It’s Your Knowledge that Unlocks the Door to a Successful Build

There are 4 Methods:

Group Training

It’s a great way to learn. Groups are more cost effective than one-on-one coaching, while being as informative. In some ways, more informative because everyone benefits from the questions asked by others. These are conducted live by me.

If there are enough people who are in the same phase of their design/home building process, the group training will be focused on taking the group through the proper steps: pre-everything, pre-design, budget, loan, hiring, design, selections, construction, etc. Each step has its particulars. Lots of How To’s!

The format consists of online Zoom calls. I’ll present the topic for the day with a presentation which includes photos, spreadsheets, whatever necessary for the topic at hand, etc. There is a Q&A period afterwards. Replays will be sent to all who sign up so even if you can’t attend, you’ll get the replay.

Your first group call is free so that you can determine if it is right for you.

Group calls are $40-75 per call, depending on the size of the group and frequency. You will be informed beforehand, of course. Weekly or bi-monthly, depending on group vote.

FAST TRACK

If you are really serious about learning everything you can upfront (to be super prepared for the home building journey you are about to take or have started), love the coaching and consider yourself coachable, then this track is for you! This means- homework assignments, accountability, weekly calls and email check-in on how you are doing. Live Q&A calls to get your questions answered.

I’ll put together a small group of like-minded people, who are close to the same phase in their project (though that may vary).

These will be similar in format to the group calls. However, the focus is more on execution than just passive learning (there will be plenty of homework/legwork assignments). The homework is specifically designed so you can learn information vital to to the success of your project. Personally, I don’t mind doing legwork that makes my life easier and has the potential to save me a ton of money! In the investor world, it’s called due diligence.

The goal is for you to learn what you need to know (right knowledge, at the right time) and to have completed whatever legwork is needed BEFORE you take the next step or phase in the design and build process. You’ll approach each phase, ready and confident.

Here are a few of the topics:

• Preparing your initial budget and researching costs before they become gotchas. Such as: loan costs (for 2 closings, interest), utilites, power runs, surveys, land assessments and far more.
• Drawing initial floor plans. Have graph paper, scale, ideas and let’s start on your floor plan.
• Interviewing builders. I play the builder and people in the group interview me. Bring up the tough questions like ‘so…how do you handle allowances?’ I’ll push back. What will you say and do? You’ll need to have done your homework, which is to study the material on allowances so you’ll really know what to say (and which game the builder is playing).
• How will you handle draw requests and what schedule of values are they based on? This is a Q&A and I’ll quiz you. You will have the answers ahead of time…so study up!

*Perhaps this sounds intimidating? I hope to make it fun for everyone while also ‘gettin ‘er done’. Better to possibly look a tiny bit foolish in front of your peers, than to hire the wrong builder because you really didn’t know which game they were playing.

What do I mean by the game the builder is playing?  I mean the ‘fair and reasonable one’ or  ‘I treat clients like ATM’s while appearing to be a nice guy’ (per the words of one of my coaching clients).

Owner-Builder Training

If you have’t built anything before or haven’t been the one in charge of the entire process, then there is a lot to learn. That is an understatement. The focus of this training is take you (step by step) from zero to builder, as quickly as possible.

I’ve thought a lot about what you absolutely need to know since you don’t have the years to learn what experienced builders know. There’s an expression in the fitness industry ‘the minimum effective dose’. That’s what I’ve focused on–what you really need to know to successfully build your house. The initial steps in the training looks like this:

Module 1: How to BE the One in Charge (commanding presence, organized, detailed).

Module 2: Initial Skills (read blueprints (a set is provided), get to know the world of residential construction-you will be given specific field assignments for this purpose).

Module 3: Estimating and Scopes of Work

Module 4: Gather Your Resources (your advisors and go-to people).

Module 5: How to Hire Right-the subs and vendors (where to find, how to negotiate and how to spot b.s.) Basically, how to get quality and stay away from problems. In my long housing career, I swear I’ve heard every excuse in the book and in this module, I’ll share some of those stories as illustrations of who/what to watch out for.

In the training, not much emphasis on exactly how to construct a house.  Essentially, you hire the right subcontractors and vendors who do know. After all, they are the ones who actually construct. You will need to know enough to spot mistakes, oversee the work and how to manage the trades so that they deliver, in the right way.

At the end of this training, you’ll be ready to build your house. Sign up below and we’ll get on a call to discuss.

 Workshops

SPECIFIC TOPIC (workshops). If the group is mixed, then the topic will be a general one that everyone can benefit from. Topics include: how to interview your potential architect, designer or builder, making all of your selections or how allowances really work (a biggie!).

Workshops will be advertised, and priced at different rates (depends on the length and complexity of the topic).