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PODCAST

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes

Welcome to The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes—your expert-led roadmap to building smarter and better. I’m Rick Bell, founder of Landmark Custom Homes, with over 40 years of experience building across South Florida. Each episode gives you practical insights into the custom homebuilding process—materials, floor plans, budgeting, timelines, and how to avoid costly mistakes. If you want to build with confidence and craftsmanship, this show is for you.

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All Episodes

6:54

Episode 33: How to Build a Custom Home from Start to...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/04/07

Building a custom home can feel confusing — not because it’s hard, but because most people don’t know what happens next. In this episode, we walk through the custom home process from start to finish — from vision and building your team, to design, budgeting, due diligence, pre-construction, construction, and completion. If you're planning to build, buy land, or design your home, this episode will help you understand what to expect and what to do at each stage. SHARE this with some...

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10:08

Episode 32: The 10 Biggest Mistakes When Building a...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/04/01

Most people think the biggest mistakes in building a custom home are big decisions — but it’s usually the small ones that slowly push a project off track. Many problems don’t come from one big mistake, but from small decisions made too late or without the right information. In this episode, we talk about the most common mistakes homeowners make when building a custom home, and how early planning, the right team, and better decisions can make the entire process smoother and less stressful. Rem...

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9:07

Episode 31: What Does it Cost to Build a Custom Home...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/03/24

What does it really cost to build a custom home today? Most people try to estimate using price per square foot, but that number rarely tells the full story. Many homeowners start planning their build without understanding where the money actually goes. This often leads to budget surprises, stress, and difficult decisions later in the project. In this episode, we break down the real cost of building a custom home, the four major cost categories, what drives costs up or down, and how to approa...

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57:15

Episode 30: Controller Interview with Noely...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/03/16

Strong financial systems are one of the most important — and least visible — parts of a successful custom home build. While most homeowners focus on design, finishes, and construction progress, strong financial systems work behind the scenes to track payments, maintain documentation, and keep the project on course. In this episode, Rick Bell sits down with Noely Villalobos, Controller at Landmark Custom Homes, to discuss the systems, financial discipline, and documentation processes that supp...

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45:16

Episode 29: Project Management Interview with Brandon...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/03/09

What does it really take to coordinate a luxury custom home build from start to finish? Behind every successful project is someone managing hundreds of moving parts—budgets, schedules, design selections, subcontractors, and communication between the entire team throughout the custom home building process. In this episode, host Rick Bell sits down with Brandon Nudelman, Partner and President of Landmark Custom Homes. With more than a decade of experience managing complex luxury home constructi...

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48:45

Episode 28: Construction Superintendent Interview...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/02/25

Behind every successful custom home is disciplined execution, clear communication, and leadership on the job site. While plans set the vision, it’s the daily decisions in the field that ultimately shape quality, schedule, and the homeowner experience. Most homeowners never see the coordination happening behind the scenes—managing trades, solving issues early, and keeping the project moving. When that leadership is missing, delays grow, punch lists expand, and stress quickly follows. In this e...

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51:18

Episode 27: Construction Superintendent Interview...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/02/16

Luxury homes aren’t built by plans alone—they’re built by execution. Day after day, decision after decision, quality is shaped on the job site long before the final reveal. Behind every successful custom home is someone coordinating trades, solving conflicts, and keeping hundreds of moving parts in sync. It’s a role most homeowners rarely see, yet it quietly determines whether a build runs smoothly or spirals into stress. In this episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, host Rick Bell ...

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56:19

Episode 26: Construction Superintendent Interview...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/02/05

What really determines whether a custom home turns out exceptional—or becomes a source of stress, delays, and costly fixes? And who is quietly responsible for making thousands of decisions go right on site? If you’ve ever wondered why two homes with similar plans can have wildly different outcomes, this episode explains why execution—not drawings—ultimately determines the result. Many homeowners assume great design and premium materials are enough, until jobsite realities prove otherwise. In ...

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13:00

Episode 25: The Construction Team

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/01/28

What actually happens behind the scenes once you choose a custom home builder? And more importantly, who is really responsible for bringing your vision to life without costly missteps or delays? In this episode, host Rick Bell pulls back the curtain on what separates a loosely run operation from a disciplined, high-performing custom home building team—and why understanding this early can save you stress, time, and money. Rick breaks down the structure, roles, and communication standards that ...

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7:34

Episode 24: What Happens When Things Don’t Go Well in...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/01/19

Custom home builds rarely unravel all at once — it’s often small moments of misalignment that quietly create stress. A delayed timeline, unmet expectations, or communication gaps can leave homeowners feeling uncertain about how to move forward. This episode speaks to homeowners who sense something isn’t quite aligned during their build and are looking for clarity — particularly when expectations around price, quality, and timeline begin to pull in different directions. Using a real client exp...

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9:07

Episode 23: Self-Performed Work in Custom Home Building

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2026/01/07

Self-performed work is one of the most misunderstood aspects of custom home building — and when handled correctly, it can actually protect your budget, timeline, and peace of mind. In this episode, we break down what self-performed work really means, why it’s often misunderstood, and how it can either protect or jeopardize your project depending on how it’s handled. If you’re concerned about transparency, cost control, or accountability, this conversation brings much-needed clarity. We walk t...

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36:34

Episode 22: Interior Design Interview with Goli...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/12/09

Luxury design isn’t just about finishes — it’s about creating emotional harmony the moment you walk through the door. In this episode, Rick Bell sits down with Goli Basiri, co-founder and principal designer of Harmen Design, to explore how thoughtful interior architecture, intuitive discovery, and purposeful design transform a home into a deeply personal living experience. Together, they discuss common design challenges and how early collaboration leads to a more aligned, seamless proce...

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46:38

Episode 21: Design Leadership with Jason Lynn of The...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/11/18

What does it take to lead one of the world’s top luxury interior design firms for nearly 40 years? In this episode, host Rick Bell welcomes Jason Lynn, Partner and Vice President at The Decorators Unlimited, to explore the art of design, leadership, and legacy in a fast-evolving industry. Jason shares his inspiring journey from U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer to global design executive — and how structure, teamwork, and mentorship have shaped the firm’s signature “white-glove” ap...

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45:22

Episode 20: Interior Designer Interview with Jennifer...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/11/11

Designing a custom home should feel exciting — but for many homeowners, it quickly becomes overwhelming once hundreds of decisions, finishes, and layouts enter the picture. In this episode, Rick Bell sits down with award-winning interior designer Jennifer Fitzpatrick, founder and principal of Studio J & Co, to bring clarity to the entire process. They unpack Jennifer’s journey from working solo during the early days of COVID to leading a thriving 10-person design team known for sophistica...

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42:26

Episode 19: Interior Designer Interview with Perla Lichi

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/10/31

What makes a home truly yours? In this inspiring episode, host Rick Bell sits down with world-renowned interior designer Perla Lichi — a fearless creative who’s been redefining luxury interiors for over four decades. Known for her bold use of color, texture, and global influences, Perla shares her journey from her early days as “Purple Perla” to designing palaces in Dubai and multi-million-dollar estates across South Florida. She opens up about what “luxury” really means — and wh...

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7:38

Episode 18: Interior Designers — What They Do and How...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/10/21

You’ve probably walked into a beautiful home that somehow just feels right — balanced, warm, and personal. That kind of magic doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of thoughtful collaboration between architect, builder, and interior designer, working together to bring structure and soul into harmony. As a custom home builder with over 40 years of experience, I’ve seen how the right interior designer can completely transform a project — and how the wrong choice can create unnecessa...

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6:27

Episode 17: Selections and Allowances

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/10/16

Ever wondered why so many custom home projects go over budget — even with careful planning? When building a luxury home, the smallest decisions can have the biggest impact. From appliances to cabinetry, every choice shapes not just the look of your home, but the final cost as well. In this episode of The Insider's Guide to Custom Homes, Rick Bell explains the vital role of selections and allowances — two tools that help homeowners stay organized, avoid costly surprises, and keep their dream b...

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10:12

Episode 16: Mockups — Why They Matter

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/10/06

In this episode, Rick Bell dives into one of the most powerful — but often underappreciated — tools in custom homebuilding: the mockup. Whether built in the field or experienced virtually, mockups help owners, architects, and builders test details, refine designs, and avoid costly mistakes before full-scale construction begins. From unique roof overhangs to stone transitions and virtual walk-throughs, Rick explains how mockups bring creative visions to life while protecting budgets, sc...

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34:04

Episode 15: Interview with Chris Bates – Navigating...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/09/22

In this episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, Rick Bell interviews Chris Bates, a property tax expert, to shed light on one of the least understood but most impactful aspects of owning a luxury custom home: property taxes. Chris explains how tax assessments are determined, the common pitfalls homeowners face, and the strategies high-net-worth families can use to manage their property tax liabilities effectively. He shares stories from his work representing clients and highlig...

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30:43

Episode 14: Owner’s Representative Interview with...

The Insider"s Guide to Custom Homes ·

2025/09/15

Building an ultra-luxury custom home often rivals the complexity of managing a commercial high-rise. Behind every dream estate in South Florida is a demanding process that requires expertise, foresight, and a dedicated advocate to safeguard the owner’s vision. In this episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, host Rick Bell sits down with Rick Peña—founding principal of Prime Group Management and a seasoned owner’s representative with over 25 years of experience and a portfolio su...

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