PodcastsArtsBefore You Build℠ Podcast

Before You Build℠ Podcast

Caroline On Design
Before You Build℠ Podcast
Latest episode

100 episodes

  • Before You Build℠ Podcast

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

    14/1/2026 | 11 mins.
    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: '3 Simple Steps to Build Your Dream Home Without Blowing Your Budget' @ carolineondesign.com/free-training
  • Before You Build℠ Podcast

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

    07/1/2026 | 14 mins.
    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: '3 Simple Steps to Build Your Dream Home Without Blowing Your Budget' @ carolineondesign.com/free-training
  • Before You Build℠ Podcast

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

    03/12/2025 | 19 mins.
    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: '3 Simple Steps to Build Your Dream Home Without Blowing Your Budget' @ carolineondesign.com/free-training
  • Before You Build℠ Podcast

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

    19/11/2025 | 14 mins.
    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 spaces
    How to translate real-life frustrations into must-haves for your floor plan
    Why these observations matter more than anything you'll find on Pinterest
    This 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: '3 Simple Steps to Build Your Dream Home Without Blowing Your Budget' @ carolineondesign.com/free-training
  • Before You Build℠ Podcast

    095. Lighting and Electrical Planning with Jenn Smith

    05/11/2025 | 48 mins.
    Planning to build a custom home? Lighting and electrical planning is one of the most important (and most overlooked) parts of the design process. And here's the thing ... it's not something you can figure out "later." It needs to happen before your electrician shows up on site and your walls go up.
    In this episode, I'm talking to Jenn Smith, a licensed residential architect with over 20 years of experience helping families navigate the custom home process. Jenn specializes in one of the most overlooked yet transformative parts of design: lighting and electrical planning.
    We're covering the biggest mistakes homeowners make (like waiting too long to plan), how to future-proof your home with smart electrical decisions, where to splurge and where to save on fixtures, and the exact spots you'll wish you'd added more outlets and switches.
    ...
    🔗 SHOW NOTES: carolineondesign.com/lighting-and-electrical-planning
    🎓 BEFORE YOU BUILD℠: carolineondesign.com/before-you-build
    🎙 JENN SMITH RESOURCES:
    Instagram: www.instagram.com/jennsmitharchitect
    Website: www.jennsmitharchitect.com
    Free Checklist: Lighting & Electrical Checklist 
    FREE CLASS: '3 Simple Steps to Build Your Dream Home Without Blowing Your Budget' @ carolineondesign.com/free-training

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About Before You Build℠ Podcast

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!
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