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The Before You Build Podcast

The Before You Build Podcast

Caroline On Design 119 episodes Aug 5, 2026

A practical planning podcast for people who want to build a custom home or remodel an existing one. Host Carrie Barker, known as Caroline on Design, shares advice on creating floor plans, hiring builders, financing projects, and making smart decisions before construction begins. The show focuses on intentional planning so listeners can build or renovate with clarity, confidence, and budget control.

Episodes

116. What to Consider Before Building a House (or Renovating)
116. What to Consider Before Building a House (or Renovating) Aug 5, 2026 15:32 Most people think planning a home starts with floor plans, Pinterest boards, and picking out beautiful finishes. But what if that's actually the wrong place to start?The most important decisions happen long before you ever choose a countertop or paint color.In this episode, I'm sharing the three things I believe everyone should consider before building, renovating, or buying a home ... a
115. We Unexpectedly Bought an Existing House (Say What?!)
115. We Unexpectedly Bought an Existing House (Say What?!) Jul 22, 2026 18:37 Most people assume designing a home you love starts with choosing finishes, fixtures, and paint colors ... but after unexpectedly buying an existing house, I realized what actually matters MOST.(and yes ... considering I've spent years helping people build custom homes, this surprised me too! ) 😉In this episode, I'm sharing the unexpected journey that led my husband and me to buy an exis
114. What to Clarify Before Building a Custom Home
114. What to Clarify Before Building a Custom Home Jun 17, 2026 17:13 Knowing what to clarify before building a custom home is one of the MOST important things you can do for your budget ... and yet it's one of the most overlooked parts of the entire process.In fact, there's a specific layer of clarity that very few people talk about, even though it's one of the biggest reasons custom home projects go over budget.In this episode, I'm breaking dow
113. Best Exterior White Paint Colors (That Are Timeless)
113. Best Exterior White Paint Colors (That Are Timeless) Jun 3, 2026 11:49 If you're trying to nail down the perfect white paint color for your home exterior, this episode is for you. 🙌I actually created this list for a blog post back in 2020 — and when I went to update it recently, I realized that every single color on that list is still just as popular today as it was six years ago. These aren't trendy whites. They're timeless ones.I actually have one of
112. Building a Custom Home on Family Property: Joanne’s Story
112. Building a Custom Home on Family Property: Joanne’s Story May 27, 2026 41:31 When Joanne decided to tear down her family's lakefront cottage and rebuild on the same lot, she knew building a custom home on a small, waterfront lot was going to be anything but simple. So she joined BEFORE YOU BUILD℠ because she knew there would be a lot to think through before breaking ground.In this episode she covers:Why she chose to tear down instead of renovatePermitting and building
MVP: 5 Things I Wish I Included in my Custom Floor Plan
MVP: 5 Things I Wish I Included in my Custom Floor Plan May 20, 2026 10:23 I built my custom home back in 2013, and I genuinely love it. The layout is cozy, functional, and still works perfectly for my family over 12 years later.However, there *are* a few things I'd do differently if I built this house again.In this MVP episode, I'm sharing 5 things I wish I had included in our custom floor plan. Tune in because these are details most people don't think ab
111. How to Create a Realistic Custom Home Budget Before Meeting a Builder
111. How to Create a Realistic Custom Home Budget Before Meeting a Builder May 13, 2026 13:31 In this episode, I'm answering a question I got from someone in my free on-demand class, and honestly, it was SO good I had to share it with everyone.We're talking about how to create a realistic budget before you ever sit down with a builder — so that when you do get a quote, it actually means something.I walk you through:Why your vision has to come before your numbers (and why skipping
MVP: 9 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Building a Custom Home
MVP: 9 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Building a Custom Home May 6, 2026 11:23 If you're building a home (or planning to build), you're probably worried about the typical things … you know, like staying on budget or making the right design decisions. But guess what?There are MANY other things you might not even realize you NEED to think about until you are already in the thick of building your home. Don't worry ... I've got you covered with a list of 9 th
110. How to Prioritize Your Home Build Budget
110. How to Prioritize Your Home Build Budget Apr 29, 2026 13:21 Going over budget when building a custom home isn't inevitable. It does happen often, but it is NOT inevitable. One of the biggest causes is not knowing how to prioritize your home build budget.In this episode, I'm talking about one of the most important things you can do before you break ground … and that is to get crystal clear on YOUR family's priorities so you know exactly where
109. Where to Splurge and Save When Building a Custom Home
109. Where to Splurge and Save When Building a Custom Home Apr 15, 2026 13:46 Going over budget is one of the biggest fears I hear from people building a custom home. But here's what I want you to know … It is possible to build within, or very close to, your budget. It all comes down to knowing where YOU should splurge and where YOU should save when building.In this episode, I break down my simple two-rule framework for deciding where to splurge and save when building.
108. How to Avoid Custom Home Exterior Regrets
108. How to Avoid Custom Home Exterior Regrets Apr 1, 2026 15:44 Have you ever driven past a house and thought, something just looks off — but you couldn't quite put your finger on it? I see it all the time. And it's not just on low-cost homes … I see it on multi-million-dollar homes too.It's not a budget problem. It's a gap in the design process that SO many people miss completely.In this episode, I'm breaking down why some custom home
107. Overwhelmed Building a Home? You’re Going to Be Okay!
107. Overwhelmed Building a Home? You’re Going to Be Okay! Mar 25, 2026 13:02 Feeling overwhelmed just thinking about building a home is one of the most common things I hear from people planning a custom build. And, honestly, it makes complete sense. You're making hundreds of high-stakes decisions you've never had to make before, on a timeline that's largely outside of your control, with A LOT of money on the line.In this episode, I'm sharing what I&apos

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