Our Process
Three Signature Systems.
One TIH Home.
Steve and Renee McKenzie built TIH around three interlocking processes — one that builds the home, one that hands it over, and one that closes it. Every TIH buyer experiences all three. Together they are why TIH homes have closed with ten or fewer punch-list items for nearly thirty years.
The Short Answer
TIH Homes is built on three signature systems — the 18-Stage Build Process, the Two-Hour Orientation, and the Handbook & Bible closing. Each one is delivered directly by a TIH manager on every build. Together they cover the full lifecycle of the home, from the first land walk to the moment a buyer is handed their keys.
Most builders have a build process. Few have a orientation process. Almost none have a closing process. TIH has all three — and they are why our customers keep referring family members year after year.
The Three Systems
Build. Walk Through. Close.
Three documented processes, each with its own purpose and its own owner. Click any card for the full breakdown.
The 18-Stage Build Process
~6–9 months · built in 126 days
An 18-step construction manual. Each stage walked, inspected, and signed off before the next begins. Land evaluation through Certificate of Occupancy — no last-week sprint, no 100 contractors at once, no skipped checkpoints.
- 18 documented stages from land walk to CO
- Stage 17 internal pre-walkthrough by a TIH manager
- Owner walks at framing, rough-in, pre-drywall
The Two-Hour Orientation
5-page orientation outline
A two-hour education in the home you just bought — not a punch-list signature. A TIH manager walks every system, every fixture, every warranty with the buyer. Most builders treat the orientation as a formality. TIH treats it as the most important conversation of the entire build.
- 5-page written orientation outline
- Every system, every fixture explained
- "We are 100% done. Today we introduce you to it."
The Handbook & Bible Closing
25-year tradition
At the closing table, every TIH buyer receives two things from Renee: a Handbook binder containing every warranty, manual, paint code, and contractor card — and a hand-inscribed family Bible. The Handbook turns "where did we put that?" into "it's on page 14." The Bible is a tradition Renee started nearly twenty-five years ago.
- Tabbed binder of every warranty & manual
- Paint codes, fixture SKUs, contractor contacts
- Family Bible hand-inscribed by Renee herself
How They Fit Together
The Full Lifecycle of a TIH Home.
Each system hands off to the next. The build creates the home, the orientation hands it over, and the Handbook & Bible close it. No buyer skips a step — and no step gets shortened.
18-Stage Build
Land evaluation, plans, permits, foundation, framing, finish — 18 stages, each fully complete before the next.
2-Hour Orientation
A TIH manager personally walks the finished home with the buyer for two hours — every system, every fixture, every warranty.
Handbook & Bible
A TIH closing representative hands the buyer their tabbed Handbook binder and a hand-inscribed family Bible at the closing table.
The Standard System
Six Standards on Every Build.
TIH does not reinvent the wheel every job. The company delivers six standardized assets at the start of every build so the buyer knows what they're getting, the trades know what they're building, and nothing gets improvised on the fly.
Standard Manual
The 18-stage construction manual TIH has used for decades. Every job runs through it.
Standard Plan
Either one of our in-house plans tailored to your lot, or a custom plan reviewed against our build standards.
Standard Specs
A documented spec sheet covering finishes, fixtures, mechanicals, and structural specs — reviewed line by line at selections.
Standard Budget
Itemized, in writing, before the contract is signed. Every change order tracked, priced, and approved before work begins.
Standard Contract
One contract, in plain language, covering scope, schedule, allowances, change-order procedure, and warranties. No surprise riders.
Standard Warranty
One-year workmanship warranty plus structural, functional, and mechanical coverage. All warranty details consolidated in your closing binder.
The 18 build stages run approximately 126 days from permit issuance.
The Build Cadence
Six Buyer Meetings, In Order.
Every TIH semi-custom and custom build runs through six scheduled meetings with the buyer. The cadence is the same on every job — one conversation per construction milestone — so nothing important happens without the buyer in the room.
Pre-Construction Meeting
Plans, specs, selections, budget, and contract are reviewed in one sitting. The buyer leaves knowing exactly what's being built, exactly what is included, and exactly what the budget looks like before a shovel hits the ground.
Frame Meeting
Walk the framed structure with the buyer before drywall hides it. Confirm window placements, room dimensions feel right, ceiling heights are correct, and any in-the-field framing decisions are noted in writing.
Mechanical Rough Meeting
Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-in walked with the buyer. Outlet locations, fixture placements, switch locations confirmed. Changes captured before insulation and drywall close everything in.
Sheetrock Meeting
Drywall installed but not finished. Last chance to confirm everything inside the walls is correct before tape, mud, and paint. The shape of the home becomes real.
Trim Meeting
Interior trim, doors, hardware, and cabinetry installed. Final finish selections (paint colors, stain choices) confirmed against the actual rooms instead of swatches. Punch-list items captured.
Buyer Walkthrough
The two-hour orientation. Every system, every fixture, every warranty handed over before the keys exchange hands. The last meeting of the build — and the first day of ownership.
Six meetings, six sign-offs, no surprises. The cadence is why TIH homes close with the punch list nearly empty.
Why It Matters
Process Is What
Quality Actually Means.
Anyone can promise quality. Process is how you actually deliver it. Eighteen stages walked and signed off. A two-hour orientation, not a signature. A binder and a Bible, not a handshake. That is why TIH homes close with the punch list almost empty — and why customers send referrals year after year.
Process Questions
What are the three signature processes at TIH Homes?
TIH is built on three interlocking systems: the 18-Stage Build Process (an 18-step construction manual where every stage is fully complete before the next begins), the Two-Hour Orientation (a five-page orientation a TIH manager personally delivers at the end of construction), and the Handbook & Bible closing (where every buyer receives a binder of every warranty and a hand-inscribed family Bible). Together they cover the home's entire lifecycle from land evaluation to move-in.
How long does the full TIH process take?
A typical TIH custom home runs six to nine months from when the permit is pulled. Pre-build steps (land evaluation, plan conversation, permits) take roughly 60 days. The 18 build stages run about 126 build days. The final Two-Hour Orientation happens on closing day, and the Handbook & Bible are delivered at the closing table.
Who at TIH is responsible for each process?
A TIH manager owns the 18-Stage Build Process and personally walks the home before every orientation, and also delivers the Two-Hour Orientation to every buyer. The Handbook & Bible tradition is overseen by Renee McKenzie — she started the tradition twenty-five years ago and continues to inscribe each Bible personally.
Why does TIH close with so few punch-list items?
Two reasons. First, the 18-stage process catches issues mid-build instead of at the end — each stage is walked, inspected and signed off before the next begins. Second, a TIH manager conducts a full internal orientation at Stage 17 before the buyer ever sees the finished home. By the time the buyer arrives, the punch list has already been worked through internally.
Can I tour the build during construction?
Yes. TIH schedules formal owner orientations at framing, mechanical rough-in, and pre-drywall — the three stages where seeing the bones matters most. Buyers are also welcome to visit at any other point with notice.
What's the warranty?
Standard one-year workmanship warranty on the home; manufacturer warranties on appliances, roofing, and major systems — all consolidated into your Handbook binder. A direct line is included in your closing packet — the company that builds the home is the company that supports it.
Let's Walk Through It Together.
If the process makes sense to you, the next step is a conversation about your land and your plan.
Start the Conversation