Choosing the Right Team for Your Renovation, with Louise + Zane

Mar 17, 2025

Join Louise and Zane as they share insights from their renovating adventure, tackling the essential task of assembling the right team. They discuss their meticulous selection process for architects and builders, highlighting the importance of rapport and past experiences. Discover how they fostered open communication and collaboration with their professionals, and learn about creative strategies to achieve design goals without breaking the bank. Their unique approach to managing budget and expectations offers invaluable lessons for anyone considering a renovation.

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ANECDOTE

Lengthy, Intentional Team Selection

Zane described a two-to-three month selection process meeting many architects and builders to find mindset fit and collaboration chemistry.
They prioritized rapport and complementary team roles over pure portfolio credentials.

ADVICE

Hire Curious, Collaborative Professionals

Do assess whether professionals are curious and open to working with new team members before hiring them.
Favor collaborators who proactively suggest meeting each other and checking alignment.

INSIGHT

New Pairings Can Produce Positive Tension

Choosing architect and builder who haven't worked together can create productive professional tension if mutual respect exists.
That tension can push better design outcomes when the project remains the central focus.

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Hello! This is Episode 354, and in it, we’re getting an update from HOME Method members, Louise and Zane, about their renovation project.

If you’re curious about what the early parts of a project experience are like as you choose your team and commence work with them, this is going to be super helpful information for you.

[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/354]

As with Ben that we had on the podcast over the last couple of weeks, Louise and Zane are also renovating and extending a Californian Bungalow in Melbourne.

And, when we chatted to them back in Episodes 317 and 318, we heard about the early preparation they were doing before choosing their team and commencing their project.

(If you haven’t heard the first part of Zane and Louise’s project journey, head to Episodes 317 and 318 to learn more about where this project begins. The episodes and transcripts are at www.undercoverarchitect.com/317 and www.undercoverarchitect.com/318).

In this update, Louise and Zane talk with me about how things have been going since they assembled their team together. They’re using the PAC Process, or Paid As Consultant Process, with their team. So the builder is involved during pre-construction, advising on cost and buildability, plus also assisting in pre-construction investigation work for the site and existing home.

Their selected builder and architect haven’t worked together previously, and sometimes that can be a concern for clients, as they worry whether the collaboration will work well when those two professionals are getting to know each other and work together for the first time.

We discuss this in more detail, and we also talk about the selection process itself (which took 2 to 3 months to do), and how the Brief Builder template they accessed inside HOME Method was super helpful in formulating a brief and communication document they could share during this process.

Louise and Zane share some great insights about how they’ve set up their project communications, how they’re talking with their team to iron out assumptions and ensure their wishes and wants are understood, and what they’re doing to stay true to their design goals whilst managing their budget.

And if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, you can find it as well as the other resources I mention, by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/354.

Now, let’s dive in!

SHOW NOTES:

If you’re struggling with understanding the overall steps for your project, what you should be focussing on and when, or how to best invest your efforts, energy and money to get a great outcome in your future home, I’ve created something super helpful for you.

Access my free online workshop “Your Project Plan” now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan

This free workshop will really help you understand the best steps to take wherever you’re at in your project, and how you can avoid some serious and expensive mistakes.

Plus, I’ll share with you what to focus on and when, so you know you’re getting everything in order for a successful project and beautiful home. And you’ll get access to some great bonuses as well.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:

For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/354

Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplan

Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/

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