CUSTOM HOME PROPOSAL
JOHNSON RESIDENCE
Prepared For:
Andrew and Brittany Johnson
Prepared By:
Deschutes Custom Homes
John Knauss, Ken Sunzeri & Grant Hamlin
Architect: Homeland Design, LLC
Project Address: 65615 Pronghorn Estates Drive, Bend, Oregon 97703 (Pronghorn, Lot 3)
Proposal Date: 8/28/2026
WELCOME TO
DESCHUTES CUSTOM HOMES
At Deschutes Custom Homes, we specialize exclusively in luxury residential construction and take on a select number of highly customized projects each year.
Our work ranges from design-forward urban infill homes to large acreage estates, and we thrive in the details that make a home truly one-of-one. With deep construction experience and a hands-on team of project managers, we bring a focused, organized approach that keeps complex builds moving efficiently, creatively, and with intention.
We partner with a proven group of long-term, Central Oregon craftsmen and subcontractors who understand the demands of our climate, our standards, and our process, which allows us to consistently deliver high-end homes on schedule and on budget. Every project is a collaborative effort from day one, and we take pride in building homes that are not only beautifully executed, but a true reflection of the people who live in them.
MEET YOUR TEAM
KEN SUNZERI
Owner
Deschutes Custom Homes is led by Ken Sunzeri, our Co-owner and Team Leader, who brings decades of high-level building experience and a deep commitment to execution.
Ken developed his construction foundation building in the San Francisco Bay Area, where quality, complexity, and precision are the standard, and he now applies that same level of leadership and attention to detail to every home we build in Central Oregon.
He works closely with each of our project managers to keep projects moving forward, solve problems quickly, and support the team in the field. Most importantly, Ken is onsite daily and stays directly engaged throughout the build, acting as a hands-on resource and helping hand rather than a contractor who manages from behind a desk.
His presence ensures our clients receive consistent leadership, proactive communication, and a team that stays aligned from groundbreaking through move-in.
JOHN KNAUSS
Owner
John Knauss was born and raised in Edmonds, Washington, where his love for building began while working construction jobs to support his college education. What started as a way to pay tuition quickly became a lifelong passion for hands-on craftsmanship and design.
After founding his first remodeling company in the Seattle area, John spent nearly a decade earning a reputation for quality work and attention to detail. In 2011, he and his wife, Kristi, moved their growing family to Bend, Oregon, where they embraced the outdoors and a slower pace of life.
Following over a decade with local design/build firms, John teamed up with Ken Sunzeri in 2022 to launch Deschutes Custom Homes. Grounded, hardworking, and family-centered, John brings passion, craftsmanship, and care to every home he helps create.
MICHELLE CONKLIN
Michelle Conklin is the administrative backbone of Deschutes Custom Homes and the steady force that keeps every project running smoothly behind the scenes.
With a unique construction background and an exceptional attention to detail, she operates like the conductor of an orchestra, quietly coordinating the moving parts so the team can stay focused on execution in the field. Michelle works tirelessly to ensure subcontractors are paid promptly, client invoicing is issued consistently each month, and budgets stay organized and accurate through our Buildertrend financial tracking.
She partners closely with our project managers to review monthly financials, supports our staff and clients far beyond what’s expected, and is always there when you need her, and somehow still there when you don’t. In addition to managing day-to-day operations, she helps guide permitting processes with local jurisdictions, supports team dynamics, and even leads a company book club centered on leadership, motivation, and life lessons. Her kindness and calm presence bring a sense of comfort to every project, and her dedication is a major reason our clients feel taken care of from start to finish.
THE BUILD PROCESS
BUILDERTREND
At Deschutes Custom Homes, we use Buildertrend because we believe it’s the best platform for high-end residential construction, offering a more personal, client-friendly approach than many of the larger commercial-style tools. Buildertrend streamlines scheduling, communication, documentation, and financial tracking in a way that keeps our process organized and transparent, while allowing our team to stay focused where it matters most: on the build itself, not excessive office work.
Each client receives access to a dedicated client portal (also available to the architect and design team) where project information, selections, approvals, updates, and documentation can be easily reviewed at any time. Our project managers post consistent daily logs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which serve as a valuable record of progress, notes, photos, and videos, and give homeowners a meaningful way to stay engaged without disrupting the workflow on site. At the end of each week, our PMs provide a detailed weekly client update that summarizes what was completed, what’s coming next, and any open questions that need resolution to keep momentum moving forward. We also use Buildertrend to manage scheduling, including a high-level Gantt chart that tracks the project timeline from groundbreaking through completion, keeping everyone aligned on the sequence, expectations, and milestones throughout the build.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Based on historical data and our most recent projects, Deschutes Custom Homes typically delivers custom homes in the 3,000–4,000 square foot range in approximately 12–14 months from groundbreaking to completion. We run an efficient schedule with minimal delays, driven by a focused team structure and a long-standing network of loyal, high-performing subcontractors who prioritize our projects. This consistency allows us to build with exceptional speed and coordination while still maintaining the highest level of craftsmanship, detail, and overall quality throughout the home.
OUR AVAILABILITY
Our project schedule is intentionally structured so that every custom home receives the leadership, attention to detail, and hands-on involvement it deserves. This winter, we will be completing two custom homes while continuing construction on two residences currently underway in Central Oregon, including an 11-acre estate in Tumalo and a Westgate custom home planned for the 2027 Tour of Homes. We are also currently in pre-construction on two additional custom homes scheduled to break ground in Spring 2027. With those projects accounted for, we have one remaining opening in our 2027–2028 construction schedule, and we believe this Pronghorn home would be an exceptional fit for our team. Once that opening is committed, our schedule will be fully allocated. We are intentional about maintaining a select project load rather than stretching our resources across too many homes at once. This allows our team to stay closely involved from pre-construction through completion, communicate consistently, anticipate challenges before they become problems, and maintain the level of craftsmanship and execution we expect from every DCH project. We see a strong alignment between this home, its setting, and the way we build. We would be excited to partner with you to bring the vision to life and create a home at Pronghorn that feels considered in every detail.
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