In this episode of Home: The Second Story Podcast, we sit down with Greg from Central Kentucky to unpack the twists and turns of his custom home build during the height of COVID. We begin by learning why Greg and his wife chose to relocate to Kentucky — wanting to be closer to family and create a calm, settled place for their four young children. With prior experience building two homes through production builders and Greg’s background in commercial construction, they felt confident enough to tackle a custom build without an architect, trusting a local builder recommended by their realtor.

As we dive deeper, Greg shares how quickly that confidence faded. Due diligence turned out to be the biggest lesson learned. Early on, they relied on the builder to handle both the design and construction. Instead of detailed construction documents, they received rough plans that left too much open to interpretation. Because of supply chain delays and poor planning, the house sat framed but unfinished through an entire Kentucky winter, leading to stress over moisture damage and scheduling nightmares.

Greg describes the reality of acting as his own project manager while juggling a full-time job and a growing family. He and his wife took on tasks like creating finish schedules, selecting materials, and coordinating with trades. As the builder struggled to manage trades and schedules, Greg’s frustration grew — not because he didn’t know better, but because he didn’t want to create conflict. Eventually, they stripped work from the builder’s scope just to get the house livable, closing with only a certificate of occupancy and managing painting, trim, and cabinetry themselves through local contractors.

Despite the setbacks, Greg reminds us that there’s still satisfaction in seeing their vision come to life — a spacious home with personal design touches and a serene lot for their boys to run free. Looking back, he underlines the importance of vetting everyone thoroughly — from the builder to every subcontractor — and not assuming base competence without proof. He urges anyone taking on a custom home to ask hard questions up front, check references, understand local trades, and accept that a true custom build demands both time and contingency.

We wrap up recognizing that while this experience was rough, it didn’t have to be. Working with the right professionals, asking tough questions, and having a plan with enough budget and schedule buffer can keep a custom build from becoming a cautionary tale. For Greg and his family, the stress ultimately paid off in a home they now love — but they’ll need a few more years (and bourbons) before doing it again.

Have questions? Want to be on our show? Email us! admin@htsspodcast.com

Learn about our hosts:

Taylor: TPD Architecture and Design: https://tpdarchitect.com

Marilyn: Runcible Studios: https://runciblestudios.com

SherI: Springhouse Architects: https://springhousearchitects.com

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