Our process

Six phases. One contract. A home at the end.

Twelve to eighteen months from first consult to keys in your hand. Here's exactly what happens, when, and what we do — so you can stay focused on living your life while we build where you'll live it.

12–18months, consult to move-in

1contract, not twelve

340+homes delivered since 2012

Discover

Weeks 1–2

We start with a 30-minute design consult — in person at our Austin studio, or over video. We learn about your land, your family, and how you live day-to-day. You leave with a shortlist of plans that fit.

Design consult
Plan shortlist
Budget range

Select

Weeks 3–5

Walk through every room of your top plans in all three interior styles — on any device, as many times as you want. Bring family, contractors, anyone whose opinion matters. Iterate until you're sure.

Plan walkthroughs
Style selections
Finish package

Customize

Weeks 6–10

A Wayford designer adapts the plan to your site and preferences — ceiling heights, window placements, kitchen layout, the mudroom your dog deserves. We revise until every line on the drawings feels right.

Site survey
Design revisions
Signed drawings

Permit

Weeks 11–16

We handle permits, engineering, and utility coordination with your jurisdiction. You sign one contract; we manage the rest. Most Texas counties approve in 4–6 weeks.

Permit filing
Engineering stamps
Utility coordination

Build

Months 5–12

Site prep, foundation, framing, finish. A dedicated project manager texts you weekly with photos and milestones. You can visit the site any time — it's your home.

Weekly photo updates
Walkthrough at framing
Pre-drywall review

Move in

Month 12+

Final walkthrough, punch list, and keys. Then a 30-day, 6-month, and 1-year check-in to make sure everything still feels like new. Plus a 10-year structural warranty.

Final walkthrough
3-stage warranty check-ins
10-year structural warranty

What's included

One price covers every step from plan to keys.

Design & drawings

Full architectural plans, elevations, 3D walkthroughs, and finish selections — all revisions included.

Permits & engineering

Structural, civil, and utility engineering. We file permits, answer reviewer comments, and coordinate inspections.

Site work

Survey, clearing, grading, driveway, septic or sewer tap, and utility trenches.

Construction

Foundation, framing, mechanicals, interior finish, and final cleanup. Fixed-price, no open-book surprises.

Project management

A dedicated PM who texts you weekly photos and is on-site when it matters. One point of contact, never a phone tree.

Warranty

1-year workmanship, 2-year systems, 10-year structural. Plus check-ins at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year.

Questions we get a lot

The honest answers.

Do I need to own land first?

No. We can help you evaluate lots during the Discover phase — soils, setbacks, utilities, slope. Many clients find land after seeing which plans they love.

Can I change the plan?

Yes, within reason. The eight plans are starting points. Most clients customize 2–5 items — moving a wall, adding a window, reshaping a closet. Structural changes are discussed and priced in the Customize phase.

What does it cost?

Plans start at $485,000 and typically land between $600k and $900k all-in, depending on size, finishes, and site conditions. You get a fixed, transparent bid after Customize — no cost-plus.

How is this different from a builder?

We're architect + builder under one roof, with eight pre-engineered plans. That means faster permits, predictable pricing, and one accountable party from first sketch to final walkthrough.

Where do you build?

Texas today — Austin, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and the Hill Country. We're expanding to Colorado and North Carolina in 2026.

What's the timeline, really?

Twelve to eighteen months from signed consult to move-in, depending on permit speed and site conditions. The fastest we've ever done it is nine months; the longest (custom hillside) was twenty-one.

Ready to see your home?

Pick a plan, walk through every room. Or book a consult and we'll help you narrow it down.

Browse plans →