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Our Proven Design-Build Process

A clear, step-by-step approach that brings confidence and clarity to every custom home or remodeling project.

Master bedroom with large dark wood bed and blue bedding in custom home by Doxa Custom Homes in Cookeville, TN

Clarity from Day One

At Doxa Custom Homes, we believe a well-defined process is the foundation of every successful project. Whether you’re building a new custom home in Middle Tennessee or planning a whole-home remodel, our design-build approach eliminates the guesswork. From the first conversation to the final walk-through, we guide you with professionalism, open communication, and attention to detail. The result is a seamless experience where expectations are clear, surprises are minimized, and your vision is brought to life with excellence.

Our Design-Build Process

01

Initial Connection & Pre-Qualification

When you reach out by phone, email, or our contact form, we respond quickly to learn about your goals. During this stage, we pre-qualify to ensure we’re the right fit for your project and investment range. This helps us focus our expertise on projects where we can truly add value and deliver exceptional results.
02

Discovery Call

If we’re aligned, we schedule a Discovery Call with all decision-makers. This conversation explores your past building or remodeling experience, your vision for the project, and your desired timeline. We also explain costs and set expectations for our pre-construction process and how it sets the stage for a smooth build. Clients often find this call invaluable for understanding how we work and what to expect next.
03

Concept Design Creation

To begin designing your dream home, we enter into a concept design agreement with a retainer.  Our team then curates home design concepts, 3D renderings, 2D Layouts, and goes through numerous iterations and edits to tailor your home or space to fit your exact needs. At this point, we then are able to provide you with a Preliminary Estimated Budget for your project.
04

Pre-Construction + Final Design Retainer

At this stage, we enter into a Pre-Construction Agreement +  further develop the designs and work towards construction preparation for your project. This takes course over 12–36 weeks, and meetings are scheduled every two weeks to review progress, discuss finishes and fixtures, and incorporate feedback. Along the way, we provide preliminary pricing updates and value-engineering options to align your design with your investment goals, as well as a ready-to-build set of Construction Documents and Design Selection Mastersheet.
05

Fixed-Price Construction Contract

At the end of Pre-Construction + Design, we present a comprehensive, fixed-price construction contract. This agreement covers every detail of your project, with no hidden costs or vague allowances. With this contract in place, you can move forward confidently knowing the price you see is the price you’ll pay.
06

Permitting & Pre-Build Preparation

Before construction starts, we handle all the permitting, zoning approvals, and inspections. We also coordinate with trade partners, order custom materials, and finalize the project schedule. This preparation ensures a smooth transition into the build phase without delays.
07

Construction & Completion

Once construction begins, our focus is on executing the plan with precision and quality craftsmanship. We maintain open communication throughout the build and uphold our guarantee to respond to you within four hours during business hours. At project completion, we conduct a thorough walk-through to ensure every detail meets your expectations.

What Our Homeowners Say

"Doxa Contracting Company provided personal, professional and quality reconstruction of our home. Every aspect of the process was everything a consumer would want, topped with exceptional and outstanding results. They are so good, we are looking for other projects so they can enhance our home further with their quality works!"

Brenda R.

"Jeff was a pleasure to work with throughout our kitchen design process. Since we already had a contractor, Jeff focused on creating the perfect design for our space. He was flexible with his schedule, incredibly thorough, and took the time to answer all our questions with patience and expertise. His attention to detail and thoughtful approach made the entire experience seamless. I highly recommend working with this company!"

Cara D.

"I wish to thank Jeff for the restoration of an area of our home. He and a team of subcontractors that are some of the best in the area essentially rebuilt from the trusses down a master bath, study, and walk-in closet. The first day he came out he brought a structural engineer to assess the area and determine the best way to rebuild. At that point, I knew I had called a responsible individual to handle the job. Jeff is an enthusiastic contractor. It's as if it is his house that is getting rebuilt. I had pretty much given up trying to find someone to tackle this job. Jeff was an answer to prayer. Thank you Jeff for caring so much about your work which is reflected in the end result!"

C.K.B.

"From the initial consultation to the finishing touches on our kitchen remodel, Jeff was very professional and knowledgeable. We knew right away that he was the general contractor we wanted to use for our kitchen remodel. My wife and I purchased my wife's grandparents house and we wanted to make sure we chose a contractor that we could trust with such an important project for us - Jeff did not disappoint. Jeff's communication was top notch and he was able to finish the project within the agreed upon time and budget. His attention to detail really made our kitchen shine and I recommend Jeff and Doxa to anyone looking for quality remodeling services."

Kevin D.

"My wife and I recently decided to finish our basement and sought out bids from several local contractors. We challenged them with the goal of framing and drywalling our superior walls and installing doors. After much deliberation, we decided on Jeffrey Stirland of Doxa. This decision was based on his ability to work in collaboration with us and the other plumbing, HVAC, flooring, electrical and painting contractors we engaged. Other contributing factors were Jeffrey’s professionalism, attention to detail and collaborative communication style. We highly recommend this skilled professional and wish he and his company much continued success. We are extremely pleased and satisfied with the outcome."

David S.

"We hired Doxa to add a family room addition to our home and to renovate our master bath. We also updated our siding, added rock on the exterior, added a powder room, and a paver patio. We were completely satisfied with how everything turned out. Jeff and his team of excellent subcontractors did an outstanding job. Jeff is professional, thorough, thoughtful, and detail-oriented. He was excellent at communicating and keeping us updated on progress. Whenever we had a question or issue, he addressed it right away. The quality of all the work done was meticulous and top-notch. We are so excited to enjoy our new spaces. Everything turned out so much better than we had imagined. We will recommend Doxa to all our friends and will call them for future projects."

Robin B.

"We hired Jeff to do our backsplash. He had great attention to detail, excellent craftsmanship. He was very professional and produced the highest quality work from set up and to clean up. He was very pleasant to work with and to have in our home. Would recommend him for any job and will definitely be hiring him for future jobs in our home!"

Madison M.

"My home was built in 1872. Recently it has been trying to return to the dust from which it came. The 2 porches were disintegrating. I called Doxa & the next morning Jeff showed up & examined the structures, made recommendations, listened to my concerns, answered all my questions, then, drew up a contract & worked out budget that I could live with. The work was started the day of the contract signing & completed in less than two weeks. As a bonus, he has a network of like minded colleagues who do work that is not within his scope i.e. masonry & electric. He shepherds their work too & is concerned about the success of their work & my satisfaction ongoing. The work & lumber & painting & brickwork that he did are of high quality & I definitely recommend him & his crew to anyone looking for contracting help."

Marcia E.

Start the Conversation About Your Dream Home

Reach out today to schedule your Discovery Call and share your vision with us. We’ll walk you through the next steps and show you how our proven process makes building or remodeling your home simple and rewarding.

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