The Before You Build Podcast

Have you ever driven past a house and thought, something just looks off — but you couldn't quite put your finger on it? I see it all the time. And it's not just on low-cost homes … I see it on multi-million-dollar homes too.

It's not a budget problem. It's a gap in the design process that SO many people miss completely.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why some custom home exteriors end up looking awkward, and the one simple thing that prevents it. I'm also sharing my own personal story — including the moment I saw my home exterior in 3D for the first time and seriously hated it. 😬 

If you're in the planning stages of your custom home build, tune into this one ... you'll be SO glad you did!

EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/custom-home-exterior-regrets

MY 3D RENDERING → carolineondesign.com/custom-home-build-must-do

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

Feeling overwhelmed just thinking about building a home is one of the most common things I hear from people planning a custom build. And, honestly, it makes complete sense. You're making hundreds of high-stakes decisions you've never had to make before, on a timeline that's largely outside of your control, with A LOT of money on the line.

In this episode, I'm sharing what I've been learning from my business coach about balance — and why every single principle applies directly to your home build experience. Here's what we're covering:

• Why the chaos isn't actually the problem
• The two types of overwhelm you'll face during a build (and how to handle both)
• What you can do right now to feel more prepared and less reactive going into your build

You're going to be okay. Promise. 🙌

EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/overwhelmed-building-a-home

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

After auditing 300+ floor plans, I can tell you this: the same mistakes keep showing up. And they're not dramatic design flaws — they're subtle oversights that are easy to miss on paper but noticeable every single day once you're living in your home.

In episode 106, I'm sharing the four most common floor plan patterns I see that lead to daily frustration and regrets — so you can catch them before construction begins.

EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/common-floor-plan-mistakes

FREE FLOOR PLAN WORKBOOK → carolineondesign.com/fp-free-workbook

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

If you're planning on building a custom home, rising construction costs are likely scaring you a little bit … and I totally get that!

You might be wondering … Should we wait? Will prices come down? Will next year be a better time to build?

These are completely normal thoughts, and you're not alone.

But here's what most people don't fully think through … construction costs rarely drop in a meaningful, lasting way. 

So instead of asking yourself, "Will it be cheaper to build if we wait?", the better question is: "Is now the right time for us to build, given our budget, our goals, and our level of preparation?"

In this episode, I'm walking you through whether waiting actually helps, and the specific questions to ask your builder to protect your budget, no matter what the market is doing.

EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/rising-construction-costs

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

After living in my custom home for 12+ years, I've learned exactly what makes a kitchen truly functional versus just pretty.

In this episode, I'm sharing 9 tips for designing a functional kitchen, including:

• Why you need at least 42" of walking space around your island
• The placement trick that makes everyday tasks so much easier
• Why a butler's pantry and coffee bar are at the TOP of my list for my next home
• Two things I'd change about my current kitchen after 12+ years

The most beautiful kitchen won't make you happy if it doesn't work for how your family actually lives.

This episode gives you real-life lessons so you can design a kitchen that makes your daily life easier—not more frustrating.

FREE FLOOR PLAN WORKBOOK → carolineondesign.com/fp-free-workbook

EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/9-tips-for-designing-a-functional-kitchen

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

Clients and podcast listeners ask me the same question over and over: "What would YOU change if you built your home again?"

After living in my custom home for almost 13 years (and now planning my NEXT build), I've really been thinking about my answer to this question.

I don't have any regrets, but there ARE some tweaks I would make.

In this episode, I'm sharing four things I'd change if I built again, and four things I would NEVER change.

We cover:

• Why separate primary closets are at the TOP of my list (for my next house)
• The exact kitchen island size I wish I had (and why I had to forego it)
• How combining my mudroom and laundry room seemed smart on paper, but doesn't work in real life
• The one thing I added to my daughters' closets but forgot to add to my own (oops!) 😳
• PLUS, four things I got 100% right and would never change

Thankfully, we took the time to plan strategically BEFORE we built, so none of these are actual regrets—they're just small things I'd tweak next time.

This is what I want for YOU too. 

This episode gives you my real-life lessons learned so you can make smarter floor plan decisions NOW—before they become permanent.

FREE FLOOR PLAN WORKBOOK: carolineondesign.com/fp-free-workbook
EPISODE: carolineondesign.com/change-if-built-my-home-again

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

Wondering what you need to know before building a custom home?

In this episode, I'm answering the most common questions I hear from first-time custom home builders—the practical stuff you need to know BEFORE you start.

You'll learn what the first step actually is (hint: it's NOT interviewing builders!), why you need a crystal clear vision before you ever get a quote, when the right time to start planning is (way earlier than you think!), and the two BIG mistakes that almost always lead to budget overages and regrets.

Plus, I'm breaking down why planning 6-12 months ahead is your secret weapon for staying close to budget and loving your finished home. 🙌

If you're just dreaming about building or actively interviewing builders, this episode gives you the roadmap to avoid the mistakes that cost people tens of thousands of dollars (or more 😳).

🎉 BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ enrollment is open RIGHT NOW through Monday, February 9th!  🎉 Get all the details at carolineondesign.com/before-you-build 

EPISODE: carolineondesign.com/what-to-know-before-building-a-custom-home

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

First-time custom home build advice from a REAL family who just moved into their brand new home. 

Patrick and Jessica share their real experience going through BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ and how this program helped them build with confidence.

In this episode, we cover:

• How they vetted and found their amazing custom home builder
• How they designed for how THEIR family actually lives 
• Why you don't need to be a design expert to make great home decisions
• What mattered most to THEIR family 
• How they managed a custom home build from three hours away
• How BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ worked in tandem with their builder
• Their real budget outcome (and WHY)
• Their top advice for anyone planning a custom home build

Patrick and Jessica are living proof that the right preparation leads to confident building decisions—even when unexpected costs pop up.

Ready to Follow the Same Framework?

You can follow the exact same step-by-step framework Patrick and Jessica used. Enrollment for BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ opens February 2nd and closes February 9th. 

JOIN BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build 😘

But first, join me for my FREE live training where I'm teaching the "4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets." It's happening Monday, February 2nd at 10:00 am Central Time.

GRAB YOUR FREE SEAT → carolineondesign.com/free-training

EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/first-time-custom-home-build-advice

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

Nine out of ten custom homes go over budget. 😳

If you're wondering WHY, this episode will show you exactly what's happening—and how to avoid it.

I'm breaking down the real reasons most builds go 10-20% (or more!) over budget. 

You'll learn why that initial builder quote is NOT what your home will actually cost, the exact moment most people start blowing their budget (before construction even starts!), and what the 1 in 10 who stay on budget do differently.

Plus, I'm sharing Mare's story—one of my clients who came in $6,500 UNDER budget while getting everything she wanted. 💪

If you're about to build, this episode gives you the roadmap to be one of the rare few who build on budget and love their home—no regrets, no financial stress.

🎉 FREE TRAINING! 🎉  Monday, February 2nd at 10 am CT → "4 Steps to Build Your Dream Home Within Budget and Without Regrets!" 

FREE TRAINING: carolineondesign.com/free-training

EPISODE: carolineondesign.com/why-custom-homes-go-over-budget

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

Choosing the right builder can make or break your entire home-building experience, so you want to be SURE you're choosing the RIGHT builder.

In this episode, I'm sharing the three most important questions to ask home builders during interviews. These aren't the typical questions you'll find online. These are the questions that will save you time, stress, and thousands of dollars.

You'll learn exactly what to listen for in their answers, how to spot red flags, and the one step most people skip that reveals everything you need to know about a builder. Plus, I'll walk you through how to make your final decision using both data AND your gut instinct.

If you're interviewing builders (or about to start), this episode will give you the confidence to choose the right partner for your project.

EPISODE: carolineondesign.com/questions-to-ask-home-builders

Get the SPLURGE + SAVE PLANNER℠ → carolineondesign.com/splurge-blog-promo

Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ → carolineondesign.com/before-you-build

Download FREE HOME BUILD GUIDE → carolineondesign.com/home-build-guide

My FREE CLASS → Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training