The Before You Build Podcast

Building a custom home with your spouse doesn't have to be stressful or dramatic. It can actually bring you closer together ... and I'm sharing exactly how to make that happen. Learn the simple strategy that helped me get along great with my husband throughout our build and has helped hundreds of my clients build their dream homes without the drama. Spoiler alert ... you don't need...

Planning your custom home? Before you dive into Pinterest boards and floor plans, there's one crucial question that will determine whether you truly love your home for decades to come. In this episode, I'm sharing the most important consideration when planning your custom home ... and it's probably not what you think! I'll explain why location matters more than design decisions...

Okay, real talk. Those generic "must-have" lists all over Pinterest and home-building blogs set you up to build a house that might have some cool features, but most likely won't even work for YOUR family's lifestyle. In this episode, I'm spilling the truth about why there are NO universal must-haves when building a custom home, and I'm sharing the four questions that&...

Building your first custom home should be exciting, but there's one massive mistake I see first-time builders make over and over again ... and it's costing them thousands of dollars and major regrets on move-in day. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what this critical mistake is and how you can completely avoid it with the right planning process. You'll learn: The bigg...

Feeling confused about construction loans? You're definitely not alone... and you're not the only one who finds this part of home building overwhelming. In this episode, I'm breaking down how construction loans actually work so you can approach this part of your build with confidence instead of confusion. Understanding construction loans is crucial to avoiding costly surprises and t...

Not sure whether to hire an architect or a draftsperson for your custom home build? You’re not alone ... and you’re definitely not the only one confused by this decision. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real differences between an architect and a draftsperson so you can make the smartest choice for your project, your budget, and your design needs. Whether you’re looking to save money or you...

Thinking about finishing your basement? Whether you're building a custom home or planning a future reno, this episode shares 3 simple custom basement details that are totally worth it—and easy to overlook. From a clever built-in cooler to the one upgrade I’d do in every home from now on, I’m walking you through the little things we added that make our basement more functional, fun, and guest-...

You might think building a confident home starts with picking finishes or trusting your builder to guide you. But here’s the truth most people don’t hear (until it’s too late): the real secret is planning— real, intentional planning—long before construction begins. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it actually means to “plan ahead”. We’ll talk through the kind of behind-the-sce...

Possibly you haven’t started building yet—but here’s a heads-up: at some point during your build, your builder’s going to say, “We can’t do that.” Sometimes that “no” is legit. But other times? It’s just not standard . In this episode, I’m walking you through a real story of a homeowner who dropped something she really wanted (and still regrets it 😳)—and how YOU can avoid the same fate. You’ll le...

Feeling excited (yet OVERWHELMED!) about building your dream home? You’re not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong. In this episode, I’m walking you through 3 simple mindset shifts that will help you approach your home build with more clarity and confidence.  Before you dive into layouts and finishes, the real foundation for your entire home build experience starts with your mindset. We’ll cover:  ...

Building your dream home? You’ve probably spent hours planning the big things—your floor plan, kitchen design, and must-have features. But what about the small details that can make or break your home’s functionality? In this episode, I’m sharing 15 commonly overlooked details that people building for the first time regret not doing—and how you can avoid them. From outlet placement mistakes to tra...

(Updated this episode 4/15/26 ... now episode 109) Going over budget is one of the biggest fears I hear from people building a custom home. But here's what I want you to know …  It is possible to build within, or very close to, your budget. It all comes down to knowing where YOU should splurge and where YOU should save when building. In this episode, I break down my simple two-rule framework...

This episode is for anyone out there who is building a lake house and, more specifically, looking for trending exterior paint colors for lake houses in 2025. I decided to record this episode because, ironically, a significant number of my clients inside BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ are planning to build a lake house.  For some, it’s a secondary home, but for others, it will be their primary residence. Either...

Sticking to budget when building all starts with avoiding three common mistakes that I see people make ALL. THE. TIME.  These mistakes can lead to significant budget overages (especially mistake #3!) . BUT … I’m not gonna let them happen to you! These are all 100% avoidable ... and I'm so glad you’re listening to this episode so that you'll know exactly what to avoid. --- EPISODE SHOW NO...

If you plan on building your dream home in 2025 (or 2026 or even 2027) , you're in the right place! I'm here to help YOU bring your dream home to life … within budget and without regrets. 😘 This podcast is a great place to start ... The short, binge-able episodes are full of actionable home-build tips and advice to help you feel more confident as you prepare for, and build, your dream h...

One of the most important keys to staying on budget while building is getting accurate home construction quotes BEFORE you hire your builder. However, it can be a little tricky to get quotes when you most likely don’t even have a floor plan when you’re interviewing builders.  So, how do you get (accurate) quotes from builders without a floor plan?  It all starts with a crystal clear vision of your...

Building a custom home is a HUGE investment in both time and money. Obviously, you want to get it RIGHT! I want this for you, too, so I’m giving you a huge tip in this episode … stay tuned because this is a custom home build MUST DO! EPISODE SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/custom-home-build-must-do Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ →...

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about your upcoming home build and you don’t know how you can possibly feel confident designing an entire house, this episode is for you. All it takes to feel confident is to have CLARITY before building your house. There’s a reason that ‘Clarifying Your Vision’ is the very first step in my BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ Blueprint that I teach my clients. A clear vision is an esse...

This episode is a little different than my typical episode … it’s more of a personal explanation of my top floor plan regret that I have for my own custom home.  Although this is a personal story about my own home build experience, I know it will help anyone out there who is toying with the idea of doing what I did (and now regret) . I'm also sharing a BONUS at the end of the episode ... my s...

I recently decided I was going to try to create a floor plan design with ChatGPT.  I was looking online at different floor plans, and I found things I liked about each one, and then I thought, "Well, why don't I just create my own, and I'll have ChatGPT do it?"  I thought I could plug everything that I wanted in, and a beautiful floor plan would spit out, and voila, I would hav...

My business coach recently asked me, 'What movement would you love to create for the people you serve?' In other words, how do I want to help YOU and others who are building their dream homes? I had SO many thoughts automatically run through my brain. I knew these things deep down, but I haven't done a great job of explaining exactly how I want to help YOU. Tune into this episode be...

In this episode, we’re talking about the MANY MANY MANY benefits of planning before building your house.  I see these benefits first-hand with my home build experience, as well as with my clients as they go through and complete the home build process. I’ve started a movement to get people to PLAN before they build because I know there are SO. MANY. BENEFITS. to doing this. It’s IMPERATIVE to PLAN...

Are you starting to work on your custom floor plan and want to make sure you do it right? (i.e. , you want to avoid making costly floor plan mistakes that you’ll later regret.) If so, tune in! In this episode, we’ll cover common mistakes people make when creating a custom floor plan (or tweaking a stock plan) . Unfortunately, I even see some builders (and the occasional architect) make these floor...

If you’re worried about building and designing your dream home because you aren’t a designer (and you don’t want to hire one) , I’ve got good news for you. You don’t need a designer … you just need a crystal clear vision BEFORE building your dream home. Tune in to learn WHY a crystal clear vision of your future house is so CRUCIAL. EPISODE: carolineondesign.com/before-building-your-dream-home Get...

I’m sharing 3 BIG (actually, huge) mistakes that most people make when building a house. These three mistakes lead directly to going over budget on your home build.  For many people, this can be significant budget overages. But don’t worry, half the battle of staying on budget is knowing what mistakes to AVOID. You’ll be armed with this knowledge and you’ll know exactly what to avoid. EPISODE: car...