OUR PROCESS
How a C&L Project Works
Building is complex. Our job is to make it feel simple, especially if you’re coordinating from across the country or navigating Montana permitting for the first time. Here’s what to expect from your first call to the day you turn your key, whether your project is in Butte, Big Sky, Bozeman, Livingston, or Big Timber.
BUILT FOR REMOTE CLIENTS
Build here from anywhere.
You don’t need to live in Montana to build here. Our design-build model, with a single point-of-contact project manager and a licensed architect engaged from day one, is built for remote client relationships. A Friday summary, a weekly owner call, and photos of every phase mean you never need to be on site to stay fully informed.
Initial Consultation
We start with a conversation, not a sales pitch. We want to understand your project, your site, your budget range, and your timeline before we say a word about what we can build. The first meeting is free, no-pressure, and runs 45 to 60 minutes, at our Livingston office, on your property, or by video call.
WHAT TO BRING
- A general sense of the project: size, type, must-haves
- Site surveys, plat maps, or lot information
- A rough budget range (confidential; we use it to calibrate)
- Photos or precedent images that capture the feeling
Design & Feasibility
A licensed architect works directly with you to translate your vision into a buildable design, and we’re equally comfortable collaborating with the architect of your choice. We run preliminary cost estimates at each design milestone so budget and design stay aligned.
WHAT THIS PHASE PRODUCES
- Concept sketches and site plan, grounded in your lot
- Schematic drawings: enough to make real budget decisions
- Preliminary budget with contingency ranges
- Material and finish direction
Permitting & Pre-Construction
We manage permitting entirely, with county planning departments across our service area and Livingston and Bozeman city planning as your location requires. At the same time we finalize subcontractor bids, confirm material lead times, and lock in your schedule in writing before ground is broken.
WHAT HAPPENS
- Permit applications and agency coordination: you don’t touch this
- Final construction documents for permit and bidding
- Subcontractor selection and contracts
- Material lead times confirmed
- Written construction schedule before breaking ground
Construction
You’ll have a dedicated project manager as your single point of contact throughout the build: not a rotation of faces, not a call center. Clients coordinating from out of state are never left wondering what’s happening on their site.
HOW WE KEEP YOU INFORMED
- Written progress summary every Friday
- Photo documentation of every build phase
- Standing 30-minute weekly owner call
- Transparent change orders: no surprises on the final invoice
- Site visits welcome with advance notice
Completion & Handover
Before we call a project done, we walk it with you. Every punch list item is resolved before closeout, not deferred, and you receive a full project binder to own and maintain what we built together.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
- Final walkthrough and punch list sign-off
- Certificate of Occupancy (where applicable)
- Manufacturer and contractor warranties
- Signed lien waivers from every sub and supplier
- Subcontractor and supplier contact list
- Maintenance and care guide for your building
“We always felt like we knew what was happening and could count on Chris to help navigate anything that came up.”
BETH AND DAVID W. · BUILT FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY · PARK COUNTY, MT
START THE CONVERSATION
Ready to talk through your project?
A 20-minute call is usually enough to tell us if we’re the right fit for what you’re building. If we’re not, we’ll tell you that too.