Get It Right With Undercover Architect

Request your free E-Guide “The Wide Block” which includes a transcript of this podcast >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/wideblock   Do you have a wide block? And do you know how to design your new home or renovation to make the most of it?  When it comes to wide blocks, these can occur in different configurations.   There’s of course the more generous blocks. Ones that have nice wide frontages – so generally 15m plus – and are overall quite large in area. They can present challenges in how you arrange the home on the block so that it’s not dwarfed by the overall block itself. So it doesn’t look like a little dot on a great big horizon, basically!   At the other extreme, there’s the configurations where the block is wide and shallow. There are a lot of areas where subdivision has created blocks with a wide frontage, and their overall dimensions mean that a home will be strung out with most of it exposed to the street.   I’m going to focus mainly on those that are shallow and wide – so almost the opposi

Request your free E-Guide “The Narrow Block” which includes a transcript of this podcast >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/narrowblock Do you have a narrow block? And do you know how to design your new home or renovation to make the most of it?  When I refer to ‘narrow’ blocks, I mean anything that is 10m or less wide.   For most areas, that constitutes a narrow block, and some can even get down as narrow as 4 or 5m depending on where you live. Actually, I saw a home recently for sale that was on a block that was under 3m wide!   There are specific challenges when you’re designing for a narrow block. These challenges may change as the block size and configuration changes as well.  So, I’m going to focus on big ideas that will help you think about your narrow block, and how to create a home for it. The things you can explore, and some of the strategies that designers use to solve the challenge that is the narrow b

Grab the bonus free download for this episode, which includes a transcript and worksheet for you to get it right on your corner block >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/cornerblock Do you have a corner block? And do you know how to design your new home or renovation to make the most of it?  There can be a range of attitudes and feelings about corner blocks.   Some people really dislike them because they feel less private, and less secure. Others think they’re great, because they feel more spacious and open to light and views – and feel bigger as a result.   Of course, specific challenges and advantages may vary based on how flat your corner block is (and I’

This upcoming podcast season will be all about designing for difficult sites. For the non-standard, non-normal, tricky sites. A cookie cutter approach doesn’t work when your land, block size and shape is different.  When you’re renovating or building, you have a unique opportunity to create a home that suits your block of land. That makes the most of its assets, minimizes the things you don’t like about it, or its immediate environment, and really celebrates the qualities of where you live, and the land you live on.  Homeowners often don’t understand the challenges that are specific to their type of block. And in doing so, they miss the opportunity to maximise the site’s characteristics, and minimise the things they don’t like about it.  Over the coming season, I’m going to be sharing specific design strategies you can use when designing a reno or new home for a trickier or difficult block.   A

There are 3 secrets I see homeowners keep when planning and carrying out their home renovation or building projects.  These things are almost unspoken. It’s only been in digging, asking questions, and listening loads, that I’ve seen these things aren’t a one-off – but happen really regularly for many, many homeowners.   These secrets are related to the hesitancy I see homeowners have around discussing money, and the details of their reno or build with others. Particularly with those who could help them stay sane, and feel far more confident and empowered in their project.   There are 2 reasons why these secrets we keep can be really damaging when renovating or building our homes – and can isolate us from the help we need for our success and sanity.  These reasons are:  #1These 3 secrets breed ‘shoulds’. External and internal pressures that can mean we blow our budgets, and c

MY FREE 7 DAY CHALLENGE IS STARTING NOW! HEAD TO  www.undercoverarchitect.com/7daychallenge  Want to feel and sound like you know what you’re talking about when you build or renovate your home?   And avoid being a newbie, feeling like you have a target on your forehead, waiting to be ripped off or taken advantage of?  A recent report by Ernst & Young estimates that by the year 2028 women will control about 80% of discretionary spending worldwide.   And I recall as far back as 2006, when I was Chair of an Industry Committee, we commissioned research to find the purchasing power of women in the property industry. We that found at that time, that when it comes to property, women either controlled, or heavily influenced 80% of the purchasing decisions.  And yet, and I’ve experienced this personally, when it comes to our own projects, we’ll often find designers, salespeople, builders and tradespeople still want to speak to

Do you know what the most underestimated mistake is when building or renovating your home?   Listen to the podcast to learn the renovating and building mistakes to avoid, and how to save your sanity and stress less when renovating or building.  There’s a thing I see happen for many homeowners when embarking on, and executing their reno or new build. And it’s this: They’re totally surprised at how stressful it is. And how stressed they get.  The stress a project can cause catches many homeowners by surprise – because its source is from an entirely different place to what they expected.   The online world is full of promises of ‘easy’ when it comes to building and renovating your home. There are loads of people out there offering to make it this way. Telling you it IS easy and that ANYONE, ANYWHERE can do it, and do it well, regardless of skill or experience. They’re offering their own brand of magic pill.  I have a firm

Do you know how to ask for what you want in your renovation or building project? And be sure you’re getting what you paid for?  One of the most frequently asked questions, or challenges that homeowners share with me is  “I have no idea where to start”.   Also, many homeowners tell me also that there are 3 big fears or areas of concern around renovating and building – and these may sound familiar to you. These fears are …  how much the project will cost, and whether the budget will blow out  how long the project will take, and how much of their own time it will take up  how much stress the project will cause them  Are these fears that you have about your project?  In all my experience of working with homeowners who are renovating or building their home, there’s one thing I see REALLY work for them. Both in dealing with those fears, and in helping them get started really effectively and efficiently. 

Hello! And welcome to 2018 and the first episode this year on the "Get it Right" podcast. And the first episode of Season 5: Mistakes Many Make.  Is renovating or building your home on your agenda for this year?   Well, you know Undercover Architect is packed full of useful information so you can get it right. And what's in store this year is no exception. I have some fantastic content planned for you, and loads of great things to share.   Today's episode is all about helping you save time.   Do you know, time is the only finite resource we really have? It's like that saying - "We all have the same 24 hours as Beyonce". Which actually cracks me up, because I think that 24 hours in the life of Beyonce would look markedly different to 24 hours in my life ... but that's not really the point of the saying is it?   What it's trying to say is that, we all have 24 hours a day ... and how we use them then determines what our days look like, wh

In this episode, I wrap up 2017 on the “Get it Right” podcast, and share what’s coming up in 2018.  I thought it would be worthwhile, so if there’s anything you want to go back and revisit or refresh, this can act as a reference and an index for you.   There’s a LOT of information, ideas and inspiration that gets put out each year in Undercover Architect, so this last episode for 2017 will help you find quickly what will be useful for you.  Believe it or not, this is Episode 59 of the Get it Right podcast. Just over a year ago, the very first episode was sent live, and every week since then, there’s been a fresh episode every Tuesday morning. I’ve been told that only 2% of podcasters get to episode 100, so we’ve still got a little way to go to that benchmark!  Listen to the podcast now to hear more, and also learn what’s coming up in 2018. And head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/waitlist to l

I get LOADS of questions … some on the blog, some via email, some on social media and lots and lots inside my online courses.   I find inside my online programs that with everyone in a community, asking questions (and getting my answers), it’s incredibly useful in everyone learning far more collectively than they would 1:1. It’s amazing.  And I also regularly run a survey to understand more about you, as a member of the UA Community. If you’ve ever opted in for one of my free PDF guides, you may have seen me ask you “What is your single biggest challenge when it comes to building or renovating your home”.   I ask people to be as specific as possible – and get some fantastic questions or challenges described … which then help me help you more with what I do in Undercover Architect.  You may have these questions as well. Or perhaps these are questions you haven’t got to yet, or haven’t even

How do you get started on planning a renovation or building project?  And how do you avoid procrastinating for so long that you never actually get started?  I love this quote by Christopher Parker ... “Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of fun until you get the bill.”   We can, and often do, dress up procrastination as 'planning'. And often what it actually is instead fear, confusion and overwhelm.  So, my aim with this episode is to help you recognise if you're procrastinating. And to help you move instead into PREPARING and PLANNING your project.   In this episode, I show you how you can tell the difference between preparing and procrastinating ...   I share with you how "preparing" feels ...   and then what can go wrong and might make you slip into procrastination ...   and then how to get it right so you can be productive with your time ... &nbs

Trying to make the decision whether to renovate, or to knockdown-rebuild can prevent people from starting their project for months, or even years, as they juggle all the options and are unable to choose one way or the other.  If this is you, and you’re trying to make the decision whether to renovate your existing home, or to start again and build a new home, this podcast will help you choose.   I share 3 deciding factors you can use, if you’re juggling whether to renovate or demolish your existing home and build new. Here’s a sneak peak:  Deciding Factor #1: Is knocking the house down to build a new one even an option in your area?  That can be a super fast way to determine if building a new home is possible at all for you.  Deciding Factor #2:  Is the orientation of the existing home is generally workable?  If your home doesn’t work for the movement of the sun, and getting it to do this will require h

If you're listening to this around its time of release, it's late November, and there's less than 5 weeks until Christmas. And even less time to the start of school holidays! AArrrggh - where is the year going hey?   So, if you're planning some work on your place over the holidays, I want to share with you some tips. Because NOW is the time to get ready.  And if you're not listening at the time this episode was released, and it's say, August or some other month ... then these are still good checks for you to do before you hit 'go' on any project at home. Whether you're planning anything big or small, these tips will help minimise the headaches in getting it done.  So let's dive in! Let me share 7 tips to help you get sorted, so you can use your time effectively, to get work done this time of year. Because now is the time to get yourself ready.  Tip #1:  Check who else will be on holidays  So you don't get caught out like I did and have to scramble fo

Let’s dive into the role of Builder on your project. Duayne Pearce is a Brisbane-based licensed Builder, with over 20 years experience.   Now Duayne is someone, like me, who is passionate about helping educate homeowners about how to get the best outcomes from their building or renovation project. So, Duayne and I first connected on social media and I’ve followed Duayne for a while now. He creates these great short videos that he shares on his facebook page to show things to be aware of and mistakes to avoid in your project – usually shot on site as he uncovers previous work that’s not been done well. This is the first time Duayne and I have met in person, so it’s great to have him joining me on this episode.  So Duayne is half the force behind D Pearce Constructions, which is award-winning construction company based in Scarborough, Queensland. That’s on the outskirts of

Julia Levitt and Fiona Ericsson are the team behind Sticks and Stones Landscape Design, and in this episode, we’re talking about what a Landscape Designer does, and how they can help your renovation or new home.  Now, as we near the end of Season 4, we’ve had some amazing professionals sharing incredibly useful information with us about what they do, and how their role can help you in your project.  And in Episode 6, Luke Jones of Larc Collective talked through the role of a Landscape Architect in helping you with your outdoor areas and exterior landscape design.  Landscape Designers are another discipline, or profession, that can assist with the design and construction of your garden and outdoor areas.   So, I’m really excited to sit down in this episode with Fiona and Julia from Sticks and Stones Landscape Design.  Sticks & Stones Landscape Design is a Sydney-based dynamic and contemporary young business with an ambitious and energ

Today we’re talking about what a Building Certifier is, and why you need them – in fact, in most cases, they’re essential to any building or renovation project. They can also be known as a Private Certifier.   Mick Tyrell is a Brisbane-based licensed Building Designer, with over 15 years industry experience.   Mick is someone I’ve known and worked with for many years. I actually worked with his brother for many years at Mirvac – he was on my project team documenting the homes we were doing in Bulimba in Brisbane. So, it’s been a family affair!   Mick was the Private Certifier on my own most recent renovation, and was an essential team member in helping us see that project through.   In addition to being a Building Certifier, Mick is also a registered Queensland Structural Engineer. So, in his all his work, building safety is his priority. And this combination of skills – certification and

I speak with Matthew Willis of Bushfire Planning Services. Matt is a Bushfire Consultant, and will be sharing with us when you require this role in your renovation or building project.   Now before you think: Bushfire Consultant? Why would I need a Bushfire Consultant? I don’t live near the bush, I don’t have any bush nearby, and fire isn’t an issue for my property.    Wait.  Surprisingly you don’t need to live right near a large area of bush to be impacted by a bushfire risk.  In fact, I first connected with my guest for this episode when looking at a suburban home in Sydney. The Bushfire risk come up in my early council searches, even though this home didn’t look like it was anywhere near any significant bush.   However, the site did back onto a narrow reserve. And then that reserve was this thin sliver of treed area than gradually connected into larger bush area, and then National Park. And that posed a bushfire risk to this propert

This episode is all about Interior Designers, what they do and how they help you.  I know this is an area where homeowners can get confused. I see some homeowners using an Interior Designer to simply choose soft furnishings like cushions and fabrics … through to getting their help for the overall vision for the internal colour and material palettes … extending through to being a partner, working alongside them in their project in the design of interior elements like joinery and fitout of their home … and even through to designing whole extensions and renovations. It’s a wide pool of work isn’t it!  So, Melissa Wittig of Healthy Interiors is joining me in this episode to share her knowledge about how an Interior Designer can help your project, and some key tips to help you along the way.  Now, Melissa is a “health focused” Interior Designer. What does this mean?   Well, Melissa can explain that a little more, but basicall

In this episode, we head outside … and into the gardens and exteriors of our homes.  When we’re renovating or building our home, we are often seeking a big improvement in our lifestyle at home. This can mean enlarging our home, or building a bigger one. And generally it means creating fantastic living / kitchen / dining spaces, that then flow to outdoor entertaining areas and functional gardens.   Our connection with nature, with our environment, can make a big difference to how we feel, and how our homes feel. Creating gardens and outdoor areas that are safe, secure and that add lifestyle to our homes, can make a huge difference to our finished project.   BUT … and it’s a big but …   Often they get left off the budget altogether. Or cut off at some point during the project when money gets tight. Or set aside as a DIY job with some Weekend Warrior, Backyard Blitz action planned … that never quite happens like we plan for it.  And