Build Your House Yourself University

I recently wrote a guest blog post for a home improvement site called Kukun.  I thought you might like to hear the tips that I gave them for finding good subcontractors. I’ve covered many of these tips in several previous podcast episodes, but  I want to go over all those tips in one single show so you can reference this week’s show notes when it comes time for you to search for your subs.  Plus I’ll give you a couple of new suggestions.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Most of us have to consider budget when making decisions about our dream homes.  And some budgets are tighter than others.  So in this week’s episode, I’ll give you some tips on the best places to save when building a house versus areas where you should splurge.

Before we get to those tips, we'll define a pro-term: Value engineering.

Value engineering is a term that you might hear some architects and contractors use when talking about saving money when building a house. Value engineering is an economical way of building that removes excessive costs but preserves good design. In other words, value engineering aims to lower the cost of building without lowering functionality.  That’s achieved by spending in some areas and saving in others.

So, our lesson this week will focus on value engineering.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Since we compared front load washers and top load washers in last week’s mini-lesson, it only makes sense that we cover dryers this week. We’ll talk about gas dryers versus electric dryers and cover some of the more popular dryer options, such as steam settings and moisture sensors. Plus we’ll go over some best practices for installing the dryer vent system— practices that will decrease your risk of a dryer fire.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Too often I hear homeowners talking about washers if they are solely decorative items. I’ll often hear questions like “Do you like the Burgundy or the navy blue washer better?” Listen, I like beautiful appliances as much as anyone else, but I think it’s also important to strongly consider functionality and performance when purchasing an appliance that’s as hard working as a washer. This week we’ll compare traditional top-loading washers with front-loading washers and I’ll tell you about the pros and cons of each.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

I’ve spent more time away from the internet and library this month and done more research out in the field. 

At the beginning of the month, I went to the Kansas City Parade of Homes and this past week I had some time off from work and ventured out to different homebuilding job sites in an attempt to gather names and contact information for some subcontractors who I could potentially hire for my project. So this episode will cover some lessons that I’ve learned this past month. 

Show notes at BYHYU.com

This week we’ll learn some interior design basics, especially as it pertains to new and remodeled homes. You’ll hear my conversation with Betsy Helmuth, owner of Affordable Interior Design and host of her own interior design podcast called Big Design, Small Budget. It’s one of my new favorites. I just love it and here’s why: In the same way this podcast simplifies and demystifies homebuilding concepts, Betsy, on Big Design Small Budget, simplifies and demystifies interior design. So, to go along with BYHYU’S tips and tricks for building your dream house, Betsy gives strategies for decorating your dream house.

Today you’ll hear Betsy's expert opinion on what to do and where to start when designing rooms from scratch. She will tell us what fixtures and finishes should stay consistent throughout the whole house, and when it’s ok to add in different color palettes and styles. We’ll also hear why Betsy says that investment furniture and all-neutral rooms are no-nos.

Shownotes at BYHYU.com

I recently got a request from a listener named Don. He asked me to discuss home generators. On the heels of so many storms that have affected the United States and the Caribbean, we definitely need to at least consider installing a home generator. They can provide power during the outages that often accompany major storms. Thank you, Don, for a great show idea.

We’ll discuss the 2 general types of generators that can be used during power outages— permanent, standby generators (also called whole house generators) and portable, backup generators.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

So this week I have a project update. I told you about the trouble that I had getting my house plan started a few weeks ago in BYHYU 079-- My House Plans-- Back To The Drawing Board (Literally!)

But now, I have a good report. I’ll tell you about the treasures that I’ve found since recording that episode, including a markup tool that I used to tweak my house plan and the person that I’ve got helping me.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

You’ve probably dreamed of having a fireplace in your living room, master bedroom, outdoor living space or even your master bathroom. Fireplaces these days are far more than a practical source of heat. That’s why people not only in Vermont and Michigan want them, but those building homes in California, Texas and even Las Vegas plan to have fireplaces installed in their dream homes. Fireplaces add beauty, character, coziness, and drama to almost any space and they also add to the perceived value of a house.

This week, I’ll give you the pros and cons of the different types of fireplaces, including wood burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces, electric fireplaces and alcohol burning fireplaces.

Show notes at BYHYU.com

Last week we talked about the pros of cons of the different types of pool construction. After you decide what type of pool structure you want, you’ll have to decide want type of sanitization system you’ll use to keep your pool free of bacteria, viruses, and algae. The most common systems are chlorine, saltwater, and ultraviolet light. We’ll briefly go over each system and discuss the advantages of each.

Cost, maintenance, and health concerns are the main reasons to choose one sanitization system over another. When making your decision, be realistic about your budget and your sensitivity to chlorine and your willingness to perform or pay for maintenance.

Show notes at BYHYU.com