I've had decent luck with LVLs too—definitely straighter than typical lumber without that cold, industrial feel. But they're pricier, so I usually sav...

Totally agree about the spreadsheet—tedious but worth it. I've seen clients use apps like Buildertrend or CoConstruct to track payments and documents ...

Totally agree about the green incentives being buried in the fine print. When we built our place, I remember having to specifically ask about them mul...

Good call on drainage clauses—seen plenty of driveways turn into mini rivers after heavy rain. Also, if you're considering granting driveway access, m...

Good points on engineered studs—definitely cuts down headaches later. I've also found that paying extra attention when laying out the bottom plate hel...

Haha, relatable. Honestly though, the predictive maintenance stuff is pretty useful—had a client recently whose smart dishwasher alerted them to a lea...

This is key—I learned the hard way a few years back when my tile guy vanished mid-bathroom reno. Didn't have clear documentation, ended up eating extr...

Raised beds are definitely a solid move, especially at waist height. I've also seen folks using vertical gardening setups—like wall planters or hangin...