Yes, Even the Builder Second-Guesses Her Selections

The worries I hear from homeowners—and a few I’ve had myself.

By Lauren Haskins · October 25, 2026

While building our own home, I probably went back to the design center five times. And after all that questioning and looking again, I landed on pretty much what my gut had told me the first time.

I do this every day, and I still second-guessed myself!

Now that everything is coming together, I’m so happy with what I chose. But going through those decisions for myself reminded me how our clients feel. Choosing things individually can feel very different from seeing them all come together in your home.

We’re all human. Even the builder gets overwhelmed sometimes.

“I Think I Need to Look at That Again”

Sometimes I’ll get a text or email from a client saying, “I think I need to look at that again,” or “I’m just not sure about what I picked now.”

And that’s okay. I want them to tell me.

We can revisit it and go back to the drawing board if we need to. If we’ve done something similar in another home, I’ll show them pictures. Sometimes seeing the pieces together helps in a way that looking at individual samples just doesn’t.

If I know someone is overwhelmed before a selections meeting, I’ll ask them to send inspiration pictures so we can pull some options ahead of time. I attend every selections meeting, and Heather, who is an owner and an interior designer, helps our clients with selections too.

There are a lot of choices, but you have people to talk them through with.

And trust me, I have my own things I struggle to pick. Stain colors are probably one of my least favorite decisions. Getting the color just right can be hard! If someone isn’t sure, we’ll put samples on boards so they can see the color before deciding.

I’m always happy to give my opinion. But I tell clients all the time:

“I’m happy to tell you what I think, but if you don’t like it, you won’t hurt my feelings one bit!”

It’s their home, after all.

Sometimes the Nervous Choice Becomes the Favorite

Tile is probably the most common example.

We can get a little funky with tile, and I love it. Sometimes clients are nervous about stepping outside the box, but once it’s installed and they see everything together, it ends up being one of their favorite things in the house.

Light fixtures are another choice people second-guess. I’m a firm believer that lighting can make or break a house, so I understand wanting to get it right!

We work with Tara at Lights Unlimited, who comes prepared with a lighting list and options she’s picked out for each client. If something doesn’t feel right, we walk around the showroom and look at other options together.

Sometimes people need reassurance that it’s okay to choose something different if they love it. Other times, they’re more comfortable keeping things neutral. Both are fine.

I never want someone to choose something just because I like it.

Is Everything Going to Be an Upgrade?

I had a client who had been working with another builder, and it seemed like everything they wanted was going to be an upgrade.

When they sat down with us, they were surprised by how much was already included in our pricing.

I really noticed them start to relax during selections. They could choose things they loved without every decision adding to the price. In their case, they ended up with a beautifully designed home that felt like them, with no additional cost for their selections.

That was when they started enjoying it.

Budget is something we keep in mind throughout selections. Our goal is to show people options within their price range and explain the cost when they’re considering an upgrade. Nobody wants to fall in love with something and then find out it’s far outside their budget.

People also worry that changing their mind automatically means a change order fee. I’ve always tried to avoid those fees unless they’re necessary. If something hasn’t been installed, we can make the change within their allotted budget, and it doesn’t create additional costs, I’m not going to charge a fee just for changing their mind.

I’d much rather someone tell me they’re unsure so we can talk about it.

Take Your Time. Ask the Question.

If you were sitting across from me worrying about building your first home, I’d start by asking what part worries you.

Because that makes a difference in how I can help.

If it’s the house plan, I understand. I always say that can be the most stressful part, but it’s also the most important. If you’re unsure about a room’s size, measure that room in your current home. Having something familiar to compare it to can help.

Sometimes I can walk clients through a home we’re building so they can get a feel for the space. We also offer a virtual walkthrough with our architect, McMillan Design, to help them picture how everything will come together.

If you’re worried about getting tired of a color, I might suggest keeping tile neutral and bringing color in through a cabinet or painted wall—something easier to change later.

And sometimes my advice is simply to take your time and sleep on it.

By all means, we aren’t perfect. Building a home brings unexpected challenges, and there may be moments when we could have done something better. But we care about our clients, we work hard to make things right, and we want them to feel comfortable speaking up along the way.

You don’t have to love something because someone else does. You can ask questions, look again, and tell us when you’re unsure.

And if you need another trip to the design center, well… I understand.

— Lauren