What Will You Do Differently? The One Question That Separates the Best From the Rest. At Steg Custom Homes , we field hundreds of calls every week . Material suppliers. Window providers. Stucco and drywall crews. Electricians. Painters. Flooring reps. Cabinet vendors. And the list goes on and on. And here’s what I’ve realized after 30 years in this business: Most of those calls sound the same. Same pitch. Same buzzwords. Same “we can beat pricing.” Same “we can start tomorrow.” Same promises that don’t mean anything unless they’re backed by real service and real follow-through. So I’ve started getting very direct. Because the truth is… We’re not looking for the cheapest price. We’re looking for the best quality and the best service . Why? Because our clients deserve it. And because in the luxury custom home world—especially here in Sedona, Arizona —there is no room for “close enough.” We Don’t Want To Be Sold. We Want To Be Educated. This week, I had a conversation with a window supplier who’s been trying to earn our business. He introduced himself, and I thanked him for reaching out. Then he started to go into the sales pitch. And I stopped him. Not because I was being rude—because I was being honest. I told him: “I don’t want to be sold. I want to be educated.” And then I asked him the question I believe every builder and homeowner should ask: “What are you going to do differently than all your competitors?” Before he even answered, I made sure he understood something crystal clear: “I am NOT looking for the best price.” Then I gave him a challenge: “Tell me what you’re going to do differently in 30 seconds or less.” And to my surprise… He was ready. The Answer That Got My Attention Unlike most people who stumble through a pitch, he immediately started listing what his company provides: Warranty and guarantee support Service in a timely manner Quality install standards Case studies with write-ups and videos Product links and resources Education sites for clients Tools to help homeowners make decisions faster Delivery time statistics and real performance metrics And I’ll be honest… I was refreshed. I was impressed. Because that wasn’t selling. That was leadership. That was professionalism. That was someone saying: “Here’s how we protect your project, your client, your schedule, and your reputation.” In Construction, This Isn’t A Sales Game. It’s A Relationship Game. Too many suppliers and subcontractors treat construction like it’s a price war. It’s not. It’s a relationship and education game. If you’re a sub or vendor and you want to work with a high-level builder, here’s the truth: Don’t sell me. Educate me. Show me you understand what’s at stake. Because in luxury construction, what’s at stake is everything: the client experience the schedule the design intent the craftsmanship the trust and the builder’s reputation At Steg Custom Homes, we don’t build “houses.” We build legacy-level homes in one of the most unique markets in the country— Sedona . That means every trade partner on our projects has to operate at a higher standard. Luxury Clients Don’t Buy Cheap. They Buy Confidence. Our clientele has a budget. But here’s what most people misunderstand: Their budget is flexible when the value is real. If you do what you say you’ll do… If you communicate clearly… If you show up on time… If you deliver quality… If you stand behind your work… Then you become invaluable. And when you become invaluable, price becomes less important than performance. But if you’re cheap and inconsistent? You’re expensive in the long run. Because cheap work costs twice. The Iron Triangle of Construction (And Why It Still Wins Every Time) I tell people this all the time: In construction, you’re always working inside the Iron Triangle : Quality. Speed. Cost. You can typically prioritize two . Not all three. High Quality + Speed = High Cost High Quality + Low Cost = Slow Speed Fast + Cheap = Quality suffers That’s not opinion. That’s reality. I’ve been in this industry for 30 years , and traditional project management has always held true: These three constraints ALWAYS force a compromise. So when someone says, “We’re the best quality, fastest, and cheapest…” I already know they’re not shooting straight. And in this business, shooting straight is everything. My Advice To Homeowners and Builders Don’t get caught in the trap thinking cheap is good. Cheap is cheap. Cheap comes with: shortcuts delays excuses change orders finger-pointing weak warranties weak communication and weak accountability There is no way around it. If you’re building in Sedona, especially at the luxury level, your home deserves better than “good enough.” And you deserve trade partners who understand that. The Standard at Steg Custom Homes At Steg Custom Homes , we are deliberate. We are direct. We are quality-focused. And we are committed to aligning with vendors and subcontractors who operate the same way. Because at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is this: Did we deliver what we promised? To the client. To the architect. To the design. To the vision. That’s what separates a builder from a true craftsman. And that’s what we’re building at Steg Custom Homes—every single day. One Final Thought If you’re a supplier or subcontractor trying to earn our business, here’s the best advice I can give you: Come prepared. Come with facts. Come with systems. Come with accountability. And be ready to answer this question: What will you do differently? Because we’re not looking for the cheapest. We’re looking for the best. And in luxury custom home building, the best always stands out. And remember......... In the construction Industry if you want to be the best.............. "Suffisant" ne l' est pas (Good enough isnt) "Presque ne compte pas" (Almost doesnt count) Jim Steg- Founder

You'll NEVER go WRONG, Doing the RIGHT THING!

The 4 Rules to the Game By Jim Steg | Steg Custom Homes

The Brand is NOT the Logo..... Its the STANDARD.

The Difference between Interested and COMMITTED!

Happy New Year from Steg Custom Homes!

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Yours As we pause during this Christmas season, it feels only right to step away—if only briefly—from the constant rhythm of business, marketing, and luxury custom homebuilding to focus on what matters most in life: PEOPLE . Christmas is a time for reflection. A time for gratitude, honor, love, and connection. Over the years at Steg Custom Homes, we have remained grounded in one simple truth: SUCCESS IS NEVER BUILT ALONE. It is built by people, for people. Today, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the many individuals who have played an integral role in caring for our clients and bringing each home to life. From our electricians, roofers, tile setters, plumbers, framers, concrete and masonry teams, low-voltage specialists, excavators, landscapers, material suppliers, HVAC professionals, window and door partners, garage door installers, interior door and trim carpenters, cabinet makers, and interior designers—each of you has given your all in the name of quality, craftsmanship, and care. Your dedication, professionalism, and pride in your work are the foundation of the homes we deliver. The level of excellence our clients experience is a direct result of your commitment. For that, we extend our DEEPEST GRATITUDE. To our clients—thank you for trusting us. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to show that it’s not just about what we say, but what we do. Over time, people may forget the words spoken, but they will always remember how they were made to feel. Your belief in Steg Custom Homes is the reason we are where we are today. Our success is a direct reflection of you, and we are truly honored to have served you. Most importantly, we want to recognize our Steg Custom Homes family. Our spouses, children, and loved ones, who accept the long hours, the dedication, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Thank you for believing in the value we bring to our clients, for standing by our sides through every challenge, and for knowing that what we are building is something meaningful—not just homes, but relationships and legacies for people. We will leave you with this reminder: We are all in the people business. Without people, we have no business. In our families and in our work—when we take care of people, success will always follow. Remember to LOVE the ones that mean the MOST.... Even our pets that stand behind us no matter what the circumstances are without judgement! From our family to yours, Merry Christmas. — Jim Steg & the Steg Custom Homes Team 🎄

Honesty, Transparency, Loyalty & Integrity: The True Foundation of a Luxury Home...... by Jim Steg  In the construction industry today, the words honesty, transparency, loyalty, and integrity are thrown around a lot. Builders claim them, brochures print them, but very few companies actually operate by them every single day. At Steg Custom Homes, these values are not slogans. They are our operating system. They guide every conversation, every estimate, every design meeting, and every decision we make while building a luxury custom home in Sedona. And recently, I met a prospective client whose experience perfectly illustrated why these values matter now more than ever. A Common Story in the Construction World — And a Costly One About a month and a half ago, I received a call from a couple who had just gone through what far too many people experience when they follow the old, broken path of homebuilding. Their story is the construction industry’s reality today: 1. They purchased a piece of land. 2. They went straight to an architect. 3. They told the architect they had a $3.5M budget. 4. The architect said, “Absolutely, we’ll design within that.” 5. They spent eight months drawing plans. 6. The architect sent those plans to five or six builders. 7. Every single builder came back $1.2M to $2.4M over their budget. And now? They’re forced to start over. More time. More money. More stress. This is not an isolated situation. This is the industry norm. Why This Happens Because the traditional approach—land → architect → builder—is fundamentally flawed. Clients go to the architect first thinking, “Why would I need a builder before I’m ready to build?” It’s understandable. But it’s also wrong. When you design first and price later, you fail every time. In Sedona especially, where site prep means rock, more rock, and then a little more rock, the cost of excavation alone can change everything. Without a builder’s real-world pricing knowledge up front, plans become wish lists instead of realistic roadmaps. Coffee in Sedona: The Turning Point We met for coffee in Sedona and they asked: “Jim, tell us about your Legacy Pre-Construction Concierge Program.” So I did. I explained that at Steg Custom Homes, we’ve thrown out the archaic system. It doesn’t work. It sets people up to fail emotionally, financially, and logistically. Here’s how it should work: The Right Way: Our Legacy Pre-Construction Concierge Program 1. Discovery Call We get on a call. We learn your wants, needs, lifestyle, and—most importantly—your true, comfortable budget. 2. Schedule of Values (A to Z) We create a detailed breakdown of every cost: · Cabinets · Countertops · Flooring · Vertical Tile · Finishes · Structural components · Engineering · Excavation · Management, overhead & profit We show you exactly what your budget can afford before a single line is drawn. 3. Architect Matchmaking We select from 25 trusted architects, choosing the one whose style, personality, and fee structure align with your goals. 4. A 15-Step Guided Process (5–8 months) We become your advocates—your liaisons. We attend every meeting. We help keep the architect inside the financial guardrails. We provide the architect and designer a roadmap—the Schedule of Values—to follow. We don’t control how the architect designs. We simply provide the truth: What things cost, what things mean, and what things require so the entire team stays aligned. This process removes: ✔ Rework ✔ Budget blowouts ✔ Emotional overwhelm ✔ Miscommunication ✔ Hidden surprises And it ensures one thing: You stay in control. Their Response: “Jim… You Just Described Our Last 12 Months” Halfway through my explanation, they stopped me. They looked at each other, looked back at me, and said: “Jim, you just defined our entire last year. We’ve spent $150,000 on plans we can’t even use.” And unfortunately, that is absolutely common. People enter the homebuilding journey blind, without a professional guiding them, protecting them, and explaining what lies ahead. This leads to the highest emotional volatility people face outside of medical emergencies or major life events. Our job is to steady that. More Than Construction: We Protect the Client’s Emotions Luxury homes aren’t just wood, steel, and stone. They’re emotional investments. Clients need: · Guidance · Reassurance · Honest answers · Realistic boundaries · Advocacy · A builder who genuinely cares At Steg Custom Homes, our core purpose is to protect the client—financially, emotionally, and logistically. We go beyond building homes. We build trust, clarity, and confidence. Results That Speak for Themselves We recently finished a $3.5 million home in West Sedona: · On time · On budget · Six months ahead of schedule · Four months ahead of the clients’ own challenging schedule In today’s industry, that is almost unheard of. But it happens when a builder operates from honesty, transparency, loyalty, and integrity—and when the process starts correctly from day one. The Real Foundation of a Luxury Custom Home At Steg Custom Homes, we believe: · Honesty builds trust. · Transparency builds confidence. · Loyalty builds lasting relationships. · Integrity builds legacies. The Legacy Pre-Construction Concierge Program is not a service—it’s protection. It’s your roadmap. It’s your advocate. It’s your emotional anchor through the biggest investment of your life. And it works. Every. Single. Time. In these pictures is a wonderful young lady who put her trust in Steg Custom Homes with our Legacy Pre Construction Concierge Program. We aligned with her budget, committed to 13 weeks of construction, conducted a full build out ........ IN 11 WEEKS. OVER PERFORMED and ON BUDGET!!!! IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!

The Pawprint She Left on Our Hearts In Loving Memory of Emma Lou Steg 12/28/2013 – 12/1/2025 I don’t know how to even begin writing this, because my heart is completely broken. Yesterday, We lost our dog. But to call her a dog feels too small, too simple, too ordinary for who she truly was. Emma Lou Steg was my partner. My running companion. Our loyal shadow. Our best friend. She blessed our family, and she blessed this earth in ways only the purest souls can. Emma came into our lives on December 28th, 2013—this tiny white furball with big timid eyes that seemed to say, “I want my mommy.” From that moment, she became part of our family… and soon, the beating heart of it. She brought with her a level of unconditional love, affection, loyalty, and friendship that humans rarely offer each other. A Running Partner Like No Other Back in 2015, before Lenny ever joined us, Emma became my running partner. She knew the routine. The moment I started getting my gear ready, she’d be waiting by the door, barking like, “C’mon, Dad—let’s roll!” We put in hundreds and hundreds of miles together over the years. Trail after trail. Dawn after dawn. She stayed close, focused, gentle, never concerned with other dogs or distractions. It was just her and me—two souls moving together through the quiet beauty of the mountains. Those runs changed my life. They bonded us in a way I can’t put into words. She wasn’t just a dog running beside me… she was a companion who understood the rhythm of my soul. A Family Dog Through and Through From the moment she settled into our home with Theresa, Rylie, Kayla, and me, she loved being part of our family. She loved the bed—her bed, really—because that is where she felt safest, pressed against the people she loved most. Emma loved food, treats, swimming in every pool we ever had, and—maybe most of all—riding in the car with the sunroof open. She’d hop onto the console, lift her head to the sky, and let the wind hit her nose like it was the greatest gift the world had to offer. She was gentle, but protective. Sweet, but strong. A lover by nature, a guardian by instinct. And when life felt chaotic—when the world outside our walls was full of noise, division, and negativity—Emma was the one who brought us together. She was the calm in the storm. The love that required nothing in return. Her Bond With Lenny When Lenny came into our lives, Emma became the older sister he didn’t know he needed. Sure, she was calmer… more grounded… maybe even a little jealous at first. But soon, they became inseparable. Moving to Sedona in 2020, I took them both on long mountain runs. Watching Emma and Lenny together—two beautiful souls running through red rock trails—was nothing short of life-changing. They were peas and carrots, partners in pure joy. A Teacher in Fur Emma taught us everything we humans struggle to learn: What unconditional love truly looks like What loyalty feels like How to slow down How to appreciate moments instead of things How to show affection without expecting anything back How to forgive How to be present Dogs are only with us for a short time, but the lessons they leave behind outlive us all. Her Final Day In the last year, we saw her slowing down. Her body breaking down, her runs turning to walks. We knew time was catching her, but we never imagined it would happen so fast. On December 1st at 4:00 AM, I saw her lying there—alert but distant, staring into space. She never liked her paws or face touched, but that morning… she let me gently lift her chin as I told her I loved her. She looked at me like she was looking straight through me, and in that moment, I knew. I knew she was saying goodbye. While I was in Sedona, Theresa rushed her to the emergency hospital. Internal bleeding. Critical condition. I asked if they could keep her awake until I arrived, but she was in too much pain. Surgery and chemo might have given her three more months—but three months of suffering is not love. I got to FaceTime her. I raced from Sedona to Phoenix to say goodbye in person. When I walked into that room and saw her… it crushed me. My running partner… my loyal companion… the most loving soul I’ve ever known… was slipping away. It brought me to my knees. I couldn’t hold myself together. Losing Emma Lou hit me harder than anything I have ever experienced. A Soul Too Pure for This World If you’ve never experienced the bond between a dog and a human, I implore you to open your heart to it. There is nothing like it. Their love is honest. Their loyalty is unwavering. Their affection asks for nothing in return. Their devotion is unmatched. Emma Lou left a pawprint on my heart—and on my soul—that will never fade. She made me a better man, a better father, a better human. She taught me love in its purest form. Our home will never feel the same. The trails will never feel the same. My life will never feel the same. But I am grateful—so grateful—that God blessed us with her for nearly 12 years. Goodbye, Sweet Girl Emma Lou, you blessed our home, our hearts, and this earth. You changed us. You loved us without hesitation. You protected us, comforted us, and taught us what love really means. We will miss your gentle soul. We will miss your eyes. We will miss your excitement when we walked through the door. We will miss every single part of you. We love you, Emma Lou. Always. Forever. Thank you for the pawprint you left on our hearts. Rest easy, sweet girl. Run those mountains again. Emma Lou Steg 12/28/2013 – 12/1/2025 You will be missed dearly.