How does Ceci Bates keep clients informed during construction?

Ceci Bates Custom Homes keeps clients informed by using CompanyCam for real-time progress photos and a digital change order system for immediate client approval.

What role do superintendents play in Ceci Bates projects?

At Ceci Bates, seasoned superintendents like Steve Nelson, Brian Ward, and Tony Conklin oversee field work, ensuring quality and keeping clients informed at each stage.

How are change orders handled at Ceci Bates?

Ceci Bates handles change orders through a digital approval system, sending requests directly to the client's phone or computer for prompt review and sign-off.

Notes From Our Journey

From twenty-six years of building custom homes on Lake Texoma, here we share about our process and what we've learned about design, materials, engineering, and the decisions that shape a home built to last for generations — the questions clients ask us most often, and the answers we give around the table in our design center.

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Keeping Clients Informed Without Overwhelming Them

Keeping Clients Informed Without Overwhelming Them

Ceci Bates

October 19, 2026

One of the quieter anxieties when building a custom home is the fear of being left in the dark. Many clients worry about weeks passing without an update, decisions made in the field without their knowledge, or having to chase the builder for information that should have been shared proactively. At Ceci Bates Custom Homes, we structure our process to ensure the opposite experience.

Our approach is built around continuous documentation and clear communication. CompanyCam plays a pivotal role by capturing progress photos at every stage of construction, offering clients a real-time visual record as work unfolds. Clients can access these images as soon as they’re taken, providing reassurance and transparency from foundation to finish.

When change orders arise during the build, they’re managed through a digital approval system that seamlessly integrates with the client’s life. This system sends requests directly to the client’s phone or computer for review and sign-off, ensuring no decision proceeds without their knowledge and consent. This process offers ease and control, without requiring the client to manage the project’s details.

The communication chain remains robust, led by our project manager who maintains a consistent update rhythm with every client throughout the build. Amplifying this system of communication are three seasoned field superintendents — Steve Nelson, Brian Ward, and Tony Conklin — each bringing years of experience on Ceci Bates projects. They oversee the work with a commitment to quality and precision, ensuring the process remains on track and clients remain informed.

In practice, this means clients always understand where their project stands, what’s happening next, and what requires their attention. Being informed and being in charge are not the same thing; a well-run construction phase provides the former without placing the burden of the latter on the client.

We invite you to learn more about how our process can align with your vision. Explore the details at cecibates.com.