042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0)

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Hi, and welcome to Home the Second Story. I'm Sherry Scott with Springhouse Architects in

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Cincinnati, Ohio. And I'm Marilyn Modinger with Runcible Studios in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Boston, Massachusetts. And today we're doing something a little bit different. We're excited

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

for this new format. We're doing what we're calling a mailbag episode. So we're pulling

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

some questions that we've received and we're going to read those questions aloud and we're

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

going to answer them right here. Yeah, these will be good. I'm excited because these are

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

questions that we get all the time. And what I like about these questions is that they're

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

specific to a certain scenario. So we'll be able to be specific in our what we're talking

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

about. So I think we should just dive in, right? Yeah, absolutely. All right. I love this first

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

question because it hits on a lot of things that we hear all the time. Is our budget realistic?

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I applaud them even for asking. Well, yeah. A lot of times it's not realistic and

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

they have no idea they should be asking this. Yeah. So already we're off to a good start.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah. Okay. So this person says, Hi, we're a family of four and we've outgrown our house.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We've been saving for a major renovation and think we can spend around $300,000. But once

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

we started adding up kitchen, family room, addition, updating the primary bath, I'm worried

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

we may be way off. We don't need the fanciest finishes, but we do want it to feel beautiful

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

and well-designed. How do we know if our budget is realistic before getting too far down the

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

road?

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Mm-hmm. Great question.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Such a good question.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yes. What I want to say to our listeners is there will always be some kind of investment

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

to get to a real answer. Whether that's your time, a builder's time, our time, there's some

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

kind of investment that you need to make to get an honest answer that you can literally

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

take to the bank.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I agree. You cannot expect. So whatever level of effort you put in to getting the answer

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

to this question is the level of accuracy you're going to get back out. So if you ask a builder,

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Hey, I want to do my kitchen, family room, and my primary bath, what will it cost?

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Right.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

The builder might say, well, anywhere from $200,000 to $800,000.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah. And he's right.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And he's right. A good builder will not give you a specific number until that builder has

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

more information. That could be in the form of drawings or a written narrative. At the

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

very least, coming to see your house, getting to know you a little bit, understanding what

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

you mean. Because by the way, everybody says, I don't want the fanciest finishes.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Every.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I wrote that down when you read it. I was like, yep, fancy finishes. I know. Everyone's,

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

we're simple. We're, we can make, we can compromise.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We don't want the gold plated, whatever. That's what everyone says. Yeah.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I don't want the gold plated, whatever, but we want solid things that will last at a good price

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

point. And you know why that's a popular answer? Why everyone says it? Because it makes sense.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It does make sense. It does. That's a great idea.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

There's still a wide range. So, okay. So there's going to be an investment of time or

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

some money to pay some professionals to talk through this stuff. So that's one thing. The

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

other thing I want to say about the number itself. So they are, they are specifically saying

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

300,000. First of all, I also want to applaud them for saying a number. A lot of times we

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

are expected to give feedback on a budget without being told the budget. That's really hard. So if

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

someone says, well, I don't, I'll say, what's your budget? And they say, well, I don't know.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

What does it cost? I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. You have a dollar amount that you can

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

spend because you've looked at your own finances. I need to know what we're talking about here.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So, and then second about that number, 300,000, that changes drastically depending on where

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

you are in the country and what's going on at the time, right? So at the time of us recording

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

this, gas prices are going through the roof. So that is impacting construction costs.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

When, by the time this airs or by the time anyone's listening to this in six months or a

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

year or whatever, who knows what's going on? So that number, that 300,000 is very dependent

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

on where you are in the country. And even like, so I do a lot of work in the Boston area.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah. That number would change depending on what block I'm on in the city of Boston.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Interesting. Yeah. It's not like that here in Ohio, but it does depend on timing. And there are...

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Some, you know, pocket neighborhoods that, you know, pay a tax for living in those neighborhoods.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

The fancy tax?

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Fancy tax, yeah.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And that's so unfair, but it's true.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Also, with that number and lumping in, that's a pretty large renovation, right?

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And you're touching the most expensive areas in the house, the kitchen and the primary bath.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Because we don't know where they are or what their existing house looks like, what it's

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

going to take to renovate, we don't know if $300,000 is a good number or not.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

But I would say that it's going to be up there because you are touching the kitchen and the

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

bathroom.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

A family room addition is pretty inexpensive to do because you're not putting in any cabinets.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And it's plumbing, nothing.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It's just a room.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You've got carpet and drywall or hardwood floor, whatever you put in.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

When you're talking about budget and is it realistic, look at the spaces that you're

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

looking to renovate.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Are they the most expensive spaces or are they more simple?

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah, that's a great point, too.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I also think the other thing about that number is a classic misunderstanding between

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

homeowners and industry people, like builders and architects and designers.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So when a homeowner says my budget is $300,000, they are speaking about that as a project budget.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So that's their all-in number.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That includes the permit costs, the architect or designer fees, the survey costs, the financing

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

costs, the furnishing, new furnishings that they want to do, all of that.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So that means that the number that they have for construction is actually a lot lower than

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S… Speaker 3 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

$300,000.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So a lot of times I'll start off by saying, hey, is that your construction budget or your

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S… Speaker 4 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

project budget?

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Is that your all-in number?

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And then we do a little math problem and we subtract out those other things.

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S… Speaker 5 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That's smart.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That's really smart because there are so many other things that come in.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

One thing that catches people that I talk to a lot is if they're adding on a bedroom and

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

then that's going to trigger the septic system.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Great point.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And that's something that people don't.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And that's a big number.

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S… Speaker 4 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That's a big number.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Also, putting in an addition here, you're probably adding in HVAC.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

There's just so many things that go into that number, not to mention landscaping.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Landscaping is never included in any number ever.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And you get to the end of the project, you have no money and then you're looking at a bunch

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

of dirt and can't make it really feel like homey and finished.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I think the other thing, too, that you touched on there that's important to bring out is

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

HVAC and systems.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So when you're doing a more extensive renovation, like this one sounds like, so, you know, we're

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

doing an addition, kitchen, updating the bathroom.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That usually means that you're starting to impact systems.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You're starting to impact plumbing, electrical and HVAC.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And in an older home, a lot of times those systems might be due for an upgrade anyway.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So now you're asking, you're saying, okay, well, I have to upgrade my electrical panel

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

because we need a bigger HVAC system or because we're adding all this stuff or, you know, you

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

don't want to do a renovation of all this stuff and then have a terrible HVAC system that isn't

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

comfortable or that you're going to need to replace in two years anyway.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So sometimes what happens is, well, I call it the while you're at it costs.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It's during a major renovation that that's the time to replace all the windows if they're

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

30 years old and they're old, weird vinyl and now it's time to do that.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Or now is the time to replace the roof because it's in year 20 and it's a 25-year roof or

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

whatever.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So sometimes those additional things in the shopping cart that you weren't planning for,

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

you weren't thinking about, eat up half the budget.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

But it's a really bad idea to not do it now because do you really want to finish a major

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

renovation and a year later be tearing out your HVAC system or redoing the roof or whatever?

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So that $300K and that scope, so a lot of times what we're talking about with folks early is

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

what is that scope?

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So the wishlist scope is different than the, well, you know, here are the things that you

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

should do while you're doing all this other stuff.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And maybe we actually.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

we phase the project in a way that's a little bit different than the homeowner sort of envisioned

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

at first, or we actually delay the project a year so they can save up a little bit more

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

or whatever so that they can take care of. So then they have 400K for a project that now we're

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

taking care of some of those other things. And now they don't have to touch the house for the

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

next 15 years. That's an important investment as well. And some of the unknowns that you might

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

encounter, you need to account for unknowns in a renovation, of course. And also, are you going

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

to move out during the renovation? Are you going to have those costs associated as well? I know we

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

talked to one of the people that we interviewed for the podcast early on. They pretty much hit their

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

budget in the actual renovation, but the renovation took six months longer. And they only had their

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

place to move out to for that certain period of time. And then the last six months, they were moving

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

like every month because the builder was telling them, oh, well, we'll be done in six weeks, surely.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So they signed a two-month lease and then nope, we're not done. So then they had to find something

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

else because that was leased and just a disaster in terms of emotional expenditure and money.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I think that part of it is contingency, right? So I think, spoiler alert, we have another question

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

in our mailbag we're going to get to, hopefully, on that. But it is important to set aside. So if that

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

300K is your top line number and that means you have no other money, that should not be the number

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

that you need to set some of that aside. Yeah, that's not your construction budget.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That's right. To take care of some of those unknowns. As we wrap up our answer for this

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

question, I want to make sure that we're answering the actual question too, which is how do we know

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

if our budget is realistic before we get too far down the road? So we've talked about this before,

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

about how to set costs, how to set budgets, how to talk about costs early. And I think it just

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

boils down to, as usual, you need a good team. You need competent professionals around you who are

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

giving you real information. Honest, yes. Honest information, not just what you want to hear.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Right. Not trying to get the job, but... Yep. Not trying to lowball you. And how do you know if that

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

person is giving you good advice? That's tough. So we have other episodes where we talk about this,

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

but it's basically you have to work with professionals who are trusted and vetted.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So that means, you know, making sure that this person that you're working with, whether it's a

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

designer, architect, builder, whatever, or some combination, have done good work for people

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

in the past and are being honest with you. Yeah. So that's how you find out if your budget is

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

realistic. It is not on Google. It is not on AI. It isn't because there's too many little factors.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Too many variables. Well, that leads us right into the second question.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Oh, perfect. Do you want to read it?

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah. Who do we hire first? So talking about the professionals. Yeah.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

My husband and I know we want to either renovate extensively or possibly build new,

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

but we feel stuck on the first step. Some friends say hire an architect first. Others say talk to a

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

builder first, and some recommend design build. We don't want to waste time or money going in the

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

wrong order. How should homeowners think about who to hire first? I love this question.

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S… Speaker 4 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Great question.

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S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I'm pretty sure you and I are going to be on the same page.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Architects.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yes.

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So, and the reason we say that, and this is where, you know, for regular listeners already

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S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

know that I used to be a general contractor. That's how I got started. I worked for a general

13:56

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

contractor and estimator and project manager, build houses, all that kind of stuff. That's what I was

14:00

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

before I was an architect. And I would still say, talk to your architect first. The reason is the

14:06

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

builder can give you lots of really useful information, but it's not very specific until

14:12

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

you have some drawings. Right.

14:15

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And a good builder will say, well, sure, I can talk to you generally, but do you have drawings?

14:21

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Right.

14:22

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And if the answer is no, then the builder is like, well, I can't really give you specific

14:27

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

information. Yeah. There are so many reasons. One of them being that when you hire the architect

14:36

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

first and design your home with someone, then you actually own those plans, that design. It's a

14:44

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

whole copyright thing I'm not going to get into.

14:46

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You don't own the design and the drawing, so that's complicated.

14:53

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yes. But for purposes of this conversation, I will say you can take...

14:59

S… Speaker 3 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You are licensed to use...

15:00

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

use those. You can take that design and talk to multiple builders. So when you get it designed by

15:08

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

an architect, designer, draftsman, whatever you choose, you can take those plans and talk to

15:16

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

different builders. Yes. If you go to the builder first and your contract is through the builder,

15:23

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

that design typically stays with that builder. So you have zero opportunity to talk to multiple

15:32

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

people. Talk about starting off on the wrong foot, getting married to somebody in the very first step

15:40

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

is insane for you to commit to someone that is going to take you through the entire process.

15:51

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You have no idea what it's going to cost or how you're going to get along with them.

15:59

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Seems crazy to me. Yeah. I think the beauty of the architect's role that most people sort of don't

16:08

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

understand or whatever, they haven't done a project, so they don't know. The beauty of the architect's

16:15

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

role is we're a third party. So we are not building the house. We are not. So this answer is that,

16:21

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

you know, this person's asking about design build as well. And the situation you're describing is

16:25

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

basically design build. As an architect, we are not committed to one builder. We're not committed to

16:33

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

a set of like, like a production builder will only do certain details, only do certain designs,

16:41

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

only use certain suppliers, because that's where all their stuff comes from. We are not that way.

16:46

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We can work with all kinds of different suppliers and all kinds of different details and all kinds

16:52

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

of different things. And the architect also, so during construction, if a dispute comes up or a

16:57

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

question or tension or any of those things comes up, the architect is fully in the owner's court,

17:07

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

right? They're not building the house. So I have as architect, no financial incentive

17:15

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

to do certain things in construction that, you know, it's a gray area with, and if you have,

17:22

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

if you don't have that third party, it's just the owner and the builder. And it's just the owner's

17:27

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

word and the builder's word. And the builder's a lot more experienced than the owner. And good builders,

17:32

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

by the way, I want to be really careful here because we love builders and builders are amazing.

17:38

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Really good builders want that third party, right? They want that person who's helping the

17:46

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

homeowner through all these things, helping explain like, this is why this is being invoiced now.

17:51

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

This is why we have to buy the windows first. It's the first thing that we buy. I know that sounds

17:57

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

crazy, but they have the longest lead time and we need to order them now. And helping educate the

18:02

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

owner through that process and helping them understand the process so that the builder can

18:07

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

build. And that as a third party is a time-honored role for us to have.

18:15

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah. And to start that way makes a lot of sense. Another reason why I think you start with an

18:21

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

architect is because we can look at a lot of different options. We can help you look at the site.

18:29

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We can help you look, um, at some of the other things that are going to come up during the process

18:36

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

and all of that in the light of what you want to get out of the project of what your priorities are,

18:44

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

not necessarily, okay, let's, let's get this done and get you in the ground, but let's talk about it

18:52

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

first. Let's figure out what your priorities are. Let's just take a minute and make sure that it's

18:58

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

right. Um, and we do all of that as a preamble to the project where I feel like, of course there are

19:08

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

builders that, that do all those things and assure their clients through a great project. There's no

19:15

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

doubt, but that really is our role is to do all of the upfront stuff with you and then follow you

19:26

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

through the entire project. So that midway through the project, you're not like telling somebody,

19:33

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

oh, but you know, we talked about this or we thought about this in the beginning and it's not

19:39

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

pulling all the way through, but that's part of our job too. So if we're from the very beginning,

19:44

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

we know all of the story. We know all of your things that you're wanting to accomplish and we can

19:51

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

help you through it all the way through. So when we're standing on the construction site and we're

19:58

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

talking about roller shades,

19:59

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

we're talking about roller shades.

20:00

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

But we wanted it in a pocket.

20:02

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It's in the drawings and it is a continuity all the way through instead of different people picking up different parts.

20:11

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Exactly.

20:12

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I think that also goes towards the architects.

20:16

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So I'm sure you've been through this too, Sherry, where someone calls you.

20:20

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

This happens to me all the time.

20:22

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Someone will call in and say, we want to do a project, blah, blah, blah.

20:25

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Great.

20:25

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We do a call with them or we meet them.

20:27

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And by the end of the call, I'm like, we're not a good fit for you or you don't need us or here's a better way to do it.

20:35

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Just because you're calling an architect doesn't mean that you're definitely working with that architect on this exact project.

20:44

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I wish people would use this as a resource a little bit more and call us earlier.

20:49

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Not just when they want plans drawn up.

20:53

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Like, you're already way too late to have, there's so much wisdom and so much help we could have been giving you well before that.

21:03

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It's not just a service.

21:05

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Like, it's not just a plans drawing up service.

21:08

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We're a strategist.

21:10

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We've done this a million times.

21:11

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We've seen it a million different ways.

21:14

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I also routinely talk myself right out of projects if I'm not the right fit.

21:21

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

My goal is just to help the person find the right combination of professionals or the way to get through a project.

21:29

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And a lot of times that's not me.

21:31

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That might be some other architect I know who has a better specialty in that.

21:34

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Or it might be, hey, you should work directly with a builder.

21:37

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You've got a really clear situation.

21:39

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You're just doing the smaller project or you're just whatever.

21:43

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I think that's also, you know, people seem to want to just come to us when they know exactly what they want.

21:53

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And that means that that's really hard for people to do because we're there to help them figure it out.

21:59

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Right.

22:00

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Right from the beginning.

22:01

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So maybe instead of who do we hire first, we should say who do you talk to first?

22:06

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I think the answer is still the same.

22:09

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It's the architect is who you talk to and who you hire.

22:12

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

But your point there is really important.

22:15

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It's that you're not calling them to hire them right away.

22:19

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Right.

22:19

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You're calling them to have a conversation.

22:23

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Have a conversation.

22:24

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I will say there are a lot of builders who, you know, in the higher end custom homes,

22:30

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

they'll say, find an architect or, hey, I've worked with this architect.

22:35

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

They'll refer them to us.

22:38

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

But they don't want to get in the middle before it's their turn.

22:43

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And it's a waste of their time.

22:45

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah.

22:45

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Absolutely.

22:46

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

It's a waste of their time.

22:47

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And the builders that I work with most frequently, if a homeowner calls them out of the blue,

22:53

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I mean, they'll take the call because they're good guys and whatever.

22:55

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

But if I call them and I say, I have a project, they're much more responsive because I've done

23:00

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

15 projects with them or whatever.

23:03

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So that also is when you talk to the architect first, you're getting that conductor of the

23:10

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

orchestra who's putting together the team that you might need, whether it's specific,

23:15

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

you know, names of builders that are a good fit for you, or this is the way you should

23:21

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

progress through your project.

23:22

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I think we always wish that people would call us earlier and bring us into that.

23:28

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

When you're making decisions that are very expensive, like buying a lot or buying a home,

23:34

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

bring us in because we can help you early.

23:37

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yes.

23:38

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Well said.

23:39

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

What's next, Marilyn?

23:41

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I like this question about renovating, adding on, or moving.

23:46

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I think that dovetails really nicely with what we were just talking about.

23:50

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah, yeah.

23:51

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So this person wants to know what they should do.

23:54

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So we hear this all the time.

23:55

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

This is good stuff.

23:56

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Here's the question.

23:57

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We love our neighborhood, our kids' school, and our lot, but our house just doesn't function

24:02

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

well anymore.

24:03

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We're debating between a major renovation, adding square footage, or giving up and moving.

24:08

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Emotionally, we want to stay, but financially, I'm not sure what makes sense.

24:12

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

How do you help clients think through whether it's smarter to renovate, add on, or move?

24:17

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Mm-hmm.

24:18

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah.

24:18

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So that's exactly what we were just starting to talk about.

24:21

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We get this a lot.

24:22

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Well, step one, call us.

24:25

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah.

24:25

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Starts with a conversation, right?

24:27

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Like, what are you missing?

24:30

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

That would be one of my first questions.

24:32

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Like, so you're in this house that you love.

24:36

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

What are you missing in terms of architecture, you know, in terms of structure, in terms of

24:42

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

how you live your daily life?

24:44

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

What would you hope for?

24:46

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

If you could scrape this house and start over, even on the same lot, what would you hope for?

24:53

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

What would be the best outcome?

24:55

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I agree, and I think I would even be slightly more abstract than that.

25:00

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

and say, not what architecturally do you want to do, but what activities are you currently

25:08

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

unable to do properly in your house? What are your traffic jams? What is causing strife in

25:15

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

your home? And what I've learned over the years is when I go visit someone in their home and we

25:20

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

have this conversation and they're like, oh, we're fed up. We don't have enough space. We don't have

25:29

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

a place that supports family life. So the kids' toys are everywhere. We made the space in the

25:36

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

basement for the kids. They never go down there. They only want to be in the living room and all

25:40

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

their toys are everywhere. And they're like, we need to add on. We need to add on this thing.

25:45

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

We need to do a renovation. And nine times out of 10, I can find a way to solve the problem that

25:52

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

does not include an addition. Right. Because what rooms are they not using? Exactly. Or what are

25:58

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

they misusing? I mean, I have been on projects where I show up on that initial meeting and they're

26:03

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

like, we want to do a whole renovation. We want to do a whole addition. We want to do all this stuff.

26:07

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

And I walk into the house and I'm like, guys, this is just about moving furniture around.

26:11

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

If you just move the furniture from here to here and use this room differently and use this room and

26:17

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

maybe add a door here, maybe take a door out here. I'm talking like maybe you spend 10 grand on

26:23

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

some new furniture and 10 grand on a moving a wall or two. You do not need a half million dollar

26:29

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

renovation. This house is big enough. Yeah, that's smart. That's great advice. Great. That's so helpful.

26:35

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

You know, and it's it goes back to the point like we're not we're not looking for a home run huge

26:43

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

project every single time we go talk to somebody. We're actually looking to help them.

26:48

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Yeah. And if I can walk out of there and say, yeah, you know, hire me to come by for a couple of

26:55

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

afternoons and I'll help you move decide where the furniture goes and rejigger a few things like

27:03

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

great. And we'll make a list of things that you can do because everyone has their little laundry list

27:09

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

of while life would be so much better if we had this, you know, this light switch over here instead of over

27:14

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

there. Well, let's call the electrician like you don't need to add on to your house. Right. Yeah.

27:19

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

So I really I start with that comment specifically because I think, as you said, people misunderstand

27:26

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

that we're just going to be there to spend tons of their money and whatever. What what good

27:32

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

architectural professionals want to do is find the solution that works best for their client and

27:38

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

their people. Absolutely. And so I actually offer these one time consults where I'll do it over

27:45

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

Zoom. I'll do it in person and I go and the goal is let's figure that out. And if I can leave there

27:52

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

and say, great, you just paid me for an hour and a half of my time and you just saved half a million

27:56

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

dollars. Great. Everybody is a winner. Great investment. Great investment. Because a lot of times the

28:02

S… Speaker 1 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

house works just fine with a few tweaks. It's just people can't see it. Yeah. So in the case that it

28:09

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

doesn't and they do actually need to make a big change. Right. And and and the question is, how

28:17

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

how do you decide? So there's and I think she also she or he said something about financially,

28:26

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

like how do we decide what is the best road to take? And again, like our first question,

28:36

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

it's going to take some investment because you really do have to investigate a couple of different

28:44

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

paths. I think it would be the smartest, most the best way to cover all of your bases. Like,

28:53

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

what are your options? Let's find out what your options are. I think that most of the time,

29:01

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

especially if you love your neighborhood, renovation, if it can be done and it makes

29:08

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

sense economically, that's probably the best way. It's the most sustainable. I always, you know,

29:13

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

people go on and on and on about building new builds, sustainability. Well, the most sustainable

29:21

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

building is the one that's already built. That's right. You're not doing more concrete. You're not

29:26

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

doing you know, you're not you're not you have all of those materials already there. Then we get to

29:32

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

the financial question. And a lot of times the question the answer is, I'm not sure yet. I mean,

29:39

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

I would say 100% adding on or renovating is dollar for dollar going to be more expensive than ground up

29:53

S… Speaker 2 (042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0))

new build. But there are so many things that play into that.

042_2026_04_07_Mailbag 1_Audio(0)

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