Written by Beth Urch, Sales Manager at Beach Realty & Construction
Relationships, Reality Checks & Renovation Show Myths
Before you dive into the deep end of Pinterest boards and custom tile samples, take a deep breath—and maybe a good, long look in the mirror.
Building a house sounds dreamy… until you realize you’ll be making 942 decisions before your cabinets are even delivered. Spoiler alert: you can live a fulfilling life without hand-painted porcelain tile. Or can you?
Before picking out paint swatches and arguing over grout colors, ask yourself a few questions:
- Will building a custom home improve my relationships?
- Will it benefit my mental and physical health?
- Will I survive this without crying in a Home Depot parking lot?
Let’s start at the top.
Relationships: Dream Home or Relationship Stress Test?
Do you and your partner agree on restaurant choices? Mattress firmness? Mid-century modern vs. farmhouse chic?
If the answer to this is "no", building a home together might feel like a high-stakes compatibility quiz. And the results? Let’s just say, they might not all be “pass.”
Building a home requires a shared vision—or at least the ability to compromise without a silent standoff in the lighting aisle. A little tip: someone needs to be designated captain. Whether that’s one partner, an interior designer, or a wise friend with veto power, having one final voice keeps the build (and your relationship) on track.
Because let’s face it—if you both try to steer the ship in different directions, you’ll end up with a confusing layout, a mismatched backsplash, and possibly, two attorneys on speed dial.
Renovation Shows Are Lying to You
HGTV makes it look easy, right? A few commercial breaks and boom—a modern coastal dream home, complete with a dog-washing station and live-edge wood bar.
In reality? It’s less “big reveal” and more “how did we already spend the lighting allowance?” (There's a reason why you can always count on these shows having an unexpected expense scene, because it is in fact still 'reality tv' afterall.)
But decision fatigue is real, and these scenes are typically lying on the cutting room floor. Decision fatigue starts sooner than you think, and we’re not trying to scare you—just prepare you.
Because if you’re still together at the end of the build, laughing over your perfectly imperfect tile grout and clinking glasses on your (finally installed) deck, it will all be worth it.
“A month ago I did not know what fire caulking was. Today, I want it as bad as I’ve ever wanted anything in life. Air to breathe, water to drink, inspection to get.”
— Beth Urch
Real Talk from Real Builders
At Beach Realty & Construction, we’ve seen it all—and helped guide clients through it all with less stress and more confidence.
Whether you're building your forever home or your vacation escape on the Outer Banks, we’re here to help you navigate the process without losing your mind (or your marriage).
Next Up... Part 2: “Mental Health & the Myth of the ‘Easy Decision’”
We’ll talk indecision, design overwhelm, and why you probably won’t remember the cabinet style you didn’t choose.