Tools · Interactive Version in Development
Plan your envelope.
A budget isn't one number — it's four buckets. Here's how to set an envelope you can actually build inside, while the interactive estimator is being finished.
The Four Buckets
Where a build budget actually goes.
Most budget surprises come from treating the construction quote as the whole budget. It's the biggest bucket — but it's one of four.
01
Construction
The building itself — structure, systems, and finishes. The largest bucket, and the one the cost factors on our services pages describe.
02
Site & Utilities
What the land needs before and during the build: access, excavation, well or water tie-in, septic or sewer, and power. Rural parcels put real money here.
03
Design, Permits & Engineering
The soft costs — plans, structural engineering, permits, and inspections. In our design-build process these are coordinated for you, but they belong in the envelope.
04
Contingency
The honest bucket. Ground conditions, material moves, and mid-project decisions happen; a healthy reserve — commonly 10–15% — is what keeps them from becoming crises.
Setting the Envelope
Work from the top down.
The envelope method starts from your total comfort number and works backward — so the construction budget you design against is one you can actually fund.
- 01
Start from what you're comfortable spending in total — not from a wish list
- 02
Subtract site, soft costs, and contingency to find your real construction number
- 03
Compare that number against the model ranges below for an instant reality check
- 04
Bring the envelope to a consultation — we'll tell you honestly what it builds
Real Anchors
Check your envelope against real ranges.
For new homes, our model lineup gives you published construction ranges to sanity-check your number against — no calculator required.
| If your construction bucket is… | Look at | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| $200K–$325K | Steadfast Cabin | Entry |
| $400K–$525K | Cornerstone Cottage | Starter |
| $525K–$700K | Providence Ranch | Primary |
| $700K–$1.2M | Legacy Lodge | Premium |
Remodels and additions don't have published ranges because scope varies too much to be honest about — the Costs & Pricing guide covers what drives those numbers instead.
Have an envelope? Test it against reality.
Bring your number to a consultation — we'll tell you plainly what it builds, and where it needs adjusting.