 months. The full process from first meeting to move-in is about 1.5 years.
What happens if something needs attention after I move in?
You call us. Aftercare is part of how we work, and our clients regularly name it as one of the reasons they would hire us again.
What does a project typically cost?
Our new custom homes typically run $350 to $600 per square foot, with total budgets most often between $1,000,000 and $2,500,000. Whole-home remodels typically run $500,000 to $1,500,000. See our cost to build a custom home in Austin page for detail.
Talk to us about your project
If you are at the beginning of this process, or somewhere in the middle and looking for a builder, we would like to hear from you. Call us at (512) 809-9840, email jtraylor@mchaustin.com.