When you are building a custom home, it is critical that a solid design system is in place.  This is where the interior and exterior design pulls together with the architectural design and the entire home becomes cohesive.  Without a solid process details can get missed, pricing can get out of hand and communication can break down.  In this week's episode, Kaitlyn breaks down what our Design Process looks like and gives you some insight into what it would look like to work with Spruce Homes!

If you are building a custom home, change orders are likely going to be part of the process.  You want to get your home just right and often times throughout construction you may want to tweak a few things from the original plan.  That's ok!  But you also don't want changes to get out of hand where costs sky rocket and the experience becomes stressful or frustrating.  Although eliminating change orders completely may be unrealistic, there are definitely ways to reduce them so that you can enjoy the ride.  Today's episode tackles some practical ways to do just that so that everything can go as smooth as you expect!

Have you ever talked to someone who built a custom home and heard about surprise costs that jumped up along the way?  It's not a pleasant experience!  It's an important thing to keep in mind - there is always a potential for cost over runs throughout the project.  Different contract types can protect you from some overruns, but even with a fixed price contract there are always scenarios where costs can pop up on you.  To help prepare you (both financially and mentally) for some of those possibilities, we sit down and talk about a short list of things that could potentially add cost to your build even AFTER you’ve signed a contract.  

After living in the house we built for three years, there have been some lessons learned.  Things that we would do the same, and things that we would do differently.  Living in a house you built gives a new perspective and helps better guide clients through their build.  To kickoff Season 2, we wanted to start light and talk through the things that we have learned and maybe help guide you as you start thinking about your new home.  Enjoy!   

Once you finish your project and move it, you want it to feel like home.  Part of that feeling is making sure the furniture fits with your new space.  In this episode, Kaitlyn discusses things to think through when you are furniture shopping, tips, and trends we are seeing for 2022.  If you are in the planning stages of a build or renovation this is something you will want to consider sooner rather than later!

You're planning to build a custom home, but you have no idea what it will cost.  Where do you start?  Unfortunately, the answer isn't as straight forward as you would like, but we on this weeks episode we break down what our Pricing Process looks like.  From inspiration, to floor plans, to pricing, we walk with you through the entire journey to get you to that answer - what will it cost!?   

Whether you are planning on building your dream home or doing an extensive renovation to create one, financing plays a crucial role.  While it may not be a glamorous topic, we all need to organize our "Benjamins" before starting a project.  On this episode Brad is joined by a special guest, Ron Quaroni to break down what construction financing looks like - both from the perspective of custom building as well as renovations.  If you're starting your construction journey,  play this episode a couple times to be sure you grab all the concepts and nuggets that are thrown your way!  

Hint: it's far from straightforward...   

One of the ongoing conversations we are having these days revolves around pricing.  Where is it now and where is it going?  At the moment, there are a few macro-economic factors at play that are impacting the overall market.  There are a ton of complexities and the the world is ever-changing.  In this episode, Brad goes over some of the macro events and dives into how they are impacting us here at home.  Would he build right now, or would he hold off?  Listen to this episode to find out his thoughts!

This week we have a special guest from Durabuilt Windows & Doors.  Daniel Serrano joins Brad to give some insight into a part of your home that often gets overlooked - windows.  Windows play a crucial part in the comfort and feeling of your home but also play a vital role in efficiency.  Sit down with Brad and Danny before you start designing your next project to think more about your new window selections and how they can impact the overall comfort and performance of your house!   

This week, we decided to go off topic and mix in something different - working with your spouse.  It's something that we have a first hand perspective on that most don't.  This episode is a fun way to bring you inside the realities of blending marriage and business.  Whether you are thinking of going into business with your significant other or you are just looking for some laughs at our expense, give this episode a listen!