Blueprints & Bold Moves: The Real Talk on Custom Builds
In this episode, Asher sits down with architect Nicholas Tsontakis of Dwell Boldly to unpack a question a lot of buyers, custom-home dreamers, and even agents have but don’t ask out loud: “How do I even engage an architect… and when do I actually need one?”
This convo goes way beyond pretty floor plans.
Asher and Nicholas talk through:
What to do before you buy land (easements, utilities, septic vs. sewer, due diligence)
Why hillside lots, PV, Arcadia, and custom builds all require different thinking
When a draftsman is enough — and when you really do need a licensed architect
How Nicholas offers zoning + property analysis as a lower-cost way to “try before you build”
Why some people say they want a dream home but subconsciously self-sabotage the process
Building your A-team: realtor, architect, designer, surveyor — and why people get stuck when they only have half the team
You’ll hear real examples from the Phoenix/Scottsdale market — Camelback, Mummy Mountain, Arcadia, PV — and the reality that a “cheap” hillside lot is often cheap because it’s hard to build on.
There’s also a really good segment at the end on business + mindset: being open to receiving, adding real value, and staying curious in your relationships (Asher and Nicholas actually reconnected years after high school — and it turned into collaboration).
You’ll learn:
The exact moment in a remodel/addition when the city is going to want permits
How to protect yourself in a land deal so you don’t buy something you can’t access
How to approach an architect if you “don’t know what you don’t know”
Why contemporary design is more about freedom and context than labels
If you’re an agent, a buyer thinking about building, or someone eyeing that hillside lot… this episode will save you time, money, and headaches.
