What are the criteria that determine wether a house has “great bones” and should be renovated? Conversely, how can you guide a client to see the misalignment of their expectations of that renovation and the realities of the smaller footprint and 8’ ceilings? Here we unpack what existing conditions and client expectations dictate a scrape versus a remodel.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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In a world that’s faster than we are, how can we slow that down” was the question Brandon asked, so the fellas tried to answer with strategies to manage time better, limit redundancy and make things feel less urgent. Trying to slow the world, or at least slow down the madness on our projects, might be impossible but we can still try.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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It’s common for the scope of work to change during a project and for those changes to result in additional cost and extended duration. Somehow the contractor is always saddled with the blame for projects going beyond their initial schedule and budget and “nobody” remembers how we got there when it’s all over. As such we had to unpack what it is who’s really responsible for Scope Creep. 

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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The residential building code is substantial but inspections are still an open-book test so we really ought to pass them every time. In this episode we share a few stories, some tips and even some strategies for successfully passing inspections and keeping your projects in compliance and on schedule. 

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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Time and again we see problems that start smaller grow into disasters due to people avoiding the difficult thing. Sometimes it’s informing clients of an overage they weren’t expecting the moment you discover it, or getting the water and sewer connected early in job even though it means disrupting the neighbors spring plantings. The best time is almost always right now.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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The problem with needing help is that in order to get it you have to take time to interview, hire and train the helper - and that takes a lot of time. The reason we typically need help is that we don’t have enough time to give proper attention to all things we need to do, so in order to get some help with not having enough time we simply need to invest more time. Thus the paradox. 

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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If you've ever had a client ask you to use their brother, sister, in-law, friend or whoever they have in the trades this one’s for you. If you allow it you’ve ceded control of the outcome on your project to the unfamiliar. If you say No you can never satisfy the client with the trade partner they never wanted you to use instead of their preferred choice. What’s a builder to do?

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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When we build high-performance homes there is (or should always be) a tremendous amount of focus placed on indoor air quality. With that in mind, should we be considering more pre-finished products so the off gassing happens off site?

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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While many choose to subcontract their building diagnostic testing to their local BPI or HERS rater, a lot of builders (ourselves included) have begun performing a lot of their own testing. Having your own equipment allows testing and troubleshooting at multiple stages of each build as needed without scheduling lags due to availability of others. So what are the top five tools?

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt

Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

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The homes we build are becoming increasingly complex and the equipment and systems we include in them can be vexing to even the sharpest clients. With many in the trades already moving their business efforts from install to securing service contracts we discuss the pros and cons of that shift, and whether we as builders should do the same.

Thank you to episode sponsor Huber Engineered Woods. Learn more at huberwood.com.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Save the Date for Build Show LIVE 2025 in Dallas, TX: October 16-18, 2025!

Don't miss a single episode of Build Show content. Sign up for our newsletter.