A free guide for new builds
Your builder has done
this a hundred times.
You haven’t.
The New Build Wishlist: 47 Questions to Ask Before You Break Ground — a free guide from Lauren Ashley Design.
Request the guide
Begin with the right questions.
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Why this guide exists
Your first builder meeting feels exciting. It should. But it’s also the moment most homeowners unknowingly hand over control of decisions they’ll live with for decades.
Builders move fast. They have a process. And unless you know exactly what to ask — and when — critical details get defaulted, value gets left on the table, and changes that cost nothing today become change orders tomorrow.
This guide gives you the exact questions a professional designer brings into every new build consultation. Organized by phase. Written in plain language. Designed to make sure nothing gets missed.
Inside the guide
What’s inside.
Forty-seven questions, organized by phase — from site plan through final walkthrough. Each one written to surface a decision before it quietly becomes permanent.
- 01
Structural foundations
Structural and architectural questions your builder expects you to skip.
- 02
Before framing
Finish and material decisions that must be locked in before framing.
- 03
House vs. home
The questions that separate a house from a home you actually love.
- 04
Pushback & priorities
What to push back on — and what to let go.
Why this matters
The most expensive design decisions are usually made too early.
Most homeowners assume they’ll figure things out as they go. But by the time you realize something feels off, the important decisions have already been made.
The clients who experience the smoothest builds — and end up with homes that truly feel intentional — are the ones who ask better questions before construction starts.
About the studio
Designer-led guidance for homes meant to last.
Lauren Ashley Design helps homeowners create deeply functional, elevated homes that feel personal, timeless, and intentional.
Through thoughtful planning and designer-led guidance, the studio helps clients avoid costly mistakes while creating homes designed for real life.
Begin with intention
Start your build with more clarity.
Download the free guide and walk into your next builder meeting prepared for the questions no one tells you to ask.
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