Claim OwnershipThe Insider's Guide to Custom Homes
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Welcome to The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes—your expert-led roadmap to building smarter and better. I’m Rick Bell, founder of Landmark Custom Homes, with over 40 years of experience building across South Florida. Each episode gives you practical insights into the custom homebuilding process—materials, floor plans, budgeting, timelines, and how to avoid costly mistakes. If you want to build with confidence and craftsmanship, this show is for you.
26 Episodes
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What really determines whether a custom home turns out exceptional—or becomes a source of stress, delays, and costly fixes? And who is quietly responsible for making thousands of decisions go right on site? If you’ve ever wondered why two homes with similar plans can have wildly different outcomes, this episode explains why execution—not drawings—ultimately determines the result. Many homeowners assume great design and premium materials are enough, until jobsite realities prove otherwise. In ...
What actually happens behind the scenes once you choose a custom home builder? And more importantly, who is really responsible for bringing your vision to life without costly missteps or delays? In this episode, host Rick Bell pulls back the curtain on what separates a loosely run operation from a disciplined, high-performing custom home building team—and why understanding this early can save you stress, time, and money. Rick breaks down the structure, roles, and communication standards that ...
Custom home builds rarely unravel all at once — it’s often small moments of misalignment that quietly create stress. A delayed timeline, unmet expectations, or communication gaps can leave homeowners feeling uncertain about how to move forward. This episode speaks to homeowners who sense something isn’t quite aligned during their build and are looking for clarity — particularly when expectations around price, quality, and timeline begin to pull in different directions. Using a real client exp...
Self-performed work is one of the most misunderstood aspects of custom home building — and when handled correctly, it can actually protect your budget, timeline, and peace of mind. In this episode, we break down what self-performed work really means, why it’s often misunderstood, and how it can either protect or jeopardize your project depending on how it’s handled. If you’re concerned about transparency, cost control, or accountability, this conversation brings much-needed clarity. We walk t...
Luxury design isn’t just about finishes — it’s about creating emotional harmony the moment you walk through the door. In this episode, Rick Bell sits down with Goli Basiri, co-founder and principal designer of Harmen Design, to explore how thoughtful interior architecture, intuitive discovery, and purposeful design transform a home into a deeply personal living experience. Together, they discuss common design challenges and how early collaboration leads to a more aligned, seamless proce...
What does it take to lead one of the world’s top luxury interior design firms for nearly 40 years? In this episode, host Rick Bell welcomes Jason Lynn, Partner and Vice President at The Decorators Unlimited, to explore the art of design, leadership, and legacy in a fast-evolving industry. Jason shares his inspiring journey from U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer to global design executive — and how structure, teamwork, and mentorship have shaped the firm’s signature “white-glove” ap...
Designing a custom home should feel exciting — but for many homeowners, it quickly becomes overwhelming once hundreds of decisions, finishes, and layouts enter the picture. In this episode, Rick Bell sits down with award-winning interior designer Jennifer Fitzpatrick, founder and principal of Studio J & Co, to bring clarity to the entire process. They unpack Jennifer’s journey from working solo during the early days of COVID to leading a thriving 10-person design team known for sophistica...
What makes a home truly yours? In this inspiring episode, host Rick Bell sits down with world-renowned interior designer Perla Lichi — a fearless creative who’s been redefining luxury interiors for over four decades. Known for her bold use of color, texture, and global influences, Perla shares her journey from her early days as “Purple Perla” to designing palaces in Dubai and multi-million-dollar estates across South Florida. She opens up about what “luxury” really means — and wh...
You’ve probably walked into a beautiful home that somehow just feels right — balanced, warm, and personal. That kind of magic doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of thoughtful collaboration between architect, builder, and interior designer, working together to bring structure and soul into harmony. As a custom home builder with over 40 years of experience, host Rick Bell has seen how the right interior designer can completely transform a project — and how the wrong choice can cr...
Ever wondered why so many custom home projects go over budget — even with careful planning? When building a luxury home, the smallest decisions can have the biggest impact. From appliances to cabinetry, every choice shapes not just the look of your home, but the final cost as well. In this episode of The Insider's Guide to Custom Homes, Rick Bell explains the vital role of selections and allowances — two tools that help homeowners stay organized, avoid costly surprises, and keep their dream b...
In this episode, Rick Bell dives into one of the most powerful — but often underappreciated — tools in custom homebuilding: the mockup. Whether built in the field or experienced virtually, mockups help owners, architects, and builders test details, refine designs, and avoid costly mistakes before full-scale construction begins. From unique roof overhangs to stone transitions and virtual walk-throughs, Rick explains how mockups bring creative visions to life while protecting budge...
In this episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, Rick Bell interviews Chris Bates, a property tax expert, to shed light on one of the least understood but most impactful aspects of owning a luxury custom home: property taxes. Chris explains how tax assessments are determined, the common pitfalls homeowners face, and the strategies high-net-worth families can use to manage their property tax liabilities effectively. He shares stories from his work representing clients and highligh...
Building an ultra-luxury custom home often rivals the complexity of managing a commercial high-rise. Behind every dream estate in South Florida is a demanding process that requires expertise, foresight, and a dedicated advocate to safeguard the owner’s vision. In this episode, host Rick Bell sits down with Rick Peña—founding principal of Prime Group Management and a seasoned owner’s representative with over 25 years of experience and a portfolio surpassing $1 billion. Together, they exp...
Building a luxury custom home is a dream for many, but managing the process can be a daunting task. In this episode, host Rick Bell sits down with Tom Koulouris—a seasoned builder, Owner’s Representative, and professor at the University of Miami—to explore the indispensable role of an Owner’s Rep in high-end residential projects. Both alumni of the University of Florida’s School of Building Construction, Rick and Tom share lessons from working together on a 37,000-square-foot estate in ...
In this episode, Rick Bell explores the growing role of Owner’s Representatives in luxury custom homebuilding. Learn what they do, why owners hire them, and how they can make the process smoother for high-net-worth individuals or busy homeowners who want to protect their interests during the design and construction journey. Rick shares real-world examples, including how a seasoned owner’s rep helped one family manage budget, design changes, and technical challenges on a Landmark project. Yo...
What would Leonardo da Vinci think if he stepped into the world of modern homebuilding? In this special episode, Rick Bell explores the evolution of design and construction through a unique, AI-powered conversation with the Renaissance master. This imaginative discussion bridges the gap between the past and the present, highlighting how tools and techniques have advanced—from parchment sketches and drafting tables to CAD software, 3D modeling, 3D printing, robotics, and smart home automation....
In this episode, Rick Bell explains how to handle Change Orders in the custom home building process. He covers the importance of documenting changes clearly, types of changes that typically occur, and how those changes are priced, approved, and incorporated into the build. Using real-world examples, Rick explores Owner-Directed Changes, Government Requirements, Errors and Omissions, Unforeseen Conditions, and Allowance Adjustments. The episode emphasizes the role of contingencies ...
In this episode, Rick Bell explains the importance of budgeting for unforeseen events when building a custom home. He shares real-world examples of construction surprises — like inadequate engineering or scope gaps between trades — and how a contingency line item in your budget can help resolve these issues efficiently without delaying your project. Whether you're building a high-tech modern home or a traditional estate, this episode will show you how to plan for the unexpected and prot...
In this episode, Rick Bell breaks down the process of creating, reviewing, and managing a construction budget for a custom home. Learn how to build a realistic budget from preliminary allowances to finalized trade bids, and how to maintain control throughout the construction process. Rick shares how transparency, good communication, and proactive planning can make the difference between a dream home and a budget nightmare. What You’ll Learn How to create a preliminary budget for...
Before you buy that dream lot — listen to this. In this episode, Rick shares the true story of a costly mistake he made early in his career that changed how he approaches every homesite today. You'll learn the 15 essential steps to take before purchasing land for your custom home — from wetland determinations and soil tests to title reviews, setbacks, and environmental reports. Whether you’re building your first custom home or advising others who are, this episode will give you the tools to a...
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