If you’re wondering why custom homes go over budget, you’re asking the right question. And honestly? The fact that you’re asking means you’re already ahead of most people who start building. I got an email recently from a woman who just happened upon my website. She said …  “I wish I had known about proper […]

The builder you choose can make or break your entire home-building experience—which is why knowing the RIGHT questions to ask home builders before hiring is SO critical. Most people think asking about price per square foot and looking at pretty completed project photos will help them choose.  Those are obviously important, BUT those things won’t […]

If you’re thinking about building a home in 2026 (or 2027, or honestly anytime in the near future), you’re in the right place! I’m Carrie, and I’m a Home Build Coach. What that means is I help families like yours confidently bring their dream home to life … within budget and without regrets. This podcast […]

If you’re planning to build and you’re struggling to visualize furniture in your floor plan (while it’s on paper), you are NOT alone!  When you’re working on your floor plan, there comes a time when you start second-guessing room sizes and start questioning whether your king bed will actually fit in the primary bedroom with […]

Hey there! Welcome back to the Before You Build podcast. I’m Carrie, and today, in episode 96, I want to talk about something that’s going to be SO helpful for your custom home planning – and it’s something you can do the next time you host people at your house OR visit someone else’s home. […]

Today I’m chatting with Jenn Smith, a licensed residential architect with over 20 years of experience, about one of the most overlooked yet transformative parts of the home building process … lighting and electrical planning. Jenn is the founder of Jenn Smith Architect, Inc. and creator of Your Pocket Architect. What I love most about […]