Get It Right with Undercover Architect

This is Episode 200. Can you believe it? Sometimes I pinch myself that I’m here, that you’re here, that we’re on this journey together and it’s now 200 episodes in and almost 4.5 years old.  And so, in this episode, I want to celebrate this journey with you. Consider this my very sincere and possibly corny, love letter to you, my gorgeous podcast listener.  And, perhaps I’m showing my age, but in a nod to Heath Ledger, I’ve titled this podcast “10 Things I Love About You” as a listener of the Get it Right podcast.  (Anyone remember the movie “10 Things I Hate About You”? I think it’s on Netflix if, like me, you enjoyed that genre of movies!) I’m also going to share some personal info about my own renovation project, as my hubby and I are starting the process of renovating our own family home.  And remember, you can grab a full transcript of THIS episode as a free PDF download by heading to https://undercoverarchitect.com/200, so be sure to do that so you can review this episode as needed. So, 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. I know I can promise you that it will be all worth it. And I believe you totally have it in you to make this happen.  It may not be easy. It may be challenging at times.  You may need to have tough conversations, hear tough feedback, change tack, or pivot on your ideas and plans.  Things may get in the way. You may not progress as fast as you would like.  You may make mistakes, get frustrated with the performance of those you’re working with, or frustrated with your own performance.  You may feel uncomfortable, slow, even silly or stupid. You may feel like it’s not worth it. You may want to chuck it all in, and sell up everything and hit the road in a caravan for a year. You may want to win the lottery and just pay for someone to take care of all of it for you.  At any point, or at all the points, you may feel annoyed with your partner, with those you’re working with, with yourself. Anything that involves this much money, and this much time and effort … these feelings are inevitable. They will and can exist in small doses at different points in your project.  Please know, if they’re the constant experience, however, then you need more support and help - so look for where you can access that. Because you can and should enjoy your project. It shouldn’t be a stress-filled, difficult experience from start to finish. It can have its moments and ups and downs, but it should still, on the whole, be enjoyable. However, when something matters this much, and has this much meaning in your life, and in your long term future with your family - plus it’s something you don’t have any or much experience in - you can feel these challenging things. When you get it right though: when you access the support and guidance you need, when you get clear on your goals and create a great team who is on the same page, with a passion for helping you achieve those goals, and you know what you need to know (or have somewhere to turn to get that help), then this is definitely true: The journey will be so SO worth it - as will the home you create as well. I know it will.  From my 25 plus years of doing this, with all the projects I’ve worked on and all the beautiful people I’ve had the privilege of working with, I know this to be true for you too. So listen to my somewhat corny but very sincere love letter to you.  Episode 200 feels like a big milestone, and it’s great to be able to have a conversation with you like this one, so I do hope you find it really helpful too.  Listen now. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/200 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Episode #199. In this episode, I’m continuing on with information about what to consider if you’re planning on supplying your own fixtures, finishes and fittings when constructing your renovation or new build, and excluding them from your contract with your builder. This is Part 2 of this topic. So if you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, it’ll make a lot more sense if you go back to Episode 198 and listen to it first (https://undercoverarchitect.com/198).  Then you can come back, and listen to this episode - it will be waiting here for you. And remember, you can grab a full transcript of THIS episode as a free PDF download by heading to https://undercoverarchitect.com/199, so be sure to do that so you can review this episode as needed. So, 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. In the last episode, I went through the first two of the five main reasons I hear both homeowners and builders use to explain why it’s a good idea to source and supply your own fixtures, fittings and finishes in your project. These reasons I described are: Being able to get exactly what you want in your home, because you choose and buy it from the places and people you want to. Not having to pay for the builder to shop for you, and generally avoiding paying the builder’s margin. And in this episode, I’ll be taking you through the remaining three main reasons I hear discussed by both homeowners and builders. They are: Knowing that the items you want are in stock and available. Being able to start on site sooner rather than later. Purchase things on sale or discontinued / end-of-line items and save serious money. In this episode, I also want to spend a little time highlighting specific areas of your contract to be aware of, especially during times when (as it is at the time of recording this episode), we’re experiencing time and cost pressures in home building and renovating projects.  RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/199 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode #198, and I’m diving into the topic of supplying your own fixtures and finishes for your renovation or building project. Many homeowners seek to save money in their building project by extracting specific supplied items from the building contract. They organise to do this with their builder, and sign a contract that doesn’t include these items.  This means they (as the homeowner) then go and personally shop for, purchase and supply, all or various fixtures and fittings for their reno or new build. And at the time of recording this episode, where we’re dealing with huge demands on products, materials, trades and sub-contractors, there are builders actually recommending to homeowners that they take care of their own supply items when signing their contract. And remember, you can grab a full transcript of this episode as a free PDF download by heading to https://undercoverarchitect.com/198, so be sure to do that so you can review this episode as needed. 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. In Episode 198, I share the main reasons I hear both homeowners AND builders cite to pull the supply of fixtures, fittings and finishes out of the building contract, and make them the responsibility of the homeowner to source, purchase and supply. Listen to the episode, as I take you through the whole issue of supplying fixtures and finishes, discuss the much-held belief that you’ll save money on not getting the builder to shop for you, and that you’ll also get to avoid a builder’s margin by paying for things yourself. I’ll be doing this topic over two episodes, because it’s quite a lot of subject matter, and I want to do it justice. So, this is Part 1 of this conversation. And be sure to tune into the next episode to listen to Part 2 (Episode 199). RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/198 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Episode #197, and in it, I’ll be talking about using a Design Construct Builder or Company for your new home or renovation.  Design Construct builders or companies can seem like a great way to manage cost and still get a custom design approach inside a one-stop shop, with a single point of contact.  However there are a range of reasons why it may not work for your project, and where it can be problematic. And remember, you can grab a full transcript of this episode as a free PDF download by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/197, so be sure to do that so you can review this episode as needed. 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 on 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. In this Episode 197, I share some key things to establish before working with a Design Construct Builder or Company. These key things can include, but are not limited to: How long will the design phase go for? How many reviews are included? What type of agreement are you signing to commission the design phase? Who owns the products of this design phase? What will this phase cost in fees? How will budgetary information be provided during the design phase? What assumptions are being made in that budgetary information? What other steps will be taken in this design phase? Listen to the podcast now as I take you through these considerations, plus loads more help, when it comes to choosing a Design Construct Builder or Company for your new home or renovation project. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/197 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode #196, and in it, I’m going to share with you how to create a comprehensive and effective design brief for your renovation or building project. This is something EVERYONE needs to do - whether they’re renovating or building new - and so, it’s worthwhile learning what to include, and the kinds of things to think about, plus specific topics to discuss with anyone else you’re doing your project with. And good news: you can grab a full transcript of this podcast episode as a PDF download by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/196 so be sure to do that, and use it as a guide for creating your design brief. So, let’s dive straight 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. Your design brief is a really critical part of planning your renovation or building project. And creating one can be a misunderstood process. I’ve seen such a range of how these get done, and how homeowners create them.  And I’ve also seen big challenges because designers don’t always do a good job of extracting the right information from a homeowner before they start their project. This means they can miss things and waste time in the design process, because the design brief wasn’t established properly upfront. I’ll talk more about this and other mistakes that get made with design briefs as we move through this episode. This is the thing: it’s not only that creating a design brief is a necessary step in your project. It’s also that the actual exercise of creating one, is an important process for you to go through in your project planning.  Creating a design brief forces you to think about, and write down, specific things that will make your project goals more clear, and then enable you to communicate the most important parts of your project with others.  And this will set you up for success as you navigate choosing your team, moving through the design phase, and being sure your design is actually delivering on the things you want in your future home. Creating a design brief is something I get a lot of questions about, so I thought I’d use this episode to take you through the things to ponder for your project, so you can get started on creating your own design brief. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/196 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 195 of the Get it Right podcast. In this episode, we’ll be talking about the stories we tell ourselves that may sabotage our renovation or new build project. I’ll be bringing you a special guest who has bucketloads of experience in helping people bust their stories wide open. Her name is Lisa Corduff, and she’s got a huge amount of wisdom to share that I know is going to be amazing for you. Her work is something I’ve had personal experience in. And in the work I do with homeowners all over Australia, and around the world - both male and female - I know it’s going to be relevant for you too.  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. Let me share a little about Lisa Corduff, but not too much, as you’ll hear here share more of her story in our conversation in this episode. Lisa helps women upgrade their mindset, get unstuck, and change the stuff that’s not working in their life.  A solo mum of 3, she’s all about skipping straight to the hacks and techniques that actually work, while avoiding the perfectionism and overwhelm that can so easily keep us trapped.  Like it or not, we have these embedded beliefs and versions of reality we carry around in our behaviour, habits and thought-patterns, that can impact how we navigate our projects, the types of homes we create, and how well the whole journey goes for us as well. And once you’re aware of these beliefs, these stories - well, it’s seriously powerful for changing your experience, creating different opportunities, and also showing up as a truer version of yourself (which actually then enables you to create a home that really works for you). LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/lisa Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 194 of the Get it Right podcast. In this episode, I’ll be covering the kick-off stage of your project.  This is where you’re past the ideas stage, and know you want to get going, but you’re not sure about who to hire or next steps, and who you should speak to first.  We’ll be covering the mistakes to avoid, the key ways to get it right in this stage, and an action step for you to make great progress in the right direction. 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. Well, in this episode, our 194th episode, I want to take you through something that will not only help you in your project, but in lots of other areas in your life as well.  And it’s something I learned many, many years ago, and I still use to this day.  What is it? Well, it’s a really powerful communication model, and it’s super simple to remember and use. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/194 Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 193 of the Get it Right podcast. In this episode, I’m talking about those of you, who have got your plans locked and loaded, and it's now time to sign contracts with a builder and hit go! Before you choose your builder and before you start construction, listen to this episode. So, 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, including the transcripts of this season (all packaged in a downloadable PDF E-Guide). Getting ready to sign a building contract and start construction is an exciting point in your project, because it means everything is about to become real. All the planning, preparing and decision-making you’ve been doing, is about to turn into real floors, walls and roof on your site.  However, it’s also the point at which you’ll be legally bound to someone, plus handing over loads of money on a regular basis.  Homeowners can get it so wrong at this stage. From stress and frustration, right through to half-finished homes and bankrupt builders, the risks at this stage are high.  It is possible to enjoy this stage though, and to get yourself prepared and informed so you can be actively involved in, and confident through your construction phase.  LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-before-you-start-construction Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 192 of the Get it Right podcast. In this episode, I’ll be talking about being stuck. That frustrating feeling when you’re in the midst of your project, and you’re just finding it super hard to take any action. You’re paralysed. Unable to move forward.  It may be because you have a design you don’t love, and you’re not sure what to do now. Or you may have a design you DO love, but it’s totally over your budget, and you’re not sure what steps to take next.  Or perhaps it’s to do with a professional you’re working with, a selection you have to make, or one of the many other things involved in making your reno or new home happen. You just can’t take the next step. You’re stuck. 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, including the transcripts of this season (all packaged in a downloadable PDF E-Guide). This episode will also help with any other kind of stuckness you’re experiencing in your project. Basically that inability to make the necessary decision to move to the next stage of your project, and continue moving on your project plan. Being stuck is not great. There can be big reasons like signing off your design, choosing a team member or submitting to council, right through to small reasons, like the inability to decide on a tap or showerhead. And everything in between. That general feeling of stuckness which can come at all steps of the process, and either be something about your own situation or it can be forced upon you by a poorly performing professional or builder.  And being stuck is unfortunately super common. People can get stuck for years sometimes. I receive many emails from homeowners who are stuck, wanting help - hence why this episode is being created! Because I’ve seen this is actually a stage in many homeowners’ project journeys, so it warrants its own episode and the opportunity for me to give my suggestions here.  And in fact, knowing what happens when you get stuck, how to get out of it, and what it looks like, can often help you avoid getting stuck in the first place. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-get-unstuck-designing-building-renovatingAccess my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 191 of the Get it Right podcast. In this episode, I’ll be talking about those who are working with someone right now on your home design, exploring all the options, reviewing sketches of floor plans being presented to you, and you’re loving all the possibilities and ideas.  If you’re working with an architect or a building designer, or who are planning to, this episode will show you what you need to consider to maximise that relationship, and really get a great outcome not only for your future home, but also in the experience you have in your project.  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, including the transcripts of this season (all packaged in a downloadable PDF E-Guide). Many homeowners get confused about how much they need a designer for, and what will add value to their project experience, and the home they create. Especially when they’re trying to juggle their budget, and determine what they’ll spend in fees vs what they’ll keep aside for the construction phase.  My perspective on this is that, for any money you spend on professional fees with ANY consultant you’re using in your project, the value they add and the money they save you should dramatically outweigh the cost of their fees.  When projects go well, that’s the feedback homeowners give. That it was SO worth it to have those people on their team and that the expertise they added and mistakes they helped them avoid far exceeded the cost of their fees. Of course, I know not everyone wants to use an architect, and an architect is not the only designer who will work with homeowners on their renovation and building plans. Of course, we also have building designers, and interior designers as well.  I’m very clear about the fact that it’s not about you only using an architect - because, as with any industry, there are those that are great at their job, and those that aren’t, but still can hang a shingle and charge people for their work.  I’m passionate about you choosing the best fit for your project, and finding the right designer for you, and then having the ability to check that they’re taking care of you and providing you with quality guidance and professional advice.  There is a perception that an architect is the most expensive design professional to use, but that’s not always the case. There is also a perception that architects only do high-end homes, and you use other designers for everything else. This is also not the case. So, it’s always worthwhile doing your research, dropping some of those preconceptions you have about any of the designer roles in the industry, and finding who’s going to be right for you. I’ll mention more about these different industry roles as we dive a little further into the podcast.  LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW. RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: For links and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/podcast-home-design-architect-building-designer Access my free “Your Project Plan” online workshop and awesome bonuses now >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/projectplanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.