Building a home today is more complicated than ever — tighter construction, changing codes, new materials, and higher homeowner expectations.In this episode of the Your Project Shepherd Podcast, Curtis Lawson sits down with Matthew Davis of Kingsmen Homes to discuss what actually makes a home perform well.They break down the biggest myths in homebuilding, why testing and verification matter, and how builders and homeowners can make smarter decisions during construction.From moisture management and air sealing to indoor air quality and HVAC design, this conversation explains why the most important parts of a home are often the ones you never see behind the walls.If you're planning to build, remodel, or simply want to understand how modern homes should perform, this episode is packed with practical insights.What You’ll Learn• Why beautiful finishes don’t make a home “luxury”• The biggest myths about how houses “breathe”• Why HVAC systems can’t fix a bad building enclosure• How water management prevents costly home failures• Why builders should test and verify their work• What homeowners should ask before hiring a builder• Why focusing on “forever details” matters more than finishesAbout Matthew DavisMatthew Davis is the owner of Kingsmen Homes, a custom home building and remodeling company serving the west Houston region.Kingsmen Homes focuses on high-performance building principles that prioritize health, comfort, and durability through better construction practices and building science.Follow Kingsmen Homes:Instagram: https://instagram.com/kingsmenhomesllcAbout the PodcastThe Your Project Shepherd Podcast helps homeowners and builders understand the construction process so they can build smarter homes.Hosted by Curtis Lawson, principal of Crafted Custom Homes, the show covers building science, project planning, and real-world lessons from the construction industry.Subscribe for more episodes on building smarter homes.

Are you using the right contract for your building projects in Texas?

In this episode of the Your Project Shepherd Podcast, Curtis Lawson sits down with three industry leaders to unpack the value, structure, and legal protection behind TAB Contracts:

• Frances Blake – General Counsel & VP of Regulatory Affairs, Texas Association of Builders

• Adam Aschmann – Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Tilson Homes

• Donald Shelton – Attorney/Shareholder, Bush Rudnicki Shelton, PC

TAB (Texas Association of Builders) contracts are specifically written for residential construction in Texas — and they’re designed to protect builders operating under Texas law.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Why TAB contracts exist and how they differ from generic templates

• Common contract mistakes that expose builders to unnecessary legal risk

• How properly structured agreements protect both builders and homeowners

• The role contracts play in dispute prevention and risk management

• Why professional builders should treat contracts as a strategic tool — not just paperwork

If you're a custom home builder, remodeler, or residential contractor in Texas, this episode will help you better understand how to protect your business and operate more professionally.

Contracts aren’t just legal documents — they set expectations, define relationships, and can determine whether a project ends in success or in court.

Listen in and learn why TAB contracts may be one of the most important investments you make in your business.

Three years. Over 100 episodes. Countless conversations about building better.

In this special anniversary episode, Curtis Lawson reflects on why Your Project Shepherd was started in the first place — and why the mission matters more now than ever.

After 21+ years building custom homes and stepping into failing projects, Curtis saw the same patterns over and over again:

• Homeowners who didn’t know how to hire the right builder

• Contracts structured incorrectly

• Payments mishandled

• Projects where trust was assumed instead of earned

• Clients stuck in bad situations because of sunk cost and fear

That’s why Shepherd Construction Advisors — and eventually this podcast — were born.

This episode isn’t just a look back. It’s a reminder of what this platform is really about:

✔ Educating homeowners so they can build smarter
✔ Helping builders elevate professionalism
✔ Creating better communication between teams
✔ Reducing stress, mistakes, and preventable disasters

If you’re a homeowner planning a custom build or major remodel…
If you’re a builder trying to run a more disciplined, process-driven company…
If you’re an architect or designer who wants smoother projects…

This episode will re-ground you in what truly matters in residential construction.

After three years, the mission hasn’t changed:
Better planning. Better communication. Better projects.