Hire the right contractor. Build with confidence.
Build Right Home gives first-time custom home buyers a clear, step-by-step system to vet, interview, and hire the right contractor — and stay in control from the first handshake to the final walkthrough.
"My goal is simple: by the time you sign that contract, you should feel informed, protected, and completely in control — not just hopeful."
— Straight from the Slab with Duane Holloway
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Identify the exact type of contractor you need for your specific custom home project
- Build a proven shortlist of qualified candidates using verified sources and referral networks
- Conduct a structured interview with contractors using the right questions to expose red flags early
- Read, compare, and negotiate a construction contract that protects your timeline and budget
- Spot the warning signs of an unreliable or fraudulent contractor before any money changes hands
- Set up a payment schedule, lien waivers, and milestone checkpoints to stay in control throughout the build
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
6 modules · 26 lessons
Know What You Need Before You Look
Clarifies the different contractor roles in a custom home build so you hire exactly the right type from the start.
- 1.1General Contractors vs. Custom Home Builders vs. Design-Build FirmsIncluded
- 1.2Defining Your Project ScopeIncluded
- 1.3Setting a Realistic Budget RangeIncluded
- 1.4Understanding Local Licensing and Insurance RequirementsIncluded
Building Your Shortlist of Qualified Candidates
Guides you through finding and filtering a strong pool of verified contractor candidates using trusted sources.
- 2.1Where to Find Legitimate Contractor LeadsIncluded
- 2.2Leveraging Your Referral Network EffectivelyIncluded
- 2.3Checking Licenses, Insurance, and BBB StandingIncluded
- 2.4Narrowing to Three to Five Strong CandidatesIncluded
Spotting Red Flags and Scam Tactics Early
Arms you with the warning signs of unreliable or fraudulent contractors so you can walk away before any money changes hands.
- 3.1The Most Common Contractor Scams Targeting Custom Home BuyersIncluded
- 3.2Red Flags in Bids, Communication, and BehaviorIncluded
- 3.3How to Vet Online Reviews and Past Client ReferencesIncluded
- 3.4Visiting a Contractor's Active Job SiteIncluded
The Structured Contractor Interview
Gives you a proven interview framework and the exact questions that expose problems before you make any commitment.
- 4.1Preparing Your Interview Packet and Bid InstructionsIncluded
- 4.2The 15 Questions Every Custom Home Buyer Must AskIncluded
- 4.3Reading Contractor Responses for Hidden Red FlagsIncluded
- 4.4Scoring and Comparing Candidates After InterviewsIncluded
Reading, Comparing, and Negotiating the Contract
Demystifies the construction contract so you can protect your budget, timeline, and legal rights before you sign.
- 5.1Anatomy of a Custom Home Construction ContractIncluded
- 5.2Fixed-Price vs. Cost-Plus Contracts: Choosing the Right StructureIncluded
- 5.3The Clauses You Must Negotiate Before SigningIncluded
- 5.4Comparing Multiple Bids Fairly and AccuratelyIncluded
- 5.5When and How to Involve a Construction AttorneyIncluded
Staying in Control During the Build
Sets up the payment, documentation, and milestone systems that keep you protected and informed from groundbreaking to final walkthrough.
- 6.1Structuring a Safe Payment ScheduleIncluded
- 6.2Lien Waivers Explained: What They Are and When to Demand ThemIncluded
- 6.3Setting Up Milestone Checkpoints and Inspection Sign-OffsIncluded
- 6.4Communicating with Your Contractor Without Losing ControlIncluded
- 6.5What to Do If Things Go WrongIncluded
Who it's for
Is this you?
First-time custom home buyers
You've never built before and want a clear, trustworthy process so you don't make an expensive mistake hiring the wrong contractor.
Couples comparing bids
You have multiple contractor bids in hand and no idea how to evaluate them fairly — this course gives you the framework to compare apples to apples.
Homeowners after a bad experience
A past contractor burned you, and before you start again you want a real system for vetting, interviewing, and protecting yourself contractually.
Planners still in early stages
You haven't broken ground yet and want to get the contractor process right from the very beginning — before scope creep or a bad hire derails your vision.
Buyers in unfamiliar markets
You're building in a new city or state and have no referral network to lean on — this course shows you exactly how to find and verify qualified candidates from scratch.
Detail-oriented owner-builders
You want to be deeply involved in your build and need to understand contracts, lien waivers, payment schedules, and milestone checkpoints so nothing slips past you.
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Straight from the Slab with Duane Holloway
If you're planning a custom home build, there's a good chance you're already feeling the weight of it — the excitement mixed with a quiet, nagging fear that you're going to make a costly mistake. Maybe you've heard a horror story from someone who trusted the wrong contractor. Maybe you've started getting bids and realized you have no idea how to compare them. Maybe you're not even sure what kind of contractor you actually need.
That feeling is completely normal. And it's exactly why I built this course.
The truth is, most first-time custom home buyers go into one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives without a clear process. They rely on whoever a friend mentioned, pick the lowest bid because it feels safe, and sign a contract they don't fully understand. And when things go sideways — a blown timeline, a dispute over costs, a contractor who stops showing up — they have no leverage and no roadmap. I want to change that for you.
Build Right Home gives you the process I wish every buyer had access to before they started. We'll start by getting clear on what you actually need — the right type of contractor for your specific project, a realistic budget framework, and an understanding of the licensing and insurance requirements that protect you. From there, I'll show you how to build a solid shortlist from verified sources, how to spot the scam tactics that specifically target custom home buyers, and how to conduct a structured interview that actually tells you who you're hiring.
Then we'll go deep on the contract — because that document is your single biggest protection. You'll learn what a construction contract should contain, how to choose between fixed-price and cost-plus structures, which clauses to negotiate, and when a construction attorney is worth every penny. And once your builder is hired, you'll have a system for payment schedules, lien waivers, and milestone checkpoints that keeps you in the driver's seat throughout the build.
I'm not going to promise you a perfect experience — construction is complex, and surprises happen. But I can promise that when you finish this course, you'll know what questions to ask, what to watch out for, and what to do if something goes wrong. You'll go from hoping you picked the right person to knowing you did everything right. That's a very different feeling — and it's the one you deserve going into a project this important.
Come join us. Let's build this right.
— Straight from the Slab with Duane Holloway
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- 6 modules, 26 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed