Building a custom home is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll ever make — and most people go into it without a roadmap. In this practical and eye-opening episode of At The Kitchen Table, host Amanda DiVito Parle sits down with Nicole O'Neill of Sheffield Homes to pull back the curtain on the custom home building process from start to finish.

Amanda is currently building a custom home with Sheffield — so this isn't just theory. It's a real conversation between a client and her builder, breaking down everything buyers wish they'd known before they started.

In this episode, Nicole and Amanda walk through:

• Why involving your builder before you purchase your land can save you thousands (and prevent costly mistakes)
• How to think about lot selection, topography, water, septic, and budget — before you fall in love with a piece of land
• The difference between paying cash and using a construction loan — and how most buyers actually finance a custom build
• What the architect process really looks like, from programming to final construction drawings
• How Sheffield Homes builds detailed budgets using real trade-by-trade cost data
• The role of the interior designer, permitting, energy modeling, and net zero builds
• What a cost-plus management model means for transparency and trust
• Why the superintendent relationship becomes one of the most important partnerships in your build

Whether you're dreaming about building your forever home or just curious about what the process involves, this episode gives you the full picture — no fluff, no fear, just clear answers from people who do this every day.

Topics: custom home building, build process, Sheffield Homes, construction loan, home building budget, custom home financing, architect process, interior design, lot selection, net zero homes, general contractor, real estate Colorado, custom build tips, home building guide