Get It Right With Undercover Architect

Hello! This is Episode 364, and in it, HOME Method member, Shauna, is back with Part 2 of our conversation about building her new family home. In this episode, we dive deeper into the long-term view Shauna took with this home, and how that shaped her decisions around budget, investment, and design. And you’ll hear how she tested her thinking along the way, continually asking herself if her choices were still delivering a better result than the alternatives. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/364] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of my conversation, be sure to head ot Episode 363, where you’ll hear Shauna introduce her project, and discuss how she embarked on her design process balancing sustainability goals, her budget and a complex site. You can find it at www.undercoverarchitect.com/363 In this episode, we explore how Shauna navigated her decision to go with a Design-Build builder, and how she set herse

Hello! This is Episode 363, and in it, I’m chatting with HOME Method member, Shauna, who has recently completed her new family home.  Shauna is a sustainability practitioner by profession. So, what does someone who works in sustainability do when creating their long-term family home?  Well, you’ll hear how she approached her new build with intention, clear objectives, and a pragmatic approach that balanced the realities of her budget and site with her overall goals and wishlist in her newly built home. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/363] In this episode, I talk with Shauna about how she identified her objectives, and worked to create an incredibly comprehensive Design Brief, using the HOME Method Brief Builder Template and Room Notes as her guide and template.  You’ll hear how she very quickly realised that this wasn’t about striving for perfection - which in fact can be paralysing

Hello! This is Episode 362, and in it, I’m sharing what to do if you’re not using the PAC Process - or Paid As Consultant Process - but still want to ensure you don’t get massively disappointed when your project gets priced before you start construction. Perhaps you still want to competitively tender your project? Or you’ve found out about the PAC Process too far into your project? Or your architect or designer isn’t interested in doing it at all, or has another method they’re suggesting to you? This is something I get asked about a lot. So, in this episode, I want to give you clear guidance on what you can do instead. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/362.] Because if you can’t, or don’t want to, use the PAC Process, there are still really practical ways to reduce your risk, get accurate cost feedback, and avoid the heartbreak of working for months, and spending a lot of mon

Hello! This is Episode 361, and in it, I’m answering the questions I didn’t get to during our recent live webinars. I hope these answers are interesting to hear, and perhaps help you feel more equipped and confident in navigating your own project. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/361.] Whenever I host a live session, I’m always blown away by the type and curiosity of the questions that come through. They show me just how thoughtful, considered, and committed you are when it comes to getting your home right - and how much you’re navigating behind the scenes as you do it. Sometimes, though, we run out of time before I can respond to everything. So in this episode, I’m circling back to answer the questions I didn’t get to live, but that I know many of you are wondering about too. We’re covering a whole range of topics: from how to know if you’re adding value to your property, t

Hello! This is Episode 360, and I’m back with Part 2 of my conversation with builder, Anthony Hickey, from Melbourne-based Two Tone Construction. Anthony recently completed a renovation project with HOME Method members, Tanya and Paul, and as he said in Part 1, they’ve redefined his benchmark for his ideal client! In this episode, Anthony and I talk about how to set up effective communication between a builder and a client, especially when you’re a client who has invested in getting educated and informed, and you’re wondering how a builder might welcome your input and involvement in your own project. Anthony also shares his recommendations for how to find the right builder to work with, how to work well with your builder, and when to get them on board to achieve the best outcome. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/360] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of the conversation, head back to Episode

Hello! This is Episode 359, and I’m super excited to bring this conversation to you. For some time on the podcast, we’ve been hearing the stories of HOME Method members in all different parts of their projects. Some right at the beginning, some mid-way through and keeping us updated over their project timeline, and some who have moved into their finished newly built or renovated home. I’ve been getting so much great feedback from you about these episodes. About how much you’re loving these stories, as well as the people and homes in them, and how helpful they are for understanding more about your own project as well. However, we’ve only been hearing from the homeowner's side. And so, in this episode, I want to introduce you to Anthony Hickey, the Director and Builder in Melbourne-based building business, Two Tone Construction. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/359] Anthony recently finished a

Hello! This is Episode 358, and in it, I’m sharing something a little different. Over the years of running my signature online program, HOME Method, we’ve welcomed hundreds of homeowners who are navigating all kinds of new builds and renovations.  And when someone joins, we ask them a few questions - not just to get to know them, but to better understand how they’re feeling, what they’re hoping for, and where they need support. In today’s episode, I want to share some of those answers with you. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/358.] Because whether you’re just starting out or already mid-project, I know it can feel like everyone else has it figured out - and you’re the only one who’s unsure or overwhelmed. But that’s simply not true. So in this episode, you’ll hear the real, honest reasons people join HOME Method - in their own words. What they’re afra

Hello! This is Episode 357, and it’s Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Ellen, about her new build and the construction process of her family home in Ballarat, Victoria. It’s been under construction for around 7 months. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/357] If you missed Part 1 of this conversation, head back to Episode 356 so you can catch up on what we’ve discussed. You can find that at www.undercoverarchitect.com/356. Remember too, that Ellen originally appeared on the podcast  in Episodes 336 and 337 to discuss all the steps and decisions that led up to construction, so if you’d like to learn more about the design process, builder and team selection, and feeling prepared for a project like this, I’ll pop the links to those episodes in the resources for this podcast. Now, as I wrapped up Episode 356, we were discussing this idea of ‘there is no perfect’. Th

Hello! This is Episode 356, and in it, HOME Method member Ellen is back to give us an update on the construction of her new home in Ballarat, Victoria. Ellen and her partner are doing a knockdown-rebuild, and creating a single-storey home for their family, which includes Ellen and her partner, and their two teenage kids. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/356] Ellen was on the podcast in Episodes 336 and 337 discussing her project journey up to commencement of construction. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to those episodes, I encourage you to check them out as you’ll hear more about the earlier parts of the process, choosing her team and getting the design right. This has been a long process for Ellen and her family, so it’s super exciting to have her back to talk about the build process itself, and how she’s set herself up for success and a smooth process overall. In this episode, Ellen and

Hello! This is Episode 355, and I’m back with Part 2 of the latest project update with HOME Method members, Louise and Zane, who are renovating their Melbourne Californian Bungalow. They’re early in their design phase, and whilst they have a floor plan design that’s starting to tick the boxes on their wishes and wants, it’s still sneaking up over their budget.  This is a great insight into the early design stages of a project, how you juggle competing demands and priorities, as well as trying to ensure you’re capturing all the details so you manage your risk and avoid omitting something important down the track. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/355] If you haven’t caught Part 1 of this conversation, head back to Episode 354 so you can listen or read the transcript. You’ll find that at www.undercoverarchitect.com/354. In this episode, I talk with Louise and Zane about how they

Hello! This is Episode 354, and in it, we’re getting an update from HOME Method members, Louise and Zane, about their renovation project.  If you’re curious about what the early parts of a project experience are like as you choose your team and commence work with them, this is going to be super helpful information for you. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/354] As with Ben that we had on the podcast over the last couple of weeks, Louise and Zane are also renovating and extending a Californian Bungalow in Melbourne.  And, when we chatted to them back in Episodes 317 and 318, we heard about the early preparation they were doing before choosing their team and commencing their project. (If you haven’t heard the first part of Zane and Louise’s project journey, head to Episodes 317 and 318 to learn more about where this project begins. The episodes and transcripts are at www.undercoverarchi

Hello! This is Episode 353, and it’s Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Ben, about the renovation and extension of his and his partner’s 1920’s Californian Bungalow in Melbourne. As we jump into Part 2, I talk more with Ben about their budget, and how they’ve worked with it over these design changes and the timeline, as well as the way Ben and Mike are now viewing their investment and what they want to get from it. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/352] If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, head to Episode 352 where you’ll hear Ben introduce us to the project. We discussed some of the early challenges as they worked with a designer for some time, but ended up with a design that was over their budget, and also not the ideal outcome they were seeking.  With those initial quotes coming in too high, it gave them the chance to revisit and review their progress to that po

Hello! This is Episode 352, and in it, I’m talking with HOME Method member, Ben. He and his partner, Mike, are designing the renovation and extension of their Melbourne Californian Bungalow. In this episode, you’ll hear how Ben and Mike came up with their renovation and extension design, and some of the challenges they had along the way. They followed a more traditional route of tendering the design, only to discover that the cost to deliver exceeded their budget, which meant they had two choices. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/352] One: revisit and amend the existing design to see if they can pull it back financially, without compromising the functionality and livability of the home overall.  Or two: take some steps back - or as we call it in HOME Method, get up to helicopter view, and assess whether there is a different design option altogether that can satisfy the brief, and meet the budget expectati

Hello! This is Episode 351, and it’s Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Tatiana, about her new build in regional Queensland on a site with a specific Council Buffer Zone they’re having to contend with. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/351] If you missed Part 1 of our conversation, make sure you head back to Episode 350 to catch up before you dive into Part 2. You can listen or read the transcript at www.undercoverarchitect.com/350. In this episode, I talk more with Tatiana about how she’s setting up her pre-construction process with her preferred builder, especially given he hasn’t used the PAC Process before. We also talk about how to manage your risk when working with a builder who is new to their business, and your project is their first as a business. There’s some important steps to take so you ensure your project doesn’t suffer from them getting their business up an

Hello! This is Episode 350, and in it, I’m talking with HOME Method member, Tatiana. She lives with her partner and three boys in regional Queensland, and is getting ready to design and build their new home. We meet Tatiana at the very beginning of her journey. Their project faces challenges, including a tight budget, council restrictions due to a nearby water treatment plant, and managing sun exposure for the local climate. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/350] Having experienced a previous renovation, but now finding their existing home inefficient overall, Tatiana discusses how much bigger and significant it feels to design and build a new home … especially as someone who hasn’t grown up in Australia. She says it “feels like she’s learning English all over again” as she dives into the terminology-rich construction industry! Tatiana would love to also follow the PAC Process, or Paid

Hello! This is Episode 349, and in it, I’m going to discuss a topic that is, I believe, often the promoted ‘thing’ out there through glossy mags and social media: ‘How to create a luxurious home’.    And because it seems to be promoted so heavily, by inference, it seems that it’s supposed to be one of the goals when creating your ideal home.   However, I have found that the definition of ‘luxury’ can have MANY connotations. Not always positive either.    And it can be so relative and subjective in how it’s interpreted, that this supposed pursuit of a luxurious home as the dream being sold to us can be really fraught. And so, I wanted to dive into this more.   [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/349] I also thought that this would be an interesting way to discuss some learnings from a recent trip my family and I made to Japan. Over the Christm

Hello! This is Episode 348, and I’m back with HOME Method member, Michael as we continue the conversation about the construction of his new home in Western Australia - a home that he and his wife intend to retire to and enjoy a relaxing lifestyle that makes the most of the beautiful location. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/348] If you missed Part 1 of this conversation, head back to Episode 347 to listen first before diving into this one, as it’ll make a lot more sense if you do. You can find it at www.undercoverarchitect.com/347. Michael was on the podcast earlier in our HOME Method member stories, in Episodes 323 and 324, discussing the earlier parts of his project. So it’s great to have him back with this construction update. We finished the last episode with Michael sharing info on his home’s energy efficiency assessment and the changes they made to improve the home’s star rating. As a

Hello! This is Episode 347, and Michael is back to give us the latest update on his new build project in Western Australia (which is currently under construction). Michael first came on the podcast in July 2024, in Episodes 323 and 324, and took us through the early phases of his project, including working with his designer and resolving the overall design, materials and details for his future home. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/347] Michael and his wife are building a home that’s intended to be the place they retire to, as they transition away from their current daily lives of running a working sheep property.  The new home is designed to comfortably accommodate the two of them with a focus on supporting their health and well-being, and making the most of the beautiful site, whilst providing a relaxing lifestyle. It’s also able to welcome their family for visits and accommodate them when required.&nbs

Hello! This is Episode 346, and in it, I’m continuing my conversation with electrician, Brendan Lang, from Get Off Gas. We finished Episode 345 Brendan sharing insights about his own home renovation, and how he tackled it. Brendan has opened his home for Sustainable House Day and uses it as a fantastic demonstration of how to improve an existing home through electrification and energy efficiency upgrades. In this episode, Brendan talks more about how he renovated his home, including retrofitting insulation to its roof and walls.  [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/346]. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 of our conversation, it’s definitely worth catching up on first. You’ll hear me talk about some of the health and environmental reasons to get off gas in your home, and to consider electrification as a way to improve your home overall, its health, and its ability to then be supplied through

Hello! This is Episode 345, and in it, I’m talking with Brendan Lang from Get Off Gas. Brendan is an electrician and is joining me to talk about how we can get off gas in our existing homes, and when renovating or building our homes, and choose to electrify our homes instead. I believe we should be getting off gas, improving the energy efficiency of our homes and reducing their energy consumption overall. And then supplying that energy via renewable sources such as localised solar systems, or through green power from the grid. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/345]. Did you know that in many locations around Australia, gas infrastructure is slowly being phased out for new developments, and gas appliances are being banned for installation in new homes. Councils are making the call to prevent developers from including gas services in subdivisions, or for gas to be connected in certain projects. In May 2023, New York St