In this episode, Az sits down with James Renshaw and Jason Shedden from the Bellevue Group Australasia — the team behind VuTrade, an Australian timber connector manufacturer with over 35 years in the building industry.

This one's less about product specs and more about the philosophy behind doing things properly. James and Jason talk about what it means to actually listen to builders, why they only bring products to market that solve a real problem, and how cutting corners on something as critical as a timber connector can cost a builder — and a homeowner — far more than the few hundred dollars saved.

They also get into the compliance issues quietly sitting in the market right now, the shift they're seeing toward custom builders who care about quality, and why peace of mind might be the most underrated thing a good builder can offer.

A genuine conversation with two blokes who are in the industry for the right reasons.

What we cover:

• How VuTrade was built on a builder's background and a family commitment to quality
• Why listening to the trade is baked into how they develop every new product
• The real cost of non-compliant or substandard timber connectors on site
• Stainless vs galvanised — using the right material in the right application
• The growing split between volume builders and quality-focused custom builders
• Why Australian-made matters beyond the tagline
• What makes a good builder, according to two people who work with them every day

For more on VueTrade head to: https://vuetrade.com/

#TheGoodBuilder #VuTrade #BellevueGroup #TimberConnectors #AustralianMade #BuildingCompliance #ConstructionAustralia #BuilderLife #QualityBuilds #AustralianBuilders #CustomBuilders #BuildingIndustry #GoodBuilder

Gregg Somerville is the General Manager of Stonewood Homes, a franchise builder with roots going back to 1987 and a growing presence across Queensland.

In this episode, Aaron sits down with Gregg to unpack what a franchise model actually gives a builder that going it alone can't. The conversation covers the Homeye system that lets builders price and customise homes in real time, why the best builders still struggle with the business side, and how Stonewood is expanding across Queensland with the right people in the right places.

Gregg also shares what he genuinely believes makes a good builder — and it's not what most people expect.

If you're a builder doing five homes a year and thinking about how to reach twenty, this one's worth your time.

In this episode:

• Why builders who are great at their trade often run bad businesses — and what to do about it
• The Homeye system: real-time pricing, bill of materials, and 3D customisation in one tool
• What franchise fees actually pay for (and why it's often cheaper than going alone)
• How Stonewood approaches franchisee onboarding and due diligence
• The Queensland market and why Greg sees a long runway ahead
• What makes a good builder, in the eyes of the customer

Connect with Stonewood Homes: Visit stonewoodhomes.com.au and head to the franchise recruitment page to start a conversation with the team.

In this episode, I sit down with two blokes who know exactly what it takes to build a business that lasts, Jake from MyConstruct, one of Australia's leading construction management platforms, and Sean Hewitt, franchisee of Stonewood Homes on the Sunshine Coast.

This one goes deep. We talk about what actually holds builders back when they try to scale...and it's rarely about skill. It's about systems, cost visibility, and the discipline to get the foundations right before chasing growth.

Sean brings the builder's perspective...someone who's seen businesses grow fast and fall apart, and is now applying every one of those lessons to build Stonewood Homes Sunshine Coast the right way. Jake brings the systems view, more than a decade of experience working with builders of every size, from two homes a year to hundreds.

What came out of this conversation was real. No fluff. No theory. Just honest talk about knowing your costs, tracking what matters, hiring at the right time, and building a business you'd actually want to work in.

In this episode:

• Why builders who can't take a week off haven't got the right systems in place
• The real cost of reactive supervision and loose material tracking
• Why software doesn't fix chaos — it just digitalises it
• How Sean is setting up Stonewood Homes Sunshine Coast for long-term success
• What MyConstruct is building next — live weather stamping, client portals, AI messaging cleanup, and more

If you're running two to five homes a year and thinking about what's next — this episode is for you.

Your weekly construction industry news wrap — five stories that matter for builders and trades. This week: DCOH acquires Melbourne's Unlimited Commercial Constructions in a major national expansion; new Queensland land clearing rules that could delay your projects; DARE Property Group starts construction on a $1.3M+ Fitzroy boutique apartment project; Bunnings enters the flat-pack modular market; and the GBCA breaks down the 2026 policy agenda including NCC 2025 adoption and lead-free plumbing timelines.

This week on the pod: Wednesday — Jake from MyConstruct and Sean Hewitt (Stonewood Homes Sunshine Coast) on scaling a building business. Thursday — Gregg Sommerville, GM of Stonewood Homes Australasia, live from Auckland. Friday — James Renshaw and Jason Shedden from Bellevue Group and ViewTrade.

Powered by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com.au.

• DCOH / Unlimited Commercial Constructions — thegoodbuilder.com.au

• Queensland Land Clearing Rule Changes — thegoodbuilder.com.au

• DARE Property Group / Saint David Fitzroy — thegoodbuilder.com.au

• Bunnings Flat-Pack Pods — thegoodbuilder.com.au

• GBCA 2026 Policy Snapshot — thegoodbuilder.com.au

Seven out of ten Australians have changed their mind on who to build with based on what they read online. Not a referral. Not a recommendation. A review from a stranger.

And that research is happening before they ever pick up the phone.

In this episode, Aaron breaks down exactly what potential clients are finding when they search your name — and what you can do about it this week. From handling one-star reviews without losing your cool, to building a simple process that gets happy clients to actually leave feedback, this one is practical from start to finish.

You'll learn:

• Why your Google profile is your new front door
• How to respond to negative reviews in a way that builds trust, not damage
• The right way to ask for reviews without it feeling awkward
• Why staying silent on reviews is costing you jobs

Powered by MyConstruct — the software helping builders stay organised, deliver better experiences, and protect what they've worked hard to build.

🔗 Check out MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

Nicola Scott is one of the most respected voices in the Queensland construction industry. As a senior figure at Master Builders Queensland, she's spent years connecting builders, championing standards, and quietly showing up for the people around her.

But this episode isn't just about industry.

Over the past year, Nicola has navigated a breast cancer diagnosis, a mastectomy, and the loss of her father — all within months of each other. In this conversation, she talks openly about what that period looked like, how the industry responded, and what it means to keep showing up when life gets heavy.

We also get into her career at Master Builders, what she sees changing across the industry, and why the relationships builders build matter just as much as the structures they put up.

This one is honest, warm, and a reminder that behind every role and every title, there's a person.

What we cover:

• Nicola's breast cancer diagnosis and recovery journey
• Losing her father nine weeks after her diagnosis
• The overwhelming support she received from the construction industry
• Her role at Master Builders Queensland and what it actually involves
• What she sees happening across the building industry right now
• Growing up in Humpty Doo — and working in a beer fridge at 12

Connect with Nicola Scott: Master Builders Queensland — Sunshine Coast Office LinkedIn: Nicola Scott

Thanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.

USE code: GOOD20

T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

The Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/

MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

We talk a lot about housing in this country — supply, affordability, policy, targets. But we don't always talk about who that housing is actually for.

Glenn is the head of Harnessed, a purpose-driven building business operating within the Mazzei Group. 

For over a decade, he and his team have been doing some of the hardest, most meaningful work in Australian construction — delivering inclusive, affordable, and social housing outcomes for people who genuinely need them. Indigenous communities. Domestic violence survivors. People with disability. The ones Az calls the "missing middle."

In this conversation, Glenn breaks down what inclusive housing actually means, why the building is often the easiest part of the problem, and how his business has built a model that is both commercially sustainable and deeply values-driven. We also get into modular construction, key worker housing, the challenges of remote builds, and why wraparound services matter just as much as the roof overhead.

It's a raw, honest, and genuinely moving conversation. One of the most important we've had on this podcast.

If you're a builder, developer, or supplier who wants to get involved — or if you just want to understand where the real pressure points in Australian housing actually are — this one's worth your full attention.

Thanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.

USE code: GOOD20

T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

For more on Harnest: https://harnest.com.au/about/

The Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/

MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

Aaron sits down with Kyle Zanetto, Tasmanian Young Builder of the Year, founder of Future Builder Co, and one of the most genuine voices in the Australian building industry.

Kyle opens up about how he fell into building, what drove him to near-burnout juggling competitive bodybuilding and a struggling construction business, and how that rock bottom moment pushed him to rebuild smarter. They talk about what separates real builder coaches from flashy marketers, how technology is reshaping the trades, and why looking after yourself is the first thing you should do

If you're a builder wanting to grow a better business, and become a better human along the way — this one's for you.

For more on Kyle head to:
https://www.futurebuilder.co/
https://www.zanettobuilders.com.au/

Thanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.

USE code: GOOD20

T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

The Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/

MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

In today's news wrap, Aaron covers four big stories shaping the residential building industry right now. From Lauxes' Greats expanding into gold and brushed nickel finishes, to the staggering 75% of Sydney apartments approved since 2020 that still haven't broken ground — the signals are clear.

Plus, the Green Building Council's 2026 policy priorities and a game-changing flat-pack modular system just approved for a five-storey project in Victoria.

If you build, develop, or trade in construction, this one's worth your time.

Thanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.

USE code: GOOD20

T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

The Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/

MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

If you are not regularly checking the pulse of the market, the market will move without you.

Most builders are flat out on site.

Busy quoting.

Busy managing trades.

Busy solving problems.

But very few are stepping back to ask a simple question:

What is actually happening around me?

In this episode, Aaron walks through a practical “market pulse check” every builder should be doing regularly — not once a year, but consistently.

We break down three key platforms that give you real-time insight into:

• How your business is perceived online
• What competitors are saying and promoting
• What homeowners are genuinely frustrated about
• Where sentiment is shifting in your region

This is not about marketing tactics.

It is about awareness.

Because if you do not understand how the market sees you, someone else will define that narrative for you.

Simple steps.

No hype.

Just practical actions you can implement this week to stay informed and stay relevant.

If you build homes for a living, this episode is your reminder to check the pulse.

Thanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.

USE code: GOOD20

T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

The Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/

MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/