Building Tips

They say building a house is one of the most stressful things a couple can go through, and after doing it seven times, I can confirm that’s absolutely true. We discovered that marriage and building a house have a lot in common: both take planning, compromise, and a whole lot of love. Between budgets, decisions, deadlines, and unexpected surprises, the process can test your patience, communication, and even your marriage. Some couples don’t even make it through their first home build together, so after going through seven builds and remodels, we’ve learned a few things about surviving (and even thriving) through it.

The Inspiration Behind Our Custom Floor Plan Over the years, we’ve been down the road of working with architects, spending…

What we learned — and lived — is that building can absolutely be cheaper if you stay disciplined with your budget. Not only did we save money compared to buying a similar home at the time, but the long-term payoff was even greater than we expected.

Choosing a builder is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning a new home, renovation, or addition to your home— and it can feel overwhelming. Knowing how to choose the right home builder is key to avoiding delays, budget blowouts, and poor workmanship. It’s not just about finding someone with the right price or portfolio — it’s about finding a professional you can trust to deliver on time, communicate clearly, and build to the standard you expect.

Building your own home is exciting—but it comes with a lot of big decisions. One of the first ones is figuring out where to start: Do you find the perfect floor plan first, or secure the land and then design around it? Choosing whether to choose the plan or land first can shape the entire course of your homebuilding experience. It might seem like a small detail, but the order you choose can impact everything—from your budget and design to the build timeline. I’ve had this exact debate myself (more than once!), and the answer isn’t always obvious. So let’s break it down and figure out what actually makes the most sense for your build.