Understanding the Playbook

What the Playbook is, how phases work, and how to follow the build sequence.

Revision staged for the published article at `/help/getting-started/understanding-playbook`
(category, slug `understanding-playbook`, title and URL all unchanged).
Reason: the live body lists seven construction phases (Pre-Construction, Foundation, Framing, MEP
Rough-In, Insulation & Drywall, Finishes, Final). The **Build Playbook** page actually holds eight
phases with different names, and it does not tell you when to do anything — it holds no dates. The
live body also does not mention that progress is stored per account rather than per project, and it
does not distinguish the **Build Playbook** page from the separate **Playbook** (SOP) page.
Apply at release; do not change the slug, title or URL.

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Two pages, two jobs

| Page | What it is |
|---|---|
| **Build Playbook** | A fixed list of eight phases and 60 steps for an owner-built home, with your progress ticked off |
| **Playbook** | Your own private library of written procedures (SOPs) that you type in yourself |

This article is about **Build Playbook**.

The eight phases

1. **Land Acquisition**
2. **Feasibility & Planning**
3. **Plans & Design**
4. **Budget & Estimating**
5. **Loan & Financing**
6. **Pre-Construction**
7. **Construction**
8. **Closeout**

The list is the same for every OwnerDraw customer. It does not change with your build type, your
foundation type or your funding type, and you cannot add, rename or delete steps.

How to use it

  • **Your Build Journey** at the top shows **Phase _n_ of 8** and, under each phase, how many steps
  • you have ticked out of that phase's steps.
  • The **Your Next Step** banner always shows the first step you have not ticked.
  • Select a step's name to open its panel. Depending on the step you may see **About This Step**,
  • **Builder Guidance**, a **Building Code Reference** and **Related Articles**. Steps without that
  • material say so rather than inventing advice.
  • Tick the circle beside a step to move it through **Not Started → In Progress → Completed**, or use
  • **Start This Step** and **Mark Complete** in the panel.

Two things to know before you rely on it

**Progress is stored against your account, not the project.** Tick a step while one project is
selected and it stays ticked when you switch projects. If you are building two houses, use
**Schedule** and **To-Dos** for anything that must be tracked per house.

**Nothing syncs.** Completing a step does not create or complete a **Schedule** task, a **To-Do** or
a **QC Checklist** item, does not change your Project Health or Loan Readiness score, and does not
release any payment. The Playbook is the map; Schedule is the calendar.

Related

  • Your Build Playbook (and your own SOP Playbook) — `/help/the-playbook/playbook-page-guide`
  • Building Your Schedule — `/help/schedule/building-your-schedule`
  • Permits and inspections: what OwnerDraw actually tracks — `/help/permits/permits-inspections-guide`