The Awakened Homeowner
Welcome to The Awakened Homeowner Show— your go-to podcast for real talk about designing, remodeling, and building your dream home! Hosted by William Reid, who's helped coordinate the design and construction of hundreds of new homes and remodels, this show is packed with insider secrets and smart strategies to help you crush your home goals. Building or remodeling can feel like a wild ride — but it doesn't have to be a nightmare. Here, you’ll get expert home remodeling advice, practical new home construction tips, and a full scoop on building a custom home without losing your mind (or your budget...
Avoiding the Assumption Trap: Smart Homeowner's Guide to Structural Engineering
In this comprehensive episode, Bill Reid explores the critical role of structural engineers in home design and construction, breaking down the misconceptions homeowners have about who does what in the building process.
Key Segments with Timestamps
[00:00:00 - 00:02:00] Introduction: The Doctors of Your Home
• Overview of the four-part mini-series
• Introduction to structural engineering as the "skeletal system"
• Common misconceptions about architect responsibilities
[00:02:00 - 00:06:00] The Architect-Structural Engineer Partnership
• How architects and structural engineers collaborate
• Educational backgrounds and licensing similarities
• Early consultation importance in the design p...
The Civil Engineer Advantage: Building Smart From the Ground Up
Join William Reid as he explores the critical role of civil engineers in home construction projects. Learn when you need one, what they do, and how they can save you thousands while protecting your investment.
Civil engineers handle everything outside your home's building envelope - and they might be the most important design professional you've never heard of. In this episode, William Reid breaks down when you need a civil engineer, what they actually do, and how they can save you thousands in construction costs while protecting your investment for decades.
From water management and...
Underground Mysteries: Why Your Home's Foundation Depends on Soil Science
🎧 The Hidden Foundation Expert: Why Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Geotechnical Engineers
Ever wonder what's lurking beneath your dream home site? This week on The Awakened Homeowner Podcast, Bill Reid reveals the underground detective work that could save you from a $100,000+ construction nightmare. If you're planning to build, expand, or even remodel, this episode might just be the most important 30 minutes you'll spend.
Episode #15 | Lords of the Dirt Series | 30 Minutes
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🎯 What You'll Discover:
Ready to become the smartest person in your next contractor meeting? Here's what's waiting for you:<...
Why Your $5,000 Survey Could Save You $50,000 in Construction Surprises
Discover why your land surveyor isn't just another consultant—they're the
foundation professional who can make or break your construction project. Host
William Reid, a seasoned construction industry expert, reveals how these
"property detectives" uncover critical information about your lot
that can save you tens of thousands in construction surprises.
Learn about the six major restrictions cities use to control your
project, from Floor Area Ratio calculations to setback requirements. Reid
shares real examples of projects where assumptions about property lines led to
co...
From Awakened Homeowner Book to Build Quest Development: The Complete Planning System Coming Soon
In this groundbreaking episode, Bill Reid unveils buildquest, a
revolutionary web-based application designed to transform how homeowners
approach their construction and renovation projects. Drawing from 35 years of
experience in Silicon Valley's construction industry, Bill shares the exciting
development of this comprehensive project planning tool.
Key Topics Covered:
The genesis of Build Quest and its connection to The Awakened Homeowner bookFour core modules: Project Setup, Vision Spec, Budget Builder, and ProQuestAI assistant Quinn and how he guides homeowners through the processExpress feature that analyzes existing homes to generate project...The Checklist Trap: Why 15,000 Influencers Are Confusing Homeowners
In this eye-opening episode, Bill Reid takes a hard look at the overwhelming world of home renovation checklists, systems, and digital tools flooding social media and the internet. With over 15,000 home improvement influencers selling everything from $8 PDFs to $250 "comprehensive systems," homeowners are more paralyzed than ever.
What You'll Discover:
Why the current fragmented approach to renovation planning is failing homeownersThe psychology behind decision overload and why it's worse in home renovationHow to identify credible vs. marketing-driven renovation adviceWhat to look for in a true "guided thinking system"How strategic preparation transforms professional consultationsThe difference between reactive...Ep 11: The Hidden Costs of Cheap Design (Why Budget Plans Backfire in Construction)
In Episode 11 of The Awakened Homeowner, host Bill Reid exposes the
critical mistakes homeowners make that sabotage their own construction
projects. Drawing from years of experience in residential design and
construction, Reid identifies four major "designer obstacles" that
homeowners unknowingly create: financial handcuffing, creative handcuffing, the
permit push trap, and inadequate time commitment.
Key Highlights: • Financial handcuffing occurs when homeowners choose the cheapest
design option, leading to inadequate plans that result in costly change orders
during construction • Creative handcuffing happens when homeowners over-direct
Ep 10: I Thought Interior Designers Just Picked Colors (I Was So Wrong)
Interior designers do far more than select paint colors and arrange furniture. In this episode of The Awakened Homeowner Podcast, host William Reid explains the true technical expertise interior designers bring to home construction and renovation projects. Learn about their role in creating technical documentation, managing project budgets, supervising installations, and collaborating with architects. Reid discusses when to bring interior designers into your project, how they prevent costly mistakes, and why their services often pay for themselves. Whether you're planning a major renovation or building a custom home, this episode reveals why interior designers are essential members of your...
Your Dream Home Starts Here: Decoding Design Professionals
Understanding Design Professionals for Your Home Remodel
Subscribe, Follow, and Contact Bill Reid
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Email: wwreid@theawakenedhomeowner.com
Book: Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F1MDRPK7
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In this episode, Bill Reid from The Awakened Homeowner broadcasts from Lake Almanor, California to introduce the next series focused on understanding design professionals. He emphasizes the importance of quality design...
"Home Design Secrets: Why 90% of Homeowners Fail Their Dream Project (Avoid These Costly Mistakes)"
Introduction to The World of Design: Key Insights for Homeowners
Watch on YouTube:
Order your copy of The Awakened Homeowner book: https://books2read.com/u/bpxj76
Follow Bill:
https://www.instagram.com/theawakenedhomeowner/
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVDkS64uOHE73ATtFjrjy0g
Join Bill Reid from The Awakened Homeowner as he introduces 'The World of Design' series from the stunning Sierra Nevada mountains. Learn how the design phase is crucial for successful project execution, from hiring professionals like architects...
The Budget Baloney Blues - Part Three - Why online cost tools can derail your new home or remodel project.
Understanding Construction Budgets: A Deep Dive with Bill Reid
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In this episode of The Awakened Homeowner Show, Bill Reid discusses the complexities and challenges of budgeting for home construction projects. Broadcasting from his shop in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Bill shares insights into various online tools for estimating construction costs, highlighting their often misleading accuracy. He introduces his own upcoming application, Build Quest, designed to help homeowners balance their dreams and budgets realistically. The episode includes live demonstrations of popular online tools like Start Build and Home Cost, analyzes a report by...
"STOP! That Budget Number in Your Head vs Real Construction Costs (The Brutal Truth)"
Mastering Your Home Construction Budget: Essential Advice from Bill Reid
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In this episode, Bill Reid tackles the crucial topic of budgeting for residential new home or remodeling projects. Drawing on over 30 years of experience in coordinating design and construction, Bill emphasizes the importance of addressing the budget question early in the process. He discusses the common errors homeowners make, such as relying on unverified sources for budget estimates, and provides detailed methods to create a realistic budget. Bill introduces concepts like 'new square footage,' 'existing square footage,' and 'scope of...
The REAL Cost of Your Dream Home: How to Build a Budget That Actually Works
Building Budgets for Home Projects: Laying the Foundation
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🏠 STOP making costly mistakes before they happen! Most homeowners blow their budgets by 50-100% because they skip this ONE critical step that architects and contractors don't want you to know about.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
✅ The "Investment Goal Method" that protects you from budget disasters
✅ How to calculate your home's TRUE future value (not Zillow estimates!)
✅ Why your neighbor's $150/sq ft advice will bankrupt your project
✅ The exact formula professionals use to determine r...
Discovery Series - Home Building and Remodeling Delusions and Realities
Unveiling The Delusions in Home Building Costs - Discovery
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Series: Part 4
Join Bill Reid on The Awakened Homeowner Show as he
navigates the myths and misconceptions of home building costs in Part 4 of the
Discovery Series. This episode delves into the common delusions homeowners face
about project costs, especially the notion of cost per square foot. Bill
provides valuable insights on setting realistic expectations by conversing with
media, friends, colleagues, and professionals. Learn how to ask the right
...
Discovery Series - Part Two - The Art of Gathering: Mastering Your Home Design Inspirations
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In this episode of 'The Awakened Homeowner' Discovery Series, Bill Reid guides you through the crucial pre-architectural phase of home building or remodeling—The Art of Gathering. Learn how to collect, organize, and present your design inspirations, ensuring they align with your dreams and vision for your new home. Bill discusses effective strategies to compile a comprehensive design statement and create well-organized inspiration boards using platforms like Pinterest and HOUZZ. Discover how to leverage neighborhood inspirations, AI tools, and more to develop a detailed design portfolio that communicates your personal style and preferences efficiently. Do...
Discovery Series - Part One - Setting Up Your Remodel or Home Construction Project For Success
The Beginnings: Discovery Phase in Home Projects
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In this second episode, Bill Reid delves into the initial stages of starting a home project, focusing on the discovery phase. He discusses essential pre-engagement activities homeowners should undertake before contacting architects or contractors. The episode emphasizes setting expectations from design and budget perspectives and creating a comprehensive personal and property profile. Bill provides practical steps for preparing these profiles, including documenting family details, previous experiences, project titles, property specifics, and visual aids. He also highlights the importance of understanding time commitment and utility considerations...
Introducing the New Podcast to Navigate Home building and Remodeling with Confidence.
The Awakened Homeowner - Home - Our Home PageThe book available on Amazon! The book available at your favorite online book store!Get your FREE copy of The Tale of Two Homeowners Who Took Vastly Different Paths to Their New Home
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Welcome to The Awakened Homeowner — the podcast designed to empower homeowners just like you to confidently start your remodel or new home project! I’m Bill Reid, and I’m thrilled you’re here.
If you’re listening, you’ve probably felt that gut-wrenching moment of asking yourself, ‘Where do I even start?’...
Introduction to my new book, The Awakened Homeowner: Orchestrate Your Dream Home; A Guide to Design and Construction Success
The Awakened Homeowner - Home - Our Home PageThe book available on Amazon! The book available at your favorite online book store!Get your FREE copy of The Tale of Two Homeowners Who Took Vastly Different Paths to Their New Home
Available on Amazon
Available on Online Bookstores Worldwide
Mentioned in this episode:
The Awakened Homeowner Book
