Process
From vision to reality — in five disciplined phases.
Every Sabal project follows the same structured methodology. This is how we reduce uncertainty, protect the budget, and deliver residences that perform as both homes and assets.
01
Vision & strategy
We begin with the end in mind. Before a single line is drawn, we align on the project's objective — primary residence, investment asset, or family legacy — and build the financial and programmatic framework that governs every decision downstream.
02
Design development
We assemble the architectural and design team suited to the mandate. We sit inside the design process, not outside of it, ensuring every choice stays aligned with the budget and buildability constraints.
03
Permitting & optimization
We navigate municipal review, coastal construction control lines, historic districts, and DERM in parallel — optimizing buildable envelope and square footage where the code allows.
04
Construction execution
Disciplined construction with constant principal oversight. Weekly reporting, budget reconciliation, and a single point of accountability throughout.
05
Delivery & value realization
A completed residence that exceeds expectations — whether you move in, lease, or sell. Post-delivery warranty support and optional property management.
Frequently asked
How a Sabal mandate runs.
- How long does a full Sabal mandate take from first meeting to keys?
- For a 6,000 to 10,000 square foot custom residence in South Florida, 28 to 36 months from the first strategy meeting to certificate of occupancy. Roughly: 2 to 3 months of vision and strategy, 6 to 9 months of design development, 3 to 6 months of permitting (longer if ARCOM, CCCL, or historic-district review applies), and 16 to 22 months of construction. Palm Beach County projects and Town of Palm Beach ARCOM-reviewed projects typically extend the permitting phase by 3 to 6 months.
- What happens in the vision and strategy phase before design starts?
- Before a single line is drawn, Sabal works with the owner to define the project objective (primary residence, investment asset, family legacy), the budget framework, the buildable envelope on the parcel, and the approvals path the parcel actually requires. This is where most overruns are avoided. Owners who skip or compress this phase typically discover constraints — zoning caps, CCCL setbacks, historic overlays, neighbor easements — after they have already committed to an architect and a scheme that does not fit the site.
- How does Sabal manage the design phase without owning the architect?
- Sabal sits inside the design process, not outside of it. That means attending design meetings, providing real-time budget feedback on every design decision, flagging constructability issues before they become redesign costs, and coordinating the structural, MEP, and civil engineering scopes. The architect owns the design; Sabal owns the discipline of keeping the design inside the budget, schedule, and permitting envelope the owner agreed to at the strategy phase.
- How is the budget controlled during construction?
- Every Sabal project above $4 million runs on cost-plus with a guaranteed maximum price. The owner sees every subcontractor bid, change order, and invoice through a shared budget tracker. Sabal's fee is fixed at contract signing. If the project comes in under the GMP, the savings accrue to the owner; if it goes over, Sabal absorbs the overrun. Weekly budget reconciliation meetings keep the owner current on actuals vs. plan and any variance drivers.
- How much owner time does a Sabal project actually require?
- Roughly 2 to 4 hours per week on average, concentrated at the decision milestones (program sign-off, schematic approval, design development approval, construction kick-off, and major milestone inspections). Sabal structures the decision calendar so the principal-owner only has to engage on decisions that materially affect the outcome, and absorbs the day-to-day friction (subcontractor scheduling, change-order logistics, municipal coordination) that otherwise consumes owner time.
- What does delivery actually include?
- At certificate of occupancy, the owner receives a full close-out package: as-built drawings, equipment manuals, maintenance schedule, warranty registrations, and a systems walkthrough with the Sabal principal. Sabal also provides 12 months of post-delivery warranty support (covering any construction defects) and can continue in an ongoing property management capacity where the owner prefers not to stand up their own estate-management function.
Start your project
We don't take on projects. We take on mandates.
Whether you are acquiring land, developing a new project, or building a private residence, we provide the expertise, structure, and execution to bring it to life.