The MTDC Lounge

A big battery and a good sales pitch don’t tell you whether a solar system is right for your home. Matt chats with Jason and Tim from Source Energy Group about the decisions behind a solar and battery installation: understanding your power bill, matching the system to your household, checking the installer and knowing who will help after installation. They also discuss backup power, finance, rebat...

Before you flatten the block, build a retaining wall or buy another trolley of plants, ask one question: what do you actually want this space to do? Matt sits down with Kairos Jones from PARC Concepts to unpack landscaping decisions that can cost money without creating a better outdoor lifestyle. From awkward terraces and lawns that still need mowing to choosing plants for your soil, privacy and t...

You’ve got room in the backyard. But should you build a granny flat or a studio? Matt and Mitch break down the differences, the costs beyond construction, and why the intended use needs to guide the design and approval process. They also explore how to create comfortable small spaces without sacrificing your entire backyard—and share a cautionary story about a project that ended up being built twi...

Building a new home is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming when you don’t know what questions to ask. In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt is joined by Kerri-Ann from Carnelian Projects to explain what homeowners should look for in tenders, building contracts and display builder packages. They talk about the hidden costs that can sit outside the headline price, why “fixed” prices can st...

A pool sounds simple until you start asking the real questions. Where will the fence go? How will the pool connect to the house? Do you need retaining walls? Where does the water drain? Is the ground suitable? Has the pool been approved before it gets delivered? Who is doing the surrounds, deck or pool house? In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt and Mitch explain why proper planning, surveys,...

Thinking about adding a pool, spa, deck or cabana? This episode of The MTDC Lounge is a practical Q&A for homeowners trying to understand why simple ideas can quickly become more complicated once design, compliance and approvals are involved. Matt and Mitch also talk about what makes a good building designer, why designers need to show clients why something does or doesn’t work, and why the be...

When you’re building on a small block, every millimetre matters. In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt and Mitch look at the viral Sunshine Coast A Current Affair story where two homes ended up with gutters almost touching. They discuss how this kind of situation can happen, what checks should be happening along the way, and why building envelopes, private open space, setbacks, zero-lot rules...

A renovation shortcut might feel cheaper at the start, but it can become devastating when council, certifiers, engineers or future buyers start asking questions. In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt and Mitch explain why unapproved works are such a serious issue for homeowners. They cover garage conversions, illegal granny flats, Building Information Certificates, title insurance, building an...

Building a home is expensive, slow and heavily dependent on trades, materials and site conditions. In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt is joined by Nick Holden from Contour 3D to explore whether 3D printed construction could help solve some of those problems. Nick explains how the technology works, what the printed material is made from, how services are handled, what the approval process lo...

Thinking about building a dual occupancy, developing your block, or buying a site with “potential”? In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt is joined by Karl Hellyar from Hellyar Design + Construct to unpack the practical side of dual occupancy development. They talk about how to assess a site properly, what costs often get missed, why approvals and certificates matter, and why a builder should...

If your home is too hot in summer, too cold in winter, or constantly relying on air conditioning to feel liveable, the issue may not be the appliances, it may be the way the home performs. In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt is joined by Gio Comacchio to explain PassivHaus principles and how they can help create healthier, more efficient and more comfortable homes. They cover insulation, win...

Interior design is not just about picking pretty colours. In this episode, Matt chats with Brooke Farrell from Hunter Interior Design about the real role of an interior designer in a renovation or new build. They unpack how good design starts early, why selections need to be made as part of a bigger plan, how designers work with builders on site, and why the best homes balance budget, function, du...

In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt and Mitch break down what homeowners need to know when designing on a small block, especially when that block is also on a corner. They talk through the real-world challenges of working with setbacks, front boundaries, secondary side setbacks, rear setbacks, council rules, DA versus CDC pathways, and what happens when a design needs to be justified through...

In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt chats with Emma Blomfield , experienced interior designer, author and founder of EB Studio , about why interior design should be part of the planning process early, not left until the builder is already on site. Emma shares how homeowners can avoid costly design mistakes by thinking through floor plans, proportions, furniture, finishes, materials, lighting...

There is a lot of noise in the property market right now. In this episode, Matt chats with James Callinan from JLH Property Consultants and Garry from Coast Financial Group about what buyers actually need to know; from CGT and negative gearing uncertainty to borrowing capacity, interest rates, pre-approvals and the way buyer confidence has shifted. If you’re looking to buy, renovate, invest or ref...

In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt and Mitch break down what homeowners need to know before buying, renovating or building on a sloped block. They talk through the hidden challenges that can come with difficult sites, including driveway gradients, drainage, cut and fill, retaining walls, rock, mine subsidence, land slip, building height limits, surveys, soil reports and unexpected variation...

Buying your dream home straight away sounds great — until the repayments, holding costs and lifestyle pressure kick in. In this episode, Matt chats with Eddie Urra from Marvel Invest about a different way to think about property: rentvesting, buying for cash flow, using equity wisely, and choosing investments that can help you build towards the dream home later. They cover first home buyer pressur...

In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt and Bree sit down to talk about one of the hardest parts of home design: knowing what you want when you don’t actually know what you want. They unpack how good design starts with the way you live every day, from where the school bags land, how you bring groceries in, where the kids sleep, how the home flows, where the sunlight comes in, and which spaces ar...

In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt sits down with Luke Ferguson from FairGo Building Consultants to unpack what homeowners need to know when building work goes wrong. Luke shares his experience as a builder, former Fair Trading building inspector, and building consultant to explain how defects, disputes, rectification orders, HBCF, waterproofing issues and building contracts can affect home...

Before you buy a property, there are a lot of things you might not see at the open home. In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt is joined by James Callinan from JLH Property Consultants to unpack the role of a buyer’s agent and why the right advice before purchase can save buyers stress, time and money. From market research and negotiation to flood checks, mine subsidence, zoning, bushfire, gra...

In this episode of The MTDC Lounge , Matt is joined by Greg Townend from Nastasi Consulting Group to talk through the hidden site issues that can catch homeowners out, including incorrect fence lines, boundary encroachments, easements, setback issues, sewer lines, retaining walls and limited titles. It’s a practical conversation for anyone who wants to avoid delays, redesigns, neighbour disputes o...

Most homeowners think a survey is just a box you tick before design. In this episode, Matt sits down with Mark Scanlon (Parker Scanlon), a veteran registered surveyor, to explain why surveying is the foundation of every good project, and how skipping the right survey (or using the wrong level of surveyor) is how people end up with boundary disputes, redesigns, delays, and expensive “we can’t build...

Think a survey is just another box to tick? In this episode of the MTDC Lounge, Matt and Mitch break down why a proper survey can save homeowners from costly mistakes, approval dramas, boundary issues and major construction delays. They unpack the different types of surveys, share real project horror stories, and explain why getting the right info early can save you a heap of time, stress and mone...

The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and may not cover everything relevant to your property, site constraints, or approval pathway. For advice specific to your situation, it’s best to contact Sam directly .Bushfire impact is one of the most common “late-game” project killers, the thing that forces costly redesigns, delays, or outright knock-backs. In this episode, Matt si...

In this episode, Matt and Mitch unpack why a rear duplex behind an existing dwelling dragged out for ~3.5 years : battle-axe limitations, a steep/sloping block, orientation and solar access problems, privacy/overlooking concerns, turning circles and access constraints, and importantly, how this delay can be completely avoided with better pre-planning. MT Design Collective – Free consultation: http...