Building Your Foundation Program
Your complete home build planning system that prepares you to build your dream home without regretting your design decisions and without blowing your budget.
JOIN BYF waitlist
You feel confident in your decisions as you go through the home build process. You have a clear vision for your home, and you know how to explain that vision to your builder in order to make that vision a reality. And you know you’re working with a reputable builder you can trust to help you bring your dream home to life.
As you go through your build, you’re relaxed and able to make educated design decisions without second guessing yourself. You feel great about the REALISTIC budget you set with your builder, and you feel confident making decisions about where to splurge and where to save. Not only are you enjoying the building experience, but you no longer fear making costly mistakes that you might later regret.
The best part is that you feel much more IN CONTROL of the entire building process. From sticking to your budget, to working with a trusted builder, to creating a functional and cozy floor plan that is PERFECT for the way your family lives.
Instead of sleepless nights worrying about going over budget, or second-guessing your decisions, imagine if your home build experience looked like this:
Building your dream home be an exciting and pleasant experience.
can
Getting to the end of your custom home build journey and moving into a new home that you LOVE! Not to mention the remarks from friends and family about how cute or beautiful your home is.
Imagine the feeling of coming home to a functional, comfortable, homey oasis that is perfect for entertaining and hosting family over for the holidays. Think about how proud you’ll feel to invite friends and family into your happy and cozy home.
Imagine moving into your forever home knowing it will last your family a lifetime and grow with you as your family grows. Not only does your home make you happy, but your family is happier too because your house is so functional and everyone is excited to come home and hang out as a fam.
Imagine enjoying your design decisions while also knowing you made smart choices you’ll be thankful for if you ever decide to sell. You're finally able to relax now that you’re living in a home you love with a mortgage you’re comfortable with because you were able to make decisions you’re happy with while also staying within your budget.
Imagine how good you’ll feel living in your dream home and knowing that you had a part in making it happen.
just imagine...
There is nothing like the feeling you get when your dream home becomes a reality.
You choose the builder with the lowest bid to ‘save money’ but end up in a bait and switch situation
Your home build turns into a financial nightmare, and you want to literally puke when your builder tells you how over-budget you have gone
You know you need to make some sacrifices to avoid completely blowing your budget, but you have no idea where it makes sense to save or splurge
Your mind is all over the place trying to figure out your style … you just wish you had a little more confidence in your decision making and felt clearer about your vision for your home
You’re second-guessing every freakin’ design decision you make and you wish you had someone to bounce ideas off of someone OTHER than your builder who knows nothing about design or function (beyond the structural elements of the house)
You may even be feeling like it’s impossible to get that gorgeous dream home that functions perfectly for the way your family lives and makes you all so happy and comfortable, so you just want to throw in the towel
ALL of this is possible for you, but, unfortunately, if you go into your home build blindly, this is a much more likely scenario:
You’re a BUSY mama … especially during Covid.
You're trying to run a household and work from home while also spending hours acting as your children's teacher/principal/social worker/mediator/cafeteria worker/etc.! (ugh ... I can relate!).
You’re so overwhelmed with ‘real life’ that it seems almost impossible to find a little extra time to focus on preparing for your future home.
I know, I know … it can feel like a full-time job planning for your build (a job that you do NOT have time for!)
(and it can be easier than you think!)
You can avoid this reality by taking the time to PLAN for your home build in advance.
You’ve never built a custom home before (or your last custom home build was a nightmare) and you have no clue where to even start. You know you need a ‘vision’ of your home, but your head is spinning with ideas and it’s hard to know where to even start to create this ‘vision’.
You know there will be 1200ish decisions to make throughout the home build process, and you are notorious for second-guessing every decision you make in life. You are indecisive with a capital I!
You have expensive taste but you don’t want a colossal mortgage … how do you even begin to create a realistic budget without making major sacrifices?
You know that this is a huge commitment financially that cannot be easily changed, and while you dream of building a custom home, you still feel unsure if you have what it takes to actually do it.
Most of all, your biggest fear is making a ‘wrong’ decision that you’ll regret and won’t be able to change.
Not to mention…
But guess what … you don’t need to spend a ton of time planning for your home build in order to make it a success.
You just need a proven plan laid out for you with a step-by-step method to follow.
Plus … you’ll save tons of time avoiding trial and error DIY planning.
You know … that dream home that is so cozy and welcoming that family and friends can’t wait to visit over the holidays … and did I mention this dream home (that everyone tells you is ‘soooo cute’) has a mortgage you are super comfy with?!
You CAN go through the home build process with confidence and excitement knowing YOU (yep, YOU!) have what it takes to bring your dream home to life.
BUILDING YOUR FOUNDATION
Your complete home build planning system that prepares you to build your dream home without regretting your design decisions and without blowing your budget.
introducing...
Building Your Foundation (a.k.a. ‘BYF’) provides you with a step-by-step method that will give you crystal clear direction on how to prepare for your custom home build.
Following the BYF Method, you’ll find clarity and feel confident in your ability to create a cozy, functional home that makes your family (and your wallet) happy before you even start building.
Building a solid foundation (metaphorically speaking) is the KEY to feeling confident in your design decisions, sticking to your home build budget, and creating a cozy, functional home that makes you happy. This is exactly what you’ll do following the BYF method!
You’ll also get access to support as you plan for your custom home build through live Q+A coaching calls, floor plan feedback, and a private Facebook community where you can bounce ideas off of others going through the exact same process. Plus, the done-for-you fillable spreadsheets and templates will keep you organized and feeling in control of your building experience.
The more effort you put into your home build BEFORE you even break ground, the less stress you'll feel when the decisions come at you fast and furiously, AND the happier you'll be with the results (i.e. your completed home and your mortgage).
When you follow the BYF Method, you’ll be able to:
Create a timeless, classic home that is functional for the way your family lives now and has the ability to grow with your family as your needs change
Feel all the feels when you’re at home … happy, cozy, joy, and peace … and, most importantly, financially comfortable since you were able to stick close to your REALISTIC budget (and your mortgage reflects that) without sacrificing beautiful finishes (and bonus … there’s still money left for traveling and pursuing hobbies)
Look back and feel happy with all the major decisions you made for your home (aka, no regrets or costly mistakes that are too expensive to fix!) and you are proud that you had a part in creating your dream home that is comfortable, homey, welcoming, and makes your family happy
Achieve a home that reflects YOUR family and all your special moments as well as making it a home for new memories … a home that is perfect for entertaining and you’re excited to share with family and friends (and bonus that they all think your house is gorg!)
the bottom line...
when you implement the BYF Method, you’ll have what you need to build a home that just ‘feels right’ and makes you and your family HAPPY (design-wise AND mortgage-wise).
Let’s dig into the details
Here’s what you’ll find inside the BYF PROGRAM when you join:
The BYF Method Signature Course: 5 Core Modules
step one
Get Organized for Your Build
There are MANY moving parts when building a custom home. During this step, you’ll create an organization system that will allow you to feel much more in control of your building experience.
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step two
Clarify Your Vision for Your Future Home
When you are able to clarify and define your vision for your future custom home, it is much easier to understand what you would like to accomplish, refine these goals, and execute them (i.e. bring them to life). In this step, you’ll go in deep and truly clarify your vision for your future home. You’ll create concrete ‘Vision Statements’ that will allow you to easily (and thoroughly) convey your vision to your builder.
02
step three
Hire Your Custom Builder
Your relationship with your builder will set the tone for how smooth (or not smooth) your home build project will go, so it's essential that you choose someone whom you respect, trust, and can communicate well with. In this section, you’ll follow simple steps to ensure that you hire the BEST builder for your project.
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step four
Create Your Realistic Budget
Creating a REALISTIC budget is CRUCIAL to staying on budget. You’ll find easy-to-follow steps that will help you successfully create a realistic budget with your builder that takes into account your vision for your home.
04
step five
Create Your Custom Floor Plan
In this step, you’ll thoroughly consider what is most and least important to you in your future home, as well as how your family will live in the home. The detailed list of guided questions will help you to create a custom floor plan that you not only LOVE(!), but is also functional and perfect for the way YOUR family lives!
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But wait, there is more!
When you enroll in BYF, you also get ...
Live Monthly Q+A Group Coaching Calls with Carrie
Get face-to-face time with Carrie (via Zoom) to ask questions, get feedback, and brainstorm ideas specific to YOUR home build and design dilemmas.
Personalized Floor Plan and Finishes Feedback
This is your chance to get another set of (unbiased) eyes on your floor plan or front elevation! Get insight and ideas on tweaks you can make to improve the flow and functionality of your floor plan or improve your curb appeal.
Done-For-You Spreadsheet and Template Library
This template library includes done-for-you fillable spreadsheets that you can upload and save directly to your Google Drive. These spreadsheet templates will help you get organized right from the start!
and of course,
there are BONUSES to support you through your home build ...
Bonus!
Access to our Private ‘BYF’ Facebook Community
Get access to our exclusive Facebook group. Connect in a supportive environment with other women who are also dealing with the excitement and nervousness that comes with building a home. Get feedback, encouragement, and design ideas.
Bonus!
‘Designing with Confidence’ Mini Course and Guided Workbook
The 'Designing with Confidence' mini course includes done-for-you research to help you as you start making design selection decisions for your new home PLUS a guided workbook to walk you through the design decision process.
Bonus!
Curated Design Boutiques + ‘Where to Shop’
Get access to my carefully curated design finish 'boutiques' to make shopping for design finishes for your home easier. You’ll also find a curated list of great places to shop online for design finishes if you aren't impressed with your local options.
Bonus!
Curated Home Build Tips and Resources
Learning from others' home build experiences and 'mistakes' is an important part of helping you create a home that you love and making decisions you won't later regret. This invaluable resource includes home build advice and tips from others who have been there and done that!
You get access to all of this for ONLY $30 per month!
And even less if you pay annually!
BYF Annual Payment
5-Module Signature BYF Method Course
Live Q+A Monthly Group Coaching Calls
Personal Floor Plan + Finishes Feedback
Done-For-You Spreadsheet Templates
Private BYF Facebook Community
‘Designing With Confidence’ Mini Course
Carrie’s Curated Design Boutiques
Curated Home Build Tips + Resources
PLUS, TWO MONTHS FREE!
join byf waitlist
Save $60 when paid annually!
NO monthly payments!
* $25 per mo. if paid annually ($300)
PAY $25 PER MONTH *
best value
BYF monthly Payment
5-Module Signature BYF Method Course
Live Q+A Monthly Group Coaching Calls
Personal Floor Plan + Finishes Feedback
Done-For-You Spreadsheet Templates
Private BYF Facebook Community
‘Designing With Confidence’ Mini Course
Carrie’s Curated Design Boutiques
Curated Home Build Tips + Resources
TWO MONTHS FREE
JOIN BYF waitlist
Low monthly payments!
PAY $30 PER MONTH
low payments
What I love about your resources is that you ask such good questions! And the worksheet concept is brilliant! This has really, really helped us because my husband and I are finding out that we are not necessarily on the same page as we think we are. (You can add on your site that use of your resources also contributes to marital harmony and perhaps even savings related to preventing divorces!). I have used all of your resources to date - and they are so helpful.
- Monica
Fortunately, I found Carrie’s blog towards the end of choosing finishes but oh how I wish I had found her sooner! I see how helpful Carrie is with ones going through the build process. I’m kind of jealous of that but so excited for the ones utilizing the BYF resource. What an awesome partner to have on your side. Sometimes you just want to show someone brick and stone choices because you can’t see straight anymore. You can’t just ask anyone for that kind of help. Sign up ! It’s like having a personal assistant for a fraction of the cost. Why wouldn’t you?!?!
- Sharon
“Carrie does it again! This is such a valuable resource in helping people who are interested in or already in the process of planning to build their dream home. She offers so many tips that can save people frustration during the process with things that are often overlooked … and it’s all broken down in an organized, easy-to-follow format!”
-Rachel
Success Stories from people like you!
The biggest mistake people make when building a home is thinking they can make design decisions along the way and tweak the budget along the way...
they think they can focus on one little piece of the home build at a time without having a full picture of what they want their home build experience to be like.
a mortgage that is WAY higher than they are comfortable with
Too little time to make crucial decisions
Intense stress as the decisions come fast and furiously (and the cost keeps creeping higher and higher over budget)
Minimal excitement during the process
Design regrets (lots o’ them) bc there was too little time to make decisions
Guess what ‘these’ people end up with …
This is the last thing I want to happen to you, especially because all of this can easily be avoided by going in with a plan!
hey there,
I’m not going to lie though … designing my custom home from scratch was a STRESSFUL process. There were times I wanted to give up and throw in the towel. It took a lot of trial and error, tons of hours of research, lots of headaches and stress … and very little support to get through my home build.
Honestly, I had no idea if my house was even going to turn out the way I hoped BUT all that time, effort, and research paid off in the end. I created my dream home that is not only absolutely perfect for the way my family lives , but it turned out WAY more beautiful than I even imagined it would.
I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out … a home that I built ON budget and still LOVE 7 years later!
I’m Carrie Barker.
And guess what else … I was able to do it WITHOUT blowing the budget!
I cracked the code on how to bring my own dream home vision to life while sticking VERY close to budget and now I’m sharing everything I learned along the way with you. I don’t want you to go through the same (lengthy + stressful) trial and error process I went through or waste hours trying to reinvent the wheel and come up with a preparation plan from scratch.
Instead of going through this process completely on your own and piecemealing a plan together that may or may not bring you the results you want (you know, that cozy dream home that makes your family and your wallet happy), I’m sharing exactly what worked for me inside the BYF Program!
Ready to learn how to bring your dream home vision to life without breaking the bank?
join byf waitlist
Did I mention it’s RISK FREE?!
THE BYF 100% CANCEL ANYTIME GUARANTEE
The Building Your Foundation membership program comes with a 100% cancel anytime guarantee. I am confident that if you follow this program, you will gain unbelievable clarity as well as create a realistic budget that will work together to completely transform the way your home build experience goes. All those ‘well-intentioned friends’ that tell you it’s inevitable you’ll go over budget when building … you’ll have the tools to prove them wrong.
At any time if you decide that this program is not a good fit for you or you don’t think the guided lessons will help you transform your home build experience, you can cancel your membership without penalty. Simply email me and let me know that you would like to cancel. I’ll do the rest … no questions asked (well … I will ask you a couple questions about what I could have done better to improve your experience after your cancellation is processed, but that’s it 😉)!
If you choose the monthly payment option, your monthly payments will stop as soon as you cancel. If you choose the annual payment option, you will have access to the program for the remainder of your 12 months but will not be charged again
BYF is for you IF:
you are dreaming about building a custom home in the near (or far) future and want to get started on the right foot
you are early in the planning phase but you don’t yet have a builder and/or a floor plan
you want a solid plan for how to create, and stick to, a realistic home build budget
you enjoy learning from others’ experiences to help you avoid making ‘mistakes’
you want to build your dream home with a strategic plan to stay on budget
you have already broken ground on your home
you have already hired your builder, determined your
realistic budget, and created your floor plan
you are content to spend hours piecemealing together free content in hopes you will get the result you’re looking for (i.e. your dream home within budget)
you aren’t concerned about staying on budget while building your dream home
perfect
BYF be a good fit for you IF:
may not
Ready to build your dream home with confidence and a strategic plan to stay on budget?!
join byf waitlist
"I just want to thank you for providing such outstanding resources that truly breakdown what could be an overwhelming experience, as well as highlighting pieces of the process that could easily be overlooked. I want our new home to be reflective of our influence on the design/build process and your resources help me to communicate more effectively with our architect and eventually our builder."
- Holly
"Carrie has been a godsend! All of your advice has been so helpful. You break it down and provide resources that are empowering to the homeowners."
- Lisa
"I think this is an excellent resource for someone who is preparing to build. I have now built two homes and I wish I had something to reference before the build. I’m a totally different customer the second time around than I was the first because I know what to look for. Why would anyone who’s building NOT want to give it a shot?! The amount of headaches you’ll avoid will be worth the price!"
-Kim
"You break it down and provide resources that are empowering to the homeowners"
Success Stories from people like you!
your questions answered!
Frequently asked questions
Nope! Housing prices are different in different areas of the country/world, but the BYF principles are applicable no matter where you live.
The beauty of the internet is that we can find free info on just about everything! If all you just want is information without any application and you’re willing to spend the time to piece it together on your own and determine which advice to follow with so many conflicting opinions out there, simply do a Google search for what you need.
However, if you want to save time, get all the info you need in one place, have a clear, proven step-by-step roadmap to follow (i.e. The BYF Method), and you want personal coaching and feedback throughout the process as you create a crystal clear vision of your future home and a REALISTIC budget that you can stick to, you need to invest in yourself (and that means spending a lil money now to save A LOT later).
While you may not need certain components of the program (such as getting organized, creating your Vision Statements, choosing a builder, creating a realistic budget you can stick to, and designing your floor plan), you’ll find the ‘Designing with Confidence’ course, home build resources, ongoing support, and personal feedback to be helpful throughout your home build.
The BYF Program is broken into bite-sized steps and lessons. You have access to all of the materials for the life of your membership (i.e. as long as you continue paying for the membership), so there is no rush to get through the lessons. You can go at your own pace.
Of course, you have to put a little time and effort into the guided workbooks if you want the results you’re looking for (i.e your dream home within budget). Taking this time up front to get very clear about your future home decisions and budget will save you tons of time, headache, and $$$ once you are in the thick of building.
Then you are in the PERFECT time frame to join BYF! The BYF Method walks you through the steps you’ll need to prepare for your build before you ever even consider breaking ground.
Yep! Although I focus primarily on custom home builds, you will certainly find the BYF Method steps and resources beneficial as you prepare for your semi-custom home build.
Yep! You don’t need to have land yet. I’m walking you through the home build preparation process from the very beginning. While we don’t directly cover ‘finding a lot’, putting these steps into place will help you to start getting prepared as you look for land to purchase.
Yes. The BYF Method and resources will be helpful during a home renovation too because you’ll need a vision for your reno, a contractor, a REALISTIC budget, and you’ll need to determine the layout of the part of your home that you are renovating. As a matter of fact, we have a couple of members that are going through a major reno
In addition to the BYF Method core content and the resources and bonuses available immediately when you join BYF, I will host live Q+A coaching calls monthly as well as offer personal feedback (on floor plan, front elevation, or design finishes) monthly. Each month new done-for-you spreadsheets and templates will be added to the Template Library.
I share LOTS of helpful information on my blog, but we go SO much deeper into the home build process inside the BYF Program. You’ll learn my step-by-step BYF Method to get you the results you want (i.e. design your dream home with confidence instead of regrets PLUS a strategic plan to stay on budget). Most of the information found inside the BYF Program can not be found anywhere on my blog. Not to mention, you also get unlimited personal support and feedback throughout the life of your membership.
Yep, you can cancel at any time if the program isn’t a good fit for you. Please see ‘The BYF 100% Cancel Anytime Guarantee’ above for more details.
That’s ok! You’ll still have access to all of the learning materials because they are hosted in a separate learning platform called Teachery. The only thing that happens in Facebook is the community dialogue, so you won’t have access to that. However, you’ll still have access to the live group coaching calls that happen on Zoom, as well as the ability to submit your floor plan or front elevation for feedback.
Let’s recap ... here’s everything you get inside BYF:
The BYF Method Signature Course
five core modules that will walk you through the steps to lay the groundwork for a successful home build that allows you to stay on your realistic budget without sacrificing quality and style, confidently make decisions that you won’t later regret, and bring your beautiful, cozy, comfortable and functional dream home vision that you are proud of to life
Live Monthly Q+A Group Coaching Calls with Carrie
each month so that you can ask questions and get feedback about YOUR personal home build (kinda like hiring a designer to bounce ideas off of … for WAY less $$)
Personalized Floor Plan and Finishes Feedback
to give you another set of (unbiased) eyes (mine!) on your floor plan, front elevation, or finishes and help you confidently move forward
Done-For-You Spreadsheet and Template Library
that will make it easier than ever to plug in your own information and keep yourself organized throughout your build
plus:
Access to our private Facebook group
of supportive women going through the same thing as you … a custom home build. Get feedback and support as well as the opportunity to bounce ideas off of others when you’re unsure how to proceed with a decision
The ‘Designing with Confidence’ mini course
so that you don’t have to do all the research on your own. I’ve already done the research for you and it’s all there for you to learn from. Plus, you’ll get the ‘Designing with Confidence’ guided workbook to walk you through your design selection decisions
My personally curated design boutiques
to make shopping for finishes a breeze
Curated home build resources
that include tons of home build advice (learning from others’ who have been there and done that!) and financial tips for your build
and these bonuses:
If you want a different home build experience than most people have, YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!
Here’s the reality ...
You get access to all of this for ONLY $30 per month!
And even less if you pay annually!
BYF Annual Payment
5-Module Signature BYF Method Course
Live Q+A Monthly Group Coaching Calls
Personal Floor Plan + Finishes Feedback
Done-For-You Spreadsheet Templates
Private BYF Facebook Community
‘Designing With Confidence’ Mini Course
Carrie’s Curated Design Boutiques
Curated Home Build Tips + Resources
PLUS, TWO MONTHS FREE!
JOIN BYF waitlist
Save $60 when paid annually!
NO monthly payments!
* $25 per mo. if paid annually ($300)
PAY $25 PER MONTH *
best value
BYF monthly Payment
5-Module Signature BYF Method Course
Live Q+A Monthly Group Coaching Calls
Personal Floor Plan + Finishes Feedback
Done-For-You Spreadsheet Templates
Private BYF Facebook Community
‘Designing With Confidence’ Mini Course
Carrie’s Curated Design Boutiques
Curated Home Build Tips + Resources
TWO MONTHS FREE
JOIN BYF waitlist
Low monthly payments!
PAY $30 PER MONTH
low payments
DISCLAIMER
Following this program will give you guidelines to create a realistic budget as well as a plan to stick to this budget. However, there is no guarantee that your personal situation will be the same as mine based on the use of the BYF Method. You agree that I am not responsible for your final home price, the success or failure of your personal and home build decisions, or any other result of any kind that you may have as a result of information presented to you through the BYF Program or our website. You are solely responsible for your results.
testimonials
I present testimonials and insights about other people’s experiences with my resources and the BYF Program for purposes of illustration only. The testimonials used are of actual resource and BYF Program users. They are not intended to represent or guarantee that current or future users will achieve the same or similar results; rather, these testimonials represent what is possible for illustrative purposes only.