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Vaughn Custom Homes
Timber-framed front porch of a Vaughn custom home lit at dusk

Our process

Are you ready to spend a year together?

It seems like a long time, because it is. The actual build runs generally six to eight months, and the pre-construction phase adds months before that. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, so there are no surprises about the shape of it.

Before we start

It's hard to take the first step.

Watercolor illustration: a smiling mother kneels on a living-room rug holding the hands of her wobbly, worried baby as he takes a first step, with a toy car on the floor nearby.

Building a custom home is a big step in your journey. One of the biggest reasons people stall is the house plan itself. What do I want? Where do I start? Can I change my mind? What can I really afford?

Those are the right questions, and none of them need an answer before you call. Step one is a conversation — no plan, no deposit, no pressure. Everything below only happens when you decide it should.

Step by step

Eight steps from first conversation to front door key.

  1. 01

    Let's get to know each other

    • Talk through your vision, your time frame and your budget range
    • Walk you through how we build, start to finish
    • Evaluate your building site and discuss how the house should sit on it
    • Check our references — speak to our past and current clients directly
    • Meet a construction lender to talk through finance options
  2. 02

    See our work, and a high-low estimate

    • Visit finished homes and homes currently under construction
    • Discuss the features and finishes you want
    • We prepare a high-low cost estimate
    • You complete the House Plan Design Questionnaire, if applicable
  3. 03

    Preliminary plan agreement

    • Sign the Preliminary Plan Creation and Consultation Services Agreement
    • A $12,000 deposit covers preliminary house plans (floor plan, front elevation, electrical plan, site plan), the specifications book, building site review, budget estimate, allowance schedule, and a tree and topographical survey
    • We begin working alongside the architectural designer on your behalf
  4. 04

    Preliminary home plans

    • Architectural designer intake meeting
    • Interior design preview meeting with the interior designer
    • Preliminary floor plans completed — floor plan, front elevation, electrical plan and site plan
    • Initial budget estimate complete
  5. 05

    Budget presentation and contract

    • Construction document package: preliminary house plan, specifications book, allowance schedule and contract with budget estimate
    • 10% builder deposit paid
    • Green light to finalize the house plan
    • Begin interior and exterior selections with the interior designer
  6. 06

    House plans complete

    • Final house plans complete
    • Interior and exterior selections finalized
    • Construction specifications and allowances updated
    • Final estimates complete
  7. 07

    Updated price and addendum

    • Review the final house plans, construction specifications and allowances
    • Final contract price addendum signed
    • Plans, specifications and contract submitted to your lender
    • Plans submitted to the HOA or architectural control committee, if applicable
    • Close on the interim construction loan
  8. 08

    Groundbreaking, and the build

    • Pre-construction meeting to review plans, specifications and construction details
    • Construction begins — slab poured
    • Quality assurance walkthroughs and weekly update calls throughout
    • Third-party and internal quality control inspections
    • New home orientation meeting — and you move in

Framing week

The week the drawings stop being drawings.

Up to here, your house has been paper and screens. Then the framing goes up, and one evening you walk in and the rooms are rooms. You stand where the window will be and see what you will be looking at for the next thirty years.

Nearly every client tells us about that visit. It is the one that makes the work and the wait worth it.

A couple standing hand in hand on the plywood subfloor of their half-framed house at dusk, looking out through an unfinished window opening at the Hill Country

The part nobody puts on their website

In construction, stuff happens.

That tile you loved is suddenly backordered, or deleted. The light fixture that looked perfect online looks hideous in your new home. A window is shattered on the jobsite.

Now what? Relax. We're with you every step of the way.

It's a process, not an overnight success story. We plan carefully to head problems off before they happen, and we own up to them when they land. More importantly, we take care of them. No home is perfect, nor could it ever be — but we'll never stop trying to get there.

Comic illustration: a startled couple among moving boxes stares up at a hideous purple chandelier covered in eyeballs and green tentacles, under a speech bubble shouting “EEK!”
Cartoon illustration: a puzzled couple stands on a messy job site in front of a half-framed house, shrugging under a thought bubble reading “?!?”, beside a “Future home of…” sign.

While we build

You never need to wonder what is going on.

  • Weekly update calls for the whole build, not a portal you have to remember to check.
  • Quality assurance walkthroughs at each stage, with you on site.
  • Third-party inspections as well as our own internal quality control.
  • A 10-year insured warranty on the finished home.
Talk it through: 830-216-6952

In their words

What it's actually like to deal with us.

Single-story white board-and-batten farmhouse with timber truss gables, a covered entry porch on stained posts, dark double front doors and a young lawn.

A Home Built to Last. A Life Built on It.

Ken & Tasha Harvey

Homeowners, Summit Estates · Fischer, TX

Their home in Summit Estates, a Vaughn build.

We closed on our new home by Vaughn Custom Homes last August (2025), and over the past year, we've experienced firsthand what true craftsmanship looks like. From the premium building materials and a foundation designed to last generations, to the meticulous selection of tile flooring, countertops and lighting fixtures, every single element reflects a commitment to excellence that goes far beyond the typical construction checklist.

What has impressed us most isn't just what we see — it's what we feel. The smart layout maximizes natural light and flow. The strategic positioning of our home on the lot captures the best natural views and takes full advantage of passive solar design. Our state-of-the-art, energy-efficient appliances and systems keep us comfortable year-round while keeping utility costs remarkably low. It's safety, comfort, and pride all working together — knowing every beam, every finish, every appliance was selected and installed with precision and care. A year into living here, the quality and thoughtful details are more apparent than ever.

A home isn't just a structure. It's where memories are made, where families grow, and where you should never compromise on quality. With Vaughn Custom Homes, you're not just building a house — you're investing in a legacy built with superior materials, intelligent design, and modern efficiency.

If you're looking for a builder who focuses on the smallest details, we highly recommend Vaughn Custom Homes. They deliver exactly what they promise: homes built right.

Two-story craftsman home with sage green siding, white trim, a deep covered porch with white railings and stone-based columns, a three-car garage and young maple in the front lawn, surrounded by tall conifers.

Martha

Homeowner, Cougar Ridge

The home Aaron built for Martha and John, finished 2005.

Thank you for helping us with our septic issue when we had to sell our beautiful home. Even though it was many years past the builder warranty being expired, you answered the phone and gladly jumped in to help. When John was transferred and we had to move, I cried knowing that we had to sell the best house we'd ever owned — the amazing home you built for us. You came to the rescue and helped us get our sale closed on time. I wish you could build our next home in Tennessee! Thank you for your willingness to help us in a desperate time.

Kitchen design showing pale shaker cabinetry, a sage green island and range hood, brass pendant lights and a dark tile backsplash.

Vaughn Custom Homes truly stands out among other builders. They show great care and attention to detail, bringing current and aesthetically appealing product to each home. To them, it's not about how to get the job done in the cheapest way but that the end result is offering something special for many years of enjoyment by their customers. As someone from the industry of building, I appreciate how easy and understanding they are to work with.

Pamela

Cabinet designer

Timber entrance sign reading Rancho del Lago West, set between dry-stacked stone piers among cedar and Hill Country grasses.

I want you to know how much your integrity means in a world that is lacking integrity.

Angie

Architectural Control Committee, Rancho del Lago West · Fischer, TX

Working with Vaughn Custom Homes is working with a true craftsman. I've had the pleasure of selling multiple Vaughn homes, both as a buyer's agent and a listing agent. Aaron's attention to detail is unmatched in the Canyon Lake/Fischer market. His homes include high-end build-out features, desirable floor plans, thoughtful positioning, and superior craftsmanship. I recommend a Vaughn Custom home to any buyer.

Amy Paczosa Runyan, smiling, in a white blazer against a pale studio background.

Amy Paczosa Runyan

Broker and Co-Founder, Mercer Street Group

Mercer Street Group(opens in a new tab)

Aaron and his team are true professionals. I work around many builders and you can tell who does and doesn't take pride in their work. Vaughn Custom Homes is at the top of the list who I will call to build my personal house.

Britt Brownlee of BrittCo Land Clearing in a grey trucker cap.

Britt Brownlee

BrittCo Land Clearing

Pendant light with a black tapered shade and an aged brass frame and rim.

Thank you for confirming that all fixtures have been accounted for and are correct! We truly appreciate your attention to detail and partnership.

Nicole

Lighting supplier

Step one is a conversation

No plan, no deposit, no pressure.

Tell us about your lot and what you have in mind. We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right builder for it.

Start the conversation830-216-6952