Notes From Our Journey

Most clients assume that any potential savings on a custom home project will emerge from negotiations with the builder at the end. Yet, the reality is that meaningful savings begin at the outset—stemming from the thoroughness of the planning and preparation before any material is ordered.

On a recent project, Ceci Bates demonstrated how pre-construction rigor can directly benefit the client. The key was in the detailed structural engineering completed before bids were initiated. Each piece of framing—every stud, joist, rafter, and engineered beam—was precisely specified by both location and quantity. Rather than falling to the industry norm of using a broad per-square-foot estimate, Ceci Bates generated the framing takeoff directly from the engineering plans, itemized to the last detail.

With this meticulous takeoff, the package was sent to the framing vendor. It was so complete and detailed that the vendor could provide a precise and confident bid. This allowed Ceci Bates to negotiate the package as a cohesive whole. The result? The framing company offered a $16,000 discount on the materials. This discount was passed directly to the client, offering a tangible benefit from the upfront discipline of the design and planning phase. Without this detailed takeoff, there would have been little to negotiate against. A broad estimate leaves little room for precision.

The discipline exercised before construction does more than safeguard against unexpected surprises; it can also deliver unexpected savings to the client. Discover how Ceci Bates approaches procurement with this same level of precision and care at cecibates.com.