Beyond The Build w/ Rocky Mountain Outdoor Living

Part 7 in our series walking you through the entire journey. Darby and RMOL founder Nick Liput walk you through the hardest part of the process: actually choosing your contractor. Once the bids are in and you’ve met with everyone, how do you decide who gets the job? They dig into trust, communication, timelines, company size, and what happens if something goes wrong mid-project. You’ll hear how to...

Part 6 in our series walking you through the entire journey. Darby and RMOL founder Nick Liput walk you through what to do after you receive your bids—and why those numbers are almost always wildly different. They break down how to read a proposal, what real clarity looks like, why materials and allowances matter, and how contractors price projects behind the scenes. If you’ve ever wondered why on...

Part 5 in our series walking you through the entire journey. Darby and RMOL founder Nick Liput break down what really happens after the contractors leave your house. This episode digs into the post-consultation phase—what communication should look like, the positive signals to look for, and the warning signs that someone may not be the right fit. They share how RMOL’s recap process works, why it m...

Part 4 in our series walking you through the entire journey. In this episode of Beyond the Build , Nick and Darby break down the design phase—why contractors push it, when you actually need it, and how it protects your budget and your experience. They cover red flags, green flags, real-world change-order horror stories, what good design firms deliver, and how to compare bids apples-to-apples. If y...

Part 3 in our series walking you through the entire journey. Darby and Nick walk through what to look for during an in-home consultation with a prospective contractor — the green flags, the red flags, and the signs you’ve found someone who can actually deliver on your project. Perfect for anyone preparing to meet with contractors and wanting to choose the right one with confidence. Find us at rmla...

Part 2 in our series walking you through the entire journey. In this episode, Darby and Nick break down how to prepare for a contractor consultation so you don’t waste time or money. They cover why being upfront about your budget, timeline, HOA rules, and how you want to use the space leads to better designs, better bids, and a smoother experience for both you and your contractor. Find us at rmlan...

The first part in our new multi part series, guiding you from choosing the right contractor to kicking off your outdoor living project. Nick Liput joins Darby to answer the question every homeowner faces first: “Where do I even find a contractor?” This episode breaks down where to look, what to avoid, and how to start your project with confidence. Find us at rmlandscape.net . We'd love to answer y...

In this first episode of Beyond The Build — your blueprint to outdoor living — we sit down with Nick Liput, founder of Rocky Mountain Outdoor Living. Nick shares how RMOL started, how it became a trusted leader in outdoor living, and why this podcast will give homeowners and contractors the reliable, experience-backed information they need before beginning any project. Find us at rmlandscape.net ....