How Homebuilding is Like Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies: And the Best Recipes for Both

Done right, creating your dream home is one of the most rewarding experiences. Whether you build new, redevelop, or renovate, the process requires extreme focus and diligence. And while the results, in large part, depend on your objectives, they also depend on the energy you bring to your team.

Regardless of how you choose to structure your team (we will dive into your options later!), your enthusiasm for your project is crucial to its success.

Homebuilders of the past received a bad rap for being vague to start, promising the cheapest price, then overcharging for change orders later. But can we really blame them?

Let’s say your friend brings killer chocolate chip cookies to your barbecue. They are so good; you are begging for the recipe. They share it:

Ingredients:
1 ½ cups sugar
2 cups light brown sugar
2 cups unsalted butter
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
6 cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 ½ tsp salt
20 oz chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine sugar, light brown sugar, and butter. Add eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add to butter mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Form 1” round cookies. Cover baking sheet with parchment paper and place cookies 3” apart. Bake for 14 minutes then serve!

Sounds simple, right? You make the cookies at home, precisely following the recipe. They just do not taste the same.

You tell your friend. Your friend starts asking questions: Did you use extra creamy butter? How cold was it when you started baking? What type of chocolate chips did you use? You get the point.

You thought you had all of the information. Turns out you did not. Important details were not included. Also turns out these are pricey chocolate chip cookies.

Similarly, does a homebuilder have all of the information when asked to price the plans for your new home? If not, they might price Nestle when you expect Ghirardelli.