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Designing and Building Mid-West through the Big Dog Gameplan: Where to Spend and Where to Save · Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, welcome to designing and building the Midwest one community at a time.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_02: I'm Chris Hartsuok with Big Dog Construction, your local window depot.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm Caitlin.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_03: This is the show where we bring you real insights, expert input, and a lot of entertainment along the way.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_03: It's the podcast you didn't know you needed.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, every week, our main focus is bringing you the best advice on home improvements, remodeling, and how to take care of your biggest investment.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_02: But we don't stop at the property line.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_03: Exactly! We also dive into our realtor segment to cover the ins and outs of buying and selling locally.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_03: And our community segment where we talk about giving back charity and what's really happening across the Midwest.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_02: Plus, we regularly sit down with some fantastic guests from all walks of life to hear their unique stories and perspectives.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_03: Whether we're talking blueprints or community roots, we've got you covered.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_03: Let's get into today's episode.
• 0:47
  unknown: Big dog!
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_01: In the military, there's no such thing as good enough.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: You either do the job the right way or you don't do it at all.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Blake Middleton of Elite Roofing Professionals and Exteriors.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_01: I'm a veteran and I brought the same mission first mindset back to Illinois.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_01: While others talk about the way it's always been done, my team focuses on the technical precision of how a roof should be built.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_01: We use the best materials, the best technology, and a level of communication you won't find anywhere else.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_01: Your home isn't just a job, it's a commitment.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_01: Elite roofing, high standards, zero compromise, clear communication.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_01: Give us a call today.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, welcome back to Designing Building the Midwest, one community at a time.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_02: I am your host, Chris, with Big Dog Construction, your local window depot.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_02: And with me, as usual, is Caitlin Borgini.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_02: Hi! If you've been following this series, we've been taking you through the entire remodeling journey.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_02: The entire, the whole thing, the whole nine, right?
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_02: We've talked about creating the plan, setting your budget, DIY versus hiring a professional, defining your scope, finding the right contractor, which is kind of difficult sometimes.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_03: Oh yeah.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_02: What happens during construction?
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_02: What about change orders?
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_02: Little gnat flying on me for some reason.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_02: We've talked about protecting your investment.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_02: Also, the last episode, we pulled back the curtain and showed you how the big dog design process takes your ideas.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_02: That was turns them into a plan and actually a build, right?
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_02: So today we're going to be talking about something that matters to every homeowner.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_02: Where should you spend your money and where can you save it?
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_02: Because here's the truth about it.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_02: You can have a$50,000 remodeling budget, you can have a hundred thousand dollar remodeling budget, or even a quarter million remodeling budget.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_02: And if you spend that money in the wrong places, you can still end up disappointed.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_02: The goal isn't to spend the most money.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_02: The goal is to get the most value from the money you spend.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_02: So that's key.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_02: Let's talk about that again.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_02: The key, the goal is to get the most value from the money you spend.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_02: And that's what we're going to talk about today.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_02: But first, I want to pay some bills, right?
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_02: Pay them.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_02: Let's pay them bills.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_02: Here we go.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_02: 10X partner.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_02: We're talking about elite roofing professionals.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_02: Blake Middleton and his crew.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_02: He keeps adding to his crew.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_02: Just met another one of his crew members yesterday, Dylan.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_02: Joined the sales team.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, wow.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_02: Joined the sales team last week.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_02: And he's got his team up there in uh Defiance, Ohio.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_02: He's growing as well.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_02: But yeah, they are awesome people to work with over there.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_02: And uh you call, talk to Jenny.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_02: Ginny will get you set up with an appointment.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_02: Jenna is the best.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_02: Ginny's the best.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_02: You know, and again, like we talked about last week too, that you know, Blake, the owner, veteran owned, loves his employees, loves his clients.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_02: He cares about them.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_02: He's implemented this, uh, you know, he cares about their health.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_02: So he's hired a personal coach, right?
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_02: Kenny Hyde, the wellness guide.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_02: Not Bill Nye the Science Guy.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_02: It's Kenny Hyde the Wellness Guide.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_03: And I I really I went to his page.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_03: Sorry, Blake.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_03: I know we're paying you, buddy, for late roofing, but I went to Kenny Hyde and I was like, oh my gosh, like he is profession he's buff.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_02: He is.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_02: He is.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_03: He's he's and he does a lot of great videos.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_02: He does.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_02: He's great on his content.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_02: Um, yeah, definitely.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_02: So hey, call the folks over there at Elite Roofing Professionals at 217-851-3836 or find them on the interweb, right, at eliteroofingprofessionals.com.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_02: So again, reach out to them.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_02: We appreciate them being one of our 10x partners here.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_02: The first 10x partner we had.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_02: The OG, not the last.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_02: They are the OG partner with us.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_02: So hey, we appreciate them.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_02: So let's get into the big dog bite.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, don't spend money where people can see it.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_02: Spend money where you can feel it.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_02: Now, that doesn't mean you don't make your home beautiful.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_02: It it means don't confuse expensive with valuable.
• 4:27
  unknown: Okay.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_03: And see, I have a problem with this.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_03: That's why I'm excited about this.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_03: See, you when you said earlier value, I'm thinking, well, shoot.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, we need I need the most expensive everything, but that's why we're here to learn today.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_02: Today, together, we're gonna learn today.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_03: Proceed.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_02: Some of the best investments in your home are the things you don't notice every day because they're working for you behind the scenes, right?
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_02: So value doesn't mean cheap.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_02: So let's break that down, what that means, right?
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_02: So one of the biggest misconceptions in remodeling is people sometimes think if I can find the cheapest option, I'm getting the best deal.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_02: Not necessarily, right?
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_02: There's a difference between price and value.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_02: And really, I you know, I'm a 10x business coach, and one of the things we talk about, some of our mentees is price is only an issue in the absence of value.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_03: Correct.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_02: So without value, that price means nothing.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_02: So price is what you pay, value is what you get.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_02: And the the key thing I'm gonna talk about that is um a lot of misconceptions is big box stores, your Minars, your Home Depots, your Lowe's, those type big box stores, is that people are like, Well, I'm just gonna go buy this shower valve or the shower faucet there, right?
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_02: Because it's fifty dollars less than what you're you're charging me.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_02: What they don't understand is Mowens, Deltas, Kohlers, all these people make box store product and then they make the quality product.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_02: The box store product.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_03: So where do you get the quality product?
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_02: From us, of course.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_03: Well, okay, so it's only well, that's what I mean.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_02: But like so supply houses, like like regular ply plumbing supply houses or FergusonHome.com.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_02: We drive a lot of our clients to that because we'll actually create design project folders with them inside of Ferguson Home, and our clients can drop items they like in there that we can see, they can comment on it, and we know that okay, we're now building their home portfolio of their their products they like.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_02: And those are the quality products.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_02: That have the warranties, right?
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_03: The box store ones uh and you know that they're okay because they're coming from correct an experienced brass versus plastic.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_02: You'll have plastic internal fittings versus brass internal fittings.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_03: Well, I know.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_02: That's why the price is less.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_02: And again, that's why that's why the supply cast you didn't know you needed, right?
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_03: Because the brass is so much better for you to drink out of.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_03: Don't get me started.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_02: There's all kinds of different plastics.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_02: There's nylons, there's the the PP, whatever you're getting out of the waters and all that stuff.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, anyway.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_02: So anyhow.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_03: PPA now.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, whatever whatever the the the PPV or whatever it is that comes out in the plastics, the yeah, it's in Tupperwares and baby bottles and all that stuff.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_02: I figured that's that's how I remembered because of the baby bottles.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_03: That's really in your mind, isn't it, Grandpa?
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_02: No, no, not my issue.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_02: I'm not hey, anyway.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_02: But that's that's the key thing about, you know, again, the the difference between price and value.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_02: So when you're modeling your home, you need to think beyond the check you're writing today.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_02: Ask, how long will it last?
• 7:28
  SPEAKER_02: How often will I use it?
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_02: Will it make my home more comfortable?
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_02: Will it reduce my maintenance?
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_02: Will it improve functionality?
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_02: And will it improve the home's appeal when I eventually sell?
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_02: Those are questions that determine the value.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_03: Those are all great questions.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, the functionality is a huge thing.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_02: And that is the biggest misconception.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, maintenance, the maintenance.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_02: Right, right.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_02: It is.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, because yeah, we we literally just installed and love the client to death, right?
• 7:55
  SPEAKER_02: Great lifetime client of ours, but went and bought box store faucets, right?
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_02: We installed them, they leaked.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_02: Not underneath, they leaked out of the top.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_02: Out of the handles.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_02: They leaked out of the handles.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_02: Because they were for vessel bowls.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_02: And we didn't provide them.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_02: So we, you know, we were kind of our hands tied on that.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_03: Also, I feel like there's different kinds of faucet, like depending on your sink, like one might not work as well as another one.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_03: And well, it depends on application.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_03: Recommend and tell.
• 8:24
  SPEAKER_03: Ooh, leakage we can't ever have.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_03: It's very bad.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_02: No, don't like the leakage.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_02: So that's that's the difference between value.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_02: You know, the value doesn't mean just just cheap.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_02: So where should you spend your money?
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_02: Let's talk about where I believe homeowners should prioritize their investment.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_02: Number one is structure.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_02: Never go, never go cheap or lesson on structure, right?
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_02: If there's a structural problem, fix it.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_02: Don't put beautiful cabinets over a problem you know exist.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_02: If you know you've got uh old termite damage or carpenter ant issues where the studs are halfway gone.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_03: Don't be putting those cabinets on there.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_03: They're gonna be falling.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_02: They're gonna fall at some point, and then you're gonna think we did a shoddy installation.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_02: That's not what happens, right?
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_02: Don't put expensive flooring over foundation issues because that flooring is just no matter, no matter the quality of the flooring you put in, it's still going to fail because you have foundation issues.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_02: So please take care of that.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_02: Don't spend money making a room look beautiful while ignoring what's holding the house together, right?
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_02: Structure comes first, always.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_02: Bar none.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_02: That's number one.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_02: Number two is water management.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_02: Here's another one, right?
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_02: Water, roofing, flashing, gutters, drainage, windows, doors, anything that keeps water out of your house deserves serious attention because for water damage doesn't stay where it starts.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_02: It doesn't.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_02: Water takes the path of least resistance.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I guess you're right.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_02: So if water starts eroding away at something, it's gonna be easier.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_02: Uh-huh.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_02: And eventually it'll it's come like a convergence.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_02: The convergence or a river.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_02: You know, if a bank becomes soft, that river's gonna eat that bank away.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_02: And then it's gonna make the water kick a different direction.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_03: That's somebody's basement, man.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, exactly.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, a small problem can become a very expensive problem over time.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_02: Protect your house first, then make it beautiful.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_03: And guys, this you might not discover things, you you might not know you have structural issues until a contractor comes in for the initial remote.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_02: Structural issue could have been caused from a water issue.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_02: I was just gonna say it didn't start out as a structural issue, it was just a water issue.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_02: We we literally just was talking with my sales team before I came down here about, hey, we've got a client that has issues.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_02: You know, and like, okay, we're gonna need to go over and do an investigative search.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_02: We're just gonna have to find out where the water's coming in.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_02: Right, right.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_03: So then you you that's how we go back to this whole old thing, the game plan that you can diagnose and then help guide where to spend the money.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_02: First thing.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_02: So that was number two was water, right?
• 10:49
  SPEAKER_02: Number three is windows and exterior openings.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_02: This is obviously an area we're passionate about at big dog because we are your local window depot.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_03: USA.
• 10:57
  SPEAKER_02: But windows aren't just about appearance, they're about the envelope of your home.
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_02: They affect comfort, energy efficiency, maintenance, noise.
• 11:05
  SPEAKER_02: Triple pane windows really helps cut down on that noise, and the overall performance of the house.
• 11:10
  SPEAKER_02: So if you're replacing the windows, don't make your decision based solely on the cheapest window you can find.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_02: Please don't do that.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_03: And so many people do.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_02: Look at the entire system, the product, the installation, the warranty, the company standing behind it.
• 11:23
  SPEAKER_02: That's key.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_02: The company standing behind it.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_02: So our windows that we use, ProVia, they're an 80-year-old company.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_02: They are expanding their business every year.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_02: It's crazy how many acres acres of production they have under roof.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_02: ProVia is now a$624 million a year company.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_03: Oh my God.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_02: And they employ over 2,800 people.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 11:44
  SPEAKER_03: But what am I thinking of?
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_03: You're the only ProVia dealer.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_03: I don't want to are you a dealer?
• 11:50
  SPEAKER_02: Well, so here's the thing.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_02: So we are Window Depot USA dealer.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_02: We are your local dealer for Window Depot.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_02: There's over 90 of us across the United States.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_02: And we come together as buying partners.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_02: And we go to ProVia and say, hey, we're bringing you, we're a big chunk of that$624 million a year.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_03: This is what I was thinking of.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_02: Because if we bring six a big chunk of that$624 million a year to Window Depot, then they listen to us and they give us the best price they can.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_02: Or if we come up with some innovative ideas, they look at turning that into research and development and implementing it.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_02: Gotcha.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_02: So but ProVia.
• 12:26
  SPEAKER_03: Nice little nugget.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_02: So ProVia primarily goes through distribution channels like Window Depot, right?
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_02: There are a few grandfathered-in people that can buy ProVia windows.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_02: And so we're not exclusive to the ProVia window, but ProVia Window is the number one replacement window in the manufacturing in the US right now, right?
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_02: But through Window Depot USA, we have four other manufacturers of windows because sometimes there are situations they don't have a window that fits that situation.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_02: For the color size, commercial applications and stuff like that.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_02: We have other companies that that we lean on through our network that way too.
• 13:01
  SPEAKER_03: So don't I'm glad you explained that to me because I remember you had before, but I I couldn't.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean that was a long time ago because we've been doing this for quite a while.
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_03: That was like a year ago.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, make sure on your windows that you do, you know, trust the company.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_02: And so that's where cut corners.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, don't cut corners and don't think, oh, this is the cheapest window.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna put it in.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_02: And guess what?
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_02: You're gonna get the cheapest quality window at that price.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_03: Like all you know me, I always go back the energy bills, guys.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, to me, I will spend thousands, millions on windows if it will cut down.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_02: And my door people forget that those windows are part of their insulated wall.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_02: They worry about the insulation of their wall, but they don't worry about the insulation of that window.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_02: We do.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_03: You do.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_02: So the the triple pane windows are the most energy efficient windows on the market.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_02: So we've got them for you right here in the Midwest.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_02: So make sure you check out the company that stands behind that, right?
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_02: So hey, number four on this list that we're talking about, the list of where you should spend the money.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_02: Number four is going to be on your kitchen.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_02: Kitchen is one of the hardest working rooms in your house.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_02: It's where people cook, gather, eat, work, do homework, entertain, live.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_02: So function, functionality matters, right?
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_03: It really is.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_02: Spend money where it improves how the kitchen actually works.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_02: Not just beautiful.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_02: Kitchens can be beautiful.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_02: Storage, layout, quality cabinetry.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_02: If you've got young kids, they're going to be, oh my gosh.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_02: I okay.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_02: Story time.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_02: Here we are.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_03: Yay.
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_02: Came home one day.
• 14:23
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, why is there a scratch on my on my corner, Lazy Susan?
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_02: It was an L-shaped, you know, multi-hinged door.
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_02: Because my kids were lazy when they were young, because they were at that height, they would just shut, they would, they would push the door in and then slide it in place.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_02: So the screw for the handle would hit the face frame of the cabinet and then scratch it going over.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_02: And then the other thing is with I I looked at another cabinet that had a wider door, a lower base cabinet.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, why is it like diagonal?
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_02: Because that's the cabinet.
• 14:56
  SPEAKER_02: My boys would open it up, lean on it, and look down in the cabinet and put all their body weight and tweak the hinges.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, why?
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_03: I know.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_02: And they're high-quality hickory cabinets.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, what are you doing?
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_02: Oh my god.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_03: But no, that's all stuff.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_03: And I think like the amount of kids you have, like or people in your family, the layout is important.
• 15:16
  SPEAKER_03: You need to have an open kitchen.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_02: Yep, open kitchen.
• 15:19
  SPEAKER_02: Again, functionality right.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_03: Storage, functionality, all that.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_02: Lighting countertop spacing, durable surfaces.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_02: You know, well, here's the thing with durable surfaces.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_02: Another kid's story, story time, solid surface countertops, right?
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_02: Spend a lot of good money on the on those countertops.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_02: My son decides while he's waiting for the microwave one day, he takes the knife and he just starts doing the knife on the edge of the countertop, nicking and gouging that because ooh, made a mark.
• 15:42
  SPEAKER_02: Ooh, made another mark.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_02: And he just kept doing it.
• 15:44
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, and I find it later when I'm wiping the counters down.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_02: I'm like, what is this?
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_02: And my son, who will remain nameless, goes, Oh, I was just bored tapping the knife while I was waiting on the microwave.
• 15:53
  SPEAKER_03: Chris, I'm screwing crying because I'm laughing so hard.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER_03: Repair time.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_03: So why do they ruin it?
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_03: But I literally I say that.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_03: I'm like, dude, you guys and the dog like just ruin stuff, man.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_02: So those things can make a dramatic difference in your everyday life.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, that's where you want to spend the money is the functionality, right?
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_02: Number five is your bathrooms.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_02: Kind of similar thing.
• 16:14
  SPEAKER_02: I was wondering if that was going to be another area where quality matters, water, humidity, daily use, making sure you get that humidity out of there.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_02: So the drywall's not having to absorb it and emit it through into other spaces and out.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_02: Uh all of those things put stress on materials.
• 16:30
  SPEAKER_02: Don't sacrifice waterproofing and proper installation just to save a few dollars, right?
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_02: You can always save on a decorative finish.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_02: You don't want to save on what's protecting the structure underneath of it.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_02: So don't skip out if you're wanting a tile shower base and shower walls, don't skip out on saying, oh, we don't need to do that extra waterproofing under the tile.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_02: The grout and mortar will keep the water out.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_02: No, grout and mortar will absorb it.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_03: I would never skip on water stuff.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_03: Like, would you could you save like on on you said decorative stuff?
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_03: Like, are we talking about like paint or just like decorative items?
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_02: Well, your your towel bars, your you know, your fancy knobs for your vanity cabinet.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_02: You know, those things, you know, do you really need a backlit vanity mirror?
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, because those can get pretty costly, right?
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_02: I I have some vanity mirrors that look like aviators, like you have on your head.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_02: And they're backlit aviator mirrors.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_02: They're pretty cool shit.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_02: I'll show them to you.
• 17:20
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's really cool.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_03: But hey, rolling.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_02: I you oh, they're dual sink.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_03: Okay.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_02: Dual bowl sink, right?
• 17:28
  SPEAKER_02: And so the lighting is like or is it the shape of the shape of the mirrors are aviators and they're backlit, LED backlit.
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, she's freaking out.
• 17:37
  SPEAKER_02: She her again, another jaw-dropping moment from Caitlin Borgini.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_02: Boop.
• 17:43
  SPEAKER_02: I'm surprised you didn't hear her jaw hit the floor.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_02: Luckily, she has a pillow under her jaw.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I do, I do.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_02: It's kind of cushioned there, right?
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_02: Now I will show you that.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_03: So you're talking about all the maybe the little fancy things.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, not the functionality things, but it's the frufu stuff.
• 17:56
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, the frufu.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_02: It's the frufu shit.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_02: You know, just the stuff that everybody loves.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_02: Everyone loves the froufru shit.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_03: But nothing makes me m more irritated than like you said.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_02: Tell me.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_03: If you have a house with maybe like a hole in the wall or a structural issue, but then they have all these fancy fixtures.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I can't.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_03: It looks trashy.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_03: Sorry.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_03: I understand.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_02: Her jaw is on the ground, folks.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, that's your house, Chris.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_02: No, that's not my house.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_02: We have access to get those.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_03: Oh.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if that'll show up.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, that's cool.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_03: That's a bachelor pad.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, that's is that your house?
• 18:29
  SPEAKER_03: That's cool.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_03: I like that.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_02: No, that's one of our newer products from Sammy Mueller.
• 18:36
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, we're able to.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_03: Very creative.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_02: That's definitely a dude's house.
• 18:41
  SPEAKER_03: It's gotta be, but still, that'd be cool for like an Airbnb.
• 18:44
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I'm saying?
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah.
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_02: Themed house.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_02: Maverick house.
• 18:48
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_02: Anyway.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_02: Well, hey, moving on, right?
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_02: So segment three on our podcast today, we're talking about where you can save.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_02: We just talked about last on where you could spend.
• 18:56
  SPEAKER_02: This is where you can save.
• 18:57
  SPEAKER_02: Let's talk about the other side of this equation because smart remodeling isn't about upgrading everything.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_02: It's about knowing where an upgrade actually matters.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_02: Cosmetic features, paint colors, accent walls, decorative hardware, some lighting fixtures, certain decorative finishes.
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_02: These are areas where you can often create a dramatic visual impact without dramatically increasing the overall investment.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_02: You know, again, have a have a specific paint color that will highlight something in a room and make it accent and feel bigger, right?
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_02: The paint color can make a room feel bigger than it actually is.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_02: 100%.
• 19:28
  SPEAKER_02: Or it can make it smaller.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_02: Correct.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_02: Curtain color, accents, things of that nature.
• 19:33
  SPEAKER_02: So just make sure you understand that.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_02: Also, where you can save is phased projects.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_02: Another strategy we talked about with homeowners is you don't necessarily have to do everything at once.
• 19:42
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe the kitchen is the priority number one, the basement can wait.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_02: Not if it's structural or water, but the basement can wait remodeling it or finishing it out, right?
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe the bathroom needs to happen now.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_02: The debt can happen next year unless it's rotted and you're going to fall through.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_02: Again, priority.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_02: Maybe the exterior needs attention before you tackle the master suite.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_02: That's okay.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_03: I think a lot of people do do phased projects.
• 20:04
  SPEAKER_02: They do do in the bathrooms.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_03: That's called a number two.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_03: But I think it's easier for people because they You said doo-doo, Caitlin.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_02: I'm just saying.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_03: You said doo-doo.
• 20:14
  SPEAKER_02: Might as well just said shit.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_03: I call my dog doo-doo head, but I'm saying it love lovingly.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_02: Lovingly doo-doo head in the number two toilet.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_02: Because we are talking about the bathrooms here, of course, right?
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_03: But I do, because think about it, you can pay for this, and then you know, maybe you don't have all that money, and you're gonna keep working, working, working, and you get the money, so then you can do your next project.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_02: And we talked about that on episodes before about a good master plan allows you to build in phases.
• 20:39
  SPEAKER_02: The key in making sure today's work doesn't prevent tomorrow's work.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_02: And that's where working through the big dog game plan that we have, folks.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_03: Didn't even look.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_03: He's like right, yeah.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_02: There it is.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's where we can help walk them through that.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_02: Excuse her, folks.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_03: Well, you know, it's more DP.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_03: Third, second, third week of school.
• 20:59
  SPEAKER_03: It's the beginning.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's right.
• 21:01
  SPEAKER_02: She is a mother of several.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_02: So hey, so the wow factor doesn't have to break the bank.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_02: Here's something I've learned over the years.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_02: Again, almost 30 years I've been doing this.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_02: You don't need the most expensive material in the showroom to create a beautiful home.
• 21:15
  SPEAKER_02: Sometimes about how you use those materials.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_02: It's about the design, it's about proportion.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_02: It's about lighting.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_02: Objects in the mirror may be larger than they appear, or closer than they appear.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_02: Sorry, reading a side view mirror right now.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_03: What does it say?
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_02: It says objects in the early.
• 21:29
  SPEAKER_03: Maybe larger or closer?
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_02: Closer.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_02: Oh maybe closer than they appear.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_02: It's kind of like when the T-Rex best movie.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_02: That was not a T-Rex.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_02: Sorry.
• 21:36
  SPEAKER_02: It sounded like a cat getting neutered.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_03: That was a baby T Rex.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_02: It's about color, it's about layout.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_03: Camera Day even says it.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_03: Exactly.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, she'll take things, thrift or whatever, and and redo it.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_02: It's called upcycling.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_03: Oh, yeah.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_02: You can take a reasonably priced material, put it in the right space with the right design, and create something incredible.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_02: That's why design matters because good design can Make your budget work harder, right?
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_02: So that's why again, starting with a good game plan, big dog game plan checklist, right?
• 22:05
  SPEAKER_02: Is where to start, you know, and hiring the right people to do that, whether it's us at Big Dog Construction or it's another design build firm.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_02: So the three things you should never cheap out on.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_02: Don't cheap out on the shit, Kaylin.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_03: I I wish I could cheap out on a lot of stuff, quite frankly.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_02: If you don't remember anything else from today, remember these three things.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_02: Number one is don't cheap out on the structure.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_02: Structure.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_02: Structure.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_02: Number two.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_02: Don't cheap out on cheap out on water protection.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_02: Protection.
• 22:33
  SPEAKER_02: Put the raincoat on.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_02: Protect yourself.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_02: Don't cheap out on installation, right?
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_02: You can buy a great product, but if it's installed poorly, you wasted your money.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_02: The best materials in the world can't overcome bad workmanship.
• 22:47
  SPEAKER_02: That's why who installs it matters just as much as what you buy.
• 22:50
  SPEAKER_02: Okay?
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_03: 1,000%.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_02: Don't cheap out on those things, the structure, water protection, and installation.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 22:57
  SPEAKER_02: Think about the next 10 years.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_02: So mindset shift.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_02: We do that in 10x world, mindset shift.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_02: Don't just ask how much does this cost?
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_02: Ask, what will this cost me over the next 10 years?
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_02: If it has maintenance or not, or if something wear out.
• 23:11
  SPEAKER_02: If you buy a box or faucet, you're going to replace it in a couple years, right?
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_02: Or if you cheap out and don't put in a water softener system and you bought the good hardware, it's still going to corrode up because you got hard water.
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_03: And if it's leaking your water bill all those years.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_02: Correct.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_02: So let's let's say one product costs$2,000 more up front, but it lasts longer.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_02: Is that a better value?
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_03: See, I'm on this, I'm on this.
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_02: So it requires less maintenance, performs better, and gives you fewer headaches.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_02: You still have to do that.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_02: The extra$2,000 may actually be cheaper decision over time.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_02: And that's where us, the professionals at Big Dog, try to help educate our clients on that before they make that decision.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_02: That's the thing.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_03: It's so hard with some people.
• 23:51
  SPEAKER_02: It's the life cycle thinking.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_02: Yes.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_02: It's like when you put on a shingled roof, there is a life expectancy of that shingled roof.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_02: Like when I moved back to my home, hometown and bought the family farm.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_02: It's 139 years old this year.
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_02: When I back moved back, I it needed a new roof.
• 24:06
  SPEAKER_02: And when I put that new roof on, I'm like, oh man, I got a brand new roof on this house, right?
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_04: Woo.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, woo.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_02: I knew that there'd be a life cycle of that roof.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_02: And I just went through that life cycle and 28 years later and had to put a new roof on it.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_03: Wow.
• 24:18
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_02: So now there's still a chance that I'll have a life cycle where I will be putting another roof on before I leave this earth.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_02: So just think about that life cycle thinking when you're talking about the Yeah, and people don't, because it's all now, now, now.
• 24:31
  SPEAKER_03: But that is a you you have to if you're if you're investing this amount of money.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and and that's how we encourage our homeowners to approach major investments, right?
• 24:40
  SPEAKER_02: So let's talk about designing for how you actually live to help spend or save, right?
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_02: So another place where homeowners sometimes overspend, they design for what they think their house should look like instead of how their family actually lives there.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_02: Pinterest.
• 24:55
  SPEAKER_02: Sorry, I had something in my throat.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, we don't like it.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_02: No, no.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_02: God love Pinterest.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_02: They're not one of our sponsors yet, but they can't.
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I mean, we like, yeah.
• 25:03
  SPEAKER_02: So, but anyway, you know, design for how the family lives, right?
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_02: If you never entertain, you don't need massive entertaining kitchen.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_02: If you don't cook, you don't need like a separate dining room.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_02: Don't you don't need the most expensive appliances available.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_02: If your family spends every evening in the living room, maybe that's where your investment should go, right?
• 25:21
  SPEAKER_03: Big, nice couch, open concept.
• 25:23
  SPEAKER_02: Your home should work for you, not your neighbor.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_02: Not Pinterest.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_03: Not Facebook, not social media.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 25:29
  SPEAKER_02: Not the latest design trend either.
• 25:31
  SPEAKER_02: No.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_02: Tamra even told us that, right?
• 25:33
  SPEAKER_02: It's I'm telling you.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_02: It needs to be the white subway tile.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_02: For you.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_02: Joanna Gaines, thanks you for that, by the way.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 25:41
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, here we go.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_02: We're at that, we're at that time of the segment.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, here it is.
• 25:44
  SPEAKER_02: Dog rapid fire.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_03: I was like, what's he gonna come up with now?
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_02: My wolf gun.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_02: My dog gun.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_03: See, and I I wanted to do a drum.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_03: Drum roll.
• 25:52
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, before spending money on any upgrade, ask yourself these rapid fire questions.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_02: Will I use this every day?
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_02: Will it make my home function better?
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_02: Will it last?
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_02: Will it reduce future maintenance?
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_02: Does it improve the value or appeal of my home?
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_02: If you can answer yes to the several questions above, it may be worth the investment.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_02: If you're buying it simply because it's trendy, maybe think twice.
• 26:17
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_02: Unless you just have that few money, right?
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_02: Do you have the FU money?
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_02: Fine.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_02: Give us a call.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_02: At first I was like, well, you've heard that expression.
• 26:25
  SPEAKER_02: It's called the fucking money.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_03: Well, you said few.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_02: F you money.
• 26:29
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm like, okay.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_03: If you have that, yeah, go ahead.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_02: So your big dog challenge this week is take your current remodeling wish list, which we talked about last week, right?
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_04: Mm-hmm.
• 26:38
  SPEAKER_02: And divide it into three columns.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_02: Must invest, things to protect your home, improve function, or solve major problems, right?
• 26:45
  SPEAKER_02: Structure, water, or functionality.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_02: Then the next list would be nice to have things that would improve the project but aren't essential.
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 26:52
  SPEAKER_02: Or the save or phase.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_02: Things that can wait or be done at a lower cost, then take a hard look at your list, right?
• 27:00
  SPEAKER_03: So it's basically needs, wants, future.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_02: Yep.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_02: You may discover you don't need to spend more money.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_02: You just need to spend your money smarter.
• 27:08
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 27:09
  SPEAKER_02: Right?
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_03: And sometimes when you write it down and organize it, especially with the prices next to it, exactly.
• 27:15
  SPEAKER_03: Make it a little bit easier for you to decide.
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_02: Of course.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_02: So one final thought for us, right?
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_02: Here's all I want everyone to take away today.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_02: A successful remodel isn't about having the biggest budget.
• 27:25
  SPEAKER_02: It's about having the best plan for that budget you have, right?
• 27:27
  SPEAKER_02: We've talked about planning.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_02: Planning is so key.
• 27:30
  SPEAKER_02: You don't have to have the most expensive house on the block unless you have that fuck you money.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_02: Then you that's that's fine, right?
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 27:36
  SPEAKER_02: Uh you need a home that works for your family, a home that's built correctly, a home that's comfortable, a home that's durable, and a home you still love 10 years from now.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, your sanctuary.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 27:46
  SPEAKER_02: That's what we're trying to accomplish at Big Dog Construction, right?
• 27:49
  SPEAKER_02: We're not trying to spend your money.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_02: We're trying to help you invest it wisely.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_02: Because when you're finished, we want you to look at your home and say, that was money well spent.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_02: That's what we want to have happen, right?
• 28:01
  SPEAKER_02: So I think they will.
• 28:02
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, a little call to action here.
• 28:04
  SPEAKER_02: A little shout out to our followers and listeners, right?
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_02: If you're planning the remodel and you're trying to figure out where to spend and where to save, don't guess.
• 28:11
  SPEAKER_02: Download the Big Dog Remodel Game Plan checklist, right cheer, use it to organize your project, prioritize your investment, and start the conversation.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_02: And if you want to help figure out what makes sense for your specific home, reach out to us here at Big Dog Construction, 217-970-7340.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_02: Debbie will get you set up with an appointment.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_02: Our knowledgeable sales team will come out.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_02: We'll talk to you about it.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_02: It's free and uh take you from there, right?
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_02: You know, bring us your ideas.
• 28:35
  SPEAKER_03: That's worth its weight in gold, right?
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_03: It is.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_02: Bring us your wish list.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_02: Bring us your budget.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_02: There's no commitments to make that happen, except a little bit of your time.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_02: Or we can invite you to our show.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_03: Questions answered.
• 28:44
  SPEAKER_02: We have a fully, again, we haven't talked about in a while.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_02: We have a fully remodeled model home showroom, 2,500 square feet of just a home.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_02: No one lives here.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_02: You come in, we can show you the product, show the services, show you what we can do, the different textures, finishes, all that stuff.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_02: Which one?
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_02: We have several.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_03: Well, the the main one, like where the waterfall island.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, and and because I always see Susan in there and it gives her a lot of room to like lay out the blueprints and everything.
• 29:16
  SPEAKER_03: I just think it's so much more comfortable than an office.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_03: So with the showroom.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_02: So bring us all that stuff and let's figure out how to make the most of it because we're not looking for a one-time customer.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_02: We're looking to earn a client for life.
• 29:27
  SPEAKER_03: Big dog fam.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_02: That's right.
• 29:29
  SPEAKER_02: What's up, fam?
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_02: Woof.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, thanks for joining us for another episode of Designing and Building the Midwest One Community at a Time.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_02: This has been another episode of the Big Dog Game Plan.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_02: Next week, we're going to take the conversation one step further.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_02: Oh boy.
• 29:43
  SPEAKER_02: We're going to talk about something that every homeowner should be thinking about.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_02: Designing for the future.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_02: How to create a home that works for your family today and 10, 20, and 30 years from now.
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_04: Right?
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_02: When we become hopefully not snowbirds, but whatever.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_02: We want the home, we want it to be a forever home until they carry us out in the pine box.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, yes.
• 30:03
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_02: All right.
• 30:04
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, until next time, spin smarter, plan smarter, build better.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_02: And remember, at Big Dog Construction, we just don't build houses.
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_02: We build homes that work for real families.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_02: We build relationships that last, and we build stronger communities, one project at a time, one family and one community at a time.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_02: Until next time.
• 30:23
  SPEAKER_00: Bye.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_00: Hey there.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Lisa Miller, managing broker and owner of First Choice Realty Pros.
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_00: We don't just help you find a house, we help you discover home.
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_00: My team and I are passionate about taking care of your needs, making the process smooth, and ensuring you get the personalized attention you deserve.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_00: Ready for the next step?
• 30:45
  SPEAKER_00: Call us at 217-825-3999.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_00: With First Choice Realty Pros, you've got a team that's got your back.
• 31:23
  SPEAKER_03: And that wraps up another episode of Designing and Building the Midwest, one community at a time.
• 31:29
  SPEAKER_03: Thank you so much for tuning in and listening with us today.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_02: We hope you walked away with some valuable insights to use in your home or neighborhood.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_02: If you enjoyed what you heard, make sure you hit that subscribe button so you never miss a weekly episode.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_03: And be sure to follow us on Facebook and across all your favorite platforms to keep up with everything we're building.
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_02: Until next time, I'm Chris.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_03: And I'm Caitlin.
• 31:50
  SPEAKER_03: Thanks for hanging out with us, and we'll see you next time.
• 31:52
  unknown: Big Dog!
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_02: This episode was produced by Big Dog Media Group, delivering powerful creative for brands and creators everywhere.
• 32:00
  SPEAKER_02: If you're looking to take your podcast to the next level or just get started, Big Dog Media Group has you covered.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for listening.