Southern Ontario

Experienced homebuilding.
Straightforward fees.

Work directly with Geoff Kennedy to plan and manage your new home, major renovation, or addition.

Pre-construction: from $10,000.
Construction management: from $10,000 a month.

I manage the construction process—from coordinating trades and overseeing workmanship to reviewing invoices and keeping your project on track. You pay trades directly, with clear visibility into your construction costs.

See how it works Compare management fees →

Build well. Keep it simple.

FEATURED CUSTOM HOME

Completed custom home photography to be supplied.

A clear planEvery invoice reviewedA well-run siteYou in the loop
How it works

A simple arrangement.
Clear from the start.

New builds, major renovations, and additions in Southern Ontario. We coordinate the work and keep you informed at each stage.

01 / PRE-CONSTRUCTION

We get it ready.

Before construction begins, we review the drawings, establish trade scopes, obtain and compare pricing, develop the construction schedule, and identify important decisions.

I organize trade quotations into a detailed construction budget, with clear categories, estimated costs, and allowances for items not yet finalized.

From $10,000 within an agreed scope.

The scope and deliverables are established before work begins. Additional services, if required, are agreed upon separately.

02 / CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

We run the build.

I coordinate trades, manage scheduling, monitor construction progress and workmanship, and address issues as they arise.

Regular site visits and weekly updates keep you informed throughout construction.

From $10,000 per month, based on finished square footage.

The monthly fee covers regular construction management and site oversight, not continuous on-site staffing. Physical labour and additional services are agreed upon separately.

03 / YOUR ROLE

You control the spending. I manage the construction.

You contract directly with trades and suppliers, approve invoices, and pay them directly.

I coordinate the work and review trade and supplier invoices before forwarding them for your approval.

You make the financial and selection decisions. I manage the day-to-day construction process.

Using the budget spreadsheet I prepare, you record actual expenses and payments and update your spending as work progresses. You stay informed without having to personally coordinate the trades.

The agreed construction management scope defines my role. Homeowners and individual contractors retain their respective contractual and legal responsibilities.

YOUR PROJECT BUDGET

Your budget.
Clearly organized.

We build the budget. You track the spending.

Before construction begins, I prepare a detailed project budget using trade quotations, estimated costs, and allowances.

You’ll receive an organized spreadsheet that makes it easy to record expenses and track spending as construction progresses.

I manage the construction and review trade invoices. You approve payments and maintain your own expense records.

I manage the build. You control the money.

simple BLDSILLUSTRATIVE PREVIEW
Construction budgetA clear starting point for your project.
CategoryBudgetActualRemaining
Site preparation$60,000$12,000$48,000
Foundations$95,000$38,000$57,000
Framing$180,000$0$180,000
Windows & doors$85,000$0$85,000
Finish allowances$75,000$0$75,000
TOTAL$495,000$50,000$445,000
Example categories and figures only—not a project estimate or a working spreadsheet.
MEET GEOFF

25 years building.
A simpler way forward.

I’m Geoff Kennedy, the homebuilder behind simple BLDS.

I’ve spent 25 years working in construction, from hands-on building to managing complex custom homes and major renovations. I previously co-owned Kennedy + Kenel, a boutique custom homebuilding company serving the Hamilton area.

Having worked as a traditional cost-plus builder, I understand both the demands of delivering exceptional homes and the costs associated with conventional construction management.

I created simple BLDS to offer homeowners a different approach: experienced construction management, transparent fees, and direct visibility into where their money goes.

When you hire simple BLDS, you work directly with me. I’m involved in planning, coordinating trades, overseeing workmanship, resolving construction challenges, and keeping your project moving forward.

My goal is simple: build well, communicate clearly, and make the construction process easier to navigate.

MEET GEOFF KENNEDY

Professional portrait or on-site photograph to be supplied.

The simple approach

Build well.
Keep it simple.

Great homes depend on careful planning, experienced coordination, and attention to detail.

Our approach focuses on getting the important things right at every stage.

BEFORE WORK

Plan carefully.

Clear scopes, competitive trade pricing, realistic schedules, and important decisions addressed before construction begins.
ON SITE

Manage professionally.

Experienced coordination, regular site oversight, workmanship reviews, and proactive problem-solving.
BEFORE PAYMENT

Keep costs transparent.

Trade and supplier invoices are reviewed before being presented to you for approval and direct payment.
SELECTED WORK

Experience you can see.

From custom homes to substantial renovations, my experience includes managing the details, trades, and decisions that bring complex residential projects together.

Explore selected projects and see the level of care and coordination behind the work.

PROJECT 1 · PRIMARY PHOTOGRAPH

Completed-project photograph to be supplied.

PROJECT 1

CUSTOM HOME

Project photographs and details to be supplied.

Project name / location
To be confirmed
Project type
To be confirmed
Brief description
To be supplied
Geoff’s role / company
To be confirmed
OPTIONAL SECONDARY PHOTOGRAPHProject detail or construction progress photograph to be supplied.
PROJECT 2 · PRIMARY PHOTOGRAPH

Completed-project photograph to be supplied.

PROJECT 2

CUSTOM HOME / MAJOR RENOVATION

Project photographs and details to be supplied.

Project name / location
To be confirmed
Project type
To be confirmed
Brief description
To be supplied
Geoff’s role / company
To be confirmed
OPTIONAL SECONDARY PHOTOGRAPHProject detail or construction progress photograph to be supplied.
PROJECT 3 · PRIMARY PHOTOGRAPH

Completed-project photograph to be supplied.

PROJECT 3

SELECTED RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

Project photographs and details to be supplied.

Project name / location
To be confirmed
Project type
To be confirmed
Brief description
To be supplied
Geoff’s role / company
To be confirmed
OPTIONAL SECONDARY PHOTOGRAPHProject detail or construction progress photograph to be supplied.

Project credits will identify Geoff’s role and the company involved, distinguishing work through previous companies from projects delivered under the simple BLDS model.

What it’s like to build together.

Client testimonial to be supplied and approved.

Your management fee

Clear fees.
Based on finished space.

Our management fees are based on the finished area of your project, not a percentage of your construction spending.

That means choosing more expensive finishes or materials doesn’t automatically increase our management rate.

Your total management cost depends on the duration of construction.

Know your rate before you build.

A one-time pre-construction fee is followed by an agreed monthly construction management rate.
Both are established before work begins.

Up to 3,000 finished sq. ft.Pre-construction: $10,000Construction management: $10,000/month
Over 3,000 to 5,000 finished sq. ft.Pre-construction: $12,000Construction management: $12,000/month
Over 5,000 finished sq. ft.Pre-construction and construction management individually quoted.

All amounts are in Canadian dollars before applicable taxes.

Estimate your simple BLDS fees

Include finished basements. For renovations and additions, count only the finished area being worked on.

Your monthly rate is established before construction begins. Longer construction schedules result in additional monthly management fees.

Your fee estimate

per month
Estimated management total
Pre-constructionOne-time fee, within an agreed scope
Total estimated simple BLDS fees

Canadian dollars, before applicable taxes.

See how the fees compare.

Traditional cost-plus builders commonly charge a percentage of construction costs.

simple BLDS uses an agreed monthly management fee based on project size.

Adjust the numbers below to see how the two approaches compare.

$200,000$5,000,000

Trade work and materials only, before builder fees and tax. Enter a budget or use the slider. The percentage is an adjustable example, not a verified industry-average rate.

Builder fee comparison

Conventional cost-plus builder fee
Total simple BLDS fees
simple BLDS management
simple BLDS pre-construction
Conventional cost-plus builder fee
Total simple BLDS fees

Our fee is based on the time we manage your project, not how much you spend building it.

Illustrative comparison based on your inputs. Actual builder fees, included services, and project durations vary. Figures are before tax. Compare equivalent services and scopes.

What’s included in the calculation?

Finished space means finished interior area within the work scope. Garages, unfinished areas, decks, and porches are excluded from the square-footage count. Extensive work outside the finished space or unusual complexity is reviewed before agreeing the scope and fee.

Total estimated fees = monthly management rate × months, plus the one-time pre-construction fee. Both fees are individually quoted above 5,000 sq. ft. Land, trade work, materials, tax, and additional services are excluded. Invoice review does not include bookkeeping or payment administration.

START WITH A CONVERSATION

Tell me about your build.

Planning a new home, major renovation, or addition?

Tell me a little about your project, and I’ll be in touch to discuss how simple BLDS might help.

Complete the form below. A brief spam check may be required before your enquiry is submitted.

Enquiries are processed by FormSubmit and forwarded to Geoff’s business email. Please don’t include sensitive personal information.