Builders Beyond Borders

Found the perfect bath on Pinterest or a light fitting on Google? Before you hit buy, there are a few things your builder wants you to know.

In this episode, Dean and Shannon from DJH Builders in Launceston, Tasmania, are joined by Paul Kennedy from Independent Building Solutions in Canberra to talk about what really happens when homeowners source their own building products online. From a bath that would have cost $3,000 just in freight to timber ceilings that ran short with an eight week wait for more, they share real examples of how a cheaper option can quickly become the more expensive one.

They talk through what happens when products turn up damaged or wrong, how one late delivery can push back every trade on the job, and why ordering the right quantity is harder than it sounds. They also explain who is responsible when something you bought yourself stops working, and why builders lean on trusted suppliers who will back them up when things go wrong.

If you are planning a build or renovation and have your eye on products you have found online, this episode will help you ask the right questions and talk to your builder early, before decisions are locked in.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au

Following on from last episode's chat about building in the country, Paul Kennedy from Independent Building Solutions in Canberra is joined again by Hugh from New Realm Homes in Melbourne and Wayne from Preston Builders in Warracknabeal, Victoria, to dig into two things every rural buyer needs to understand before they build: water and bushfire. The boys look back at how far things have come since the days when a hand-drawn plan was all council needed, and explain how water works on a rural block today, from minimum tank sizes and fire brigade reserves to why a gravity-fed tank won't run your mixer taps and how old galvanised pipe can burst the moment a new pump goes on.

They then unpack BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings, what each level means for your cladding, decking, screens and vents, and why these rules are there to keep families safe in high-risk areas. Paul shares the story of a stunning hilltop home in the Flame Zone that needed around $100,000 in automatic shutters and roof sprinklers just to comply, while Hugh and Wayne compare how different things look across Victoria. If you're dreaming of a rural block, this one will help you plan with confidence and avoid the surprises.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au

Is building in the country worth it? Paul Kennedy from Independent Building Solutions in Canberra sits down with Hugh from New Realm Homes in Melbourne and Wayne from Preston Builders in Warracknabeal, Victoria, to share the good and the challenging sides of building outside the city. There's plenty to love about a rural build, with room to move, a more relaxed pace on site and clients who keep the crew well fed. There are also things city homeowners never have to think about, like off-grid solar, septic systems, water tanks and bushfire ratings, while Hugh shares how tight sites, parking fines and multiple crane deliveries add up in the city.

The boys also explain why choosing the right builder matters so much on a country block, and why the cheapest quote can end up costing more if the extras aren't allowed for upfront. Plus a few stories you won't want to miss, including a homeowner caught on a hidden camera pinching the crew's tools, and a 50 year old septic tank nobody knew was there. If you're dreaming of a tree change, this one will help you decide if it's the right move for you.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au

Your builder is juggling your home, a dozen other clients, subbies, suppliers and a family of their own. So who's checking in on them?

We recorded this one on R U OK? Day. Hugh from New Realm Homes sits down with Andy Kearns from Perway Construction Services and Paul Kennedy from Independent Building Solutions for one of our most honest conversations yet.

Building or renovating is one of the most emotional things you'll ever do. It's usually the biggest amount of money you'll ever spend, and when you're living in the middle of the dust and noise, it gets personal fast. There's also a side most homeowners never see: the person running your build is carrying a lot too, and how they're travelling shows up in how your project goes.

The boys get real about the tough stretches. Andy shares how close he came to shutting his business during COVID, and the one change that turned things around for him. Hugh opens up about his own mental health journey and what keeps him steady. Paul explains why good systems make the hard days easier for everyone, clients included.

They also talk about what good communication looks like when a build goes sideways. The best builders stop and clear the air instead of pushing through, and asking "are you okay?" and actually listening can change the whole feel of a project.

Whether you're about to start a build or you're halfway through one, this episode will change how you see the person in charge of it. It might also remind you to check in on yourself.

Need someone to talk to? If this episode brings anything up for you, you don't have to deal with it alone. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Mates in Construction: 1300 642 111 R U OK?: ruok.org.au

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

You've filled out the enquiry form, you're excited, and you've put your ideal start date as three weeks time. We get this one a lot.

Shannon from DJH Builders in Tassie is joined by Paul from Independent Building Solutions in Canberra and Hugh from New Realm Homes in Melbourne to walk you through what actually happens between your first enquiry and the day we break ground.

We cover the plans you need before anything can be scoped or priced, the approvals that might take three weeks or might take eighteen months, and the chain of consultants who each have to wait on the one before them. We also talk about why coming to a builder first for a preliminary estimate can save you thousands, and where your deposit really goes.

If you're planning a renovation or an extension, this one will save you a lot of frustration before you start.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

Thinking about taking on your own build or reno to save a few grand? Before you do, this one's worth a listen. In this episode, we sit down with Paul from Independent Building Solutions in Canberra, Shannon from DJH Builders in Tassie, and Hugh from New Realm Homes in Melbourne to talk through the real cost of going owner builder. We share the jobs we've been called in to fix, the compliance headaches that catch people out years later when they go to sell, and the classic mistakes we see over and over again, from wrong-sized windows to bathrooms that can't be patched because the tile range is discontinued.

We also get into the stuff that doesn't show up on a materials list: the stress, the lost work hours, the mortgage that grows instead of shrinks, and the half-finished houses people end up living in for decades. If you've been quoted $35,000 for a bathroom and you're thinking you can knock it over yourself for $20,000, this is the conversation to hear first. It's not about talking you out of it, it's about making sure you know what you're actually signing up for before you swing the first hammer.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

When you hire a builder who runs the business alongside their partner, you're getting something different to a big corporate team or a one-man band. In this episode, Andy from Perway Construction in WA sits down with Shannon from DJH Builders in Tassie to unpack what that dynamic actually looks like behind the scenes, and why it works so well for the homeowners they build for.

Shannon shares how she and Dean split the client journey, with Shannon taking the initial call to break the ice and Dean stepping in for the technical face-to-face. We talk about how having two of us in the business means you get two ways of explaining things, two people who back each other up, and two people invested in getting your project right. Andy and Louise run Perway the same way, and both teams have built cultures where staff, clients, and families all get treated like they matter.

The conversation then goes somewhere we didn't plan but felt important to share. We get honest about the mental health stats in construction, the personal development work we've both put in over the years, and why looking after yourself first isn't selfish, it's what makes you a better builder, partner, and parent. Shannon shares a simple question that changed things at home. Andy talks about men's groups, coaching, and the value of asking for help.

If you're a homeowner trying to work out what kind of builder to hire, or a builder wondering how to bring your partner into the business, this one's worth a listen.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

Renovations rarely run to the timeline homeowners have in their head, and in this episode Shannon Hodgetts (DJH Builders), Matt Auld (Matthew Auld Builder) and Andy Kearns (Perway Construction) unpack exactly why.

We get into what really happens when walls come off and old practices are exposed, why a 10 to 15% contingency is the honest baseline (and why 20% is smarter), and how weather, subbie delays and shifting waterproofing standards can push a build out by weeks or months. We also talk about the trust and communication that has to be locked in before a renovation contract is signed, and why locking in your selections upfront saves you from painful variations down the track.

If you're planning a renovation or already living through one, this one will help you set realistic expectations and back the right builder from day one.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

In this episode of Builders Beyond Borders, we sit down to unpack one of the biggest disconnects we see in the industry: the gap between what homeowners think their build or renovation will cost, and what it actually costs to bring their project to life.

Hugh is joined by Andy and Louise from Perway Construction Services in Western Australia, and we get into the reality of what's happening on the ground right now. We talk about where homeowners are getting their information from, why shows like The Block and Grand Designs are shaping expectations in ways that don't line up with real-world costings, and why so many clients are walking into first meetings with budgets that are already well short of what their dream project actually requires.

We share real examples from this week's client meetings, including a full home renovation that a designer had quoted at $350,000 when the true cost was closer to $1 million. We talk about scope creep once interior designers come on board, why clients need to stop holding their budget cards close to their chest, and why comparing a high-performing eco pod to a Bunnings flat pack is never going to give you an accurate picture of value.

If you're planning a build or renovation, or you're already in the middle of one and wondering why the numbers keep shifting, this is a conversation that will change how we think about budgeting from day one.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

In this episode we sit down to talk about something that's been a game changer for our building businesses: having a business coach in your corner as a builder. We talk about our years inside Builders Business Blackbelt, a coaching group built specifically for residential builders across Australia.

We get honest about what pushed us to reach out in the first place. For Matt, it was staring down the barrel of bankruptcy after mispricing two big jobs early in his business. For Paul, it was the mindset side, dealing with difficult clients and feeling ready to walk away from building altogether. Shannon shares how the three biggest pain points builders carry, financial stress, difficult clients, and personal burnout, are usually what gets someone to finally pick up the phone.

We talk about why mindset sits underneath everything else, how the weekly momentum calls became a lifeline through Covid and beyond, and why the community of builders around us has become just as valuable as the coaching itself. We also touch on the shift from keeping your cards close to your chest to being open and vulnerable, and why that's the thing that actually unlocks real change in your business and your life.

Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q

Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899

Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast

Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/

Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/

Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au

DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au

New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au

Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au

Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au