How Bradford Custom Homes and Remodeling navigates construction material pricing with the help of CBUSA

Construction material pricing shouldn’t be relegated to a line item in a budget. It’s a strategic lever that directly impacts margin, client experience and long-term growth. Bradford Custom Homes and Remodeling understands this at a fundamental level, embedding pricing control into how they operate rather than treating it as a downstream concern.

For founder Brad Robinson, that mindset is their foundation. “For us, process is everything,” he explained. Managing construction material pricing is simply an extension of disciplined execution.

Why construction material pricing became a strategic focus

Over the past decade, construction material pricing has been anything but stable. Lumber volatility, freight fluctuations and tariff pressures have created ongoing uncertainty across the residential construction market.

For builders operating in cost-plus or fixed-fee environments, these shifts directly impact:

• Gross margins
• Cash flow timing
• Client trust
• Project predictability

Bradford Custom Homes and Remodeling build high-end homes in Greater Atlanta, where transparency is non-negotiable. As Brad put it, “You need to be able to provide the proof of cost, down to the line item, to the penny.”

In that environment, construction material pricing can’t be reactive – it must be controlled.

From trade roots to multi-million-dollar homes

Brad’s path into custom home building started in the trades. “I’ve been in the industry since 2006,” he said, reflecting on his early experience running a painting and drywall company in Atlanta.

After the 2008 downturn, the business adapted – pivoting into repainting and remodeling before evolving into large-scale custom homes across the Southeast. That growth wasn’t accidental. It was structured.

Scaling for Brad’s company was highly intentional because it meant digesting a client’s vision, assembling the right team and executing without delay. That level of consistency requires tight control over inputs, including construction material pricing. 

The operational discipline behind margin protection

Bradford Custom Homes and Remodeling operates on what they call their Four Pillars of Success – a system built around accountability and measurable execution.

Brad calls it a culture of “extreme accountability.”

1. Build to specification

Senior project manager Connor Lipham described his daily focus this way, “I’m ensuring that our trades are building the house to the architects’ specifications, and we’re quality controlling that.”

Quality control protects margin. Rework wastes materials. Misalignment compounds costs. When build execution is precise, construction material pricing becomes predictable rather than reactive. 

And the internal standard remains simple according to Connor: “Would I want this in my house? If the answer’s no, then it’s getting rectified.”

That mindset prevents costly compromises.

2. Schedule discipline

Schedule discipline is financial discipline.

Brad ensures project managers update schedules daily to maintain efficiency and reduce material waste. A delayed trade often leads to material damage, reorders or rushed substitutions.

When schedule control is tight, pricing exposure shrinks.

3. Financial accuracy 

Financial clarity is non-negotiable. Brad emphasized the importance of visibility: “We cannot do projects this large scale if we do not know how much we are starting with, where we are at and where we are going to end at any point in time.”

Weekly financial updates and work-in-progress reporting allow leadership to detect margin pressure early. Construction material pricing shifts don’t go unnoticed – they’re addressed before they compound.

Transparency also strengthens client trust: “Clients really feel important when they feel that they’re being invited to be a part of the journey.”

4. Client success

Client experience is not separate from financial health – it reinforces it.

Marlon Hurtado, vice president of remodeling, described the company’s mission this way: “We want to take away that mentality of ‘builders are terrible.’ We want it to be more white glove finished.”

Clear communication reduces costly revisions. Structured change orders prevent surprise expenses. Daily logs and surveys minimize friction. As Connor explained: “I like to communicate with my clients every day… it completely restores their faith.”

When communication is strong, margin erosion from misunderstandings decreases. Process is insulation.

How CBUSA improves construction material pricing

Operational discipline creates control. That control is harnessed through the leverage provided by CBUSA.

Brad was initially drawn to CBUSA because of the builders involved. “I knew the caliber of builders who were members and if they found value, I wanted in.”

That decision proved transformative – not just financially but strategically.

Through CBUSA, Bradford Custom Homes and Remodeling gains:

• Access to national purchasing programs 
• Volume-based pricing leverage 
• More consistent, predictable pricing structures 
• Stronger vendor relationships 

More than rebates: the real value of CBUSA

While rebates are meaningful, the biggest advantage isn’t financial.

“For me, CBUSA is more than just a network where you’re getting rebates,” Brad explained. “It’s a community of other builders … all moving towards being better.”

That community creates something rare in construction: collaboration.

Ryan MacDowell, director of operations, shared a practical example. When the company needed a new drywall partner, he reached out to other CBUSA members. Multiple builders responded with trusted recommendations – something uncommon in a typically fragmented industry.

“That’s not a normal collaboration that takes place,” Ryan said. “It’s a fantastic benefit of being part of the program.”

This shared intelligence reduces risk, improves vendor selection and strengthens execution.

Relationships that change the business

CBUSA doesn’t just improve pricing – it reshapes relationships.

Brad credits the network with helping him build meaningful partnerships, including meeting Ryan, who later joined and merged into the business.

“It’s been the best decision I’ve made for the business,” Brad said. “I’ve made incredible partnerships with vendors … and incredible friends with other builders.”

These relationships extend beyond transactions. They influence how the business operates, grows and makes decisions.

Bradford Custom Homes and Remodeling experience reflects a broader industry shift.

What this means for builders navigating construction material pricing

Construction material pricing can no longer be managed passively. Builders need:

• Structured operational systems 
• Predictable purchasing strategies 
• Strong vendor relationships 
• Access to collaborative networks 

Volatility isn’t going away – but it can be managed.

The builders who succeed aren’t chasing price changes. They’re building frameworks that absorb them.

If you’re evaluating how to better control construction material pricing, strengthen margins, and gain purchasing leverage through a builder network, learn more about becoming a CBUSA member.