DZYN Builds planning guidance · October 16, 2026 · Utah custom homes
What belongs in your custom-home investment?
Separate land, construction and the other project costs before comparing proposals.
Is your number for construction or the complete project?
Write the budget boundary first. An all-in investment can include land acquisition, due diligence, architecture and engineering, site development, permit and utility costs, the building, builder compensation, interiors, outdoor amenities, furnishings and contingency. A construction-only number covers a different scope. Ask each team to mark every category as included, excluded, allowance or not yet established.
A $5 million example, without pretending it is a quote
If a hypothetical total project budget is $5 million and land costs $750,000, $4.25 million remains for everything else. That is not automatically a $4.25 million construction budget. Design, financing where applicable, sitework, permits, exterior work, furnishings and reserves still need a stated place. Use your own parcel and scope to fill those categories before selecting a home size.
Compare a common scope, not two square-foot prices
For every estimate ask: which area is counted, what finish level is assumed, which outdoor spaces and garage areas are included, what allowances are used and how sitework is priced. A suspended slab, long utility run or extensive retaining can change the project without changing the finished living area. Request separate assumptions for the building and the property.
Make uncertainty visible
Keep allowances, exclusions and unresolved selections beside the estimate. Assign an owner and a decision date to each open item. Carry a project-specific contingency based on the maturity of design and the risks identified; a single universal percentage is not a guarantee. Revisit the complete budget as plans, site information and supplier pricing develop.
What to bring to discovery
Bring your total investment ceiling, whether land is owned or included, the parcel if known, desired size, must-have spaces, timing and a few reference images. Ask Carson and Hillary to identify the largest unresolved cost drivers and the next investigation needed. Discovery establishes the planning path; a build price requires a defined scope and appropriate project documents.