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Save time, win more jobs, increase profit, and get paid faster with Bolster.
Get startedJason Ratzlaf knows this better than most. He’s a third-generation builder at the helm of Mesa Custom Homes, where craftsmanship runs in the family—and every project is personal.
But while his homes were beautifully detailed, his estimates… weren’t.
“We used to build budgets in Excel,” Jason explains. “It worked, but it wasn’t clear for the client. They’d ask, ‘Why does plumbing cost that much?’ And honestly, I’d get it. There just wasn’t enough context.”
That’s when Jason made the switch to Bolster.
Jason’s homes are high-end, custom, and built with care. He wanted a budgeting process to match—something as polished and detailed as the homes themselves.
With Bolster, he’s been able to:
“It’s like online shopping,” Jason says. “They see the item, they see the price, and they can choose. It’s way more collaborative than before.”
Jason doesn’t just send a quote and hope for the best. He sits down with his clients for deep-dive budget meetings—sometimes over three hours long.
“We go line by line. We ask, ‘Does this match what you’re envisioning? Is this the finish you want?’ If it’s too much or too little, we adjust it right then and there. It gives people peace of mind.”
That clarity helps avoid budget blowouts down the road. And it builds trust from the very first meeting.
Before Bolster, building an estimate took Jason nearly a week. Now?
“For a standard home, I can do it in 1–2 days,” he says. “And I’m confident in the numbers.”
In one case, he priced a $200,000 cabinet package himself—and was only $500 off from the subcontractor’s quote.
“That was a big moment. It showed me this system works.”
Mesa Custom Homes builds around 5 to 7 custom homes per year. For Jason, even one extra project makes a big difference and Bolster helped him land one of the biggest projects his company has ever taken on.
“The client said the way we handled the budget told them everything they needed to know,” Jason shares. “That we’d care about their home like we care about the numbers.”
That professionalism, paired with transparency, is helping Jason attract the right kind of clients, ones who value the same things he does.
Jason also uses Bolster to create early-stage “preliminary budgets” before clients finalize their plans. That helps keep designs grounded in real budgets—and avoids heartbreak when plans come in over what clients can afford.
“Instead of designing a $2M home when you’ve got a $1.5M budget, we start with the budget and build from there.”
Now that estimates are dialed in, Jason’s turning his attention to Bolster’s project management tools—like scheduling and task tracking.
“It was a lot to get the budget to where it is. But now we’re ready for the next step.”
“Just dive in. It’s a learning curve—but if you’re willing to put in the time, it’ll pay off.”
Jason worked closely with Alex from Bolster, and even built most of the system himself.
“Alex is 11/10. Super helpful. He explains things clearly and never makes you feel dumb for asking. Total team effort.”
Bolster has saved Jason time, helped him win bigger jobs, and most importantly—made the budgeting process less stressful for both him and his clients.
“Budgets aren’t just numbers anymore. They’re conversations. They’re visual. They’re interactive. And they’re honest.”
For Jason, that’s what makes the difference.
“If you're serious about growing your business and delivering a better client experience—this is how you do it.”
Hear from other contractors who have experienced success using Bolster.
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"If you're willing to invest in your business and work with Bolster, you're going to exceed your expectations of what you can achieve. If you put in the work, you'll see a return on investment quickly."
