If you’ve never built a home before, the part that makes people nervous isn’t the construction. It’s not knowing what’s supposed to happen next.
When does the foundation get poured? When do you pick your finishes? What’s a rough-in, and why does it matter? How long does the whole thing take, and when are you expected to pay?
We get these questions on every first call. So we put the answers in a guide.
What’s inside
The design-build approach and why it matters. One team handles architectural design, interior design, and construction. No architect blaming the builder when something needs to change, and no builder blaming the architect. You have one point of contact from the first sketch to the final walkthrough.
Who you’ll work with. Lindlee Dickens handles design and founded the company with David Dickens, who manages every project day to day. Traci Kelley, our architect, has been with us since the beginning. You meet all three before construction starts.
Five steps before ground breaks. A discovery call, a builder introduction meeting, a cost-to-build proposal review, a pre-construction meeting, and two design sessions. Only after all of that do we start digging.
The five build stages, in plain language. Foundation, frame, rough-in, fixtures and finishes, and final acceptance. The guide explains what’s happening on your site at each stage, what you should expect to see, and what comes next.
A realistic timeline. Six to nine months from ground breaking to move-in, broken down by phase so you can plan around the milestones that matter to you.
How payments work. 25% at slab, 15% at frame, 20% at rough-in, 20% at fixtures and finishes, 20% at completion. Proposal is good for 30 days. 5% deposit at signing. No surprises.
Our credentials. Members of the TAB, Fort Worth Home Builders Association, and HCBA. First place in the HCBA’s home awards in 2026. Second place in 2025.
Who this is for
- People building a custom home for the first time who want to understand the process before they’re in the middle of it.
- Families moving to the Rainbow, Glen Rose, or Fort Worth area who need a local builder they can trust.
- Anyone trying to decide between design-build and hiring an architect and contractor separately.
Download the guide
It’s free, it’s 16 pages, and you can read it in about 15 minutes.
