Building Savvy Bottom Line

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Welcome to Building Savvy Bottom Line—the podcast that bridges the gap between home buyers, owners, and housing industry professionals. We bring you expert insights on everything from engineering best practices and cutting-edge home design trends to legal issues, legislation, and business strategies shaping the industry. Our goal is simple: to make building or remodeling a home a seamless, enjoyable experience by fostering better understanding between builders and their customers. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives, stay informed, and confidently navigate the home-building process.

Episodes

  1. AUG 13

    Ep 5 - The Devil in the Details: Builder Contracts Explained with Matthew Motes

    Having represented both builders and property owners, Attorney Matthew Motes brings a balanced perspective to construction law. He emphasizes that avoiding disputes often comes down to the “devil in the details” of your builder contract. In this episode, he unpacks key topics including the benefits of arbitration, Cost-Plus versus Fixed Fee payment structures, the Texas Trust Funds Act, structural warranties, homeowner maintenance obligations, builder insurance policies, and subcontractor agreements. Clear communication and upfront alignment on expectations are essential—because the more both parties understand the process, the smoother the experience will be.

    34 min

  2. JUL 9

    Cracking the Code with Paul Evans

    Paul Evans, a six-year voting member of the International Code Council board, takes us behind the scenes of how residential building codes are crafted and adopted across Texas. He unpacks the intent behind these codes—and why pushing requirements too far can backfire. Paul also explains how most builders lean into performance-based models that not only cost less but often exceed standard code benchmarks.

    14 min

  3. JUN 11

    Ep 3 - Cliff Kessler: Helping Californians Call Texas Home

    Realtor Cliff Kessler, a top producer at the prestigious Allie Beth Allman & Associates in Dallas, shares his journey from California to Texas and what makes the Lone Star State such a great place to live. In this episode, Cliff discusses his passion for helping newcomers discover the opportunities that brought them here and thrive in their new communities. Specializing in new home sales, Cliff brings a wealth of expertise to every stage of the process—whether clients are buying a lot to build their dream home, purchasing a spec home, or remodeling an existing property. His keen insight into the preferences of Texas transplants also helps builders tailor and market their homes to meet the evolving demands of today’s buyers. To learn more about available homes and connect with Cliff, visit his website: www.alliebeth.com/bio/cliffkessler.

    25 min

  4. MAY 14

    Ep 2- Precision Planning for Performance Homes with Armando Cobo

    Home designer and Zero Energy Ready Home Instructor Armando Cobo highlights the importance of highly detailed home plans in preventing costly foundation, structural, and mechanical issues. However, he cautions that there’s no single solution that fits every project. Success isn’t just about choosing the right products—it’s about how they’re applied and installed. Cobo emphasizes that building a high-performance home costs only one to three percent more than one built to baseline code—a small investment that pays for itself quickly.

    51 min

  5. MAR 12

    Ep 1 - Building on Solid Ground: Foundation Innovations with Jay Conner & Olivia Conner Garcia

    Jay Conner, founder of MLAW Engineers, and his daughter, Olivia Conner Garcia, explore the challenges and innovations shaping foundation engineering in Texas. Drawing from their extensive expertise, they discuss the vital role of soil testing in foundation design and the impact of water management on long-term performance. They also introduce Smart Slab, their groundbreaking technology that monitors and adjusts moisture levels beneath foundations, helping to prevent movement and cracking.

    48 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Welcome to Building Savvy Bottom Line—the podcast that bridges the gap between home buyers, owners, and housing industry professionals. We bring you expert insights on everything from engineering best practices and cutting-edge home design trends to legal issues, legislation, and business strategies shaping the industry. Our goal is simple: to make building or remodeling a home a seamless, enjoyable experience by fostering better understanding between builders and their customers. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives, stay informed, and confidently navigate the home-building process.

Information