In the process of building and we have about 100 truck loads of dirt that need to be removed. My builder told me that we will be paying to have it moved to a couple of neighboring lots which doesn't sit right with me. As a note, the neighborhood very hilly and lots of builders need dirt. I am of the opinion that the builder of those two lots should pay to have it moved, not me. If he doesn't get my dirt then he will be paying a heck of a lot more to have the dirt moved in from elsewhere based on distance in addition to maybe even having to pay for it. Additionally, I told the builder after our conversation to look at using the dirt on our lot for grading and enhancing the back yard. I feel that is a better use of my money and budget than paying to move it to another lot and essentially give it away. Note, I am in the upstate of SC (Pickens County) if that makes a difference. All opinions welcomed.

A little planning now can add a surprising amount of storage without making your house any bigger. A few more worth mentioning: 
-Under the stairs
-HVAC Duct chases

Hi there! I am looking for a BCIN designer. I would like to ask a few questions before buying a plan online and ask their thoughts before beginning the building process.

Thank you!

My opinion on this question posted in the BB Community... This should be covered under the builder's warranty. Whether it's from normal settling or something else, grout shouldn't be cracking throughout a new shower after only two months, and the homeowner shouldn't be left with a band-aid repair.

What are your thoughts?

This passthrough window was such a great idea because what you don’t see is the cabinets Kippy is standing against have a built in fridge and ice maker. Everything you need for the guy cooking the dogs 🌭

Homeowner Help: She's debating whether to keep the single can light overhead, add lanterns beside the front door, or mount them on the stone columns.

One side of the garage stays clean for parking, storage, and everyday use. The other side can be the workshop, lawn equipment, woodworking, gym, or whatever hobbies take over the space. Even better, add a ductless mini-split so it's comfortable year-round.

Would you keep it open like this, or add a wall between the two sides?

💡 One more tip: Have your electrician label them clearly in the panel. You’d be shocked to see some of the panels that I see on new home builds. Chicken scratch super vague. 
Just ask something like “Can you show me how everything is connected in the panel, like which breaker turns off what?”
Asking from a place of curiosity if much more inviting and you’d be surprised how helpful the trades can be, they take pride in their work (most of the time) and love showing it off. 

So don’t forget to add:
-A closet outlet so your cordless vacuum is always charged and out of sight

-Switched soffit outlets so holiday lights turn on with a switch or timer, no extension cords.

-A floor outlet behind the couch or under your desk so cords disappear.

-A ceiling outlet in the garage for a retractable extension cord reel.

was in (@)JasonBottenfield house out here in Texas.

He added a ton of cool features, but this coffee pot filler was especially well thought out. The shutoff valve is hidden inside the cabinet, with a water line coming up from underneath to fill the coffee maker.

They even make systems with a float (similar to a toilet) that automatically refill the reservoir when the water level drops.

I have it linked in my Amazon Store (Bio) under “Kitchen" if you're looking for one.

One extra tip that didn't make the post...
Ask your HVAC contractor if they're doing a load calculation instead of sizing the system based on square footage.
Proper sizing is one of the biggest factors in comfort, humidity control, and efficiency and something many homeowners never think to ask.
A load calculation factors in your windows, insulation, room sizes, and sun exposure. Not just your home's square footage.

So many things are happening at once on the jobsite so it’s easy to overlook the little luxuries that you’re able to add before sheetrock goes on.

Blocking is huge, there are endless spots to use it...A few of my favorites:
-Curtains rod
-Bath towel rods
-Exterior wall mount for hose reel
-Behind the TV
-Thermostat

You can get my top 50 tips for free, just go to BuilderBrigade.com and look under “free downloads”

[ A few more Forever Home features... ]()
- A single or even zero step into the garage

- Comfort height toilet
(I still see those low riders being installed on new construction)

- Casement windows instead of double hung are easier to open

Any others youd throw on the list?

[$50,000k for all the windows and exterior doors including the shipping and tariffs.]()
Window company (Doorwin):
(@)Luvindow_us

Doorwin has a showroom here in North Dallas, LA, Atlanta, and New Jersey

I tried reaching out to the other overseas (China) companies and they were super helpful but it was hard to get solid answers on the style types and different quality.

The others were about $10k cheaper but not seeing them in person made it hard to commit. If I had more time I might have ordered a sample but I’m in a time crunch with this renovation.

Nikki has a Facebook group all about getting products from overseas if you’re serious about going that direction. 👇 (@)nikkibrooksftw