Budgeting the Right Way

Let’s be honest—budgeting for a custom home can feel intimidating. It’s one of the most important parts of the building process, but it’s also the one that tends to cause the most anxiety. At Summerall Custom Construction, we understand that talking about money isn’t always comfortable, which is why we’ve developed a clear and client-friendly approach that helps take the fear out of the conversation.

A Smarter Way to Budget

Over the years, we’ve found the most success with a structure called a fixed-fee contract with allowances. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it offers the transparency and flexibility that many homeowners need.

Here’s how it works:

Based on our early conversations and planning meetings, we put together a proposal that outlines what we believe your home will cost to build. Within that proposal, we include allowances for the items you’ll choose along the way—things like countertops, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, and hardware.

Some of these items aren’t feasible to select before construction begins. Instead of delaying the process or guessing at final costs, we assign dollar values to each category, so you know what’s been budgeted for your future selections.

Transparency Through the Build

As construction progresses and you begin making those choices, we track everything through a document called a variance report. This isn’t just a spreadsheet—it’s a powerful tool that gives you a clear picture of how your selections are tracking against the original allowances.

With this system, you’ll always know:

· Whether you’re over or under budget on a specific item

· How each decision is impacting your overall bottom line

· Where you stand financially at any point in the build

Nothing is purchased without your approval. Every selection is confirmed, every price is reviewed, and every cost is clearly outlined.

Confidence in Every Decision

The goal of this system is to give you confidence and control as your dream home takes shape. We want you to enjoy the design process, not dread it. By breaking down budgeting into clear, manageable pieces, we help make sure the experience stays exciting, not overwhelming.

Ready to build with clarity and peace of mind? Let’s start the conversation.