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114 episodes

MVP: 5 Things I Wish I Included in my Custom Floor Plan
05/20/2026 | 10 mins.
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 2022, but the content is 100% still relevant — and I've updated the blog post with additional tips and resources.
EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/wish-i-included-in-my-custom-floor-plan
FREE FLOOR PLAN WORKBOOK → carolineondesign.com/fp-free-workbook
SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo
Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build
FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide
FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training
111. How to Create a Realistic Custom Home Budget Before Meeting a Builder
05/13/2026 | 13 mins.
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 ceiling
What most people forget to include in their total build budget
How to research cost per square foot in your area so you walk in informed
What a SPLURGE + SAVE PLAN℠ is and how having one changes everything about that first builder conversation
If you're in the planning phase right now, this episode is for you. It's the kind of prep work that makes a builder meeting actually productive — and sets you up to stay on budget from the very start.
SHOW NOTES → carolineondesign.com/custom-home-budget-before-builder-meeting
SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo
Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build
FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide
FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training
MVP: 9 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Building a Custom Home
05/06/2026 | 11 mins.
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 100% relevant today! I updated the blog post with additional tips and resources in May 2026.
SHOW NOTES → carolineondesign.com/known-before-building
SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo
Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build
FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide
FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training
110. How to Prioritize Your Home Build Budget
04/29/2026 | 13 mins.
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 clients, a personal story from my own build that perfectly illustrates why knowing your priorities BEFORE building changes everything, and everything you need to know about my brand new SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ — the tool I honestly believe should be in the hands of EVERY SINGLE PERSON building or renovating a home.
Because here's the truth … you don't need an unlimited budget, you just need to know YOUR priorities. 🙌
SHOW NOTES → carolineondesign.com/how-to-prioritize-your-home-build-budget
SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo
Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build
FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide
FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training
109. Where to Splurge and Save When Building a Custom Home
04/15/2026 | 13 mins.
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 list will only get you so far.
Tune in to learn my simple framework, and to find out exactly how to build your very own personalized SPLURGE + SAVE PLAN around YOUR family's priorities.
SHOW NOTES → carolineondesign.com/where-to-splurge-and-save-when-building
SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo
Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build
FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide
FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

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About The Before You Build Podcast

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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