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, I’ve seen how the right interior designer can completely transform a project — and how the wrong choice can create unnecessa...

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 budgets, sc...

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 highlig...

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 of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, 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 su...

Building a luxury custom home is a dream for many, but managing the process can be a daunting task. From budgets to quality control, every step brings challenges that can quickly overwhelm even the most prepared homeowner. In this episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, 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. Bot...

In this episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, 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 technica...

What would Leonardo da Vinci think if he stepped into the world of modern homebuilding? In this special episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, 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 printin...

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 and th...

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. Listeners will 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 prelimi...

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 ...

In this episode, Rick Bell unpacks one of the most powerful tools in custom homebuilding: the construction schedule. Whether you're building your dream home or managing a team, understanding how a schedule is created—and how it can make or break your build—is essential. You’ll learn: What a CPM (Critical Path Method) schedule is and why it matters How trades are sequenced to avoid costly delays What “lead time,” “float,” and “lag” mean in real-world construction How homeowner decisions, like ...

Episode 5: Financing Your HomeIn this episode, Rick Bell walks you through the essential steps of financing your custom home. Whether you're paying cash, using a construction loan, or a hybrid approach, understanding how financing works can save you time, money, and stress. What You’ll Learn Pros and cons of paying cash vs. financing What to ask when selecting a construction lender Key documents required for loan approval How construction loan draws work The difference between one-time close...

Contracts can seem intimidating — but a well-structured agreement is one of the most powerful tools you have when building a custom home. In this episode, Rick Bell breaks down the essential components of a construction contract, what red flags to avoid, and how contracts can actually work in your favor. ✅ Learn the 4 core questions every contract should answer ✅ Understand change orders, draw schedules, and delay clauses ✅ Hear real-world insights from 40+ years in custom homebuilding ✅ Disc...

The Insider’s Guide to Custom HomesEpisode 3: Construction Phase – Life in the Fast Lane – Show NotesEpisode SummaryIn this episode, Rick Bell takes you deep inside the construction phase of building a custom home. From the rapid early progress of foundation and framing, to the slower but critical rough mechanical stages, Rick explains what to expect, how selections impact your schedule, why flexibility matters, and how to enjoy the final journey toward move-in day. Packed with real-world adv...

The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes Episode 2: Design to Budget In this episode, Rick Bell walks you through one of the most important (and overlooked) concepts in custom home building: Designing to Budget. Discover how to balance dreams and dollars through each phase of the design process—from conceptual drawings to final construction documents. Learn how transparency and teamwork can keep your plans on track and your costs under control. Whether you're dreaming big or keeping it simple, thi...

In this first episode of The Insider’s Guide to Custom Homes, builder Rick Bell shares what it really means to build smarter — and how to avoid common missteps from the start. 🎯 You’ll learn: – What makes a custom home different from production building – Why choosing the right team early is critical – How to approach design with your budget in mind – The mindset successful homeowners bring to the process With over four decades of experience, Rick gives practical advice for homeowners, archi...