Your home is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make, but neglecting regular maintenance can lead to costly repairs down the road. In this episode of Your Project Shepherd , Curtis Lawson is joined once again by Erich Kleine, Co-Founder at Goodsmith Home Care and Repair, to dive deeper into the importance of home maintenance, including the costs associated with it. From retail costs to DIY options and professional services, Curtis and Erich discuss the various ways you can maintain your ...
Apr 04, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Jay R. Shimpf (Founder & CEO of Authenticus Inc ) joins Curtis on this episode of the Your Project Shepherd Podcast to discuss the importance of visual clarity with your design and how you can save money in the long run with proper planning and visualization before starting your home build. They talk about using 2D and 3D modeling services before building and the ability to see and walk through a projected plan in Authenticus studio, at the current job site under construction, or at the futu...
Mar 31, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 25
In this episode, Curtis Lawson and Randall Duncan (President of Data Smart and Duncan Security) discuss the evolution of home technology in the last 20 years, with buyers now expecting more connectivity and smart home features. Randall shares his 23 years of experience in the Houston market and talks about the importance of integrators being called in early in the design process, the cost drivers in home automation, surge protection and much more! With advancements in product and technology over...
Mar 28, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Danny Rigg ( Architect & Founding Principal of Rigg Studio ) joins Curtis Lawson for a discussion about the architecture costs for a custom home build or renovation. They talk about how to find the right architect and how investing in good design can save you money in the long run. The conversation centers around understanding how architects arrive at fees and what drives their costs. The experience and expertise of this builder and architect will offer insight into the value of good design ...
Mar 24, 2023•49 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Are you a homeowner looking to learn more about the costs associated with interior design services for your new home or renovation project? Curtis Lawson sits down with Tiffany Edwards , Owner & Principal Designer of Edwards Interiors and Designs , to discuss the costs of interior design, the design process, the questions homeowners should ask when interviewing designers for their projects, and much more. Don't miss out on this informative and insightful episode!...
Mar 21, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Two builders sit down to hash out the reality of what it costs to do a custom kitchen renovation in your home. Curtis Lawson and Dan Bawden (President & CEO of Legal Eagle Contractors, Co.) discuss the cost drivers, hidden costs, what's going to increase your costs on a renovation and how to avoid common mistakes, and last but not least, how to find the right builder for your dream home renovation. We will guide you on the right way to do things and how to get started!...
Mar 17, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 21
As we continue in the "What Does it Cost?" theme of Season 2, we get into the bathroom portion of the home remodels. Curtis Lawson and Kelly Kirk ( Owner & President of Greymark Construction Company ) discuss the costs associated with bathroom renovations, why it is easier to upgrade and renovate your bathroom if you are already doing another renovation project in your home, why the cost per squre foot in such a small space is more expensive than expected, and how to find the right team for ...
Mar 14, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 20
What does it cost to add an outdoor living space to your home? Maybe you want to add a pool, and to do some pool or landscape design and want to educate yourself on what to expect? Tune in to this episode as we will guide you on what you need to know before getting started! Daniel Slate , Managing Partner of Water's Edge Outdoor Living , joins Curtis Lawson to discuss the cost drivers for these additions on your custom home, the features to avoid given the climate in Houston, the easy upgrades, ...
Mar 10, 2023•47 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Two builders and an architect get together to discuss what does it cost for custom whole-home renovations and additions. Today are guests Jeremy McFarland and Matt Sneller , who were both featured in Season 1, and they are back now to get into costs when dealing with custom home renovations. The importance of a good team is key and these guys get into all the hidden costs that people may overlook when doing home renovations. Join us on this episode to learn more about what to look for in your te...
Mar 07, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 18
We dive into the topic of WHAT DOES IT COST to build a custom home build or a custom home remodel. Can you really quantify what the costs are with a project? Joining Curtis Lawson to kick off this first episode of Season 2 is Owner of ALBARRAN | Architecture + Construction, Franco Albarran. Tune in to learn a little more about the custom home build process and the costs that drive the architecture part of the project and gain insight into what to expect.
Mar 03, 2023•39 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Thank you so much for joining us on our journey with the story of Season 1 and all of our interviews. Toner and Curtis discuss the story that we covered in Season 1, their favorite episodes, what they think are the big take-aways, and dive into the questions from our followers and friends, and give their feedback and answers. We want to ensure that you have the tools and knowledge for success on your venture. Or, maybe you are just curious about the process or want to learn a little more about w...
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Just as we thought that Brian and Heather’s home troubles were over, they discover that they have structural damage! Although they have their owner's representative to guide them through correcting the problems, it is another huge cost and lesson learned. What led to this? Was it the builder's fault? Or could this have been the result of something done by the homeowners themselves? Tune in to find out! Joining us to discuss a very important aspect of the construction process is Insurance Broker,...
Feb 24, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Brian and Heather are realizing that although getting a home maintenance person out to their home is an important step in keeping up their new home, they may have structural issues with their home! How could this have happened? Is the worst not over yet? Joining Curtis on the podcast this week is Erich Kleine , co-founder of Goodsmith Home Care and Repair . They talk about the oversights by new home owners that may very well void their warranties, and simple things which seem to be unimportant, ...
Feb 21, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 14
As the story of Brian and Heather continues, they encounter more problems with their home - this time with MOLD! How will they deal with this issue? We talk with Owner & Partner of Alair Custom Homes Houston , Chris Bolio , about building here in the gulf region, builder's warranties, having a strong relationship with your client, and much more. There is only one way to ensure a certain outcome in construction and that is to validate every detail before you ever commit to a construction agre...
Feb 17, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Now that Brian and Heather have realized their project will fail if they don’t get the proper guidance, they decide to hire an owner’s representative to step in, and hopefully turn things around. Is this turning point for them? Is it the light at the end of the tunnel? Tune in to find out! Curtis and Steven Deutser, Owner & President of Park Lane Builders, dive into the importance of developing processes and managing punch lists, home maintenance, utilizing a construction management software...
Feb 14, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Now that Heather has had her baby and the couple finds themselves even busier than before, it would be nice for the project stress to lessen. Unfortunately, more problems in the build project are coming to light, and it is causing strain for them. The designer connects the couple with their true guide and shepherd in hopes he can turn the project around. Will they hire the owner’s representative? Will they pull through to finish this project? Tune in to find out! We speak with architect, Bradly ...
Feb 10, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Our story characters decide to hire an interior designer to help with the overwhelming number of selections and options for their custom home. Even though this good decision makes things less stressful, it brings to light a lot more issues with their builders’ “standard” installs. Once again, costs are going up, in vain. What other surprises will they encounter in this episode? We talk with a designer, Shannon Vestal , about the various reasons why the designer should also be on board with the p...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Although Brian and Heather’s home-build is showing apparent progress, they are feeling loads of stress from the mistakes that keep surfacing on the project. The problems on site are not only becoming costly, but dangerous for the family now. The home is a living organism and for it to function properly, there is a lot more than just following plans, to have a successful project. Toner and Curtis discuss building performance and the consequences of short-cuts which are commonly done because build...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Brian and Heather start recognizing that their builder isn't as experienced as they hoped he would be, and it is becoming a big problem for their project. There have been some pretty big oversights in regard to design and engineering plans and materials choices. Furthermore, their cost-plus contract is turning out to be not only bad for them, but also for the builder – costing big bucks for all. Will they be able to get through this project? We talk with Karl Breckon , CEO of BEC Engineers and C...
Jan 31, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 8
The builder that Brian and Heather have contracted, has pulled a free contract template off the internet and they all signed quickly before having it reviewed by an attorney. None of them understand the process enough to anticipate that there will be consequences to this hasty move… How do you think this will pan out for all parties involved? Karalynn and Curtis talk about construction contracts and the risks that you may be entering into if your contract is poorly written and non-specific to yo...
Jan 27, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Our story characters, Brian and Heather, have made yet another wrong turn in their adventure with their “false” guides who simply are not knowledgeable enough in the Custom home build process. They face problems with the bank for unknowingly violating the terms of their agreement and possible foreclosure – they are defeated it seems! We talk with Mortgage Loan Consultant, Jamie Wolf at First United Mortgage Group , to discuss what you must be aware of before starting to finance your custom home ...
Jan 24, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 6
We aimed to create fictional characters in our story based on our "train wreck" project, to highlight how a custom home build project can go south, real quick, if the people involved are not all communicating efficiently with one another, as process and building the right team are key to a successful project. Curtis clears the air about any possible misrepresentation of design professionals that may have been spoken about, in previous or future episodes, that may seem to illustrate their roles, ...
Jan 20, 2023•3 min
Now that Brian and Heather have their future home designs they move forward with choosing a builder for their project. Rather than choosing someone based on custom home expertise, they focus on finding someone that provided a free estimate and the lowest bid. Will things improve for them or will they be stuck with another costly consequence on their hands? We speak with owner of Sneller Custom Homes, Matt Sneller , about the factors to consider when choosing a builder, the importance of having a...
Jan 20, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In our ongoing story, Brian and Heather are starting to face the harsh reality that their decisions with buying online plans, that were not designed for their lot, is costing them a huge chunk of their savings. They now face the option of either selling the home they purchased and giving up, or hiring an architect to redesign the plans and move forward with their increasingly expensive home build. Getting the necessary permits has proven to be a task that Heather is overwhelmed by and the couple...
Jan 17, 2023•52 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Heather struggles to get permits and sort out the issues without proper guidance. The couple becomes increasingly frustrated with the obstacles and wonder if maybe they are in over their heads. Curtis and Jeremy discuss the importance of building your team right from the beginning of the project. Getting a team assembled to coordinate all the elements is key to having a successful project because it is a collaborative process that requires proper planning. Will Brian and Heather be able to handl...
Jan 13, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Brian and Heather discover that the neighborhood deed restrictions are going to bring their plans to an abrupt halt, and start feeling the consequences of their decisions, both financially and with their plans for demolition. We talk with Realtor, Susan Brock regarding the importance of having someone to guide you during site selection and that there are a lot more elements to choosing a site than meets the eye. How will this couple deal with all the issues that begin arising? Stay tuned to find...
Jan 10, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Brian and Heather want to build a new house for their growing family, and are determined to do as much as they can on their own! In this first chapter of their story, Curtis introduces the young couple, discusses the reason for the YPS podcast, and sets the stage for the season. Over the next 15 episodes, we will follow Brian and Heather's miscues and talk with a variety of expert guests about how to have a successful, stress-free construction project. Will they be able to navigate these first a...
Jan 04, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 1
In this short promo, host Curtis Lawson talks about the big problem that nearly all troubled projects have in common, and how to do things the right way to avoid it. If you want to learn how to have a stress-free custom home build, join the Your Project Shepherd Construction Podcast starting January 10, 2022. Curtis and his expert guests will walk you through how to have a successful build from beginning to end. Thank you for supporting The Your Project Shepherd Construction Podcast and we look ...
Dec 28, 2022•7 min
