Feel Confident In Every Decision
For Your Dream Home.
The homebuilding resource that saves you time and energy, removes overwhelm, and prevents costly mistakes and rework.
Built from hands-on experience self-building our own custom home
There are a million aspects of homebuilding, and you could spend your entire life researching them all.
Most don’t have the time, energy, or interest to spend hundreds of hours researching every option for their build.
This is why the majority of homeowners skip the research entirely and hire a builder, which is a totally reasonable decision. You only have to choose the finish materials, and the builder/subcontractors will figure out the rest.
But there is incredible value in being educated.
A builder will manage the project and make their default construction decisions, but it's up to you to ask for the less-standard (and most important) things.
This isn't the countertop or flooring color, but the stuff you can’t see - floor structure, air sealing, flashing details - the list goes on. These have a daily impact in a home you might spend the rest of your life in.
We've created The No Regrets Build Guide to remove the overwhelm of researching all the potential options.
We’ve been in your shoes, and know how overwhelming a build project can feel. Endless decisions, conflicting priorities, and the fear of missing something.
We spent countless hours of research while drafting the plans for our project: home features, product options, and install techniques. We documented our entire build series on YouTube from clearing the right-of-way to where we are today.
![Screenshot of YouTube video with title “Saving $15,000 by Doing Our HVAC Ductwork.” Image shows male insulating air handler with white text that says “DIY Ductwork [Part 1].”](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0796/6182/6360/files/Saving_15_000_by_Doing_Our_HVAC_Ductwork.png?v=1788718906)
A few of the 165+ videos on our channel.
You’re expected to make hundreds of decisions but information online is scattered and unreliable. The No Regrets Build Guide puts all of your options in one place.
The 4 Key Elements Inside The Guide
1. Feature Checklist
This is a comprehensive list of 1600+ best practices, upgrades, and considerations for your build or renovation. The Feature List is not just a generic checklist - it includes why you (and your builder, if hiring a GC) should consider each item, an estimated cost range to implement, and relevant links to videos and examples to learn more. For most of these items, planning ahead is easier and cheaper than deciding later.
2. Selection Guides
Choosing the exact products, materials, and techniques is one of the hardest parts of any build or renovation project. We made Selection Guides to help with these decisions for 14 of the most critical and expensive parts of the project including foundation, framing, insulation, windows, roofing, HVAC, and 8 others.
These are decisions that we spent countless hours researching for our build, and now you have the details of every option laid out to compare in one place.
3. Infographics
Some concepts are just easier to explain with a picture. We made 25+ custom infographics to provide a visual explanation for concepts, lists, and best practices covered in the guide. Several Infographics are integrated into Selection Guides to give context on the options.
4. Field Notes
Throughout years of designing and building, we’ve made of mistakes, got plenty of things right, and decided on what we will change in our next build (the main house addition on our garage apartment). We wrote down 140+ of these lessons learned in what we’re calling Field Notes. You will be able to apply our “lessons learned the hard way” directly to your project. We have never shared most of these stories and notes anywhere else.
Create a solid plan for every stage of your project.
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Evaluate what's worth it (and what's not)
Each feature includes a clear explanation of why you'd consider it so you can prioritize what matters most for your build.
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Align your budget with your vision
We include general cost ranges to help you prioritize features based on your budget and avoid surprise costs later. We've also highlighted which features will be the biggest return on your investment.
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See what's possible
The 1,600+ items in the feature list include products, features, and techniques you probably haven't heard of.
You're about to make one of the biggest investments of your life and want to build the best house possible.
It’s easy to get excited about beautiful hardwood flooring and stone countertops, but a bouncy floor platform or poorly installed windows letting in a cold breeze is what you’ll actually notice after move-in day.
The core and shell of a home is both the most expensive and hardest-to-change part.
Yet, most people spend their research time on the finishes that can be changed later.
We built slowly in order to wrap our head around all the options for each phase. Foundation types, floor framing, insulation, roofing.. the list goes on. Every one of these choices had several legitimate options, and picking the wrong one is expensive or impossible to undo. Even with all the time and thought, we still got some things wrong, or missed better options completely.
That’s why when we started creating The No Regrets Build Guide (+ bonuses), we knew we wanted to fill this gap.
Here's our promise:
The No Regrets Build Guide will help you build a better house than you would without it.
A house that is:
- More comfortable
- Cheaper to heat and cool
- Quieter
- Ready to face natural disasters
- Perfectly aligned with your design vision
- Designed for you to live there into old age
This is a single, organized resource you can rely on, so you don’t miss a thing.
The hardest part of building isn't actually doing the physical work. It's figuring out where your blind spots are in planning and preparation.
That’s what we’ve built this resource to solve.
Stacked Bonuses
Buying Land Off-Market Masterclass
We used an unconventional approach to find and buy our property off-market for about 1/4th of market value. This was one of the main reasons we were able to build our home without a loan.
This course is a five-part, 2-1/2 hour deep dive walking through the exact process we used, with an action plan for you to do the same. This strategy is something that almost no one else is doing.
It includes a letter template for reaching out to vacant land owners and a spreadsheet tool for performing very thorough due diligence research on properties. Missing even one of these details could result in unforeseen issues after buying a property.
Finding & Hiring Subcontractors 101
We DIY’d as much as we could to save money, but we still hired help from 24 separate subcontractors throughout our build. This course shares everything we learned about finding, hiring, and managing subcontractors as an owner-builder. Topics include:
- how to decide what to hire out vs. do yourself
- finding quality contractors that don’t advertise
- interviewing them to make sure they’re a fit for the project
- managing the job through completion
A printable quick reference is included to use during interviews.
1-on-1 Build Consult Call
A 60-minute 1:1 call with Alex to talk through your individual project and overcome any roadblocks. Alex will review your project ahead of the call, and we can talk about whatever will help you most.
Example topics:
- Land, sitework & utilities
- Floorplan & design feedback
- Product and material selections
- Material estimates
- Construction details
- Budget strategy
- Problem-solving a specific challenge
There is no expiration, so use it whenever it’s most helpful.
All 30 consult slots have been claimed. This bonus is no longer available.
Build Savings Accelerator*
This course teaches actionable tactics and frameworks on how you save money on your home build without sacrificing quality. We used these same lessons to save tens of thousands on our project. The course covers:
- managing money before and during a build
- sourcing high-quality materials for the best price possible
- how to save on tools, equipment & labor
- dozens more tactics on how to save money while improving build quality
*We unexpectedly lost our senior dog 2 weeks ago, which completely derailed our progress on finishing this bonus in time for the launch. It will be delivered within about 2 weeks after the launch window closes.
Build Budget Dashboard*
This is a comprehensive spreadsheet tool for estimating and tracking costs on your project. We took the fundamentals from our own project budget tracker and made a much more refined version for you to use.
There are two versions included: one blank, and one populated with example cost data. The populated version has tons of real-world line items that you will likely need to think about for your own build.
*We unexpectedly lost our senior dog 2 weeks ago, which completely derailed our progress on finishing this bonus in time for the launch. It will be delivered within about 2 weeks after the launch window closes.
Here's the math.
The No Regrets Build Guide
(PDF Digital Download + Optional Spiral-Bound Print Copy)
- 1,600+ House Features across 29 Categories
- 14 Selection Guides
- 25+ Infographics
- 140+ Field Notes
- Lifetime access to all future updates
The Bonuses
Buying Land Off-Market Masterclass
(Masterclass & Resources)
Finding & Hiring Subcontractors 101
(Course & Quick Reference)
60-Minute Build Consult with Alex
(Google Meet)
Sold OutAll 30 consult slots have been claimed. This bonus is no longer available.
Build Savings Accelerator
(Course)
Build Budget Dashboard
(Digital Download)
that's 68% off the total value.
Why the Guide + Bonuses are only Available for 10 Days
We have never done anything like this before, and this is a brand new product that we are committed to making the best it can be. A 10-day launch window will keep our founding group small enough to collect and incorporate early feedback to truly make this resource the best of its kind. Founding customers will receive lifetime access to all updates.
We don’t know when the guide will re-open after this initial launch window - it depends how much we want to refine it based on feedback. But when it does, it will be even better, and the price will increase to reflect that. The initial 10-day launch is the lowest price it will ever be offered at, with some insanely valuable bonuses on top.
Don't just take our word for it..
How to know if the build guide is for you:
This is for you if:
- You care deeply about building the best house possible for your family. A house that is comfortable, efficient, safe, and lasts for lifetimes.
- You want to receive the best value for what will be the largest investment of your life
- You enjoy learning the details of what makes a great home
- You want to be heavily involved in the decision making for your build whether you're managing it yourself or hiring a builder
- You want a consolidated list of all of the options before making a decision (without getting lost in internet rabbit holes)
This is not for you if:
- You're building a house you don't really care about
- You want to build the cheapest house possible
- You want to sign a contract, then show up on move-in day
- You don't care about comfort, efficiency, or longevity of the house
- You have no interest in the details that make a great home
FAQ
1. Is The No Regrets Build Guide really worth the investment?
We made this guide to save you far more money than it costs. One overlooked decision or poorly planned detail can cost thousands during a build. Our goal is to help you avoid the mistakes that waste money, time, energy, and materials but not only that..
A cost that doesn’t get much thought in building is the long-term regret of making the wrong decision. The bouncy floor you walk across every day, the cold breeze through gaps and cracks, or the house orientation that would’ve let in more natural light. These issues could’ve easily been solved up front, but now you’re reminded of them every day in what is supposed to be your dream home.
Instead of starting your project relying solely on contractors to make decisions for you, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to make educated, confident choices at every stage.
Beyond avoiding mistakes or helping choose the best product/method for your build, the guide shows you what’s possible - products, features, and techniques you probably haven’t heard of.
These might become instant must-haves in your dream home, and you’re at the perfect stage to make them reality.
2. Building feels overwhelming and risky. How does this actually help?
The information in The No Regrets Build Guide has saved us from countless headaches and tons of wasted time and money. Our goal is to pass this on for use in your project.
The guide walks through features and design considerations most people overlook at every stage of construction - but it doesn’t stop at features. In the Field Notes, we give detailed insights and lessons learned on our personal build.
We also made dozens of Selection Guides & Infographics for the guide. These help you make the right decision when choosing the most important & expensive materials for your project, from foundation to finishes.
3. What if I have zero construction experience?
That’s exactly how we started. No formal construction experience, no blue collar background or family members, just a willingness to learn.
We wrote The No Regrets Build Guide to be the perfect starting point on the journey to your dream home build. It organizes the most important decisions, features, and lessons learned from years of trial & error building our own home, studying other projects, and attending industry trade shows.
4. I haven’t bought land or broken ground yet, should I wait?
Now is actually the best time to start. Your mind has free space to learn and plan.
Planning & education remove the overwhelm when things start moving fast. It allows you to identify the features you care about most, understand how they impact cost, and decide what you are willing to DIY vs. hire out.
5. Can I learn all the same stuff with a Google / Reddit / AI search?
This answer is a definite no.
The internet is loaded with an overwhelming amount of great information.. and some not so great. AI is fantastic at summarizing it all, and these answers sound like they’ve covered all the bases. But where it always falls short is real-life, hands-on experience. Lessons learned the hard way that no one has bothered to write down online (yes, including Reddit). Lessons that can only come from swinging a real hammer start-to-finish on a home build.
AI will correctly tell you that flat paint is the best paint sheen for ceilings.. but it won’t tell you to have extra concrete forms ready for casting a stair landing instead of wasting leftover concrete from your main slab pour. (until it reads this FAQ 😂)
6. What if I make the investment, but realize the Build Guide just isn’t for me?
If you go through The No Regrets Build Guide, use it to help you make selections, and don’t feel confident it’ll help you during your home build, email us and let us know.
We’re not a corporation with an overseas call center. It’s just the two of us trying to help you build your dream. Send us an email at alex@buylandbuilddreams.com within 14 days of purchase and we’ll make it right. If you're not happy, we're not happy either!
You can read our full refund policy here.
If we haven't met yet
Hi, We're Alex & Elaina
We spent the last 5 years building our dream home and homestead from scratch with no formal construction experience. No family in the trades, no head start, just two engineers willing to learn.
We took on the role of our own general contractor and did over 80% of the work ourselves to control cost, quality, and long-term performance. Along the way we made hard decisions, avoided expensive mistakes, and learned exactly where people get stuck, overwhelmed, or end up regretting choices later.
The No Regrets Build Guide is everything we wish we had on day one.