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by Caroline On Design
Whether you’re dreaming of building a custom home in the future or you’re ready to start planning now, this show is for you! The Before You Build Podcast is your one-stop shop for actionable home-building tips and advice as well as tips for designing your dream home so that you feel equipped to design the home of your dreams that makes you (and your wallet) happy for years to come. We’ll answer all of your burning questions such as: How do I plan for building a custom home? What should I do before building a house? How do I design my new house? What mistakes should I avoid when building a house? How do I create the perfect floor plan for my family? How do I hire a builder? How do I finance my home build? And the biggest question of all, how do I bring my dream home to life without blowing the budget? Well, friends … the answer is in PLANNING for your home build long before you ever break ground.I’m your host, Carrie Barker (aka, Caroline on Design). I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out. Through trial and error (psst … I built pre-Pinterest), I created my absolute dream home that is not only perfect for the way my family lives but also turned out more beautiful than I imagined. The best part … I did this all without blowing the budget and without design regrets. 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 here to teach you everything I learned along the way so that you, too, end up with that cozy, beautiful home you envision in your head and a mortgage you’re comfy with. The short, actionable, and bingeable ‘Before You Build’ episodes will prepare YOU for a successful home build with less stress, more confidence, and joy throughout the process. And just so you know … the key to building your dream home close to budget is all in the planning you do BEFORE YOU BUILD! So let’s dive in and get started!
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If you're trying to nail down the perfect white paint color for your home exterior, this episode is for you. 🙌 I actually created this list for a blog post back in 2020 — and when I went to update it recently, I realized that every single color on that list is still just as popular today as it was six years ago. These aren't trendy whites. They're timeless ones. I actually have one of these white colors all over my own home interior … doors, trim, cabinets, ceilings, built-ins. I've been in m...
When Joanne decided to tear down her family's lakefront cottage and rebuild on the same lot, she knew building a custom home on a small, waterfront lot was going to be anything but simple. So she joined BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ because she knew there would be a lot to think through before breaking ground. In this episode she covers: Why she chose to tear down instead of renovatePermitting and building on a lakefront lotDesigning vertically on a small footprint while planning for aging in placeStayin...
I built my custom home back in 2013, and I genuinely love it. The layout is cozy, functional, and still works perfectly for my family over 12 years later. However, there *are* a few things I'd do differently if I built this house again. In this MVP episode, I'm sharing 5 things I wish I had included in our custom floor plan. Tune in because these are details most people don't think about until after they've moved in, and by then, it's too late. Note: This episode was originally recorded in 20...
In this episode, I'm answering a question I got from someone in my free on-demand class, and honestly, it was SO good I had to share it with everyone. We're talking about how to create a realistic budget before you ever sit down with a builder — so that when you do get a quote, it actually means something. I walk you through: Why your vision has to come before your numbers (and why skipping this step is so costly)How to identify your true financial comfort zone — not just your ceilingWhat mos...
If you're building a home (or planning to build), you're probably worried about the typical things … you know, like staying on budget or making the right design decisions. But guess what? There are MANY other things you might not even realize you NEED to think about until you are already in the thick of building your home. Don't worry ... I've got you covered with a list of 9 things I wish I had known before building a house. Note: This episode was recorded in 2022, but the content is still ...
Going over budget when building a custom home isn't inevitable. It does happen often, but it is NOT inevitable. One of the biggest causes is not knowing how to prioritize your home build budget. In this episode, I'm talking about one of the most important things you can do before you break ground … and that is to get crystal clear on YOUR family's priorities so you know exactly where to splurge and save throughout your entire build. I'm sharing the simple two-part framework I use with my clie...
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 for deciding where to splurge and save when building. I also share some of the best areas (in general) to invest and cut back … and why a generic li...
Have you ever driven past a house and thought, something just looks off — but you couldn't quite put your finger on it? I see it all the time. And it's not just on low-cost homes … I see it on multi-million-dollar homes too. It's not a budget problem. It's a gap in the design process that SO many people miss completely. In this episode, I'm breaking down why some custom home exteriors end up looking awkward, and the one simple thing that prevents it. I'm also sharing my own personal story — i...
Whether you’re dreaming of building a custom home in the future or you’re ready to start planning now, this show is for you! The Before You Build Podcast is your one-stop shop for actionable home-building tips and advice as well as tips for designing your dream home so that you feel equipped to design the home of your dreams that makes you (and your wallet) happy for years to come. We’ll answer all of your burning questions such as: How do I plan for building a custom home? What should I do before building a house? How do I design my new house? What mistakes should I avoid when building a house? How do I create the perfect floor plan for my family? How do I hire a builder? How do I finance my home build? And the biggest question of all, how do I bring my dream home to life without blowing the budget? Well, friends … the answer is in PLANNING for your home build long before you ever break ground.I’m your host, Carrie Barker (aka, Caroline on Design). I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out. Through trial and error (psst … I built pre-Pinterest), I created my absolute dream home that is not only perfect for the way my family lives but also turned out more beautiful than I imagined. The best part … I did this all without blowing the budget and without design regrets. 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 here to teach you everything I learned along the way so that you, too, end up with that cozy, beautiful home you envision in your head and a mortgage you’re comfy with. The short, actionable, and bingeable ‘Before You Build’ episodes will prepare YOU for a successful home build with less stress, more confidence, and joy throughout the process. And just so you know … the key to building your dream home close to budget is all in the planning you do BEFORE YOU BUILD! So let’s dive in and get started!
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