The upgrades nobody brings up unless you ask
I build custom homes. Everything here is built for the person paying for one, in the window where the walls are still open.
The exact checklist I use on every build to catch the $5,000 mistakes while the walls are still open. Print it, or keep it on your phone standing in the house.
Get the free checklist
50 pre-drywall upgrades, options, and decisions nobody offers you, in the order your house gets built, with the exact words to ask for each one. What it costs now next to what it costs after drywall.
See what is inside
Watch your real cost per square foot move as the build goes, and catch every yes you never actually signed for. The gap between the contract number and the closing number is where budgets die.
Track every change order
Send me your actual plans. I walk them room by room on video and mark every fix while they are still free to make. Standard is $497. Private, where nothing is ever shown or reused, is $597.
Have your plans reviewedWhat we spec on real builds, plus the home products I use and keep buying. Real picks, not a list somebody scraped.
Rough-ins, fixtures, fans, valves, tools, and the home products I use myself. Some of it gets specified on a build. Some of it just lives in my house.
See the gearAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links in the gear storefront are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I list products I actually use and specify.
Built With This is educational. It is not architectural, engineering, or code guidance for your specific project. Confirm every decision with your builder, your designer, and your local building official.