Selections, allowances and draws, signed on schedule for the whole build
A custom home is a year of decisions made by two busy clients, priced against allowances, paid for in draws, and built by a dozen subs who each owe you a lien waiver every month. The build slips when a selection sits unsigned. SignMaster sends each decision to the right people with a sign-by date tied to your schedule, chases them for you, and keeps every signature on the job in one place.
Updated November 9, 2026 · 3 min read
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A custom build's paper trail
| Phase | Documents | Signers |
|---|---|---|
| Preconstruction | Design or preconstruction agreement, the construction contract (fixed price or cost-plus), the allowance schedule and specifications | Both clients, then you |
| Selections | Selection sheets for cabinets, tile, plumbing fixtures, lighting and finishes, each with a deadline | Both clients |
| Changes | Change orders and allowance overages, with the cost and days added | Clients, then you |
| Draws | Draw requests against your schedule of values, and conditional then unconditional lien waivers from subs | You, clients, lender's inspector; each sub |
| Closeout | Pre-drywall and final walk-throughs, the punch list, warranty and manual acknowledgment | Clients and you |
Selections that don't hold up the schedule
Build each selection sheet as a template. Radio groups hold the options your supplier quoted, a number field holds the allowance, and a calculated field shows the overage as the clients choose, so nobody is surprised by the next draw. Conditional fields reveal follow-up questions, like grout color, only when tile is picked.
Set the sign-by date to the day the order has to go in, and reminders do the chasing. Put both clients on the envelope; if either one can decide, a signer group lets whoever gets there first complete it. If they'd rather talk it over, they can decline with a reason, and you see it immediately instead of at the next site meeting.
Draw day
- 1
Collect conditional waivers
Bulk send your conditional waiver template to every sub on this draw from one CSV, with each amount printed in. Use your state's statutory form where one is required.
- 2
Send the draw request
You sign first, then the clients approve, and the lender's draw administrator is added as Receives a copy.
- 3
Swap in unconditional waivers
Once funds clear, send the unconditional form the same way. The lien waivers with every payment walk-through covers the details.
- 4
Keep the file
Every waiver's answers sit in the template's Responses table, ready to export when the title company or lender asks.
California rebuilds and spec homes
If you rebuild homes after a wildfire or another declared disaster in California, the Contractors State License Board says the law treats rebuilding as a home improvement project, not new construction. That means a fixed-price contract, since time-and-materials and cost-plus aren't allowed for disaster-related home improvement work, and a down payment of no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less. See the California home improvement contract requirements.
If you also sell homes you build on spec, the FTC's R-value Rule says a new home seller must put the type, thickness and R-value of the insulation in each part of the house in every sales contract.
One workspace for the office and the field
Project managers, superintendents, the selections coordinator and the office can all send from the same templates, and roles decide who can edit them. Crew is $49 a month for 5 people and Company $99 a month for 15; extra seats are $8 a month. Both include webhooks and the API, so signed change orders can reach your project management software. New workspaces get 14 days of Crew free. Compare plans.
What SignMaster doesn't do
- It isn't scheduling, estimating or construction accounting software. It's the signing step next to them.
- It doesn't fund draws, pay subs or track retainage.
- It doesn't notarize. If a lender wants notarized documents, use a notary.
- It emails signing links; copy a link to text a client.
Questions? Answers.
Can both clients sign selections from their own phones?
Yes. Each gets their own link and signs without an account. Put them in signing order, or in a signer group if either one can decide.
How do I show an allowance overage before the client commits?
Add the allowance as a number field and a calculated field that subtracts it from the price of their choice. They see the overage before they sign.
Can the lender get a copy of each signed draw?
Yes. Add the lender's contact as Receives a copy. They get the sealed PDF and its certificate when everyone has signed.
Can I collect lien waivers from every sub at once?
Yes, with bulk send on a paid plan. Each sub gets their own waiver with their amount, and reminders follow up until they sign.