Holloway Holdings LLC

09/29/2026

The most expensive mistakes in custom home building happen before the first shovel hits the ground.

That is when you pick the builder, compare the bids, and sign the contract. Dirt has not moved yet. Your leverage is still in that document.

I am Duane Holloway. I have spent 35 years in residential and commercial construction in Texas, and I am COO of Visten Construction Group, a design-build firm. I built Straight from the Slab so first-time custom home clients can walk into those meetings informed.

Build Right Home is the course I wish every buyer had before they hired anyone. How to vet, hire, and manage the right contractor. $49 a month, cancel anytime.

https://www.straightfromtheslab.com/

09/29/2026

The lowest bid on a custom home is often the one that costs you later.

A first-time buyer gets three numbers, picks the cheapest, and signs before they understand what was left out.

Watch for these in any bid you receive:

A large deposit before materials are on site or work has started.
Allowances so vague you cannot tell what you are buying.
A builder who will not let you visit a current job or talk to a recent client.
Pressure to sign this week, before you compare contracts side by side.

A serious builder can explain their number. They can show you how they built it, who will be on your site, and how change orders get handled.

If you are comparing bids right now and they do not line up, that is normal. The work is learning how to read them.

I built Build Right Home for that moment. Six modules on how to vet, interview, and hire before you sign. $49 a month, cancel anytime.

https://www.straightfromtheslab.com/

09/29/2026

Do not hire a custom home builder until you have asked these out loud.

Who is on my job every day, and who do I call if they are not?
Walk me through your payment schedule and when lien waivers get signed.
Can I visit an active job and talk to that homeowner?
How do you handle change orders, in writing, before the work starts?

Friends' referrals and online reviews are a start. They are not an interview.

The right questions expose gaps in a conversation, not six months into a build.

The full interview framework, including how to score the answers, is in Build Right Home. $49 a month, cancel anytime.

https://www.straightfromtheslab.com/

09/29/2026

Three long-form articles are now on the Straight from the Slab blog.

They are for first-time custom home clients who are about to hire a builder. A caption can flag a problem. These pieces walk you through what to check before you sign.

Bid Red Flags: Spot Missing Work in Custom Home Bids Before You Sign
Read a bid as a scope of work, not just a price.

Questions to Ask a Custom Home Builder Before You Hire Them
Interview and reference-check the builder before charm or a low number decides it.

Lock These Pre-Construction Decisions Before the First Shovel Hits the Ground
Settle the specs while you still have leverage, not after dirt is moving.

Read all three here:
https://fromtheslabacademy.com/blog

09/29/2026

Look what I built using https://buildy.ai/

Check it out: https://fromtheslabacademy.com

Learn how to vet, hire, and manage the right contractor before you sign. Build Right Home teaches first-time custom home clients to avoid costly pre-construction mistakes. $49/mo with Duane Holloway.

09/25/2026

https://www.facebook.com/61594847513452/posts/122096128431494917/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Come learn with us

09/24/2026

Metal Frame Builder — https://teachclub.com/ ($79/mo)

Master the complete process of building a custom home using light-gauge metal studs and metal trusses — from layout and framing to finishing. Skip the guesswork and build with professional-grade precision.

09/24/2026

ICF Build Pro — https://teachclub.com/ ($97/mo — clearly premium, signals expertise)

Master Insulated Concrete Form construction for custom homes — from site prep and form stacking to bracing, pour day, and finishing. Build stronger, quieter, and more energy-efficient homes than conventional framing allows.

03/29/2026

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04/12/2024

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