BuildGuide gives first-time home builders a step-by-step cost tracker, real benchmark data, and an AI advisor — so you never overpay or get blindsided.
My Austin Home Build
2,400 sq ft · Austin, TX
Estimate
$380k – $540k
Committed
$224,500
Actual
$89,200
EVERYTHING YOU NEED
From permits to landscaping — all 54 cost categories organized across 6 build phases. Estimates auto-populate based on your sq footage and location.
Budget Summary — All Phases
| Line Item | Range | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Site Prep & Clearing | $8k – $14k | Committed |
| Foundation – Slab | $22k – $35k | Committed |
| Framing | $45k – $68k | Bid Pending |
| MEP Rough-In | $32k – $48k | Not Started |
| Exterior Finishes | $28k – $40k | Not Started |
HOW IT WORKS
Enter your sq footage, location, and timeline. BuildGuide instantly generates cost estimates across all 54 line items.
Log contractor bids and see immediately whether you're being overcharged. Our benchmark data flags high bids before you sign.
Your AI advisor knows your project inside and out. Get specific answers about costs, contractors, and what to expect next.
OUR STORY
BuildGuide was born from a simple frustration. After decades as a Texas residential developer — tracking every permit, every bid, every phase of hundreds of custom homes — we watched first-time builders get taken advantage of again and again. Not because they weren't smart, but because they didn't have the same information contractors did. BuildGuide fixes that.
“We watched first-time builders get taken advantage of again and again. BuildGuide fixes that.”Start building smarter
30+
years of Texas residential
development experience
PRICING
Everything you need to build smarter. One plan, no surprises.
BuildGuide Pro
Cancel anytime. No lock-in.
Join builders who are tracking every dollar with confidence.
Get started for $9.99/month