Do I need construction experience?

No. The course walks you through each phase in plain language and includes checklists you can hand to pros.

Build the custom home you envision, without the uncertainty.

Building Blueprint empowers you with a proven, step-by-step system that transforms even the most complex project into a predictable, well-managed process.

Every Build Follows One of Two Paths

The Path of Guesswork

Budget Overruns: Change orders average $15k each, pushing costs 25%+ higher due to poor planning.

Timeline Delays: Zoning shocks or material shortages add 3-6 months, inflating carry costs by thousands each month in interest and taxes.

Endless Friction with your GC: Constant arguments because of misaligned expectations.

Hidden Risks: Unmanaged risks like site viability issues wipe out 20-30% of potential equity gains.

The Result: A home that's over budget, behind schedule, and full of compromises.

The Path of a Blueprint

Airtight Bid Packages and GC Contracts: You know exactly what to look for and protect your budget from day one.

Accelerate Timelines: Strategically utilize techniques to fast-track your permits and scheduling to shave months off, minimizing holding expenses.

A True Partnership: You speak the same language as your pros and manage the project with confidence.

Mitigate Risks: Feasibility models and due diligence checklists spot issues early, protecting your ROI potential.

The Result: A home built on time, on budget, and exactly to your design intent.

'Read This Before You Decide to Be Your Own General Contractor' (Apr 5, 2023)

Your Blueprint for Success

Picture this: You acquire raw land in New York for less than half of the asking price, and a third of it's assessed value. You then collaborate with the renowned architecture firm Olson Kundig on a 3,000 sq ft steel-concrete-glass home. You break ground amid COVID chaos (lumber up 250%, steel 90%), and finish $900k under the lowest contractor bid. Your home appraises at double the cost, and you'd earn a 316% return on your equity if you sold. That's our story, and now it's your playbook.

Building Blueprint empowers visionary homeowners and gives them the tools to execute like industry pros. It equips you with battle-tested systems to safeguard your budget, timeline, and sanity. No more guessing games that lead to six-figure overruns.

Building Blueprint closes the knowledge gap between homeowners and builders.

Master the strategy behind every successful custom build, before you write the first check.

Our Proven Track Record

4.17x

We treated our home build like a high-return investment, carefully managing risk, cost, and ROI. Based on our lender’s independent appraisal, we achieved a 4.1x equity multiple (or a 316% return on equity, 95% total return, and 49% gross profit margin)

33% under budget

Even amid COVID-19 disruptions and a 250 % lumber-price spike, we still completed construction under budget, by unlocking value and systematizing our process.

20+ projects

Since 2023, we've been trusted by over 20 homeowners across 7 states to represent and advise them on their new builds and renovations, on projects ranging from $1M to $8M.

We are May and Peter.

With a combined 30+ years of combined experience across real estate, luxury retail, law, and tech, we've mastered multimillion-dollar precision. In 2018, we bought land and self-GC'd our dream home through COVID-era turmoil. Results? Under budget by 33%, and a high ROI. In 2023, we launched MAOR, guiding 20+ HNW clients through $1M to $8M+ builds/renos. This course packages those exact frameworks in a format that's accessible yet actionable.

Learn More About the Instructors

Who is Building Blueprint for?

The Architect and Builder’s Equal.
You respect the pros but demand balanced deals. Learn to negotiate ironclad contracts, decode jargon, and lead meetings—ensuring your vision isn't diluted.

The Design-Obsessed.
You crave modern marvels like cantilevered concrete and seamless glass? Get the sequencing, specs, and math to realize them without $100k+ surprises.

The Value-Driven Investor.
You think in ARV, carry costs, depreciation. Gain investor lenses from our 4.3x multiple, turning your build into a wealth multiplier.

The Homeowner Ready to Step In and Take Charge
Facing a seven-figure project? Whether self-managing to slash 20-35% costs or overseeing GCs, arm yourself to charge ahead confidently.

Does that sound like you? Welcome.

Sidestep the pitfalls that 70% of custom builds will face.

(per NAHB data: delays averaging 3 months, budgets overrun by 25%)

Inside The Blueprint

The Video Sessions

Over 10 hours of video lessons, structured across 5 modules mirroring a real high-end build timeline. The lessons are broken out by 10-20 min videos, each densely packed with the information and workflows you will need to master your home build.

Review the lesson outlines below to understand the depth of the substance we cover.

Module 1: The Strategic Blueprint — Assessing ROI, Risk, and Readiness

Transform dreams into data-driven decisions. Lessons cover vision statements, budget breakdowns, feasibility tests, bandwidth audits, GC vs. self-build choices, financing like leveraged buyouts, and a Go/No-Go scorecard. Learn how to assess ROI, map out your vision, and evaluate budget, risk, and readiness, before you spend a dime.

Here’s a look at the lessons you’ll master in Module 1:

Part 1: The Vision

Lesson 1: Understanding and Defining Your Vision

It all starts with a clear vision. In this first lesson, you'll learn how to transform your dream into a tangible, one-page Vision Statement. This isn't just a mood board; it's the strategic tool that will anchor every decision you make, protecting you from costly change orders and the stress of indecision.

Part 2: The Reality Check

Lesson 2: Demystifying the Budget

Stop guessing what your build will cost. This lesson cuts through the fog, showing you why generic square-foot estimates are a trap. You'll get our 2025 cost-per-square-foot numbers for four different build tiers, a detailed breakdown of the 12 cost categories you must track, and a transparent look at the real-world budget from our own high-design build.

Lesson 3: The Feasibility Test

A great design is worthless if the math doesn't work. Here, you'll conduct a crucial reality check, pressure-testing your budget against market realities. Learn why some projects never break ground due to appraisal gaps and use our frameworks to create one-page Financial and Market Snapshots that give you the confidence to move forward.

Lesson 4: Assessing Site Viability

Fall in love with the numbers, not just the view. This lesson gives you a developer's eye for land, guiding you through our 11-point viability checklist to assess topography, soil quality, access, and more. Learn to spot the hidden-cost traps that turn "cheap" lots into financial nightmares.

Lesson 5: Risk Management

In construction, surprises are guaranteed; your ability to absorb them is not. Learn to manage risk like a professional by building a robust financial contingency, securing the right insurance, and using our powerful "Pre-Mortem Exercise" to reverse-engineer solutions to problems before they happen.

Part 3: The Personal Commitment Assessment

Lesson 6: The Bandwidth Audit

Your personal bandwidth is the "invisible budget" that kills more builds than lack of money. Be brutally honest: can you really dedicate 25-40 hours a week to this project? This lesson provides a three-part audit of your time, energy, and opportunity cost to ensure your dream project doesn't become a personal nightmare.

Lesson 7: GC or Owner-Builder? Defining Your Role

Will you hire a pro or run the show? This lesson breaks down one of the most important decisions you'll make. We'll compare the 20-25% GC fee against the intense commitment and liability of self-GCing and explore hybrid models so you can choose the role that perfectly matches your skills, budget, and bandwidth.

Part 4: The Strategy

Lesson 8: Financing Your Build

Financing is more than a hurdle; it's a strategic tool. This lesson provides a deep dive into construction loans, showing you what lenders require and why they cap loans based on appraised value, not your total cost. Plus, learn our advanced strategy for viewing your build like a financial leveraged buyout, leveraging debt financing to maximize your return on equity.

Lesson 9: Choosing Your Design Path — Architect, Design-Build, or Prefab?

The designer you choose sets the soul—and the spend—of your project. We'll compare six distinct design paths: a "starchitect," a local architect, a design-build firm, prefab, and more. Learn how this single choice can swing your design fees from 3% to over 20% of your budget and dictate the entire tone of your build.

Lesson 10: The Final Readiness Check — Your Go / No-Go Decision

This is your final gate. Before you commit significant capital, you'll conduct a comprehensive self-assessment using our Six-Pillar Scorecard for Readiness. We'll help you analyze your financial capacity, risk appetite, and family alignment to make a final, clear-eyed Go, Pause, or Stop decision with total confidence.

Module 2: The Pre-Development Blueprint — Securing Land and Structuring Your Project

Master the art of finding and securing land while navigating zoning, due diligence, and permitting. Dive into raw vs. tear-down, zoning decoding, site analysis (sun, slopes), deal structuring (LLCs, financing), offer contingencies, due diligence (inspections, surveys), and permit fast-tracks. Avoid surprise hidden costs from soil or easements—up to $50k in surprises.

Here’s a look at what you’ll master in Module 2:

Part 1: The Search – Finding & Filtering Potential Properties

Lesson 1: Raw Land vs. Tear-Down? Making Your First Major Site Decision

Learn how to make the critical choice between a "blank slate" raw parcel and an existing tear-down lot. We’ll show you how to find off-market "whisper listings" and use our proprietary Land Comparison Matrix to objectively rate properties, uncovering hidden costs and opportunities before you invest a dime.

Lesson 2: Zoning Fundamentals: The Rules That Rule Your Project

In this lesson, you'll learn to decode zoning like a pro, instantly understanding the critical metrics—Floor-Area Ratio (FAR), setbacks, and height limits—that define your home's potential size and placement. Discover when a variance is a viable option and which restrictions are deal-breakers you must walk away from.

Lesson 3: Reading the Land: Site Analysis for Sun, Slopes, Soil, and Water

Learn to analyze a property for the four elements that can make or break your build. We’ll teach you how to map sun paths to cut future energy bills by up to 30%, assess slopes to avoid six-figure foundation overruns, interpret soil reports, and manage on-site water to protect your investment for decades to come.

Part 2: The Transaction – Structuring the Deal

Lesson 4: Your Pre-Build Structure: Entity, Tax & Insurance

Learn to structure your project like a seasoned developer to shield your personal assets and maximize financial returns. We’ll compare owning in your name versus an LLC or S-Corp and show you how to align your legal entity with your insurance coverage and tax strategy to leverage benefits like the $500,000 capital gains exclusion.

Lesson 5: Financing the Purchase & Understanding Carry Costs

Don't let hidden expenses drain your resources. We’ll break down the five ways to finance a land purchase—from raw land loans to seller financing—and teach you how to build a cash-flow buffer that accounts for every single holding cost you'll incur before construction even begins.

Lesson 6: Crafting the Offer & Negotiation Strategy

Learn to write a purchase offer that protects your capital while compelling the seller to accept. You’ll get our playbook on using creative terms like seller financing and deploying a list of non-negotiable contingencies that create bulletproof exit ramps, allowing you to walk away if your due diligence uncovers any red flags.

Part 3: The Due Diligence – Uncovering the Truth

Lesson 7: The Professional Inspections: Civil, Environmental & Geotechnical

Protect your project from costly stop-work orders and five-figure fines. This lesson provides a checklist of non-negotiable civil, environmental, and geotechnical assessment, along with what to expect and what to look out for.

Lesson 8: Bulletproofing Your Purchase: Survey, Title, and Utilities

Take ownership with absolute confidence. This lesson teaches you to differentiate between a Boundary, Topographic, and ALTA survey. It also teaches you how to scrub your title commitment of exceptions that could jeopardize your legal ownership or create future disputes. Finally, it will cover the critical "will-serve" letters required for your building permit.

Lesson 9: The Go/No-Go Decision: Synthesizing Your Diligence

After your contingency period draws to a close, this lesson will give you the criteria you need to synthesize all your findings, and make the final, clear-eyed Go/No-Go decision.

Part 4: The Path to Building

Lesson 10: The Permit Pathway: Navigating Entitlements

Master the "permit stack," from the initial pre-application conference to receiving your final Certificate of Occupancy. You'll get realistic approval timelines for rural, suburban, and complex coastal zones, plus learn our fast-track tactics for shaving months off your permitting schedule and avoiding bureaucratic delays.

Bonus Lesson: Zoning Shortcuts

How to analyze zoning to build your project "as-of-right", avoiding public hearings and planning review, saving months of time and thousands in fees.

Module 3: The Design Phase — A Deep Dive into Architecture & Engineering

Assemble your architect and engineers, align design with budget, and develop buildable plans that reflect your vision. Navigate design phases (SD to CA), master modern materials (steel, glass), sustainability for 30%+ energy savings, envelope science, glazing specs, interiors/finishes, value engineering, and permit submission.

Here’s a look at what you’ll master in Module 3:

Part 1: Building Your Design Team

Lesson 1: Choosing Your Architect

Learn how to select the most critical partner in your build journey: your architect. We'll go beyond aesthetics to understand how a great architect balances your vision with site constraints, zoning rules, structural realities, and your budget. Discover how to decode portfolios, compare fee models, and navigate the architectural contract to ensure a true partnership.

Lesson 2: Assembling Your Engineering A-Team

Meet the essential collaborators your architect will bring to the table: your engineering team. Learn the core missions of structural, civil, geotechnical, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) engineers, understanding how they translate architectural vision into structural and functional reality. Discover how to build your engineering A-Team and ensure seamless coordination.

Part 2: The Design Roadmap & Core Philosophies

Lesson 3: The Architectural Design Process

Uncover the roadmap of architectural design, moving through four distinct phases: Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), Construction Documents (CDs), and Construction Administration (CA). Master the purpose of each phase, critical budget checkpoints, and your role in steering the project and preventing costly changes.

Lesson 4: The Language of Modern Design, Sustainability & High-Performance Design

Dive into the philosophy behind modern residential architecture. Understand the strategic use of materials like steel, glass, and concrete, and how they enable expansive spaces and indoor-outdoor living. Learn the cost and complexity implications of these choices, and how to achieve clarity and intention in your design even within budget constraints.

Reframe "sustainability" as a pragmatic strategy for creating a home that is more comfortable, healthier, durable, and significantly cheaper to operate. Set specific performance targets for energy efficiency, air tightness, thermal comfort, water conservation, durability, and air quality. Understand the role of certifications and how to ensure your team designs toward these measurable goals.

Part 3: The Art & Science of a Durable Home (The Envelope)

Lesson 5: Building Science & The Durable Envelope

Master the "nitty-gritty how" of building science: managing heat, air, and moisture to ensure your home's long-term durability. Learn about the four critical control layers (water, air, vapor, thermal) that form your building envelope and the absolute rule for their continuous and correct order. Discover how to scrutinize high-risk transitions and insist on quality control measures like the intermediate blower-door test.

Lesson 6: The Window Package: Mastering Glass & Glazing

Deep dive into one of the most expensive and highest-impact components of your home: your glass and glazing package. Decode technical jargon like U-value and SHGC, and understand the trade-offs of different frame materials. Learn the critical coordination and budget realities of ordering, installation, and lead times for windows and doors.

Part 4: Bringing the Vision to Life (Interiors & Systems)

Lesson 7: Lighting, AV & Landscape Design

Tackle the critical design layers often thought of last, but requiring early planning: lighting, AV/technology, and landscape design. Understand why anything requiring a wire, pipe, or concrete footing needs to be planned from the very beginning to avoid costly compromises. Learn the importance of a layered lighting plan, future-proofing your tech infrastructure, and bringing in a landscape architect and certified arborist early for site integration and tree protection.

Lesson 8: Managing the Details: Interiors, Finishes & Millwork

Explore the elements that transform a house into your home: interiors, finishes, and millwork. Learn how these decisions, accounting for 25-30% of your total project cost, are a "danger zone" for budget and schedule. Discover how to choose your interior design path, utilize a comprehensive Specification Log, and master lead times and approval workflows to maintain discipline.

Part 5: Aligning Design with Reality

Lesson 9: Strategic Value Engineering: Aligning Vision and Budget

Reframe Value Engineering (VE) as a strategic re-alignment with your core values, not just cost-cutting. Learn the two ideal moments to run a formal VE loop and a strategic hierarchy for finding savings (reducing quantity, simplifying complexity, adjusting quality). Understand how to run a collaborative VE workshop with your team to make hard choices into clear plans.

Lesson 10: The Building Permit Submittal: Finalizing Your Construction Documents

Learn how to navigate the final, crucial milestone of submitting your plans for a building permit. Understand what a "permit-ready" package truly means (clarity, completeness, compliance) and the typical checklist of required documents. Discover the review process, common pitfalls, and pro tips for a smoother and faster approval, allowing you to legally begin construction.

Bonus Lesson: Design Detail Deep-Dive

Deep dive into understanding complex assemblies and connections, including protecting dissimilar materials from corrosion, thermal breaks for steel and concrete, capillary breaks and waterproofing, radon mitigation, and energy recovery ventilators.

Module 4: The Pre-Construction Framework — Mastering Hiring, Contracts, and Financing

Choose your GC or self-manage, structure contracts and financing, and build the operational engine that keeps your project on track. Build your team and systems. Source RFQs, bid analysis, GC contracts, self-GC playbook, owner's rep options, schedules, procurement, cash flow, QA inspections, and kick-off protocols.

Here’s a look at what you’ll master in Module 4:

Part 1: Assembling the Build Team

Lesson 1: Finding, Vetting & Selecting Your Builder

Discover how to find, vet, and choose the General Contractor who will manage the construction of your home. Learn systematic approaches to sourcing a shortlist of reputable builders, conducting rigorous due diligence (including site visits and reference checks).

Lesson 2: The Self-GC & Owner Rep Playbooks

Explore two powerful alternative paths. The Self-GC playbook details the roles and responsibilities required to act as your own builder, while the Owner's Rep playbook explains how to hire a professional advocate to protect your interests.

Part 2: Defining the Deal

Lesson 3: From Bid Package to Signed Contract

Move into the formal bidding process to ensure every builder is pricing the exact same project. Learn how to assemble a comprehensive "Bid Package," utilize a standardized "Bid Form" for apples-to-apples comparisons, manage the bid period professionally, and analyze bids beyond the bottom line to uncover true costs and identify the most realistic proposals.

This lesson decodes the three primary contract structures (Lump Sum, Cost-Plus, GMP) to help you understand how financial risk is allocated. Sharpen your eye for critical red flags that should make you walk away from a potential builder. Understand the different contract structures that allocate risk, and learn how to negotiate a warranty that actually protects you for years to come. This lesson also covers "owner red flags" that can deter top-tier builders.

Part 3: Securing the Financial & Legal Framework

Lesson 4: Securing Your Build: Financing, Insurance & Lien Management

Unless you're funding your build entirely with cash, you will need a specialized tool: the construction loan. Dive into what construction loans are, the different types (single-close vs. two-close), and the key players involved (loan officer, underwriter, appraiser, draw inspector). Learn how to manage the flow of money from groundbreaking to final inspection, including common pitfalls like appraisal gaps and cash flow shortfalls.

Build a fortress around the equity you are investing by understanding the three pillars of risk transfer: rock-solid contracts, disciplined lien management, and the right stack of insurance. Learn how to protect your project from costly disputes and unforeseen accidents, including essential contract clauses, the process of collecting lien waivers, and the critical types of insurance needed for your build.

Part 4: Building Your Project Management Operating System

Lesson 5: The Master Schedule & Critical Path

Control the flow of time on your project by creating a Master Schedule and understanding the Critical Path. Learn why a professional construction schedule beats a simple to-do list, how to think in sequences and dependencies, and the art of minimizing mobilizations by stacking your trades. Utilize Gantt charts and software to visualize your project's timeline and protect your Critical Path.

Lesson 6: Procurement & Vendor Management

Ensure your materials arrive on cue by building a Long-Lead Procurement Plan and a Vendor Management Workflow. Identify key long-lead items (windows, steel, HVAC, custom cabinetry) and understand how their delivery times control your schedule. Learn vendor vetting strategies, purchase order best practices, and how to track deliveries to protect your Critical Path from costly delays.

Lesson 7: Managing Cash Flow, Draws, and Milestones

Integrate your project budget with your lender’s draw schedule to ensure financial health. Understand the difference between cash flow and draw schedules, and learn a step-by-step guide to mapping your costs to your draws, identifying and bridging cash flow gaps. Utilize a "Burn-Rate Dashboard" as your financial early-warning system and account for retainage and change orders.

Lesson 8: Quality Assurance & Inspection Readiness

Build a proactive Quality Assurance and Inspection Roadmap to ensure every nail, wire, and seal meets both code and your personal standard of excellence. Learn why proactive QA is critical, the types of mandatory code inspections, and the value of third-party quality inspections (like blower-door tests and infrared scans). Discover the secret to passing inspections: the pre-inspection punchlist.

Part 5: The Final Launch Sequence

Lesson 9: Setting the Stage: Logistics, Kick-Off & Partnership Rules

Transition from planning to action by mastering the final launch sequence. Learn to run a professional Project Kick-Off Meeting, the critical event that aligns your entire team before a single shovel hits the ground. In this lesson, you'll finalize the site mobilization checklist—from temporary power and erosion control to neighbor relations—and establish the "rules of the road" for a strong partnership. Define clear communication protocols, learn the "trust but verify" mindset, and understand how your timely decisions become the engine that keeps the project moving, ensuring a smooth, efficient, and positive build from Day One.

Lesson 10: The Final Go/No-Go: Issuing the Notice to Proceed

Stand at the edge of a huge undertaking with confidence by conducting your final Go/No-Go Check. Use a comprehensive "Pre-Flight Checklist" to ensure financial, contractual, insurance, logistical, and personal readiness. Learn the legal and contractual significance of issuing the formal "Notice to Proceed" (NTP), which officially starts the clock on your entire build.

Module 5: The Execution Blueprint — A Guide to Construction

Oversee construction with confidence—manage quality, control your timeline, and bring your home to life from first dig to final walkthrough. Ensure quality and catch errors like flashing or waterproofing mistakes before they cost you thousands.

Here’s a look at what you’ll master in Module 5:

Part 1: From Groundwork to Structure

Lesson 1: Site Prep, Earthwork & Foundations

Master the entire ground-up process, from a raw site to a structure-ready foundation. This lesson covers site mobilization and safety, reading a geotechnical report to guide excavation and dewatering, and the critical quality assurance for precise formwork, rebar placement, and concrete testing to lock in your home’s geometry.

Lesson 2: Framing the Structure: Steel & Wood

Learn to erect the home’s skeleton with precision. This lesson covers the erection sequences, tolerance checks, and quality control for both structural steel and advanced wood framing. Understand how to integrate engineered lumber, prepare for modern architectural details like trim-less jambs, and ensure the structure is perfectly plumb, level, and square.

Part 2: The High-Performance Envelope

Lesson 3: The Complete Envelope: Control Layers, Roofing & Cladding

Build the durable, efficient shell that protects your home. This lesson teaches you to think of the envelope as a single integrated system, from the four critical control layers (water, air, vapor, thermal) and continuous insulation, to the fundamentals of modern roofing and the installation of high-performance rainscreen cladding systems.

Lesson 4: High-Performance Openings: Windows, Doors & Glazing

Install and verify every window, door, and glazed opening to be completely watertight and airtight. Learn the essentials of rough-opening preparation, flashing sequences, and installation for systems ranging from standard windows to large-scale curtainwalls. Master the field tests that prove every opening is built to last.

Part 3: Interior Systems & Finishes

Lesson 5: MEP Rough-In: Plumbing, Electrical & Smart-Home Prep

Install the hidden infrastructure that makes a modern home run. This lesson covers the coordinated rough-in of Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems, including Drain-Waste-Vent (DWV) plumbing, electrical service and circuits, and a robust low-voltage backbone for a truly future-proof smart home.

Lesson 6: Drywall, Plaster & High-Level Finishes

Achieve gallery-grade walls and ceilings. This lesson details the process from hanging drywall to the final coat of paint or plaster. Learn what a Level-5 finish truly requires, how to execute crisp shadow-line details for a modern aesthetic, and the workflows for specialty finishes like Venetian plaster.

Lesson 7: Architectural Interiors: Millwork, Stairs & Flooring

Install the high-impact architectural elements that define your interior spaces. This lesson guides you through the process for custom millwork and cabinetry, the structural art of interior stairs and guardrails, and the critical substrate preparation required for flawless stone, tile, and specialty flooring installations.

Lesson 8: Final Fit-Out: Trim, Doors & Fixtures

Master the correct order of operations for the final interior details. This lesson focuses on the precise installation of lighting fixtures, smart switches, interior doors, and all the final trim and hardware that complete the look and feel of each room.

Part 4: Site Completion & Handover

Lesson 9: Site Completion: Landscaping & Exterior Lighting

Transform your construction site into a finished property. Learn to implement a sustainable landscape with native plantings, smart irrigation, and proper soil preparation. Master the design and installation of thoughtful, dark-sky compliant exterior lighting that enhances your home’s architecture and usability.

Lesson 10: Project Closeout: Commissioning & Handover

End your project with confidence and clarity. This capstone lesson covers whole-house commissioning to test and verify that all systems (HVAC, plumbing, envelope) perform as designed. Learn to conduct an effective final walk-through and assemble a comprehensive warranty and maintenance binder for a seamless handover.

The Resources

Each Module includes sophisticated models that give you clarity, control, and confidence.

Module 1

Feasibility & Visibility Model

Instantly see whether your dream build pencils out. Plug in land price, cash on hand, monthly burn, contingency, carry costs, construction-loan terms, and after-build valuation. The dashboard flashes green—or red— so you know if you should move forward, scale back, or walk away before you spend another dollar on design.

Exit & Equity-Return Model

Map your profit by comparing multiple exit routes (sell, refi, hold) and watch how your IRR shifts as you adjust equity injections, interest-only periods, or cap-rate assumptions. Including our real world numbers, showing how much cash we put in, how much debt we leveraged, how much we spent on land, soft costs and hard costs, and our final appraisal.

Module 2

Land-Acquisition Model

Score parcels side-by-side, size the buildable envelope, layer in slope- and soil-cost adders, and run a real construction-loan draw schedule—all in one workbook. See the weighted lot ranking, cash-flow curve, and red-flag alerts (zoning, liquidity, appraisal gaps) before you write an offer.

Exit Strategy & Ownership Optimization Model

Compare sell now, refinance and hold, rent then sell, or a 1031 exchange side-by-side—factoring in ownership structure (individual vs. LLC/S-Corp), time held, after-tax proceeds, carry costs, depreciation, refinance terms, and sale costs. Instantly see net after-tax cash, IRR, equity multiple, appraisal and refinance thresholds, and risk flags (negative cash flow, weak DSCR). One dashboard shows which path preserves the most wealth and how waiting, refinancing, or restructuring your ownership alters the outcome.

Module 3

Architect Fee & Proposal Comparison

Plug in fee structures from various firms (percentage, fixed, hourly). The model projects total design cost under different build budgets and scores qualitative factors like experience and communication—giving you a single hiring dashboard.

Master Spec Log & Procurement Tracker

A multi-tab workbook for Finishes, Fixtures, Appliances, and Millwork. Tracks live cost vs. allowance and flags long-lead items (windows, cabinetry) with auto-calculated order dates—your single source of truth to avoid budget blowouts and schedule slips.

Module 4

Bid-Leveling & GC-Selection Matrix

Paste builder bids into a standardized form. The sheet normalizes allowances, flags exclusions, and reveals true apples-to-apples cost—plus a GC vetting scorecard (references, financial health, communication).

“Bulletproof” Subcontractor On-Boarding Kit

Templates for every trade: Master Scope of Work, Subcontractor Vetting Checklist, and a COI & Lien-Waiver Tracker to protect you from legal and financial claims.

Module 5

Real-World Gantt Chart Timeline

An editable Gantt chart showing the real-world sequence from our actual high-design build, from excavation to final inspection. Includes real timelines for everything from well drilling, steel fabrication, glazing, millwork, including the pre-requisites for each step, typical lead times, inspections, shop drawings, and mockups.

Real-World Budget

A budget spreadsheet detailing the real-world costs from our actual high-design build. Includes our actual expenditures for every line item, along with typical allowances, contingency planning, change orders, and vendor costs.

Plus everything else you need to build with confidence:

The Blueprint Checklists with step-by-step actions for hiring pros, managing budgets, tracking your paperwork, and passing inspections.

Financial & Budgeting Models in pre-built spreadsheets to track every dollar and protect your investment in real-time, including budgets, sequencing charts, cash flow trackers, and the financing model we developed for our own build.

Contract & Legal Guides to navigate zoning, legal structures, insurance, and contracts with your designers and contractors, with key clauses and negotiation scripts to ensure your agreements are rock-solid.

The Blueprint Community for access to a private group of fellow homebuilders and direct Q&A sessions with us.

Take control of your seven-figure investment.

This isn't just a course. It's an insurance policy against the mistakes that can sink your custom home build.

Get the Blueprint

Testimonials

“Peter and May have built a home that exudes a quality of permanence, with impeccable attention to detail and craftsmanship, rivaling the work of the highest caliber professional general contractors. They also helped us navigate a major renovation of a historic home in the Hudson Valley, playing an instrumental role and assembling an incredible team of professionals.”
Daniel Solomon, FAIA
San Francisco, CA

“I was looking to buy raw land in Western NJ in order to build a custom modern home. Peter and May were a hugely helpful part of the process. They helped me anticipate and address issues with wetlands, zoning, and permitting.”
Asif
New York, NY

“It’s been a pleasure working with Peter and May on our family compound in Texas. They’ve lived the process of building a beautifully designed home themselves, so their experience, perspective, and attention to detail have been invaluable.”
John
Austin, TX

“Peter and May's extensive knowledge of land and zoning regulations was invaluable. Their expert consultation helped us understand what we could build on each lot and recommended architects and builders, saving us significant time and effort. We highly recommend their services for anyone needing informed and efficient architectural guidance.”
Jeremy
Jersey City, NJ

Pricing

Straightforward Pricing, No Gimmicks

$450 per Module. Clear, upfront for serious investors.

Why This Is Worth It

This is a serious, high-value investment. The expertise we will provide will help you avoid countless common and not-so-common mistakes that homeowners encounter. Avoiding just one mid-build change order—or making a single early decision that trims four months of “empty-house” carrying costs (taxes, insurance, construction-loan interest)—can easily put $20,000 back in your pocket. Any one of these wins will pay for the entire course many times over.
Leading architects may bill $300–$600 per hour or more, but their core focus is design excellence, not the financial side of the equation. This course fills that knowledge gap, giving you the tools that complement—not replace—the expertise of your architect and GC.
At our hourly consulting rate, this depth would cost $5,000+. Here, it's self-paced with pro tools.

Free Preview

One lesson from each Module is available for a free preview, so you can confirm the program fits your goals before spending a dime.
The moment you enroll, every lesson, template, and file in that Module unlocks for immediate, self-paced use.

Built by homeowners, proven by homeowners.

This isn't just a course. It's an insurance policy against the mistakes that can sink your custom home build.

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