How Customization Works When You Build With S&S Homes

One of the most common questions we hear at our model homes is: "How much can I actually change?" The honest answer is more than most buyers expect. Here's how the process works, step by step.

1. Choose your community and lot

We currently build in two Bakersfield communities. Vista Montaire is a gated hilltop community in northeast Bakersfield; Palmetto Estates is in northwest Bakersfield with no HOA. Lot size, orientation, and views vary, so this is a good first conversation with the sales team.

2. Pick a floor plan

We offer four single-story plans in both communities — the Shasta, Heirloom, Sonoma, and Tacoma — ranging from about 2,578 to 3,395 square feet. Every plan was designed in-house with short hallways, a generous kitchen, and a primary suite that feels like a retreat. You can compare them on our Communities page.

3. Choose an exterior elevation

Each plan comes in three exterior styles: Spanish (included in the base price), Farmhouse, and Contemporary. The elevation changes the roofline, materials, and trim — the same plan can look like a very different home from the street.

4. Make structural changes

This is where building with a custom-rooted builder really matters. Depending on the plan, structural options include things like:

• An expanded or "flex" suite
• A deluxe primary bath layout or a tiled shower in a secondary bath
• An ADU in place of part of the garage on select plans
• A fireplace, a waterfall kitchen island, or pocket patio doors

Each community's website lists the current options and pricing for every plan, and those prices are kept up to date as they change.

5. Select your finishes

Once the structure is set, you'll work through selections — flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, and colors. Our goal is simple: when you walk through the finished home, it should feel like yours, not like a model you bought.

Timing matters

The earlier in construction you start, the more you can customize. Homes that are already under construction or move-in ready have many decisions made — which can be a great fit if timing is the priority. You can see every home currently for sale, with pricing, on our Available Homes page.

Have a question about a specific change? Reach out to the sales office at either community — we'd be glad to talk it through.