# 2025 Wrap-Up: How We're Making Healthier Homes in 2026 | Ep. 15

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-holistic-homes-podcast-6840479/2025-wrap-up-how-we-re-making-healthier-homes-in-2026-ep-15
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-holistic-homes-podcast-6840479/2025-wrap-up-how-we-re-making-healthier-homes-in-2026-ep-15.md
Podcast: [The Holistic Homes Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-holistic-homes-podcast-6840479)
Published: 2026-01-13T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://the-holistic-homes.captivate.fm
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/70b85479-4d77-4b27-8933-de03b47f95bd.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1825

## Resource

If you think renovations are the “safer” or more affordable path to a healthy home, you may be setting yourself up for one of the most devastating mistakes you can make. I’ve watched families plan for a $20,000 remodel only to face $300,000+ in hidden damage, years of displacement, and ongoing health issues. Today, I’m sharing what 2025 taught me — why my firm focuses almost exclusively on custom new builds, what actually works, and the painful realities I see behind the scenes when renovations go wrong. In 2025 alone, my team consulted on nearly $100 million in real estate projects across 15+ states, from 1,000 sq ft homes to 30,000 sq ft estates. Less than 2% of that work involved renovations — and that number is intentional. Renovations often uncover failing plumbing, deteriorated building paper, leaking windows, and slabs without vapor barriers, turning “small projects” into unlivable homes. I walk you through a real Southern California project that spiraled from a simple remodel into a full interior gut, leaking brand-new windows, and the looming possibility of stripping the entire exterior. The emotional toll on families — especially those with sick children — is something I see every single week. I also peel back the curtain on what does work: pre-construction planning, third-party leak testing during construction (not after failure), data-driven design decisions, and builders who welcome accountability instead of resisting it. These strategies are how we prevent mold, water intrusion, and catastrophic failures — not Band-Aid fixes after the damage is done In today's episode, we're talking about: Why renovations fail far more often than people realize The hidden risks in older homes no one budgets for Scope creep and how it destroys families financially and emot…

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## Transcript

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