“First, CONGRATULATIONS on owning the land.”
That’s how Bob Hinz, owner and president of HomeWrights, opens almost every call from someone in Dallas, Phoenix or San Diego who owns a piece of Colorado and wants to build on it. The big question is always the same: can a custom home really get built here while I’m a flight away? Bob’s answer is yes, and he has some strong opinions on how to do it right.
The first call is mostly questions
“It’s up to us to do more asking than telling. I want to know what they want to accomplish.” By the end of that first chat, Bob says, “we know a lot about them and their desires, and they know a lot about us, our depth of knowledge, and our competence.”
HomeWrights has built for roughly 30 out-of-state clients, many from Texas and California. One favorite: Dale, from our Colorado Springs office, and a client moving from Houston to a 35-acre parcel in the Monument area. “The two formed a perfect team. That client was dedicated, focused and determined. Dale kept him on track.”
What surprises people from warm-weather states
Water. “New Yorkers or Texans are used to wells that are 30 feet deep. It shocks them when they find out that we’re going to drill a well 800 feet deep. Or they’re shocked by a water tap fee that’s close to $25,000.”
Foundations. Folks from Texas or Florida are used to a simple slab. Here, the foundation has to be protected from frost. “They get it right away when we explain, but they still don’t like it.” We also insulate more than warm-weather states do, and that shows up in the budget too.
Winter. “Lots of newcomers think we can’t build during the winter, and that’s true at high elevations, but a large part of the state is suitable for 12 months of construction. Don’t assume that we’re a frozen tundra for six months every year. Even at 8,000 feet, Colorado has 50-degree sunny days in January. We build year round.”
A normal week when you’re a thousand miles away
“I think it’s really very much like a project where the owner is local,” Bob says, with two exceptions: everyone plans a little further ahead, and photos and FaceTime do the explaining that would otherwise happen in person.
Permits, inspections, deliveries, utility hookups, locking up the site, a surprise snowstorm? “That’s us. No other option.” Our longtime trades and suppliers act as extra eyes and ears, and that local knowledge matters. “We all know that our weather forecast is a lot like throwing darts. If cold weather is coming, we need to cover the area of a concrete pour with tarps or straw, so we don’t pour concrete on frozen ground.” An out-of-towner or a rookie builder, Bob says, could guess, “but they’re likely to get it wrong.”
A paper trail you can check from anywhere
“Pictures are worth a thousand words, but our software platform helps in a huge way.” Photos, daily logs and owner notes all live in one shared project file.
Say code requires the basement windows to drop three inches from what the plans show. The owner sees a photo with a note explaining the change. “Between the picture and the explanation, the owner should readily see that we’ve got things under control and that we sidestepped a mistake.” Change orders get logged the same way.
Open book means you see the lumberyard invoice
“With open-book pricing, the owner only pays for what’s actually purchased and used.” Clients see invoices straight from the lumberyard and pay them directly. When surplus material goes back, the refund goes to them. “We recently had about $4,000 worth of lumber, floor joists, hardware, trim materials and flashings returned to the lumberyard, and the client got a check for exactly the amount returned.”
With a construction loan, the bank sends its own inspectors before each draw, and “the administrative side is all digital.” Self-financed owners get progress photos and can hire a private inspector. “That’s not an expensive option, by the way.”
When to get on a plane
Seeing the finished foundation, or the house with its full shape and windows in, is a treat. But only one visit is a must. “We really need the client to be on site when HVAC, plumbing and electrical are getting started,” when “a light switch might move by just a few inches in order for the client to feel it’s perfect.”
Most selections work fine from home. “If a client chooses Old Chicago brick with black mortar from their home in Houston, we can be sure that we’re going to have the right product here in Denver.” The two exceptions are cabinets and granite or quartz. “It’s just got to be seen, touched, felt.”
Red flag: anyone who says you won’t need to be involved
“A huge red flag would be anybody who tells the owner that they won’t need to be involved. That’s totally absurd. The best plan set in the world is only notional. The best builder in the world is a good translator and puzzle solver. The best owner in the world is the one with clear vision and a great tolerance for ambiguity.”
Or, as Bob puts it: “Nobody knows the correct distance from the floor to the bottom crystal of the chandelier until the owner provides the number.”
Owner-Builder or Turnkey from a distance?
HomeWrights offers two paths: the HomeWrights Method, where you act as your own general contractor with our guidance, and Turnkey, where we manage the whole build with open books. For out-of-state owners, Bob is straightforward. “Our Owner-Builder method pretty much demands the owner’s boots on the ground. Of course, that’s one reason we offer a Turnkey option.”
Your first 90 days (most of it from home)
Order a real survey. The one from closing is usually just an Improvement Certificate. A survey meant for building shows topography, utilities, easements, roads and more. “A buyer should order that almost immediately.”
Get a soil test. Same timing.
Find out about utilities early. Bob has seen one owner spend nearly $100,000 getting gas and electricity up a hillside, and another build a bridge over a creek just so emergency vehicles could reach the site.
How long it really takes
“Six months to plan and one year to build. Start with that rule of thumb.” After that, it’s mostly up to you. “If it takes you ten days to choose a doorknob, the project will take two years. If it takes you ten minutes to choose a doorknob, the project might take nine months.” Want to break ground next spring? Start now.
What are you waiting for?
“My industry has taught me to be pretty fearless and absurdly optimistic. I believe anything can be done, and I believe that we have the skill set to solve any problem. So my advice, or actually my question: what are you waiting for?”
As Bob says, “The best time to start is yesterday.” Call HomeWrights at 303-756-8870 or reach out through our Contact page, and let’s talk about your land and the home you want on it.
Ready to start your Colorado build?
At HomeWrights Custom Homes, we’ve helped hundreds of Colorado families take control of their custom builds—whether as Owner-Builders managing their own projects or through our Turnkey Program with full transparency.
No matter which path you choose, you’ll have open books, experienced guidance, and a proven process that puts you firmly in the driver’s seat.
Let’s build smarter together.
Call 303-756-8870 or Contact Us
to start your Colorado custom home journey today.
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