The Enthusiast Lab

Welcome to Episode 83 of The Enthusiast Lab! Grant Jones is back — and we’re picking up right where we left off. In Part 2 of our conversation with the man behind La Vida Homes’ Investment Division, we get into the questions you sent through and dig even deeper into the world of property investment. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there — but if you’re all caught up, settl...

Welcome to Episode 82 of The Enthusiast Lab! In this episode, we sit down with Grant Jones — the man behind La Vida Homes’ Investment Division, LVI. Grant brings decades of experience running businesses, a background in residential sales, and a track record of working alongside some of the world’s top names in business. In 2022 he established LVI, and since then he’s built up a wealth of knowledge...

Welcome to Episode 81 of The Enthusiast Lab! The WA brick shortage is real, it's developing, and there are a lot of questions flying around. So we brought in someone who's right in the thick of it. In this episode, Nik and Julia sit down with Matt from La Vita Homes — one of our most trusted builder partners — for a straight-talking builder's take on what's actually happening,...

Welcome to Episode 80 of The Enthusiast Lab We're back! After two months off air, Nik and Julia sit down to catch up on everything that's happened, and there's a lot of it.  Celebrating 10 years in business and hosting a gala to celebrate, then the scare of their dog Shadow falling seriously ill and needing round the clock emergency care, followed by Nik getting knocked out sick for...

Welcome to Episode 79 of The Enthusiast Lab! If you've been wondering about land — where it's at, what's available, and what the market is actually doing right now — this one's for you. In this episode, Nik and Jules give you a real snapshot of where land availability is sitting at the moment. They go deep on what the current market actually looks like and what to be aware of i...

Welcome to Episode 78 of The Enthusiast Lab! In this episode, we'd like you to meet Will — one of the sales reps here at Mr Enthusiast, and a bloke who knows a thing or two about how a home actually goes together. Before joining the team, Will spent his time on the tools as a carpenter — and that hands-on background is exactly what makes him so valuable to the clients he works with today. We...

Welcome to Episode 77 of The Enthusiast Lab!   The questions kept coming — so we kept answering.   In this episode, Nik and Jules are back for Part 2 of Q&A 6, picking up where they left off and working through even more of your questions from social media.   More building advice, more straight talk, more behind the scenes of how Mr Enthusiast actually works — no scripts, no filters, just hone...

Welcome to Episode 76 of The Enthusiast Lab!  You asked, they answered.  In this episode, Nik and Jules are back for another round of Q&A — working through the questions you’ve been sending in through social media and giving you the straight answers you actually want to hear.  From building advice to behind the scenes of how Mr Enthusiast works, no scripts, no filters — just honest answers fro...

Welcome to Episode 75 of The Enthusiast Lab! In this episode, we'd like you to meet Kim — the newest member of the Mr Enthusiast team, joining us all the way from Adelaide. We sit down with Kim to get to know her as a person first — her life, her background, and what brought her into the world of building. We also chat about her own build with Mr Enthusiast, what that experience was like, and...

Welcome to Episode 74 of The Enthusiast Lab! Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes once your build is underway? In this episode, we introduce you to Aislinn — our Sales Administration superstar and one of the key people making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. We chat about her role, what sales administration actually involves, how she supports both the team and our clients t...

Welcome to Episode 73 of The Enthusiast Lab. Building costs aren’t just the house price — and that’s where a lot of people get caught out. In this episode of The Enthusiast Lab, we break down the six real cost categories involved in building a home and explain why the advertised price can sometimes be a trap. We cover everything from land and siteworks through to prestart selections, government fe...

Welcome to episode 72 of The Enthusiast Lab! In this episode of The Enthusiast Lab, we introduce you to Bianca — our Customer Experience Representative and one of the key people keeping everything (and everyone) on track at Mr Enthusiast. We chat about her role, what she actually does day-to-day, how she supports our clients throughout their building journey, and a bit about who she is outside of...

Welcome to Episode 71 of The Enthusiast Lab! What does 2026 actually look like for home builders? No hype. No scare tactics. Just the facts. In this episode, we break down the real market conditions heading into 2026 — from land availability and build costs to construction timelines and buyer demand. There’s plenty of noise out there right now. Headlines, opinions, predictions. But what are we act...

Welcome to episode 70 of The Enthusiast Lab! We’re back! After a few months off the mic, The Enthusiast Lab is firing back up — and we’ve got a lot to catch up on. In this episode, Nik and Julia sit down to talk about what’s changed (and what hasn’t) since our last drop. Spoiler alert: land is still scarce , prices are still shifting, and it’s more important than ever to know what you’re walking i...

Welcome to our sixth Special Guest Episode of The Enthusiast Lab! In Special Guest episodes we interview someone who is either building or have built a home and discuss their build journey. From first impressions to overall experience, we deep dive into what it feels like to build a home straight from the client’s point of view.    In today’s episode our special guest is Cory Dumbrell, who is a Mr...

Welcome to Episode 69 of The Enthusiast Lab! In this episode, we’re back with Maddison from Oui Finance — our trusted finance partner — for a deeper look at the real role of your broker and how much work goes into getting your loan over the line. If you’re planning to build and want to know what Maddie does, how she helps clients navigate the finance maze, and what you can expect when you work wit...

Welcome to Episode 68 of the Enthusiast Lab! Big changes are coming for first home buyers in Australia — and they kick off October 1st. In this episode of The Enthusiast Lab, we’re joined by Maddison from Oui Finance — our go-to mortgage broker — to unpack the new First Home Buyers Guarantee rolling out nationwide. This new scheme could be a game-changer for buyers who are ready to build but strug...

Welcome to Episode 67 of The Enthusiast Lab! In this episode, Nik and Julia jump into a no-filter Q&A, answering real questions sent in by our Instagram community. We streamed part of it live on Instagram — but this is the full, "uncut" version. From common build concerns to client-specific scenarios, budgeting questions and questions about interstate building, there's plenty of...

Imagine building your dream home… and loving the process so much you do it again. And again. Welcome to episode 67 of The Enthusiast Lab!  In this episode we sit down with Khyra and Andy, a couple who’ve now built three homes with Mr Enthusiast — and are already wrapping up their latest one as this episode goes live. They share their full journey — from the first build to where they are now — and...

Thinking about jumping into the world of building broking or new home sales? This one’s for you. In this episode, the team shares what it’s really like starting out in the industry — the challenges, the lessons, and the things they wish they knew on day one. Whether you're just curious about the role or already taking your first steps, you’ll hear straight-up, practical tips to help you grow...

Welcome to episode 65 of The Enthusiast Lab!  What if one of the most unique builders in WA wasn’t even advertising? In this episode of The Enthusiast Lab , we sit down with Daniel from Move Homes — a builder that doesn’t market to the public, doesn’t rely on walk-ins, and yet consistently delivers top-tier homes across Perth. We talk about what makes them so different, why we partnered up in 2025...

Welcome to episode 65 of The Enthusiast Lab!  What if one of the most unique builders in WA wasn’t even advertising? In this episode of The Enthusiast Lab , we sit down with Daniel from Move Homes — a builder that doesn’t market to the public, doesn’t rely on walk-ins, and yet consistently delivers top-tier homes across Perth. We talk about what makes them so different, why we partnered up in 2025...

Welcome to episode 64 of The Enthusiast Lab ! In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the biggest questions we get asked:   “Where should I be looking to build in 2025?” We talk through real suburbs where we’re currently building, what’s still available, and how your budget impacts where you can (and can’t) go. From coastal builds to custom homes in the hills, we share what’s working, what’s getti...

Welcome to our Eleventh Special Guest Episode of The Enthusiast Lab! In Special Guest episodes we interview someone who is either building or have built a home and discuss their build journey. From first impressions to overall experience, we deep dive into what it feels like to build a home straight from the client’s point of view.  In today’s episode our special guest is Riley Day, who is a Mr En...

Welcome back to The Enthusiast Lab ! 🎙️ We’re taking it back to where it all began — but with a fresh 2025 twist. In this revamped take on our very first episode, we dive into the essential money matters you need to know before starting your build journey. From understanding different types of employment, to realistic timeframes, managing debt, loans, savings, and more — this episode is your go-to...