HOW WE PRICE
Fixed-Price Custom Homes in Calgary
THE COMPARISON
Fixed price vs cost-plus: what's the difference?
Most custom builders price homes one of two ways. Here's how they compare.
| Fixed price · how we build | Cost-plus / allowance | |
|---|---|---|
| When you know the total | Before you sign the build contract | After the last invoice |
| Your selections | All made during pre-construction | Many left as allowances to pick later |
| Who carries pricing mistakes | The builder | You |
| Changes | Priced in writing before work starts | Often added to a running total |
| Best for | You want certainty and are ready to decide up front | You want to start sooner and decide as you go |
Cost-plus isn't dishonest. It just moves the risk to you. We'd rather make the hard decisions first and give you a number you can plan your life around.
WHAT'S LOCKED
What's locked, and what can change
Locked in your contract
Every selection, the full scope shown in your drawings and specification, and our fee. Nothing is left as an allowance.
Changes you ask for
You can still change your mind. Each change is priced in writing, with GST on its own line, and you approve it before we start. Anything else your contract covers is explained to you, clause by clause, before you sign.
OUR GUARANTEE
The Fixed Price Guarantee
The number in your contract is the number you pay. The price only moves if you ask for a change — and every change is priced in writing, with GST on its own line, before any work happens. No allowances. No cost-plus surprises. No "truing up" at the end.
One number, signed before construction
Every selection is made during pre-construction, so your contract reflects the home you'll actually build.
Changes priced in writing first
Ask for a change and you'll see its cost — GST on its own line — before we start. Nothing is added to a running total.
We carry the pricing mistakes
If a trade is off on their quote, that's on us — not you. The risk of unknowns stays with the builder.
HOW WE GET THERE
How we get to a fixed price
Pre-construction happens in three phases. Each one ends with your sign-off, so nothing moves forward without you.
Phase 1: Concept and budget
We confirm what you want to build, test it against your lot and set a budget by category.
Phase 2: Design and selections
Drawings, structural engineering, HVAC design and every finish, chosen while the City reviews your development permit.
Phase 3: Fixed price and contract
Once the permit is approved, every trade prices your final drawings and selections. You get one fixed price and sign your build contract.
Pre-construction is a paid phase. The full fee is credited toward your build. If you decide not to go ahead, you keep your category budget and trade recommendations.
KEEPING THE DESIGN ON BUDGET
How we keep your design on budget
Most custom homes go over budget before construction starts. The design grows, nobody prices it, and the problem only shows up when the quotes come back. We price your design while it's being drawn, so you see what each decision costs while it's still easy to change.
We price the design as it's drawn
We sit in on most of your architect or designer meetings and check the drawings against your category budget as they develop, not after they're finished.
We show you the trade-off, not just the cut
When something runs over, we bring you options: what each one saves, what changes and whether you'd notice. You decide.
Your designer keeps the vision
Our preferred suppliers are a starting point, not a requirement. The goal is the home you designed, at a number you can plan around.
What this looks like on real builds
$20,000 saved on three windows
On a home in Lakeview, three windows in the design were large enough to require commercial windows. We adjusted their sizes so they stayed in the residential range, saving $20,000 on those three windows alone.
A wall of south-facing glass that stays comfortable
This home has a lot of glass facing south, which can make a house overheat. We worked with the HVAC designer during design to make sure it won't, so it was solved on paper instead of becoming a comfort problem after move-in.
Better energy efficiency at no added cost
Minor changes to the truss design improved the home's energy efficiency without adding anything to the price.
HOMEOWNERS ON HONESTY AND BUDGET
Homeowners on honesty and budget
“We had a fantastic experience working with Bright Custom Homes! Sukhman and Jas were incredibly professional, responsive, and genuinely dedicated to bringing our vision to life. Their attention to detail and clear communication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We're thrilled with the quality and craftsmanship of our home. Highly recommend Bright Custom Homes — Working with Sukhman and Jas made our entire building experience very personal, seamless and enjoyable from start to finish.”
Paul S. — Google review
“I especially want to thank Mr Jaswinder as well as Sukhman for their honesty, transparency and their continuous support throughout this whole process.”
Ahmed N. — Google review
“Their professionalism, transparency, and integrity make every transaction seamless and enjoyable.”
Tony I. — Google review
FIXED-PRICE QUESTIONS
Fixed-price questions
Not usually. Because every selection is made before you sign, you compare complete numbers instead of estimates that grow. A cost-plus quote can look lower at the start simply because the unknowns aren't in it yet.
No. Most of the savings come from how a home is built: window sizes, structure and mechanical design. We show you every trade-off before anything changes.
You can. We price the change in writing, show GST separately, and only start once you approve it. Late changes usually cost more, which is why we make decisions early.
In Phase 3, after the City approves your development permit and every trade has priced your final drawings and selections.
It's the design, engineering and pricing work that makes a fixed price possible. The full fee is credited toward your build.
You can walk away. You keep your category budget and trade recommendations, and you owe nothing further.
FREE GUIDE · VOL.01
What does a custom home cost in Calgary?
Our free guide breaks down cost per square foot, land and site costs, permit and design fees, and where custom home budgets usually go wrong.
THE NEXT STEP
Know your number
before you commit.
In thirty minutes you'll know what your home is likely to cost, what drives that number, and what to do next — whether you build with us or not.