At Cost Plus Construction, we believe the best way to show how we work is to let our clients speak for themselves.

In a recent client interview, we sat down with Nathan, a real estate investor who has completed three rehab projects with our team  including two medium rehabs and one full-scale renovation. While the finished results mattered, what stood out most to Nathan was how the process was handled from start to finish.

A Clear Process From Day One

Nathan shared how the experience with Cost Plus Construction felt different from working with traditional contractors. From the initial walkthrough and detailed, itemized scope of work to the way changes were discussed and priced upfront, there was clarity at every step.

Instead of vague estimates or shifting numbers mid-project, Nathan knew exactly:

• What work was being done

• What each line item cost

• When payments were due

• What progress was being made week by week

That level of transparency helped eliminate guesswork and created realistic expectations before construction even began.

Paying for What Actually Gets Done

One of the biggest advantages Nathan highlighted was the cost-plus billing model. Rather than large upfront payments or unclear billing practices, costs were tied directly to work that was actually completed.

Weekly billing and detailed reporting meant Nathan could physically see the progress and clearly understand what he was paying for something many investors struggle to get with traditional contractors.

Why This Matters for Investors

For both new and experienced investors, construction can make or break a deal. Unexpected costs, unclear scopes, and miscommunication often lead to delays and blown budgets.

When the scope is clear, the pricing is honest, and communication is consistent, investors can make better decisions and move forward with confidence.

Client Interview: Cost Plus Construction

Interview with Nathan (Investor Client)

Brant:
So, we are live. I’m here with Nathan, one of our Cost Plus Construction customers who’s done multiple projects with our company. Nathan, thank you for hopping on.

Nathan:
Hey, no worries. Happy to.

Brant:
I’m just going to ask you a few things. We’ve got some people who are considering using our services, and we like to invite customers on to talk about their experience working with Cost Plus Construction.

Let’s start there. Do you mind sharing how many projects you’ve worked on with us?

Nathan:
I’ve done three projects with Cost Plus over the past year or so.

Brant:
And these were investment projects, correct? Fix and flips?

Nathan:
Yeah, all of them were bought off-market. Two were kind of medium rehabs, and one was pretty extensive.

Brant:
Just in general, what was your experience working with our team? I know there were some challenges along the way, but overall, how would you describe it? And if you have any comparisons to other contractors, feel free to share those as well.

Nathan:
I think the biggest thing for me with Cost Plus is that Elijah comes out, looks at the project, walks through it, and brings ideas and examples sometimes different than what I would’ve suggested initially.

There’s a very itemized, very detailed estimate that shows exactly what they intend to do. If you want to make changes whether scratching something off or adding something you can get the cost estimated really well at the beginning.

So it sets a realistic expectation. It’s not, “Hey, let’s start working and figure it out as we go,” or, “We’re going to change what it costs every couple of weeks.” That doesn’t happen.

Brant:
Yeah.

Nathan:
I’d say the upfront snapshot is really transparent. Another thing I really enjoy is that you’re paying for what actually gets done. It’s not, “I need 75% upfront.”

Instead, you’re charged weekly for the work that was actually performed. You know exactly what you’re paying for, and you can see it with your own eyes.

That transparency really lives up to the name. You’re paying for what you get, plus the premium that Brant and his team charge.

Brant:

Going back to the scope of work I remember early on, even before I was in construction, getting scopes from contractors, especially ones using Xactimate or insurance-style estimating software.

I didn’t understand what was in the scope. There were words I didn’t know, and the structure didn’t make sense. I couldn’t tell what was going to be done or what the final product would look like.

So we’ve spent years putting our scopes in plain language really clear line items, structured in a way that makes sense. Some of our scopes are 200 or even 300 line items, like reading a small novel.

We do our best to make it understandable, so I appreciate you recognizing the importance of that. It means a lot.

You’ve already touched on some of what stood out the billing process, transparency so I really appreciate the recommendation.

Why would someone consider Cost Plus Construction over a typical contractor?

Nathan:
I’ll just use myself as a case study. It had been four or five years since I’d done a full rehab fix-and-flip. When I used you guys, hopping back in felt a lot easier.

Having someone come out and do full line-item pricing really stood out. I had two other contractors come out one gave me a “back-of-the-envelope” estimate (that’s sarcasm for everyone at home), and the other was somewhere in between.

When you break down how you’re paying and when you’re paying, it’s very clear. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, that clarity adds a ton of value.

For beginners especially, knowing exactly what you’re paying for and paying as the work progresses is huge.

For experienced investors who like being their own GC great, do it yourself. But if you don’t want to GC the project, this still makes sense. You guys get solid pricing on work that just isn’t worth most investors’ time to do themselves.

Brant:
I appreciate that. We see this a lot sometimes we don’t get the job because another bid is $5,000 or $10,000 cheaper.

Often later, we hear back that the cheaper bid ended up costing more because things weren’t included in writing, or there were unexpected add-ons, delays, or change orders.

We’re not perfect, but we really do try our best. And it all starts with the bid process making sure it’s comprehensive and clear so customers have a realistic picture of what the project will look like financially and scope-wise.

Construction always has surprises, and there will be headaches along the way, but having a solid scope is our roadmap. We always say we’ll land the plane—there might be turbulence, but we’ll get there.

Nathan, I really appreciate you coming on and sharing your experience. It means a lot to us. Thank you for your business, and we wish you the best on your future investment and construction projects.

Nathan:
Hey, thanks, Brant. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Build With Confidence and Transparency

If you’re an investor who wants to know exactly what you’re paying for, when you’re paying for it, and what the final outcome will look like, this is a conversation worth watching.

Need construction done the right way?
Build with confidence and transparency with Cost Plus Construction.

Talk Soon!

Brant Phillips