FAQ
Questions we hear most
Plain answers about how we build, where we build, and how we work with families and their builders. If yours isn't here, ask us directly.
What is a healthy home?
Our working definition is a house where the things that affect how a building performs are decided on purpose rather than left to chance: water kept out and dried if it gets in, air that is filtered and fresh rather than leaked and stale, materials chosen from a vetted catalog, water quality, light, sound and comfort treated as design decisions. We build against a written Standard that states what is controlled and how it is checked. What we do not do is promise outcomes for the people living in the house — we control the building, and we say exactly what we control.
How does Sage Co. differ from a standard custom builder?
Most builders price a set of drawings. We start from a written Standard covering eleven domains, agree with you how deep each domain goes on your house, and build from an approved materials catalog where every product decision is recorded and versioned. Work is staged through checkpoints that must be passed before the next phase begins, and independent verification of what was specified and installed is offered on every build. You also get one team accountable from land review through warranty, with every trade coordinated under us.
What does the eleven-domain Standard cover?
Site, soil and subgrade; building science; moisture and mold; indoor air quality; water quality; thermal comfort; materials and toxicology; light and circadian rhythm; space and biophilia; acoustics; and EMF. The same eleven domains apply on every house — you set the depth for each one, from Essential through Comprehensive, and we walk you through the trade-offs before anything is locked in.
Do you build outside Austin?
We build along the I-35 corridor from Austin to San Antonio and through the Hill Country — Travis, Hays, Comal, Guadalupe, Bexar, Kendall and Blanco counties. Outside that territory our consulting work — plan review, option-sheet review, second opinions — can sometimes travel, but building is limited to where our trades and site knowledge are strong.
Can you consult if I already have a builder?
Yes, and it's a common way in. We review your plans, specifications and selections against the Standard, sit in on the decisions that cannot be undone later, read your builder's option sheet line by line, and give second opinions on proposals — all in writing, organized by domain, and yours to hand to whoever is doing the work. We coordinate with your builder; we don't replace them unless you ask us to.
Is independent verification included?
Verification is offered on every build, and it is elected by domain — Core, Full, or a custom selection. When you elect it, an independent third party — never us — checks the work against what was specified, because we don't grade our own homework. It's priced domain by domain and reviewed with you on your estimate call; it is not an automatic part of every contract.
Still deciding?
The best next step is a conversation — no plans required. Book a free alignment call and we'll talk through your land, your plans, or the house you already own.
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