Home Building Podcast

In this episode of The Home Building Podcast, Behan Flaherty sits down with Glen Austen, Director of TAG Finance, to unpack the world of home finance. Whether you’re building your first home, refinancing, or planning a property investment, Glen shares expert advice on navigating loans, securing pre-approval, managing interest rates, and avoiding common mistakes in the lending process. This is your practical guide to making confident financial decisions when building or buying your home. 

Chapters: 

• 02:15 – Glen’s background 

• 05:10 – The first step in home finance 

• 09:00 – Interest rates & market conditions 

• 14:30 – Common mistakes to avoid 

• 20:00 – Finance for investors vs. owner-occupiers 

• 25:45 – Structuring your loan for flexibility 

• 30:30 – Final advice for first-time builders 

• 33:00 – Closing thoughts & where to find Glen 

• 40:00 – $10K Home Improvement Question  

About Our Guest 

Glen Austen

TAG Finance Group - Director 

Glen Austen is has a wealth of knowledge in Home Loans, Business Loans, Investment loans, helping people purchase their first home. All of the aspiring home owners we’ve sent his way have had an amazing experience with him & had some really amazing outcomes. Glen is dedicated to tailoring finance solutions to each person’s unique circumstances, ensuring every client achieves the best possible outcome. He specialises in creating customised financial structures to meet a wide range of needs, saying, “It’s incredibly rewarding to help people realise their dreams and play a part in that journey.” 
 
Get in touch with Glen: 

TAG Finance: https://taggroup.com.au/ 

Glen Austen Contact

LinkedIn 

Facebook

Instagram

Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au  

Want more episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/  

Follow us on socials @independentbuildingadvice 

Behan sits down with seasoned real estate agent Chadi Damouni from Bourkes Property to uncover the truth behind common property myths and share insider strategies for maximising resale value, whether you’re building, renovating, or selling. With over 12 years in the industry, Chadi has worked across Perth’s property market, helping everyone from first-time buyers to investors and forever-home dreamers. In this episode, we cover: Key Topics: - Why some “must-have” home features aren’t always worth the cost - What buyers really notice at a home open (and what they don’t) - The truth about baths, double vanities, and kitchen trends - How to avoid overcapitalising before selling - The role of staging & presentation in today’s market - Buying & selling strategies in Perth’s competitive property landscape - Whether you’re planning your dream home or prepping for sale, this episode is packed with practical advice to save money, add value, and avoid costly mistakes. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Guest Background 02:15 – Busting Common Property Myths 03:26 – Baths, Double Vanities & Kitchen Trends 06:50 – Appliances: Do Buyers Care About Brands? 09:13 – Powerpoints, Floor Plans & Buyer Priorities 10:12 – Avoiding Overcapitalisation Before Selling 11:16 – Staging & Photography for Maximum Impact 14:24 – Buying & Selling Strategies in a Hot Market 16:37 – The Average Buyer Timeline (and Why It’s Blown Out) 18:03 – How Great Agents Set Client Expectations 19:04 – Prepping Your Home for Market 21:43 – Staging for Value & Buyer Appeal 23:15 – Pricing Strategies & No-Price Listings 25:28 – Adjusting for Location & Property Type 27:06 – The $10K Question: Where Would You Spend It? 29:07 – Episode Wrap-Up Guest: Chadi Damouni - Licensed Real Estate Agent, Bourkes Property, South Perth https://bourkes.com.au/directory/chadi-damouni/Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au Want more episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/ Follow us on socials @independentbuildingadvice

Interior and architectural designer Bianca Campbell from White Door Studio joins us to talk about one of the most overwhelming (and important) parts of home design, choosing the right colours. 

From tiles and cabinetry to paint and fixtures, Bianca discusses how to create a cohesive palette using simple home design principles like the 3-Colour Rule. We also discuss how to translate Pinterest inspiration into practical decisions that actually work in your space. 

Bianca discusses: 

• How to create a cohesive palette 

• Simple design principals 

• 3-Colour-Rule and how to make it work for you 

• How to translate your Pinterest boards into practical decisions 

• Real world examples of how this works 

About Our Guest 

Bianca Campbell is the founder of White Door Studio, based in Perth, WA. With a love for both creative styling and technical detail, Bianca helps homeowners bring their vision to life through functional, elegant, and practical design. 

She’s known for simplifying selections and helping clients make confident decisions — from colour palettes to layout. 

https://www.instagram.com/whitedoorstudios/ 

https://whitedoorstudios.com.au/ 

In this episode, Behan Flaherty founder of Independent Building Advice breaks down how to approach home design with purpose and clarity. Too often, people rush into designing their home without fully understanding how layout, budget, lifestyle, and land all intersect. This Home Building Podcast episode reveals the smart way to begin home design that avoids costly revisions, decision fatigue, and long-term regret. Behan explains: - Practical strategies to help you plan a home - Design that not only looks good, but is functionally beautiful. - What’s involved in the design process - Common areas most people don’t think about - How to priorities what’s important

About Our Host: Behan Flaherty is the Founder of Independent Building Advice (IBA), a Perth-based building consultancy that helps homeowners navigate the home building process with unbiased advice, smarter designs, and finding the right builder for you.

With over 25 years of experience inside the building industry, Behan prides himself on advocating for people who want to build with confidence... not confusion.

Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au

Want more episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook @independentbuildingadvice

IBA Founder & Home Building Podcast host Behan Flaherty to unpack how the home building industry has shifted and what that means for aspiring home builders in Australia. 

We explore the hidden traps most people fall into when building, the outdated way the industry still sells homes, and why being first to get a quote doesn’t always mean the best you’ll be delivering the best outcome for you.  

Behan shares 

• Real, genuine home building stories 

• Practical advice for aspiring home owners 

• How to strategically think about your home build 

• Why asking better questions will lead to a better experience 

• What it takes to have control of your build from day one 

 
About Our Host: 

Behan Flaherty is the Founder of Independent Building Advice (IBA), a Perth-based building consultancy that helps homeowners navigate the home building process with unbiased advice, smarter designs, and finding the right builder for you. 

With over 25 years of experience inside the building industry, Behan prides himself on advocating for people who want to build with confidence... not confusion. 

Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au 

Want more episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/ 

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook @independentbuildingadvice