The Before You Build Podcast

This episode is a little different than usual, but I think it’s going to be super helpful to a lot of people. Soooo … I got some GREAT questions from a woman who attended my free masterclass. I answered her questions in a voice memo and I’m sharing that exact voice memo (unedited and all) in this episode. I’m doing this because there are some golden nuggets that I think anyone building a house can...

PSA for anyone who is looking for a builder right now or will be in the future. The lowest home build bid does NOT mean the lowest price. Let me repeat that … the lowest home build bid does NOT mean the lowest price. In this short and sweet episode, we’ll talk about why it’s VERY important to consider more than just the bids (or price quotes) when selecting a builder. - EPISODE: carolineondesign.c...

Avoiding home build budget overages is one of the TOP home build concerns that I hear over and over from clients inside my private BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ program . This is a VERY common fear among people getting ready to build their dream home.  Sooo ... if you’re feeling nervous or confused about the budget piece of home building, you are definitely NOT alone. But believe me ... the more information y...

Whether you plan to hire an architect or not, the key to designing the perfect floor plan for YOUR family (that is functional, can grow with you, and you absolutely LOVE) all lies in the very first step.  And in today’s episode, I’m going to tell you what that very first step is so that you can move forward and start creating the perfect floor plan that will work for your family now (and into the...

Before creating YOUR Home Build Success Plan, you need to really think about what a successful home build looks (and feels) like for YOU. More specifically, how you will feel while you’re building and how you’ll feel about your house at the end of your build when you move into your brand new home. I’m going to share what most people consider to be a successful home build. You might relate to some...

This episode is a VERY informal kitchen design Q+A session I had with Anne-Marie Klobe, Kitchen Designer. This Q+A session was not intended for my podcast but rather for clients in my private 'Before You Build' program. However, there are SO many golden nuggets of kitchen design advice that I wanted to share with all of you! The sound quality isn't my usual standard, and the call is...

Your initial quote for your home build can be a little frightening , BUT it's OK! Your initial quote is just that ... an INITIAL quote.  It doesn't mean it's the final price of your house. It's just a starting point. Believe me ... it's MUCH better to get a crazy high quote BEFORE you start building because this allows you time and space to pare your future house down to a...

If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while or you know anything about my signature program, you know that I am ALL about planning, planning, and more planning before you build a house. This (planning) is what I teach, and it’s exactly why I’ve named this podcast and my group program ‘Before You Build’ . I teach this because I know the power of planning before you ever even consider break...

I’m chatting with Holly, the founder and architect of Hereabout, about her floor plan design process. Holly has more than a decade of experience in residential architectural design, and she started her business, Hereabout, to bridge the gap between budget and design for people who want a thoughtfully designed floor plan but might not want to pay for (or spend the time on) creating a custom floor p...

Hiring the *RIGHT* builder is one of the most important parts of creating a home build experience that is both positive and successful.  In other words, your builder plays a crucial role in bringing your dream home vision to life … without completely blowing your budget.  I’m going to illustrate the importance of WHY you need to hire the right builder for your project and then I'll share some...

I’m in the middle of a live launch week promoting my group coaching program (the ‘Before You Build’ Program), so I wasn’t planning on doing a podcast episode this week.  However, I’m getting soooo many great questions about the BYB Program from potential clients that I wanted to hop onto the podcast and share the questions (and my answers) with you. If you aren’t familiar with the ‘Before You Buil...

You might be getting the WRONG home build budget advice. In this episode, I share a cautionary tale about how you can’t believe everything you hear about 'going over budget when building'. It's ok to question the so-called 'facts' because there ARE ways to build your house without completely going over budget. I know this because I didn’t go over budget when I built my hou...

Googling ‘How To’ posts is a great way to gather as much info and knowledge as possible when building your dream home. However, all the info in the world doesn’t make up for a lack of CONFIDENCE in yourself to bring your dream home to life. Gathering insight, tips, and knowledge will help you to feel more knowledgeable … but you also need to feel full CONFIDENCE in yourself as you go through the h...

If you plan on building your dream home in 2024, you're in the right place!  I’m Carrie … a Home Build Coach (it’s a term I made up but you get the idea). My mission is to help women feel confident building their dream home. I do this via my ‘Before You Build’ (BYB) program. BYB is a step-by-step framework and group coaching program that equips you to confidently build a house you LOVE and is...

This episode was supposed to be about home exterior design trends that we'll see in 2024. However, I decided on a whim to talk about home exterior design classic styles instead.  I’ll let you know why I last-minute changed the topic of this episode because it’s two very valid reasons, but let’s just say that I didn’t feel right talking about trends in design. It didn’t feel in alignment with...

In this episode, I'll define what the term  ‘design fixture’ means (because this can be a confusing term) and I’ll share a list of curated design fixtures boutiques that I offer on my website. I'll also share how YOU can easily shop these curated boutiques to design your own dream home.  Believe me … this is a game changer when it comes to shopping. I even use these boutiques myself when...

Going significantly over budget is one of the top concerns (actually, THE top concern) I hear from my clients and readers who are preparing to build a house. I completely understand this because it was my biggest fear when I built, too. However, what if I told you there ARE ways to stay on budget when building a house? It’s true. My husband and I built our custom home without going over budget.  A...

In this episode, I share a story about a little Christmas card mishap I had a few years ago and how this mistake relates closely to one of my favorite things I offer to clients inside my 'Before You Build' group coaching program ... personalized floor plan feedback. I also talk about the importance of bringing in a fresh set of eyes when looking at something repeatedly (ahem ... your flo...

As you can imagine, building a home can be a *little bit* overwhelming. Maybe you’re still just dreaming about building, or maybe you’re already in the thick of it, and the overwhelm is starting to creep in. Either way, there are 3 things I want you to keep in mind when building a house.  In this episode, we discuss what you *might* experience emotionally while you’re building. It won’t feel great...

Today is a very casual impromptu podcast episode all about my Before You Build program.  I’m in the middle of a live launch week of promoting my group coaching program, so I wasn’t planning on doing a podcast episode.  However, I’m getting soooo many great questions about the BYB program from potential clients that I wanted to hop onto the podcast and share the questions (and my answers) with you....

Do you think it's impossible to build your dream home without breaking the bank?  If so, (thankfully) you're wrong. I’m here to tell you that you CAN build a house you absolutely LOVE without blowing your budget. I know this because I did it. I built my own dream home without blowing the budget. And you can too. The key to building a house you absolutely LOVE (w/o breaking the bank) is t...

Are you dreaming of building a custom home but you aren't sure it’s a possibility for you because you don’t have a huge budget? Guess what … this is just one of the myths about building a custom home that is swirling around. In this episode, we'll cover 3 common myths when it comes to building a custom home. --- Episode Show Notes: carolineondesign.com/myths-about-building-a-custom-home...

Are you dreaming of building a home, but you aren’t quite sure if you’re ready to take the plunge? In this episode, I’m sharing 7 signs you’re ready to build a custom home! --- Episode Show Notes: carolineondesign.com/7-signs-youre-ready-to-build-a-custom-home --- Want help bringing your dream home to life in a smart and strategic way? Learn how I can help through the ‘Before You Build’ Program at...

Creating a custom floor plan from scratch can be very time-consuming and very daunting. It’s overwhelming for anyone, so don’t freak out. You are definitely NOT alone if you’re feeling a little scared. But I want you to feel more confident so I’ve created a list for you of my top five considerations when creating my own custom floor plan. These are all five things that I want you to *really* think...

One of the most important decisions you’ll make when building a home is choosing the *right* builder for your project. Your builder can make or break your entire home build experience and I want you to have a GREAT experience :). So I’m sharing eight crucial questions to ask potential home builders as you go through the interview process. --- Episode Show Notes: carolineondesign.com/questions-to-a...