Building Design, Prime Time

Most homeowners will spend weeks agonising over kitchen benchtops and splashbacks, but only about ten minutes thinking about their windows. That's a costly oversight, because windows are the single weakest thermal point in your entire home, and getting them wrong can mean sweltering summers, icy winters, and heating bills that blow out for decades. In this episode, Frank and Amelia unpack wha...

It's one of the most expensive decisions in your home, and most people make it in a panic. Your hot water system dies. The plumber asks what you want. You say "just replace the old one." And just like that, you've locked in years of unnecessarily high power bills without a second thought. In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Frank Geskus and Amelia sit do...

The price looked amazing online. The photos looked even better. But before you hand over a cent for a kit home, there's a lot Frank and Amelia need to tell you first. In Part 2 of their kit homes series, Frank Geskus and host Amelia pull back the curtain on the traps, hidden costs, and hard-won lessons that most people only discover once it's too late. Frank shares real stories from the...

Thinking about building a kit home? Before you fall for that eye-catching starting price online, there's a lot more to understand than most people realise, and Frank and Amelia are here to cut through the noise. In this first of a two-part series on kit homes, building designer Frank Geskus joins host Amelia to break down what a kit home actually is (and what it absolutely isn't). From m...

 The Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, hosted by Amelia and Frank Geskus, explains why "just getting plans drawn up" is a significant misconception,  construction documents involve far more than drawings, including site investigations, soil tests, surveys, bushfire assessments, and planning compliance.  Frank and Amelia answer the questions nobody thinks to ask until it's too lat...

If you’re planning a renovation or home extension and wondering whether you can survive living through the chaos, this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast is a must-listen. Amelia and Frank dive into the real, unfiltered experience of renovating while still living in your home, from dust, noise, and tradies arriving at sunrise, to decision fatigue, budget blowouts, and the emotional...

Ever wondered why you can’t start building even after you’ve “got your permit”? This episode unpacks one of the most confusing parts of the building process—planning permits vs building permits, and why misunderstanding the difference can cost you serious time and money. Amelia and Frank break it down in a simple, no-jargon way, explaining how planning approval is all about what you’re allowed to...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank dive into a topic that many homeowners rarely think about, the hidden contaminants that can exist in homes, particularly when renovating or extending older properties. If you're planning a renovation, extension, or even a simple demolition project, there could be hidden contaminants that impact your health, your time...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank tackle a surprisingly common mistake homeowners make spending money on features that don’t actually add value to their home. From luxury upgrades to bold design choices, it’s easy to assume that investing more money into your home will automatically increase its resale price. But is that really the case? Frank shares real...

You drive past your new home, expecting progress, and yet, nothing seems to be happening. No trades on site, no deliveries, no visible change. What’s going on? In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Frank Geskus and Amelia Roach take you behind the scenes to uncover the real reasons a build can stall, and why so much of the work isn’t immediately visible. From scheduling confl...

Building your first home should be exciting…but it’s also where the most expensive mistakes happen. In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank unpack the real-world errors they see first home buyers make again and again, and why they can cost far more than you expect. From choosing looks over functionality to underestimating hidden costs, this episode pulls back t...

Are homes today actually better than they were 25 years ago? or just more complicated? In this episode, Frank and Amelia unpack the real impact of modern building regulations and what they mean for homeowners, builders, and anyone planning to build or renovate. From bushfire compliance and thermal performance to condensation risks and accessibility standards, this is a raw, honest look at how the...

Ever wondered why your building project suddenly hits delays, unexpected costs, or confusing requests from councils and authorities? In this episode of The Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank unpack one of the most misunderstood, yet critical, parts of the building process: RFIs (Requests for More Information). While RFIs might sound boring, they can have massive impacts on timel...

When is a building project actually finished? Most people would say when the keys are handed over, the final payment is made, and you’ve moved in. But legally and financially the answer is very different. In this eye-opening episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank unpack one of the most misunderstood and costly aspects of building, renovating, and extending: legal comp...

Cost Estimates vs Final Build Costs – What You Really Need to Know Before You Build Why do so many building projects blow their budget? Why does the “estimate” you were given at the start look nothing like the final cost at the end? And how can you protect yourself from nasty surprises when you’re investing hundreds of thousands of dollars into a new build or renovation? In this episode of the Bui...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia and Frank dive deep into one of the most misunderstood (and stress-inducing) parts of building and renovating: variations. If you’re planning a new home, renovation, or extension, this is a must-listen episode that could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of frustration. Frank breaks down exactly what a variation is, why they...

Kicking off 2026 with a bang, hosts Amelia and Frank Geskus return to the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast to tackle one of the most overlooked, yet most critical parts of any construction project: budgeting for the unexpected. Whether you’re dreaming of a brand-new home or planning an extension, surprises lurk beneath every slab and behind every wall. From hidden rocks and rogue plumbing to su...

Why does building or renovating feel so risky right now? If you’ve been thinking about starting a new build or extension but feel unsure, hesitant, or overwhelmed, this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast is for you. In this final episode for 2025, Amelia and Frank unpack why confidence in the building process has shifted over recent years. From rapidly rising construction costs and...

In this engaging episode of the Building Design, Prime Time podcast, hosts Amelia and Frank Geskus dive deep into one of the biggest questions facing property investors today, should you renovate an existing home or build a new one? With their signature mix of expertise and down-to-earth conversation, they unpack the pros, cons, and hidden traps of both approaches, offering invaluable insights for...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Frank and Amelia sit down with Sophie from Harrington Road to explore the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of downsizing, transitioning into aged care, or managing a deceased estate. Sophie shares how her team supports clients through every step of the process, from assessing human needs and property potential, to guiding fa...

Designing your dream home is exciting, but designing it on a rural block? That’s a whole new adventure. In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Amelia steps into the client’s chair as she and Frank unpack the real, unfiltered process of creating a home from the ground up as Amelia navigates going through the process of getting the first floorplan concept for her new home. From...

Are you looking to make your home more comfortable, efficient, and safe, but aren’t sure where to start? In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Trime Podcast, Frank and Amelia dive deep into the world of retrofitting and home upgrades, sharing practical insights for homeowners who want to improve their existing spaces without breaking the bank. From choosing the right insulation and roof ve...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time podcast, Amelia and Frank pull back the curtain on one of the biggest challenges in Australia’s building and design industry, the lack of communication and consistency between systems, departments, and even states. Following on from their previous podcast discussion about the five key systems involved in every building project, they dive deeper in...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Frank and Amelia pull back the curtain on one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry, that building designers just “draw plans.” They reveal the hidden complexity behind every project, explaining how designers must navigate five parallel systems  planning, building, site and infrastructure, technical disciplines, and title/legal im...

In this episode of the Building Design, Prime Time Podcast, Frank and Amelia diving into the world of landscape design with expert landscaper Andrew Nicholson. From passive solar planning to creating functional outdoor spaces, Andrew shares insights into how smart design can make your garden not only beautiful but practical all year round. They explore the tricky balance of managing sunlight, wind...