About Us
WHO WE ARE
About Us
Background:
Nick and Nathan have over 54 years of combined experience and have been in the home-building business their entire adult lives and have worked in all aspects of residential construction and light commercial projects.
Their experiences have a lot of parallels, but also a lot of range inside of the homebuilding world. They are both Native Texans who grew up in Wimberley and both came from working with their hands at age 16 or so; however, Nick, started as a carpenter’s helper and then ran a framing crew for 10 years, building 2000 to 18,000 sq ft homes and specializing in custom applications. He then moved on to own and operate as a Custom Homebuilder for the last 16 years in and around the Texas Hill Country. Nick’s role as Vice President also includes Head of Construction and Field Operations, and while operating as one of two full-time field superintendents’ for Gasparini Custom Homes, he is making the rounds on every jobsite weekly to ensure everything is tracking on schedule and of course, maintaining quality control.
​
​While Nathan comes from a family who owned a construction and roofing company for decades, he cut his teeth in the industry there and later set out on his own with a remodeling and painting business in his late teens and early 20’s. He then moved on to work on the corporate side of things as an Estimator and eventually Purchasing Manager for Taylor Morrison Homes, and later was a partner in a large volume exterior contracting company in Austin, while building his personal homes on the side.
Nathan’s role as President at Gasparini Custom Homes is Head of Business Processes and Development, and our second full-time office staff member allowing him to “quarterback” the company from our office in Wimberley, Texas. Given the depth of his background he understands the importance of taking care of his employees, vendors, subcontractors, and most importantly his clients.
The company takes a team approach here at Gasparini Custom Homes. Aside from Nick and Nathan, we have a staff that currently includes an amazing Interior Designer, Whitney Riser Johnson, who has 19 years in the field; one dedicated field super, Nick Boehme with over 14 years in the industry, and our Office Manager who handles all accounting/bookkeeping, Ashley Button!
​
We look forward to working with you in some capacity or another and appreciate you taking the time to get to know a little about our team!
Estimating and Project Management Process
Business Systems
Our experience in corporate home-building had come with lots of information systems building technology, and we wanted to bring that to bear on a smaller scale.
​
We utilize a CRM software called Builder Trend, where customers can see the actual budget spending in real time. Also allowing them to see the construction schedule and how it is progressing relative to the initial timeline.
​
As well as see all our internal punch pics, daily log pics, and any inspection lists. This interface also allows our clients to submit a change order if needed, as well as submit a warranty claim after closing.
​
This level of real-time data is unique for a large company but very rare for a small boutique home-building company, which sets our company apart from others.
.png)
Once under contract, we utilize Buildertrend software that allows customers to have full visibility of the project schedule, budget, and all related documents. From a budgeting standpoint, this has been invaluable over the past two years due to unprecedented pricing increases that have caused fixed-price builders to price projects 20-30% higher than their bids to cover increases. Whereas with this software we have been able to give customers a much more realistic cost-plus contract and have the actual cost dictate the final price, rather than shoot high and keep any overages as profit.
Now, as the market is trending downward, we can write a contract based on current numbers and allow the customers to pick up any savings from decreases based on market conditions. Without the level of transparency afforded by this software to all project spending in real-time, it is more trust than is reasonable to put into a builder-client relationship. Whether the project is a remodel or new construction communication of the construction schedule is critical, so the use of this software helps customers see when we have delays or save time and pull in the timeline. Generally, we find that transparency to all our budget and scheduling data gives customers confidence in the outcome. Visibility to the metrics of the home’s construction is invaluable to customer satisfaction through the length of the build process.
Our estimating process utilizes on-screen takeoff software to calculate and quantify all our Budgets. This allows the customers to have a defined visual representation (plan key) of what materials are included at every area of their architectural plans, as well as the budget that matches exactly by name and description to that plan key.
Initially, we rely mostly on pricing from previous projects to generate footage-based estimates, but as the project becomes more defined, we reach out to our sub-base for actual bids. This is crucial to a quick turnaround for the customer's initial design and budgeting stage, but also for budget changes in our value engineering process.
The difference speaks for itself, so a quick walkthrough of previous GCH budgets is usually sufficient to demonstrate the benefits. Ultimately the difference in how we go about estimating and budgeting for projects communicates to everyone involved clearly what it is included in their pricing and helps us ensure we set and meet customer expectations.
Turn Your Ideas and Imagination
Into Reality
Gasparini Custom Homes has three programs you can choose from, whichever you prefer. With our decades of knowledge and experience in home building and design, we’ll create a custom design that includes every detail of your lifelong dream of having a custom home.
​
Maybe you inherited a piece of land, or it could be that you bought and secured a perfect location through years of hard work, and you’re ready now to build on it; whichever is the case, Gasparini Custom Homes is here to help turn your dreams into reality.
Pick The Program That Is Right For You
Our Building Programs
Program # 1
Standard Bid (Free Estimate):​
-
If the pricing is acceptable to the clients and they make a verbal commitment that they intend to move forward with us, we will send out to all our subs (we are usually within 3-5% based of multipliers only). The final construction cost will take 5-8 weeks, but in many situations, we contract off the initial estimate to save time and communicate pricing changes as we are in process of the build. It’s the customer’s choice how to proceed, but in many situations saving a month or more is more important to them than a variance of a few percent on the final bid price.​
-
Once bids are in and assuming the clients have chosen to wait for bids to come in, we will schedule our third meeting to review the budget and through their feedback determine any final changes in scope and selection that affect the budget. We will then write up a contract and include the detailed Plan Key, matching Construction Cost document, Specification, and our standard TABS (Texas Association of Builders Contract) contract documents. Construction starts as soon after signing as the customer desires.
-
Customers have completed plan set and budget in mind, they may or may not be pricing us against another builder. We have an initial meeting to discuss their vision for the build and provide a preliminary price within 2-3 weeks based off our multipliers. We will have an in-person meeting to review the budget and discuss any desired changes. This second meeting is where we offer input on value engineering and firm up any details that are fleshed out through the estimating process.​
Program # 2
Design Assistance (Fees for time spent):
-
For a new build, the customers bring a set of plans but want moderate modifications made. For a remodel, we start with getting as-built plans made of the existing structure. We sit down with the customer to understand the scope of changes. We redline plans accordingly and send them off to a draftsman to have those changes made. The process involves as many sit-downs as needed, but typically not more than 3 are needed if everyone is clear on what changes they want. We bill for our time at a set fee based on a defined amount of time assumed to complete in three sit-downs. All draftsman fees are billed with an 18% builder fee added for management. We typically change 3-5K base fee plus draft the draftsmen is added to this. The amount of time this takes overall can vary depending on the customer's responses and availability, but we generally say this adds 3 months to the process.
-
All other aspects are identical to the above Standard Bid process above…
.png)
Program # 3
Design Build (fees vary depending on size and complexity):
-
The customer comes to us with a vision but no plans. We engage with our designer and an architect who best fits the design aesthetic and whose availability suits the timeline of the customer’s needs. The scope of work we perform is typical for services supplied customarily in connection with the specialized knowledge and skills of a Builder/ Consultant and all services incidental thereto. These services are intended to end with the Owner having received a set of design documents from which the Project can be performed by a competent home builder. Regular and effective communication between the Owner, Builder Consultant, and the Design Team, as appropriate, is necessary for the successful completion of the Project. We will attend regular Project meetings and will coordinate, as a part of its responsibility under this agreement all activities with all appropriate members of the Design Team
-
PROJECT DIRECTION: The owner will work with us so that we can understand the Owner’s design preferences and budget needs. We will provide both cost and aesthetic criteria to the Owner for discussion so that there can be an open dialogue between the Owner and GCH for the Project.
-
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PHASE: We will meet with the Owner as needed to discuss and determine the Owner’s preferences for the Project as to Design style and Budget. Based upon such information, we will develop sketches and outline specifications for the conceptual and schematic design of the work. We will then review with the owner the facilities, functions, and operations within to obtain the consent and agreement of the Owner as to the major design elements of the systems and facilities. At this time we will compare the feasibility, practicability, and aesthetic features of alternative systems and facilities, and it will advise the Owner and the Design Team as to the relative advantages of different possible systems for the Owner's consideration.
-
PRELIMINARY PRICING: Upon the Owner’s review and approval of the Conceptual Design, Builder Consultant will develop a draft budget based on the design for review and discussion with the Owner. Based on the discussion with the Owner as to the preliminary pricing, we will revise the conceptual design as needed in the final design phase.
-
FINAL DESIGN PHASE: Upon the Owner's approval of the Conceptual Design and Preliminary Pricing, the Builder Consultant will cooperate with the Design Team in producing schematic drawings outline specifications, and final design. As part of this phase, the Builder Consultant will prepare sketches, drawings, specifications, and other documents illustrating the Project components. The builder Consultant will consult with the Owner for the purpose of making any adjustments to the Final Design based on the Owner's review and request.
-
CONSTRUCTION BUDGET PHASE: Upon the Owner’s review and approval of the Final Design, the Builder Consultant will develop a construction budget based on the Final Design for review and discussion with the Owner. Based on the discussion with the Owner as to this budget, selections, and allowances, the Builder Consultant will revise the Final Design if needed, and the Construction Budget.
-
All other aspects are identical to the above Standard Bid process above…
Program # 4
Spec/ Developer Partners
-
Though custom homes and client relationships are where Gasparini Custom Homes sets itself apart from other builders – We also cater to spec builds from Investors and Developers alike. The transparency of our process and utilization of top-of-the-line customer relations management systems combine to create an unparalleled experience. Where every penny and all progress are tracked in real-time, an investor's dream!!!
