Toby Witte is an Architect and principal of Wittehaus Architects based out of Charlotte, NC with offices in Asheville, NC - Durham, NC - and Greenville SC. Toby is also the author of Supersizing Bliss, How We Have Betrayed Our Homes and the Happiness We Seek. Toby joins the conversation today to discuss how our housing went wrong, what homeowners should be focused on instead, how he guides his clients in creating custom, modern energy efficient homes and more.We discuss his book, the fun vide...

This is Part Three of a Three Part Series on EntreArchitect. One of the best ways to improve your architectural firm is by joining the EntreArchitect Network. Inside the Network you will find documents, resources, business coaches, monthly expert training sessions, 24 CEU's every year - 12 of which are HSW and the mastermind groups.Architects, and firm owners who take part in the EntreArchitect Network run better, more successful firms. In Part One we received an introduction to EntreArchitec...

If you want to become a better architect and a better business owner you need to join the EntreArchitect Network. Joining the network will provide you with mentorship, resources and documents and access to a community of architects who actually care about the success of your firm. There are many ways to take part in the EntreArchitect community and in Part One of this three video series I will give you an introduction to EntreArchitect and show you the many resources that are available for fr...

This is Part Two of a Three Part Series on EntreArchitect. The best thing you can do for your firm this year is to attend the EntreArchitect Community Annual Meeting October 23-25, 2024 in Nashville, TN. At the meeting you will see inspired presentations and interactive workshops that will provide you with action items that you can use and implement in your firm. If you don't reserve soon the event will be sold out and you will miss out on an incredible opportunity. In Part One we received an...

#064: If you are building a new custom home, how can you ensure that you don't end up with a house that looks the same as everyone else? There are certain steps that you can take to make sure your new custom home is specific to your site and specific to you and your family. By following the steps in this video you will on your way to creating something unique. Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential Design and Construction Projects. It is available as a PDF...

#063:I had the pleasure if talking with Landscape Architect Nicholas Campanelli who is a partner and Associate Principal of MDLA base in Boston, MA and Glastonbury, CT.Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential Design and Construction Projects. It is available as a PDF download through my website or in a paperback version on Amazon.visit n3 architecture for more informationgo check out the n3 architecture YouTube channel

#062: Can you live in your home during construction is a question I often hear from homeowners. The answer is varied, if you choose to do so you may be in for a tough time. Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential Design and Construction Projects. It is available as a PDF download through my website or in a paperback version on Amazon.visit n3 architecture for more informationgo check out the n3 architecture YouTube channel

#061: As part of the Legacy Homes series, which you can find on the N3 Architecture YouTube channel and also on the Home Design Academy Podcast, I sit down with Mark Martin, custom home builder with Schultz Miller Construction in Seattle Washington. When you are building a new custom home or planning a major renovation project it is always beneficial to hire a contractor for pre-construction services. Even though it may result in more cost up front to pay the contractor for this service,...

#060: When you are looking to build a unique, custom home you do not want to be looking at boring cookie-cutter designs with recycled style. If you do that your home will look just like everyone else's. But if you want something different where do you look? In this video I will show you some of the places I look for inspiration when creating a home that is completely unique and custom for my clients. Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential Design and...

#059: If you rush through the design phase you could potentially miss out on the opportunity to create something meaningful with your new home. Often times homeowner deadlines are arbitrary and they are in a rush to finish and in doing so they end up with a mediocre design. Most likely designing a custom home is a once in a lifetime opportunity, don't waste it. Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential Design and Construction Projects. It is available as a...

#058: Getting ready to have the first meeting with your architect is an exciting time - but what should you be doing to prepare? In this episode I give seven tips on how to get ready for this initial meeting. 

#057: Budget and Schedule are two things that homeowners do not fully understand when they are planning for a new custom home or an addition. From relying too much on what they see on TV to trusting that what their neighbor paid for their project will be what they pay, there are many mistakes people make on setting up the budget for their project. In this episode I take you through ten tips to help you maintain control of your home construction project. 

#056: When designing a custom home, many clients will first come to me saying that they want their home designed in a specific style. I think that when you start with style you are missing out on possibilities. The better way is to start with analysis and formulate how the house will function with the environment and how you and your family live. From their the style will evolve naturally. When you start with the style of your home you are limiting creativity. Consider purchasing a copy of...

#055: One of the keys to designing a successful home is to understand your current home. You can look to your current home to evaluate what is working and what is not working for you. Through analyzing the quantitative, qualitative aspects of your home and understanding your daily, weekly and yearly routines criteria can be set up to guide the design. You can also look to your storage needs and your current (or new) furniture to make sure that you have the space that you need. Consider...

#054: Choosing an architect can be a difficult task for a homeowner and you most likely have never been in the situation where you needed to hire one before. Where do you start? In this video I will give you a series of criteria in which you can begin to evaluate potential architects and find the one that is best for you, your needs and your goals. Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential Design and Construction Projects. It is available as a PDF download...

#053: If you are designing a custom home should you care about resale value? When I am designing a custom home, or even an addition to a home, people will often ask about, or make decisions based upon the future resale value. I think this is a bad decision. Who are you really building this custom home for you, or the people who may eventually buy it? I feel that your home should be in the style that you want, that makes you happy and where you feel comfortable. Consider purchasing a copy...

#052: Construction allowances are misunderstood by many homeowners who have never built a custom home or renovated their current house. Allowances are easy to understand, they are a placeholder value for a particular item that will be used in the construction of your home. This allows you as the client to defer the selection of the item until a later date and allows the contractor to begin construction before all of the final decisions are made. If what you choose is more expensive than the...

#051: What is construction contingency funds? Often times homeowners think that they can spend up to their max budget in construction. This is a big mistake as there will always be surprises and unforseen conditions while building or renovating your home. By setting aside money as contingency funds you can have a buffer for when things don't go as planned, or if you want to increase the quality of your materials. Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential...

#50: There are a few options on how early to bring in a contractor for your custom home project. The first option being early on as part of the team and the next being after the design and construction drawings are completed where you might get multiple bids. There are pros and cons to each option which I describe in this video. The most important thing is finding what works well for you. Consider purchasing a copy of my book: The Homeowner's Guide to Residential Design and Construction...

#049: Audio and Visual Systems are some of the most overlooked pieces when designing a custom home. Most people will wait until construction begins, or worse, towards the end of construction to begin to think of these components and this is a big mistake. As part of the Legacy Homes series, which you can find on the N3 Architecture YouTube channel and also on the Home Design Academy Podcast, I sit down with Mark Martin, custom home builder with Schultz Miller Construction in Seattle...

#048: Designing a custom home takes a long time. From selecting land to purchase to assembling your team of architects and contractors to designing the home and building it the process could take several years. If you are dreaming of creating a vacation home where the family can come together and make the memories that you will cherish you do not want to wait too long. How many years do you have left until the kids are off at college? How many years until your grandkids are teens and...

#047: You've been dreaming about building a custom home for years and you finally get the opportunity to do so. You are excited, hire an architect and work through the schematic design phase. But what happens if you don't like the design? What are your options and how do you move forward. In this episode I break down some important steps to take to make sure that this doesn't happen to you, and the easiest way to do so is through prevention. Make sure that you set yourself up for the most...

#046: When deciding to take on a major home construction project, either building a new home or renovating an existing home there are many different paths you can take. New construction and custom design is not for everyone and you need to start with your end goals and what you value in mind and choose a way forward which best aligns with these values. In this episode I walk you through a number of methods for completing your project and discuss some of the pros and cons for each, while...

#045: Today, I am speaking with Mark Martin, Project Manager for Schultz Miller Construction located in Seattle, WA. This is going to be the first in a series of conversations with Mark on building legacy homes. Today we discuss a number of topics including, project management, sustainability, renovation vs. new construction, assembling your team before you make any decisions on what to build or which property to buy, client advocacy and much more. You won't want to miss any of this...