The Exhausting and Expensive Reality of Building Your Own House

Let’s just say… HGTV doesn’t show this part.

Building your own home sounds dreamy in theory: custom layout, handpicked finishes, full creative control. And while that all holds true, here’s the other side of it it’s exhausting, it’s expensive, and it tests you in ways you never expected.

I’m currently bruised, my back is shot, and I have caulk stuck in places that no amount of scrubbing seems to fix. We just dropped over $9,000 on insulation, and it won’t even arrive until May 30, which means progress in several areas is now at a standstill.

Oh, and did I mention? I’m pregnant. Which means I’m not much help these days when it comes to physical labor. I try, but as my belly keeps growing, so do the limits on what I can realistically do. And trust me, there’s a lot to do.

We're Doing This Ourselves

We’ve taken the DIY route for most of this build. It’s me, my husband, and my parents out there week after week. Every step forward feels earned, because it is. We’re not just paying someone to get it done. We’re the ones trenching, drilling, hauling, wiring.

The pride is real, but so is the exhaustion. And now that I’m growing a whole human, even the little things feel ten times harder.

To be clear, we’re not moving in any time soon. Our move-in date isn’t until October 2026. That feels both comforting (more time) and overwhelming (more time). There’s still so much left to do, and we’re only scratching the surface.

The Toll of It All

Today is Sunday, and honestly, I didn’t even start my VA work until 5 PM. I was that tired. I worked until 9 PM just trying to catch up on what I normally knock out earlier in the day.

Between building the house, growing a baby, and running multiple businesses, the tank is running low more often than I care to admit.

Physically, I’m wiped. Mentally, I’m stretched. Financially, I’m tracking every dollar. Emotionally… well, I’m holding on.

But Still—We're Building Something

Even in the mess of it all, I remind myself: we’re not just building a house. We’re building our future. A space that reflects everything we’ve worked for. A place where our family will grow.

It’s not glamorous right now. It’s painful. It’s pricey. It’s slow. But it’s ours.

And while I might be waddling my way through the next phases and sneaking in naps every chance I get, I know it’ll all be worth it someday.

If you’ve been through this (pregnant and building a home), send me your best survival tips. Because today, I’m running on fumes, leftovers, and pure grit.

We’ve got a long road ahead but we’re in it. One slow, sweaty, stubborn step at a time.