Before the Shovel: When the Pre-Construction Process Starts Turning Dirt

Unexpected conditions are part of building a one-of-a-kind home. A weather delay, unforeseen site condition, material issue, design change, or change order doesn’t mean your custom home build has gone off track. What matters is how your builder responds. In this episode of The Art of Custom, Hibbs Luxury Homes construction leaders Craig Johnson and Chris Pedigo join us to talk candidly about what happens when challenges arise during the custom home construction process. You’ll also learn why documentation and approvals matter, how seemingly small design decisions can create ripple effects throughout construction, and the questions homeowners should ask when something unexpected happens. Because measure of a successful custom build isn’t lack of problems, it is how an experienced team, a clear process, and open communication keeps your project moving toward a beautifully finished home.

Why does one home feel comfortable in every room while another has drafts, hot spots, and painful energy bills? The answer often lies in decisions hidden behind the walls. Our team sits down with Chris Pedigo, general manager of Hibbs Luxury Homes’ St. Louis office, to explain how HVAC design, air sealing, and insulation work together to shape how a custom home feels and performs. Learn which insulation upgrades deliver the most value, why bigger HVAC equipment isn’t always better, and how variable-speed systems, properly placed returns, air filtration, humidity control, and fresh-air systems affect everyday comfort. The team also explores climate-specific building strategies, affordable soundproofing opportunities, and what homeowners should inspect before the drywall goes up. If you’re planning a custom home, this episode will help you ask smarter questions, invest where it matters most, and more comfort healthier air, lower energy use, and lasting performance.

It doesn’t make the mood board. It won’t show up on Instagram. But the MEP phase (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) is where comfort, performance, and livability of your custom home is decided. In this episode, we peel back the drywall and talked about how your builder’s trade relationships make this phase exceptional: the vetting process, standards that go beyond code, and what to look for during these critical walks. What happens behind your walls determines everything about how your home feels to live in. And that invisible work becomes every day luxury, listen now and find out why!

Everyone talks about "good bones" — but do you actually know what that means when you're building from scratch? In this episode, we are joined by Lance Berman owner of PRIMO Builders, Hibbs Homes' framing partner in Utah, to pull back the curtain on one of the most critical phases of custom home construction. Framing isn't just walls going up — it's a critical step that impact every future finish decision. From blocking for tubs and showers to the choices that can't be undone once drywall goes in, this episode is your guide to what's happening inside the sticks and behind the drywall.

In this episode, Kim and Melody talk to Craig Johnson - the Director of Construction for Hibbs in Park City, UT! Craig brings his extensive background with the unique challenges of mountain foundations while Kim shares insights from the Park City and St Louis markets. It’s one of the first visible milestones in the process, so join us and as dig deep into the first milestone of the custom building process.

What separates custom home builds that go smoothly from the ones that don't? Almost always, it comes down to what happened before the first shovel hit the ground. In the Season 9 premiere, Kim Hibbs and Melody Meiners break down the pre-construction services agreement (PSA): what it is, why you can't skip it, and why your budget isn't real until you have land. They also walk through what a builder is doing in the weeks between contract signing and groundbreaking, and the questions every future homeowner should ask before signing anything. Whether you're building in St. Louis, Park City, or anywhere in between, this episode gives you the context to understand why the custom home building process works the way it does and why that process is what protects you most.

Gets you plans permit-ready and prepare for a smooth build. The preconstruction finish line is in sight! It's almost go time, and we're going through those last checkmarks on your custom build to-do list. Today we're going to explore those last steps for permitting and site prep before you begin turning dirt. Learn the process that kick starts the first construction step.  And join us next season when we take you through each step of the construction process, milestone by milestone. Join us for Season 9, coming in November 2025!

Luxury isn't about the amount you spend or square footage, and value engineering is the key to getting the most out of your space and spend... In this episode of The Art of Custom, we break down the process of value engineering, which helps you design strategically to stay within your investment goals without sacrificing quality or style.  Learn how to balance your wants, needs and wishes with expert insights from Hibbs Luxury Homes!

Your budget sets the bar for your project, here's how to help your builder nail it.  Estimating and budgeting are among the most stressful parts of building a custom home. Hibbs Luxury Homes estimators Alexa Wagasky and Kathleen Arvin explain why cost per square foot is misleading, how allowances and soft costs work, and how to avoid budget surprises so you can build with confidence and clarity.

Your dream home should look great and live even better! Architect Chris Campbell of Walk Your Plans St. Louis joins us to discuss how walking your floor plan at full scale can transform the design process. Learn how to avoid “I wish” regrets, balance square footage with vision, and make confident design choices before construction begins.