How we work
Our Design-Build Process
Building a home isn't just about the end result — it's the journey. One team designs and builds your home under one roof, from first sketch to final walk-through, so nothing gets lost in the handoff.
The process
From first conversation to move-in, one team stays with you.
- 1
First Conversation
It starts with a conversation, not a contract. We talk through your land or the lot you're considering, how you want to live, and what you hope to spend — so we can tell you early and honestly whether we're the right builder for the project. You leave the first call with real direction, whether or not we go further together.
- 2
Design
Design and architecture happen with the build team already in the room. We shape a home around your site — its views, slope, sun, and soils — and refine the plan until it fits both how you live and what you've budgeted, before a foundation is ever poured.
- 3
Budget & Contract
We put real numbers to the design so there are no surprises later. You see where the money goes and where the trade-offs are, and we align the scope with your budget before you commit. When the plan and the price make sense together, we move to contract.
- 4
Build
The same team that designed your home builds it, with steady communication from foundation to finish. You always know who to call and where the project stands — no getting handed off between an architect, a builder, and a finish team who've never spoken.
- 5
Move-in & Beyond
We walk the finished home with you, make it right, and stay reachable after you've moved in. A custom home is a long relationship, not a transaction — and we build for the years you'll spend living in it.
Pricing
Is a custom Stauffer home the right fit?
Most of our homes fall in the $1M–$3M+ range.
Our whole driving principle is simple: people hate surprises. So we set the destination in the first conversation — the size of the home, on how many levels, at what target budget — and then every design decision is priced as it’s made. Want to bump out a corner or switch to radiant heat? The answer is almost always yes — and it always comes with the number attached, before you commit. When the budget moves, we reset it out loud and make sure heads are nodding before we proceed. That’s the cold, dispassionate accounting side of us — and it’s why our clients reach the finish line without the heartbreak.
One team
Design and build under one roof — so nothing gets lost in the handoff.
In the usual arrangement, you hire an architect, then bid the drawings to builders, then hope the two agree on what the home should cost. Design-build collapses that into one accountable team: the people pricing and building your home help shape it from the start, so the design you fall in love with is the design you can actually afford to build.
The right fit
Who we’re a fit for — and who we’re not.
We’re a fit for homeowners who want a genuinely custom home, value a close working relationship with their builder, and are building for the long term rather than to flip. We’re not the right choice for the lowest bid or a production-style home — and if that’s what you need, we’ll tell you early and point you toward someone who is.
In their words
What it's like to work with us
If we had it to do all over again knowing what we know about Stauffer & Sons, we’d do it again in a second. Every member of the company was the best in their knowledge, skill, and the selection of their subcontractors. I always felt in the loop, and if I had a question about anything, I would get an answer immediately or they would find the answer. I had a neighbor who used Stauffer & Sons for a remodel. When she lost her home in a forest fire and decided to use them again, I knew they must be good because she went back to them to build an entire house. I called Andy Stauffer on the phone to set up an appointment about building a new home since we lost ours in a forest fire. I immediately was intrigued by his professionalism, and sense of humor. When we began the process, we filled out a four-page questionnaire about who we were and what we liked and disliked. Because of that and the input from the builder, architect, project manager, and us, this home fits us like a glove. For that reason, I can’t just name one aspect. We love everything about our new home.
Process questions, answered
Do you handle both design and construction?
Yes. Stauffer & Sons is a design-build firm — the same team that designs your home builds it. You sign one contract and work with one accountable team from first sketch to final walk-through, instead of coordinating a separate architect, builder, and finish team yourself.
Do you build outside Colorado Springs?
Yes. We build across the Front Range and nearby mountain communities — Monument and Black Forest, the Castle Rock–Parker–Larkspur corridor, Woodland Park and Teller County, and the Cañon City–Penrose–Pueblo West area. Each has its own permitting, soils, and site considerations we plan around.
