Custom Homes | Where to Spend – Where to Save

What Owner-Builders Never Regret

One of the first questions nearly every Owner-Builder asks is, “Where should we spend our money—and where can we save?” After decades of building and 500+ custom homes in Colorado, HomeWrights sees the same pattern again and again: the best results come from smart decisions made early, not from adding more features later.

Starting With the Right Mindset

The smartest place to invest is on the drawing board. As HomeWrights founder Bob Hinz says, “Spend your money on smart design first.” That means stepping away from inspiration photos and really thinking about how you live and how youl’ll use the spaces in the home.

Designing an “internet house”—a mash-up of trendy features, gadgets and goodies pulled from social media—often leads to wasted budget. Someone in the process has to be willing to say, “You don’t need that.” At HomeWrights, we’re not shy about playing that role. By keeping unnecessary features to a minimum, Owner-Builders can put their money into things that truly matter, like high-quality windows, insulation, efficient heating and cooling, and good lighting design.

Where the Most Expensive Mistakes Happen

The most expensive mistakes always happen before a shovel goes in the ground. “Without a doubt, design is where things go wrong,” Bob explains. Whether it’s unnecessary features, overlooked engineering details, or mechanical systems that weren’t fully thought through, small misses can turn into costly problems once construction begins.

This is why HomeWrights spends time walking Owner-Builders through how spaces will actually be used, how people, noise, heating and cooling, and natural and artificial light moves through the home, and how structural and mechanical decisions affect long-term comfort.

Where Owner-Builders Should Spend More

There are certain areas where cutting corners rarely pays off will definitely come back to bite you. HomeWrights consistently recommends investing in heating and cooling systems, insulation and air sealing, high-quality windows and doors, thoughtful lighting design, and durable exterior finishes.

“These are hard to fix later, so it makes sense to get them right the first time,” Bob says. The good news is that the cost difference for better-performing materials is often smaller than people expect when compared to the overall budget.

Where Owner-Builders Can Spend Less

On the other hand, many Owner-Builders overspend on features driven by emotion or trends, or the latest thing they saw on a home design web site. Oversized Huge, multi-tiered patios, elaborate staircases, specialty doors, folding door systems, and fireplaces are common examples.

“We’ve built hundreds of homes with bedroom fireplaces that have never been used,” Bob notes. Large folding door systems may look great in photos, but more practical window and door solutions often deliver the same experience at a much lower cost.

What’s Smarter to Upgrade Later

Some elements are easier to change over time. Hardware, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, and interior doors are installed late in the construction process and aren’t tied into the structure, making them safer places to save early.

Structural systems, mechanicals, and the building envelope, however, should be done right the first time.

How the Owner-Builder Approach Changes Spending

Being an Owner-Builder gives helps clients see the tradeoffs in how dollars are spent, because they have full visibility into real costs and bids. By eliminating “traditional builder” markups, Owner-Builders often free up significant budget, making higher-quality choices more attainable.

With complete budget transparency, clients can prioritize what matters most to them and adjust when unexpected costs arise—without sacrificing the integrity of the home.