Signing a contract with your contractor is like signing a marriage certificate. If you don't know what you're actually getting, you're setting yourself up for a very expensive divorce.

Today, I'm diving into the financial side of contractor selection that can make or break your project. I've seen too many homeowners get blindsided by inadequate contracts, surprise costs, and change orders that nobody saw coming. You're literally handing over your vision and your budget to someone else, so you better make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for.

In previous episodes, we've talked about vetting contractors from a relationship perspective, but today I'm getting laser-focused on the numbers. I'm giving you practical tools for understanding build costs, preventing those dreaded change orders, and most importantly, revealing what it actually costs to build a healthy home. Because here's the reality: it might be very different from what you've budgeted for, and you need to know this upfront, not when you're mid-construction facing a $50,000 surprise.

I've seen projects start with no contracts at all, and let me tell you, you absolutely do not want that. Today, I'm breaking down exactly what you need in your bid, how to structure it properly, and why transparency is everything when it comes to your construction budget.

In today's episode, we're talking about:

• The three types of contractor bids and why cost-plus contracts give you the transparency you desperately need
• How to get preliminary cost estimates that actually matter (and why square footage alone won't cut it)
• Real percentage breakdowns for upgrading your foundation, exterior walls, and roof assemblies
• Why your contractor must be involved in the design stage to prevent budget disasters
• The truth about what it actually costs to build a healthy home (hint: start budgeting at $400+ per square foot)

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