Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Request your free E-Guide “The  Narrow  Block” which includes a transcript of this podcast >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/narrowblock Do you have a narrow block? And do you know how to design your new home or renovation to make the most of it?  When I refer to ‘narrow’ blocks, I mean anything that is 10m or less wide.   For...

Grab the bonus free download for this episode, which includes a transcript and worksheet for you to get it right on your corner block >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/cornerblock Do you have a corner block? And do you know how to design your new home or renovation to make the most of it?  There can be a range of attitudes and feelings about...

This upcoming podcast season will be all about designing for difficult sites. For the non-standard, non-normal, tricky sites. A cookie cutter approach doesn’t work when your land, block size and shape is different.  When you’re renovating or building, you have a unique opportunity to create a home that suits your block of land. That makes the most of its assets, minimize...

There are 3 secrets I see homeowners keep when planning and carrying out their home renovation or building projects.  These things are almost unspoken. It’s only been in digging, asking questions, and listening loads, that I’ve seen these things aren’t a one-off – but happen really regularly for many, many homeowners.   These secrets ...

MY FREE 7 DAY CHALLENGE IS STARTING NOW! HEAD TO  www.undercoverarchitect.com/7daychallenge   Want to  feel and  sound like you know what you’re talking about when you build or renovate your home?    And avoid being a newbie, feeling like you have a target on your forehead, waiting to be ripped off or taken advantage of?   A recent report by Ernst...

Do you know what the most underestimated mistake is when building or renovating your home?   Listen to the podcast to learn the renovating and building mistakes to avoid, and how to save your sanity and stress less when renovating or building.  There’s a thing I see happen for many homeowners when embarking on, and executing their reno or new build. And it’s this: T...

Do you know how to ask for what you want in your renovation or building project? And be sure you’re getting what you paid for?  One of the most frequently asked questions, or challenges that homeowners share with me is  “I have no idea where to start”.   Also, many homeowners tell me also that there are 3 big fears or areas of concern around renovating an...

Hello! And welcome to 2018 and the first episode this year on the "Get it Right" podcast. And the first episode of Season 5: Mistakes Many Make.  Is renovating or building your home on your agenda for this year?    Well, you know Undercover Architect is packed full of useful information so you can get it right. And what's in store this year is no exception. I have some fan...

In this episode, I wrap up 2017 on the “Get it Right” podcast, and share what’s coming up in 2018.  I thought it would be worthwhile, so if there’s anything you want to go back and revisit or refresh, this can act as a reference and an index for you.   There’s a LOT of information, ideas and inspiration that gets put out each year in Undercover Arc...

I get LOADS of questions … some on the blog, some via email, some on social media and lots and lots inside my online courses.   I find inside my online programs that with everyone in a community, asking questions (and getting my answers), it’s incredibly useful in everyone learning far more collectively than they would 1:1. It’s amazing.  And I also regu...

How do you  get started on planning  a renovation or building project?   And how do you avoid procrastinating for so long that you never actually get started?  I love this quote by Christopher Parker ...  “Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of fun until you get the bill.”    We can, and often do, dress up procrastination...

Trying to make the decision whether to renovate, or to knockdown-rebuild can prevent people from starting their project for months, or even years, as they juggle all the options and are unable to choose one way or the other.  If this is you, and you’re trying to make the decision whether to renovate your existing home, or to start again and build a new home, thi...

If you're listening to this around its time of release, it's late November, and there's less than 5 weeks until Christmas. And even less time to the start of school holidays! AArrrggh - where is the year going hey?   So, if you're planning some work on your place over the holidays, I want to share with you some tips. Because NOW is the time to get ready.  And if you're not...

Let’s dive into the role of Builder on your project. Duayne Pearce is a Brisbane-based licensed Builder, with over 20 years experience.   Now Duayne is someone, like me, who is passionate about helping educate homeowners about how to get the best outcomes from their building or renovation project. So, Duayne and I first connected on social media a...

Julia Levitt and Fiona Ericsson are the team behind Sticks and Stones Landscape Design, and in this episode, we’re talking about what a Landscape Designer does, and how they can help your renovation or new home.  Now, as we near the end of Season 4, we’ve had some amazing professionals sharing incredibly useful information with us about what they do, and how their role can help yo...

Today we’re talking about what a Building Certifier is, and why you need them – in fact, in most cases, they’re essential to any building or renovation project. They can also be known as a Private Certifier.   Mick Tyrell is a Brisbane-based licensed Building Designer, with over 15 years industry experience.   Mick is someone I’ve kno...

I speak with Matthew Willis of Bushfire Planning Services. Matt is a Bushfire Consultant, and will be sharing with us when you require this role in your renovation or building project.   Now before you think: Bushfire Consultant? Why would I need a Bushfire Consultant? I don’t live near the bush, I don’t have any bush nearby, and fire isn’t an issue for my property.&nbs...

This episode is all about Interior Designers, what they do and how they help you.  I know this is an area where homeowners can get confused. I see some homeowners using an Interior Designer to simply choose soft furnishings like cushions and fabrics … through to getting their help for the overall vision for the internal colour and material palettes … extending through...

In this episode, we head outside … and into the gardens and exteriors of our homes.  When we’re renovating or building our home, we are often seeking a big improvement in our lifestyle at home. This can mean enlarging our home, or building a bigger one. And generally it means creating fantastic living / kitchen / dining spaces, that then flow to outdoor entertaining areas and fun...

In this episode, we’ll learn all about how a structural engineer will help you in your project, and why you need one.  Josh Neale is a Structural Engineer. He’s also the NSW Office Manager and Structural Project Engineer for Westera Partners.  Westera Partners is a highly respected Australian consulting engineering firm that has been practicing o...

The requirements for working with a Town Planner, when you’ll need one and what you’ll need one for, will vary from state to state, suburb to suburb and house to house. However, there are some key consistencies to know, and ways they can make your journey simpler overall. So listen carefully for tips for your project.  Let me introduce Nuala Dewhurst.  Nuala gr...

In this episode, we’ll be diving into the role of Building Designer. Aaron Wailes is a Brisbane-based licensed Building Designer, with over 15 years industry experience.    Now, Aaron is a friend and colleague I’ve known for many, many years.   Aaron and I first met at Mirvac over a decade ago. When 5 colleagues and I set up our ar...

So we’re in for a treat in this episode. The first interview in Season 04 is with Shaun Lockyer of Shaun Lockyer Architects.   Now, if you’re based in Brisbane and planning your renovation or new home, chances are you’ve already come across Shaun’s work. It’s prolific and award winning and a huge body of new and renovated homes all over Brisbane &n...

Are you confused about who you’ll need on your team to renovate or build your home?  Homeowners often tell me they are. They’re not sure who to speak to first, what costs to expect from everyone, how to know if they’re finding the right people, and when to get them on board.  And sometimes they also don’t understand why they’ll need a specific...

Season 4 is called “Know Your Team” , and in this season, we’ll be exploring the roles of the various professionals that can help you when you’re designing, building or renovating your home.  Often homeowners tell me that they’re confused about who they need to get on their team and which person or role they hire first. And this is the thing about the c...