Mindful Builder

“Can AI do this?” Adam Antony of Veo Building Co and WunderOps returns for part two of the conversation to break down how a builder, not a developer, is using AI to run a more profitable and less stressful construction business.

We take a look at some of the bigger questions we all have first: Is AI going to replace builders, why on-site trades are some of the safest jobs going, and what AI still can’t do without your context. Adam explains why the same prompt gives everyone the same generic answer until you feed it your own files and way of working, and we dig into how AI could cut red tape in council approvals. We also get into things that we don’t really understand like: vibe coding apps that solve no real problem, privacy and data fears, guardrails, API keys, and MCPs.

Then we get into where AI saves builders real time and money, especially in pre-construction. Adam covers estimate reviews that catch missing items and $0 line items, chasing scopes and quotes, sales follow-ups, and why he removed himself from labour estimating so his VAs and past job data can do it with the facts. Matt shares how automation has taken him to a four-day work week, and we talk through what happens if AI token costs rise. Adam’s advice for getting started is to treat AI like a new employee, document your process as clear steps, and turn it into a skill, because an agent is really just a skill on a schedule.

We wrap up with WunderOps and WunderBuild. Adam explains why your business software needs to be your single source of truth, why costings are the heartbeat of every estimate and job, and how his two-day lock-in helps builders get set up without losing momentum. We also compare feasibility, budget and contract estimates, and why order-ready costings make sites run smoother. If you want practical AI for construction, estimating and pre-construction workflows, this one is worth the listen.

There are a lot of things in this episode that we don’t fully understand even as the hosts, and that’s the whole point. You’re not expected to have AI all figured out and integrated, but it is a good time to start learning.

CHAPTER MARKERS

00:00 Introduction

01:41 AI Adopter, Not Wizard

03:31 Will AI Take Our Jobs

06:22 What AI Can’t Do Yet

09:53 AI And Council Red Tape

16:47 Privacy And Data Worries

19:33 API Keys And MCP Explained

25:12 AI Pricing Risk

33:19 The AI First Mindset

40:30 Skills And Agents Simplified

42:41 Best AI Tools Right Now For Tradies

45:39 WunderOps Single Source Of Truth

1:04:35 Feasibility, Budget, Contract Estimates

1:08:16 VAs And Labour Estimating

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

Wunderbuild - https://www.wunderbuild.com/

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: https://www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/

“I had no idea about business.” Adam Antony says it plainly, and it lands because it’s honest. In this episode of The Mindful Builder, Adam breaks down the hard lessons that hit when you go from being a great carpenter to running a building business, where margin, cash flow, quoting, and systems matter just as much as what happens on site. If you’re a builder, carpenter, or construction business owner trying to build a profitable, sustainable business, this one will feel familiar.

Adam’s story starts in Goulburn, NSW, and it’s not a straight line. He came up through carpentry in a true start-to-finish environment, learning the sequence of a build because you’re responsible for it all. That mindset becomes the thread of the conversation, because Adam treats business the same way he treats building: there’s an order, there’s a flow, and if you do it out of order you pay for it later. It’s a practical chat about construction systems, leadership, and what it takes to run a tight operation.

After his apprenticeship, Adam took a left turn into real estate, spending a year door knocking and cold calling as a prospector. It taught him communication, resilience, and how to hear “no” without taking it personally, which matters more than people think when you’re selling building projects and managing client expectations. He then returned to building, got licensed in his late twenties, and stepped into a partnership that led to a major opportunity: a townhouse development that delivered a solid result, but exposed how easy it is to underprice labour, miss margin, and rely on “it’ll be fine” decision-making.

From there, the focus shifts to systems and structure. Adam shares how he rebuilt the business with clearer standards, better processes, and support that actually works because the foundations are solid, including the reality of using VAs in a building company. And just when they’re about to get into the “AI lord” chapter, Hamish tees up part two, where Adam’s move into AI, automation, and smarter workflows gets unpacked properly. If you’re interested in building business systems, construction estimating, and the future of AI in construction, you’ll want to catch the next episode.

00:00 Introduction

04:54 Carpentry Path and All Round Skills

07:43 Real Estate Detour and Sales Lessons

10:43 Builders License and Going Solo

12:47 First Big Partnership Project

14:39 Business Mistakes and Pricing Lessons

22:00 Starting a New Company

23:49 Fresh Start With Systems

25:28 Veo Team And Project Scale

28:45 Systems Thinking Explained

30:58 Making VAs Work

33:57 WunderBuild And AI Emails

35:12 Leading A Systems Culture

38:14 Passive House Motivation

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

Wunderbuild - https://www.wunderbuild.com/

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

“I couldn’t unsee it.” Jimmy from June Building explains how Passive House building science finally clicked, after learning through Instagram and then winning the Pro Clima Passive House Tradesperson scholarship. Today Jimmy flips the format and turns up with a notebook full of questions on Passive House for us. Questions around high-performance homes, airtightness, mechanical ventilation, and what actually changes when you start building for comfort, not just compliance.

Jimmy’s background is classic chippy-to-builder with a few turns that matter. Apprenticeship in Ballarat, travel to Banff in Canada, then Melbourne across maintenance, commercial, and high-end residential before moving to the Northern Rivers in early 2020. He’s now in the first 12 months of June Building, building the plane while flying it, and trying to bring Passive House principles into a market where clients aren’t necessarily asking for certification, even though mould, humidity, and comfort issues are everywhere.

We talk about why you shouldn’t lead with the “Passive House” label and instead start with the problems people already feel in their current home: drafts, noise, dust, mould, and rooms that never feel right. Jimmy asks what details cause the most challenges, and we go straight to retrofits, because nothing is square, nothing is level, and you don’t find the real issues until you start pulling things apart. We also get blunt about where builders underquote when they move into high-performance construction, and it’s labour, all labour, especially detailing, wraps, window installs, battens, and set-out.

Jimmy also pushes on PHPP and how builders should use it. PHPP isn’t just a certification hurdle. It’s a pre-construction tool for optimising cost and performance, spotting overheating risk early, and avoiding the nightmare of delivering a “high performance home” that still feels uncomfortable to live in. If you’re a builder, architect, or homeowner curious about Passive House Australia, high-performance building, and what it takes to lift your standard without blowing your budget, this episode is a solid place to start.

00:00 Introduction

00:41 Pro Clima Scholarship Story

05:12 Discovering Passive House

06:04 Selling Performance in Byron

11:09 Mould Messaging Without Labels

14:10 Education-Based Marketing Debate

18:03 Building a Social Audience

23:57 Rapid Fire Passive House Qs

25:02 Retrofit Details and Underquoting

27:01 Estimating Labour and Costs

32:05 Estimating Passive House

34:27 Overheating and Shading

35:34 Reading PHPP as Builder

38:13 PHPP Course and Value

40:53 When to Use WUFI

42:44 Retrofit Wall Failures

44:14 Skills to Learn Early

45:14 AI Tools for Builders

June Building: https://www.junebuilding.com.au/

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Wunderbuild: https://www.wunderbuild.com/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

You can’t build ten versions of the same house, live in them for ten years, and then pick the best one.

We’re sitting down with thermal modelling specialist Cameron Munro to talk about why “model early and model often” should be a non-negotiable part of pre-construction, whether you’re chasing Passive House or just trying to build a home that actually feels good to live in.

We explain what modelling is really for (direction, not perfection), how to run “what if” scenarios across glazing, insulation, shading, and floor build-ups, and why the best decisions come from cost-benefit thinking instead of intuition. We also get into the real-world gap between models and lived performance, the risk of not updating models as drawings change, and why overheating is the mistake that bites hardest when you skip the final iteration.

If you want fewer ugly conversations later, this is the episode.

00:00 Introduction

02:08 Modelling As A “What If” Tool

06:31 Where To Spend Your Effort (Heat Loss Breakdown)

09:04 Under-Slab vs Over-Slab: Thermal Bridges And Payback

13:34 Pro Clima Detail Library Shoutout

15:17 “You Don’t Need Triple Glazing In Melbourne” (Context Matters)

17:00 Overheating Risk And Why Passive House Classic Is Safer

18:07 Shading: External Beats Internal

24:24 When To Bring A Modeller In (Concept Stage)

33:25 Why You Must Update The Model As Drawings Change

35:37 Treat Modelling Like Engineering

37:30 Builder Liability And Using A Modeller To Reduce Guesswork

45:14 Keep It Simple: Standard Details And Practical Wins

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

“At some point, someone’s paying for that tender.”

Tendering sounds fair on paper. Same drawings, three builders, pick the best price, move on.

But once you understand what it actually costs to price a job properly, and how tendering rewards omissions, risk loading, and variations, it starts to look less like a “market test” and more like a costly way to kick off a relationship.

In this episode, Hamish and Matt break down what a tender really is, why the classic draw, bid, build model creates isolation and blame, and why negotiated tendering (paid pre-construction with clear costing stop points) changes the incentives for everyone.

They also get into the uncomfortable bits architects and clients don’t always see: the real cost of tendering, why prices can come back wildly different, how gaps in documentation become legitimate variations, and why trust matters more than pretending you can compare builders like-for-like.

If you’ve ever wondered why a project can look “fully resolved” and still blow out, or why builders hate competitive tendering, this one will probably ruffle a few feathers.

00:00 Introduction

01:05 The Classic Tender Process And Why It Starts Badly

02:10 What “Resolved Documents” Really Means

04:19 What Gets Left Out Becomes Variations

05:12 Why Projects Go Over Budget And Who Gets Blamed

09:06 Tender Vs Negotiated Tender Depends On The Builder

11:17 Risk Loading And Why Tendering Increases Markups

13:01 Variations In Tender Jobs Vs Negotiated Jobs

16:00 Wild Price Gaps And Why Tender Numbers Can Be Useless

23:00 What A Negotiated Tender Actually Is

35:26 Trade Quotes, RFIs, And Reducing Risk Before Site

41:22 Tendering Feels Like Isolation

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

Good design isn’t something you look at. It’s something you live in.

We sit down with James Goodlet from Altereco Design to talk about what “good design” actually means in the real world, and what a proper pre-construction process looks like when it’s done properly.

We get into why comfort is more than temperature, how designers extract the details that shape the lived experience, and why due diligence and risk management need to happen before anyone starts drawing. We also break down why James brings builders in early, how he thinks about budgeting versus estimating versus contract, and why clients need clarity on exclusions and allowances instead of getting buried in noise.

We talk contingency versus inflation, the feedback loop between builders and design teams that improves outcomes over time, and a simple practical fix for smoother pre-con. Whiteboard the whole timeline, agree on milestones, and make sure everyone knows who owns what.

00:00 Introduction

01:27 Meet James Goodlet

02:16 Good Design Is Seen Or Felt?

03:00 Comfort Beyond Temperature (Hempcrete House)

04:12 What Comfort Actually Includes (Sound, Air, Light)

07:08 James’ Path Into Design

11:25 Why “Alter Eco” And Sustainability

12:52 Pro Clima Detail Library

14:00 Alignment First: The Real Start Of Design

17:21 The Client Questionnaire (Sleep, Routines, Storage)

21:46 Due Diligence Before Sketching

28:10 Choosing Builders Based On Fit

37:00 Budgeting vs Estimating vs Contract

42:45 Contingency And Inflation

48:22 How Designers Read Trade Breakdowns

49:00 The Feedback Loop With Interiors

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

A proper site visit isn’t a stroll around the block. It’s where you catch the stuff that turns into $30k surprises later.

We’re back with Brad from Sanford Buildco to have a conversation about what a site visit should actually involve, and why doing it properly is one of the simplest ways to protect your time, your margin, and your sanity.

We break down how our checklists differ across inner-city and rural sites, but still cover the same core categories: access, services, water management, demolition risk, and the existing building. We talk through real examples like tram and train line constraints, construction zones and parking permits, combined drains, earthenware stormwater, boundary trap upgrades, three-phase power, septic fields, and when a sump and pump becomes the only option.

We also get into the stuff that catches builders out if you don’t look early: neighbour water issues you can’t control once you’re hard on the boundary, asbestos you can’t spot from photos, and demolition rule changes that can turn normal waste into hazardous waste overnight. The theme is simple: gather better information now, and you’ll have fewer ugly conversations later.

00:00 Introduction

02:00 Site Visit Checklist

02:49 Access Constraints

03:40 Rural Access Costs

06:00 Plumbing Red Flags

07:10 Sewer Plans and Cameras

10:47 Power Upgrades Reality

11:45 Septic and Stormwater Pumps

14:38 Service Locators and Photos

16:58 Electrical Planning

20:09 Neighbour Water Risks

21:27 Retrofit Foundation Checks

22:43 Asbestos Budgeting

27:13 Digital Site Reporting

30:14 Parking Constraints

33:57 Demolition Rules and EPA

35:58 NBN and Service Scope

Brad - Sanford Buildco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanfordbuildco/?hl=en

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Wunderbuild: https://www.wunderbuild.com/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

“There’s no such thing as a quick estimate.”

Estimating is one of the biggest parts of pre-construction, and it is also where builders lose time, money, and trust when the process is loose. We sit down with Rick Hughes from Estimating Online to take a look at why the idea of a “quick estimate” is often the start of bigger problems later.

Rick breaks estimating into a four-step process, from the gut-feel feasibility estimate through to rapid software-based estimating, a detailed bill of quantities, and then true costing where the client is committed and trades are quoting a real job. They talk about why context matters, why inputs matter, and why different builders need different estimating strategies depending on the type of work they do.

They also cover trade quote fatigue, fixed price versus cost plus, and why construction still does things backwards by designing first and costing last. If you are trying to tighten your pre-construction workflow, this episode gives you a clear way to think about estimating without getting distracted by shiny tools.

00:00 Introduction

00:29 Meet Rick Hughes

01:38 Why Estimating Matters

03:28 Do You Need Site Experience

10:14 Tiers of Estimating

11:25 Tech Tools and Templates

13:43 Four Step Estimating Framework

14:25 Sponsor Break ProClima Details

15:31 Who Should Estimate and Check

18:46 Stop Wasting Trade Quotes

25:23 Builder vs Trade Expertise

31:01 Common Sense Pricing Examples

33:30 Getting Paid for Precon

35:15 Sponsor Break Systems Webinar

37:19 Tenders And Budget Reality

40:30 Fixed Price Vs Cost Plus

48:56 In House Trades Debate

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Wunderbuild: https://www.wunderbuild.com/

LINKS

Estimating Online: https://estimatingonline.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

“Budget does not mean your build cost.” Matt drops that early, and it should be printed on every set of concept plans. In this episode of The Mindful Builder Podcast, Matt and Hamish sit down with Brad McEwan from Sanford Buildco for a blunt chat about project feasibility and why so many custom home builds in Australia blow out financially. If you’re a homeowner, builder, or designer trying to avoid budget shock, this one will save you a lot of pain.

We talk about the gap between a client’s budget and the reality of what the design actually costs, plus the hidden “other costs” that show up before you even start building. Think site works, services, reports, permits, access, and all the stuff that never makes it into the Instagram floor plan tour. Brad also breaks down how “small” choices like garages, alfrescos, tiles, and finishes can swing the price wildly depending on what you pick and how it’s installed.

If you’ve ever wondered how to pressure test a budget early, what a feasibility estimate is actually for, or what to ask a builder before you spend big on documentation, we cover it in plain language. Keywords: project feasibility, construction budget, build cost vs budget, custom home build Australia, building costs 2026, cost overruns, variations, architect budget, builder advice, pre construction process.

00:00 Intro

00:00:32 Budget vs build cost

00:01:00 The “other costs” that hit before site

00:02:00 Matching budget to design reality

00:04:00 Square metre rates and early stress testing

00:05:08 Garages, alfrescos, and scope creep

00:16:29 What’s excluded (and why it matters)

00:29:25 Feasibility is a viability check, not a contract price

00:35:39 The hard conversation now vs the variation later

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

SBA - https://www.thesba.com.au/

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/

“If you keep ending up with bad clients, that’s a you problem.”

Matt doesn’t sugar coat it, and honestly, he’s right.

In this episode we kick off our pre-construction series by talking about the building clients we refuse to work with, and why picking your client is one of the biggest risk controls in a construction business.

This is a practical chat for builders, tradies, architects, and homeowners who want a smoother build. We talk about why most client conflict comes from a lack of structure, unclear expectations, and messy communication. Matt shares his early filters like enquiry forms, a quick phone call, and a “first date” coffee, plus the red flags that tell him to walk away before the project turns into stress, scope creep, and constant tension.

If you’re a homeowner, this episode answers the real questions you’re thinking but not saying out loud. How do I choose the right builder?

What should pre-construction look like?

How do I know if we actually trust each other?

If you’re a builder, it’s a reminder that saying no is a skill, and that the relationship you build early is what protects you when variations, defects, and money conversations show up later.

00:00 Intro and the new pre construction series

00:04:00 Picking your client and why “bad clients” are a process problem

00:05:19 The first filters: forms, phone call, and setting expectations

00:08:08 New builders, people pleasing, and losing control

00:09:13 The budget reality check example

00:10:13 Saying no and the no dickhead policy

00:12:00 Defects, legislation changes, and why relationships matter

00:14:28 What Matt looks for in clients (gut feel, tone, trust)

00:24:06 What clients need to do

00:27:24 Walking away works for clients too

00:33:18 Mindful moment for young tradies

00:35:10 Have the money conversation early

Our Sponsors:

Pro Clima - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/proclima

MEGT - https://mindful-builder.captivate.fm/megt

Biz Tech Guru: https://www.biztechguru.com.au/

Wunderbuild: https://www.wunderbuild.com/

Connect with us on Instagram: @themindfulbuilderpod

Connect with Hamish:

Instagram: @sanctumhomes

Website: www.yoursanctum.com.au/

Connect with Matt:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions

Website: www.carlandconstructions.com/