Before You Build℠ Podcast

Caroline On Design
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Whether you’re dreaming of building a custom home in the future or you’re ready to start planning now, this show is for you! The Before You Build Podcast is your one-stop shop for actionable home-building tips and advice as well as tips for designing your dream home so that you feel equipped to design the home of your dreams that makes you (and your wallet) happy for years to come.  We’ll answer all of your burning questions such as: How do I plan for building a custom home? What should I do before building a house? How do I design my new house? What mistakes should I avoid when building a house? How do I create the perfect floor plan for my family? How do I hire a builder? How do I finance my home build? And the biggest question of all, how do I bring my dream home to life without blowing the budget? Well, friends … the answer is in PLANNING for your home build long before you ever break ground. I’m your host, Carrie Barker (aka, Caroline on Design). I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out. Through trial and error (psst … I built pre-Pinterest), I created my absolute dream home that is not only perfect for the way my family lives but also turned out more beautiful than I imagined. The best part … I did this all without blowing the budget and without design regrets.  I cracked the code on how to bring my own dream home vision to life while sticking VERY close to budget and now I’m here to teach you everything I learned along the way so that you, too, end up with that cozy, beautiful home you envision in your head and a mortgage you’re comfy with.  The short, actionable, and bingeable ‘Before You Build’ episodes will prepare YOU for a successful home build with less stress, more confidence, and joy throughout the process. And just so you know … the key to building your dream home close to budget is all in the planning you do BEFORE YOU BUILD! So let’s dive in and get started!

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    103. 4 Things I Would Change if I Built My Home Again

    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 lifeThe 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 changeThankfully, 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 BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    14 min

  2. 4 FEB

    102. What You Need to Know Before Building a Custom Home!

    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 BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    13 min

  3. 28 JAN

    101. First-Time Custom Home Build Advice From a Real Family!

    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 builderHow they designed for how THEIR family actually lives Why you don't need to be a design expert to make great home decisionsWhat mattered most to THEIR family How they managed a custom home build from three hours awayHow BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ worked in tandem with their builderTheir real budget outcome (and WHY)Their top advice for anyone planning a custom home buildPatrick 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.easywebinar.live/registration-feb26  EPISODE → carolineondesign.com/first-time-custom-home-build-advice FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    45 min

  4. 21 JAN

    100. Why Custom Homes Go Over Budget (+ How to Avoid This!)

    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.easywebinar.live/registration-feb26  EPISODE: carolineondesign.com/why-custom-homes-go-over-budget BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build Claude is AI and can make mistakes.  Please double-check responses. FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    13 min

  5. 14 JAN

    099. 3 Critical Questions to Ask Home Builders Before You Sign

    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 BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    12 min

  6. 7 JAN

    098. Building a Home in 2026? Ask Yourself This First!

    Building a home in 2026? There's ONE question you need to ask yourself that will reveal whether you're truly ready—or just winging it. In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference between "planning" (aka browsing Pinterest) and ACTUALLY being prepared for your build. You'll hear a real example from clients who showed up so prepared that their builder and electrician were blown away. Plus, I'm sharing what strategic planning actually looks like—it's way simpler than you think and way more powerful. If you've been thinking, "I'll figure it out later," this episode is your wake-up call to start NOW. Want to feel confident and prepared for your build? Join the waitlist for BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ at carolineondesign.com/before-you-build. Doors open February 2nd! EPISODE: carolineondesign.com/building-a-home-2026 FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    14 min

  7. 03/12/2025

    097. How to Visualize Furniture in Your Floor Plan (+ Spoak Review)

    You might think your floor plan is done once the room sizes are sketched out. But here's what most first-time builders don't realize ... you can't really know if those dimensions work until you see how your actual furniture fits in each space. In this episode, I'm sharing a tool I discovered (and tested with my own money) that helps you visualize furniture in your floor plan before you build.  We'll talk through why this step matters so much, how to make layout decisions with confidence instead of guessing, and how this platform can save you from expensive mistakes. You'll learn why testing furniture placement matters and how the right tool can help you feel confident about your room sizes before your builder breaks ground. 🔗 SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/visualize-furniture-in-your-floor-plan ⚒️ FREE FLOOR PLAN WORKBOOK: carolineondesign.com/fp-free-workbook 🎓 Join BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    20 min

  8. 19/11/2025

    096. Custom Home Planning: Use Your Next Gathering as Free Research

    The next time you host (or attend) a gathering (whether it's Thanksgiving next week 😉, a birthday party, or just family visiting for the weekend), you're sitting on free research for your custom home planning.  In this episode, I'm showing you how to turn those hosting moments into valuable insights about what you actually need in your future home. You'll learn: The specific questions to ask yourself while hosting (or visiting someone else's home)What to observe about kitchen layout, traffic flow, and entertaining spacesHow to translate real-life frustrations into must-haves for your floor planWhy these observations matter more than anything you'll find on PinterestThis works whether you're the host or the guest. These real-life insights reveal what really matters when you're designing a home you'll love living in. ... 🔗 EPISODE SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/custom-home-planning 🎓 BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build ✏️ FREE FLOOR PLAN QUESTIONNAIRE: carolineondesign.com/fp-free-workbook FREE CLASS → 4 Steps to Build Within Budget and Without Regrets! Grab your seat at carolineondesign.com/free-training

    14 min
See All (104)

Trailer

About

Whether you’re dreaming of building a custom home in the future or you’re ready to start planning now, this show is for you! The Before You Build Podcast is your one-stop shop for actionable home-building tips and advice as well as tips for designing your dream home so that you feel equipped to design the home of your dreams that makes you (and your wallet) happy for years to come.  We’ll answer all of your burning questions such as: How do I plan for building a custom home? What should I do before building a house? How do I design my new house? What mistakes should I avoid when building a house? How do I create the perfect floor plan for my family? How do I hire a builder? How do I finance my home build? And the biggest question of all, how do I bring my dream home to life without blowing the budget? Well, friends … the answer is in PLANNING for your home build long before you ever break ground. I’m your host, Carrie Barker (aka, Caroline on Design). I designed my own custom home from the ground up, inside and out. Through trial and error (psst … I built pre-Pinterest), I created my absolute dream home that is not only perfect for the way my family lives but also turned out more beautiful than I imagined. The best part … I did this all without blowing the budget and without design regrets.  I cracked the code on how to bring my own dream home vision to life while sticking VERY close to budget and now I’m here to teach you everything I learned along the way so that you, too, end up with that cozy, beautiful home you envision in your head and a mortgage you’re comfy with.  The short, actionable, and bingeable ‘Before You Build’ episodes will prepare YOU for a successful home build with less stress, more confidence, and joy throughout the process. And just so you know … the key to building your dream home close to budget is all in the planning you do BEFORE YOU BUILD! So let’s dive in and get started!

Information

  • Creator
    Caroline On Design
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Before You Build℠ Podcast
  • Show Website
    Before You Build℠ Podcast

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