I've built for the builder's side.
Now I review for yours.
I'm Robert Arnold — a Texas homebuilder and developer. I've spent my career overseeing the complete lifecycle of residential projects: evaluating vacant lots, acquiring land, developing plans, estimating, bidding subcontractors, negotiating with vendors, managing construction, and walking homeowners through delivery and warranty. Along the way I've delivered more than 100 custom and spec homes.
Along the way, I noticed a missing step in the process. When you buy a home, you have a realtor representing your best interest. When you build one — a bigger commitment, with a thousand more decisions — there's no one at the table whose only job is looking out for you. I saw it constantly: friends and family calling me to ask about jobs they were pricing in other markets, because they had nobody on their side who could tell them what was fair, what was missing, or what it should really cost.
I started Before You Build to be that missing link. I review your plans the way I'd review them for my own company — where does the budget break, which design decisions quietly cost tens of thousands, what's missing, what should you ask — except this time, the findings go to you.
A career spent where plans meet budgets.
I currently lead all homebuilding and development operations for a Texas residential development and homebuilding company — everything from evaluating vacant lots and acquiring land through architectural design, plan development, estimating, competitive bidding, vendor and trade-partner agreements, construction, homeowner turnover, and warranty. I set the budgets, the schedules, the specifications, and the pricing strategy, and I'm responsible for the profitability of every project we take on.
Before stepping into that role, I spent years as a project manager delivering more than 100 single-family homes from preconstruction through turnover and warranty. I led purchasing, subcontractor bidding, vendor negotiations, estimating, and cost control — and improved company gross margins by over 100% through value engineering and purchasing discipline. Earlier in my career, I supported estimating, budgeting, RFIs, submittals, and subcontractor coordination on large commercial projects.
I hold a B.S. in Construction Science from Texas A&M University — formal training in construction management, estimating, and building systems that sits underneath a career spent in the field, pricing real plans against real budgets.
The skills behind every review.
Put a builder's eyes on your side of the table.
One flat fee. An independent review of your plans, delivered in 3–5 business days.