Beyond The Build w/ Rocky Mountain Outdoor Living

Part 7 in our series walking you through the entire journey.Darby and RMOL founder Nick Liput walk you through the hardest part of the process: actually choosing your contractor. Once the bids are in and you’ve met with everyone, how do you decide who gets the job? They dig into trust, communication, timelines, company size, and what happens if something goes wrong mid-project. You’ll hear how to vet reviews, ask better questions, spot when you’re dealing with a middleman instead of the actual builder, and why it matters who’s really behind the bid. If you’re down to two or three solid options and feeling stuck, this episode will help you make a confident decision and wraps up this 7 part series.

Part 6 in our series walking you through the entire journey.Darby and RMOL founder Nick Liput walk you through what to do after you receive your bids—and why those numbers are almost always wildly different. They break down how to read a proposal, what real clarity looks like, why materials and allowances matter, and how contractors price projects behind the scenes. If you’ve ever wondered why one bid is triple another or how to compare them fairly, this episode is your guide. Part 6 of our homeowner prep series.

Part 4 in our series walking you through the entire journey.In this episode of Beyond the Build, Nick and Darby break down the design phase—why contractors push it, when you actually need it, and how it protects your budget and your experience. They cover red flags, green flags, real-world change-order horror stories, what good design firms deliver, and how to compare bids apples-to-apples. If you’re about to meet contractors or you’re swimming in conflicting estimates, this one’s a must-listen.

Part 3 in our series walking you through the entire journey.Darby and Nick walk through what to look for during an in-home consultation with a prospective contractor — the green flags, the red flags, and the signs you’ve found someone who can actually deliver on your project. Perfect for anyone preparing to meet with contractors and wanting to choose the right one with confidence.

Part 2 in our series walking you through the entire journey.In this episode, Darby and Nick break down how to prepare for a contractor consultation so you don’t waste time or money. They cover why being upfront about your budget, timeline, HOA rules, and how you want to use the space leads to better designs, better bids, and a smoother experience for both you and your contractor.

The first part in our new multi part series, guiding you from choosing the right contractor to kicking off your outdoor living project. Nick Liput joins Darby to answer the question every homeowner faces first: “Where do I even find a contractor?” This episode breaks down where to look, what to avoid, and how to start your project with confidence.

In this first episode of Beyond The Build — your blueprint to outdoor living — we sit down with Nick Liput, founder of Rocky Mountain Outdoor Living. Nick shares how RMOL started, how it became a trusted leader in outdoor living, and why this podcast will give homeowners and contractors the reliable, experience-backed information they need before beginning any project.