092. 3 Home Build Budget Busters That Cost Thousands! (+ How to Avoid Them)
Are you worried about going over budget on your custom home build? You're not alone—but what if I told you budget overruns aren't inevitable?In this episode, I'm sharing the 3 biggest budget busters that cost home builders TENS OF THOUSANDS in overages (we're talking $15K-$50K+ mistakes!), plus my proven system to avoid them completely.If you're tired of hearing "just expect to go 20% over budget" and want to build your dream home WITHOUT the financial stress, this episode is for you!Ready to take control of your home build? Join BYB!👇BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ enrollment closes Monday, 9/22/25 at 11:59 PM. Don't miss your final chance to join at the current price! Get all the details at carolineondesign.com/before-you-build.SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/home-build-budget-bustersCONNECT WITH ME:Website: carolineondesign.comInstagram: @carolineondesignFree Home Build Guide: carolineondesign.com/home-build-guideBuilding your dream home doesn't have to mean blowing your budget. Let's plan it right from the start!👉 Grab a seat in my FREE CLASS, 'The 3 Most Expensive Home Building Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)', at carolineondesign.com/free-training
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091. Building a Custom Home With Your Spouse (Without Killing Each Other!)
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 to agree on everything – you just need to respect what matters most to each other.We'll cover:✅ Why building together feels so overwhelming (and why that's totally normal) ✅ The must-have strategy that eliminates most arguments before they start ✅ Real examples from couples who nailed this approach ✅ What to do when you can't afford all your combined must-havesYou'll walk away knowing how to honor both of your visions, stay within budget, and actually enjoy the building process together.🔗 SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/building-a-custom-home-with-your-spouse 🔗 FREE HOME BUILD START GUIDE: carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide🎓 Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build👉 Grab a seat in my FREE CLASS, 'The 3 Most Expensive Home Building Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)', at carolineondesign.com/free-training
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090. The #1 Question Before Planning Your Custom Home
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, how to evaluate potential properties, and the real cost of getting this wrong. Plus, I'm sharing my own current location search and what I've learned in the process.In this episode, you'll learn:The #1 question to ask before planning any custom homeWhy you can't effectively design without knowing where you're buildingHow to evaluate locations for long-term happinessThe expensive mistakes that happen when you choose the wrong spotWhether you're just starting to think about building or actively lot shopping, this episode will help you make confident location decisions you'll love for years to come.Ready to plan your custom home with confidence? Download my FREE Custom Home Build Start Guide at carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide to get started!-🔗 Episode Show Notes: carolineondesign.com/planning-your-custom-home🎓 Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build👉 Grab a seat in my FREE CLASS, 'The 3 Most Expensive Home Building Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)', at carolineondesign.com/free-training
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089. Custom Home Must-Haves (Ignore the Generic Lists!)
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'll help you figure out what YOUR family actually needs (spoiler: it's probably way different than what those lists tell you).We'll cover:Why that mudroom everyone's obsessing over might be completely pointless for your lifestyleReal stories from families who ignored the "rules" and built homes that actually work for themHow to stop second-guessing yourself and create a must-have list based on your real life, not Pinterest dreamsThe difference between features that look amazing and ones that actually make your daily routine betterBottom line ... this is YOUR custom home. YOU get to decide what goes in it based on what makes YOUR life easier and happier ... not what some blog says you "must" have.🔗 SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/custom-home-must-haves🔗 FREE HOME BUILD START GUIDE: carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide🎓 Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build👉 Grab a seat in my FREE CLASS, 'The 3 Most Expensive Home Building Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)', at carolineondesign.com/free-training
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088. The #1 Custom Home Building Mistake That Could Cost You Thousands
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 biggest custom home building mistake that sets everything else up for failureWhy having Pinterest boards isn't the same as having a clear visionThe real cost of this mistake (spoiler: it's way more than just money!)How to get crystal clear on your vision before you break groundPlus, I'll share stories from my BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ clients like Sheri, who went from total panic to moving into her stunning dream home, and Mare, who came in $6,500 UNDER budget.If you're planning to build a custom home, this episode could save you thousands in change orders and years of regret. Don't let this preventable mistake turn your dream home into an expensive lesson!🔗 SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/custom-home-building-mistake🔗 FREE HOME BUILD START GUIDE: carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide🎓 Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build👉 Grab a seat in my FREE CLASS, 'The 3 Most Expensive Home Building Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them!)', at carolineondesign.com/free-training
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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