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How many hours have you wasted quoting jobs that never go ahead?

In this episode of The Sustainable Builders Yak, we’re joined by Richard Armstrong, a former Melbourne renovation builder who turned over a decade of hard-earned experience — and frustration — into innovation. After 15 years working on extensions and renovations across inner-city Melbourne, Richard saw firsthand how vague budgets, mismatched expectations, and time-wasting quotes were burning out good builders.

So, he built a solution: Procalc — a powerful feasibility tool that helps builders qualify clients early, set realistic budgets, and stop wasting time on projects that were never going to stack up.

Procalc now draws on data from over 35,000 real builder projects, delivering 93% cost accuracy even without plans. It’s changing the way builders have that all-important first conversation with clients — bringing more clarity, confidence, and credibility to the table.

Whether you’re a builder, designer, or consultant, this episode is packed with real-world insight on how to work smarter, quote less, and win more of the right kind of jobs.

📌 This episode covers:

• The real cost of vague briefs and unqualified leads
• How Procalc helps builders quote less and win more
• Using data (not guesswork) to manage client expectations
• Why feasibility studies should happen before design
• Building trust with clients, architects, and designers
• A new approach to sustainable, profitable building

🧭 Episode Highlights:

• Richard’s journey from builder to software creator
• The lessons (and pain) that inspired Procalc
• The surprising accuracy of 35,000+ real project data points
• Qualifying clients without needing full plans
• Using Procalc’s carbon calculator to guide sustainable choices
• Builder burnout, value management, and better conversations
• Quick-fire fun: Geelong Cats, R&B playlists & Anzac biscuits

 Brought to you by:

• McCormacks Australia
• JP Sustainable Homes
• Valley Windows