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.
Understanding Home Estimates: Precision vs. Assumptions

Ceci Bates

In the world of custom home building, it’s common practice to see estimates arise from a simple per-square-foot calculation. Many builders rely on this approach, multiplying the intended size of the home by a generalized number that has served them previously. This is not necessarily tailored to the specific project at hand, but it often stands as the most straightforward method available to them.
The per-square-foot estimate prevails because, for many builders, it is a viable option given the lack of detailed data. These builders haven’t devoted the necessary effort to engineering each unique home beforehand, nor have they meticulously accounted for the materials or selected specific products with the client. The resulting estimate is more of a preliminary figure that both parties understand may change as the project evolves.
At Ceci Bates, our approach to estimating diverges significantly. Each home is engineered thoroughly before any bidding takes place. This rigorous process involves meticulously counting materials from our comprehensive engineering plans and allowing clients to make product selections during the design phase. Each choice comes with a real price, attached to actual products. Consequently, by the time an estimate forms part of a contract, it mirrors a home already planned in meticulous detail, not one to be sorted out amid construction.
The number Ceci Bates provides is more than a starting point; it is a testament to the precise planning and detailed foresight invested in every project. An accurate estimate stems from accurate planning, not a guess shrouded in confidence. To discover more about how we bring precision to our budgeting, explore our approach further at cecibates.com.
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Custom homes near Lake Texoma’s north shore
Lakeside builds along the western shoreline
Custom homes in the greater Denison area
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