As the story of Brian and Heather continues, they encounter more problems with their home - this time with MOLD! How will they deal with this issue?  

We talk with Owner & Partner of Alair Custom Homes Houston, Chris Bolio, about building here in the gulf region, builder's warranties, having a strong relationship with your client, and much more. There is only one way to ensure a certain outcome in construction and that is to validate every detail before you ever commit to a construction agreement.  

Tune in to find out!

Now that Brian and Heather have realized their project will fail if they don’t get the proper guidance, they decide to hire an owner’s representative to step in, and hopefully turn things around. Is this turning point for them? Is it the light at the end of the tunnel? 

 Tune in to find out!  

Curtis and Steven Deutser, Owner & President of Park Lane Builders, dive into the importance of developing processes and managing punch lists, home maintenance, utilizing a construction management software, and much more. These two builders aim to educate consumers on the importance of looking at their home as an ecosystem: one that works together symbiotically to create a healthy, durable, and efficient structure.

Now that Heather has had her baby and the couple finds themselves even busier than before, it would be nice for the project stress to lessen. Unfortunately, more problems in the build project are coming to light, and it is causing strain for them. The designer connects the couple with their true guide and shepherd in hopes he can turn the project around.

Will they hire the owner’s representative? Will they pull through to finish this project?

Tune in to find out!

We speak with architect, Bradly Hirdes, Founding Principal of Ordinary Architecture Practice, regarding the problems on this project, the complexity of building in today’s times, the team approach, and innovative house technologies that are coming into the building industry. We hope you join us again to learn more about the custom build process and let us guide you to a successful project. 

Our story characters decide to hire an interior designer to help with the overwhelming number of selections and options for their custom home. Even though this good decision makes things less stressful, it brings to light a lot more issues with their builders’ “standard” installs. Once again, costs are going up, in vain. What other surprises will they encounter in this episode?

We talk with a designer, Shannon Vestal, about the various reasons why the designer should also be on board with the project from the start. Conversations between the builder and the interior designer really supports keeping project costs managed. A team approach is highlighted as the best way to succeed in your project, and having the right people, that understand your vision, is key.

Although Brian and Heather’s home-build is showing apparent progress, they are feeling loads of stress from the mistakes that keep surfacing on the project. The problems on site are not only becoming costly, but dangerous for the family now.

The home is a living organism and for it to function properly, there is a lot more than just following plans, to have a successful project. Toner and Curtis discuss building performance and the consequences of short-cuts which are commonly done because builders and home-owners are making cost-cutting decisions without discussing the implications of those choices on functionality of the home.

Will this project fail? Tune in to find out!

Brian and Heather start recognizing that their builder isn't as experienced as they hoped he would be, and it is becoming a big problem for their project. There have been some pretty big oversights in regard to design and engineering plans and materials choices.  Furthermore, their cost-plus contract is turning out to be not only bad for them, but also for the builder – costing big bucks for all. Will they be able to get through this project?   

We talk with Karl Breckon, CEO of BEC Engineers and Consultants, LLC, about many of the issues with the young couple's home, and how their builder’s poor decisions on cutting quality, are causing more trouble than necessary. Getting the engineer involved from the start is key, as they play an essential role in designing and implementing complicated building plans, and ensuring the home is going to be structurally sound. Finding a good builder, choosing the quality materials, and taking a team approach are all vital to a successful outcome.

The builder that Brian and Heather have contracted, has pulled a free contract template off the internet and they all signed quickly before having it reviewed by an attorney.  None of them understand the process enough to anticipate that there will be consequences to this hasty move… How do you think this will pan out for all parties involved?

Karalynn and Curtis talk about construction contracts and the risks that you may be entering into if your contract is poorly written and non-specific to your project.  They also go through all the things that are often overlooked but must be included to protect everyone, lien laws, costs associated with litigation, and much more.

Arbitration and lawsuits can be avoided if you go into a project with a well-defined contract – join us to educate yourself.

Our story characters, Brian and Heather, have made yet another wrong turn in their adventure with their “false” guides who simply are not knowledgeable enough in the Custom home build process. They face problems with the bank for unknowingly violating the terms of their agreement and possible foreclosure – they are defeated it seems!

We talk with Mortgage Loan Consultant, Jamie Wolf at First United Mortgage Group, to discuss what you must be aware of before starting to finance your custom home build. We delve into the wrong choices the couple has made and the right way to approach a project. We delve into the different options for construction and renovation loans,  the importance of full disclosure to your lender, and other necessary factors when financing your project. 

Thanks for tuning in to Your Project Shepherd Podcast!

We aimed to create fictional characters in our story based on our "train wreck" project, to highlight how a custom home build project can go south, real quick, if the people involved are not all communicating efficiently with one another, as process and building the right team are key to a successful project. 

Curtis clears the air about any possible misrepresentation of design professionals that may have been spoken about, in previous or future episodes, that may seem to illustrate their roles, rather than their level of expertise, as the negative aspect in our story.

Thanks for tuning in once again!

Now that Brian and Heather have their future home designs they move forward with choosing a builder for their project.  Rather than choosing someone based on custom home expertise, they focus on finding someone that provided a free estimate and the lowest bid. Will things improve for them or will they be stuck with another costly consequence on their hands?

We speak with owner of Sneller Custom Homes, Matt Sneller, about the factors to consider when choosing a builder, the importance of having a project development process in place, and how essential it is for all the key players to be involved from the start.  We unpack all of the couple's choices in our story and the problems that transpired as a result. Selecting a builder is not simply about selecting the builder that gives you the "best" rate with a free estimate. It is about finding a builder that has earned your trust and acts as an advocate for you, to achieve the best possible outcome within the scope of a well-planned budget.