Welcome to Home Building Like a Boss, the podcast dedicated to helping first home buyers in Perth build their dream home with ease and excitement. I'm Jamie, your host and go-to Building Broker. Are you ready to feel empowered, in control, and excited about your building journey? I'll help guide you with expert advice, insider tips and tricks, and real life stories to help you navigate the confusing world of home building.

Tune in as I take you on the journey to building your home like a boss.

Thank you so much for joining me today. Grace, I know you've just moved into your, well, you've just got your keys four weeks ago, three, four weeks ago. Yes. Four weeks ago now. Yeah. Wow. I can't believe that. I know it's gone really fast. That's already gone that quickly. And I wanna chat to you today about your building journey.

Now, your building journey was. Unique. Yes. And it was pro definitely trickier than other builds. Yes. And most builds. And that's because it was an older block? Mm-hmm. In an older area that was subdivided. Yes. So I don't know. When we first caught up for the info session, we kind of like went over that. Yeah.

But it always seems a lot harder than what you actually Yes. When you're going through it, it's a lot harder than what you actually think it's gonna be. Mm-hmm. Talk us through right back to the initial part of your journey. Sure. And how did you decide you wanted to build versus buy and the area and like going in an older area versus going into a new block?

A new estate. Yeah. So. Probably about three years ago now. I always found myself scrolling on the real estate apps. Um, and at that point I just sort of had it in my head, oh, I wouldn't be able to afford anything I sort of wanted at that point. So I was more actually looking at investment properties and putting in, you know, probably putting in like.

250,000 and below, you know, that kind of thing. Yeah, yeah. And just seeing what was out there. And then when I was doing that, I saw a lot of ads for the house and land packages. Yeah. And I started to catch my eye a little bit. And then over time I just found myself gravitating towards looking at new houses.

Yeah. And sort of looking into it a little bit. Still at that point was thinking, I don't think I can afford this on my own. So. Perhaps not, but I was sort of, you know, looking just for fun. Yeah. And then, I don't know, something just switched and I thought, okay, I need to actually look into this properly.

Yeah. And see if it's something that I can do. I, I was looking a little bit at some established houses, but in the areas that I was looking in, they were needing a lot of work and I wanted something nice and new. Yeah. So that's probably where, when I decided that building might need to happen. Yeah. From there I was joined a few Facebook groups and was just looking at what people were saying, that kind of thing.

And I actually did go and have a few meetings. I think I met with two different builders. Yeah. And had that initial sort of chat with them in a display. Uh, some displays, yeah. Yes. And then some, I ended up going to the, um, the office and meeting there. Some said that. Based on my budget and the area that I was looking in, it was a no, I wasn't going to meet, um, their budget.

Yeah. And then others, one I, I found just to be quite pushy and I felt like I was in the office one day a week later, I was on at this, um, block, and then I met, you know, the sales person there and they said, oh, you've got 24 hours basically to sign the contract and that's it. And I just felt, I don't know, uh, I just felt I was there on my own.

Yeah. And I just didn't. Feel comfortable. Yeah. I didn't know it was like a 

feel like, 

yeah, I just had a bit of a gut feeling like, I don't know myself, so I don't know whether I'm getting the right deal. Yeah. Is this the right thing to do? It felt really rushed, so I sort of stopped, you know, going to those meetings and I think that's when I was.

Looking on Facebook and came across reviews or recommendations for boss. And I think I signed up to the, um, discovery call that afternoon and spoke to you on my way home one afternoon. And then I think I came in a few days later. Yeah. Yeah. And that was pretty much, that was it. 

That was it. The rest is history.

Absolutely. That's it. And we're done today. Yeah. What, talk me through that, like, rushed. Pushy. Yes. Unsure feeling that you had. Yeah. What was that? And like, why did it feel so? 

Yeah, so I just, it just felt very pushy and like, we just wanna get you through. Yeah. Quickest possible times we can get a sale. Yeah.

I mean, I just felt like I didn't have enough information and I didn't have enough. Knowledge myself to know if I was getting into a good deal or what was gonna happen down the track. And also, you know, not having someone there with me that knew a little bit more than I did was something else that made me just feel a bit uncomfortable.

I suppose it was the rushing. That that sort of had the most red flags. Unknown. Yeah. Rushing. Yeah. Yeah. Like I was already thinking, oh, I don't know if this is a good deal. Yeah. Is there gonna be extra costs? You know, do I even like this plan that they've come up with? And then not having the knowledge or enough knowledge myself.

Yeah. Those things I think went together to just, yeah, I had that gut feeling that I don't think I should do this. Yeah. But I'm not sort of sure where to go next. Yeah. 

Yep. Yep. And then your init, your next thinking was, okay, going to Facebook groups to find other people. 

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yes, it was because then, um, I'd also had some conversations with some builders and they were very much trying to push, um, me into a new housing estate.

And at that point I was pretty particular on the areas that I wanted. And it wasn't in a new estate. There weren't any estate. Yeah. That were in the area that I was looking for. Yeah. So at that point I was thinking, okay, well I don't, maybe this isn't going to be able to happen in the areas that I want.

Yeah. And I also wasn't really willing to compromise. Yeah. So, yeah, I was just looking on Facebook groups and I'd never even heard of a building broker. Yeah. Um, prior to this. Yeah. And then I saw a few people comment and recommend, and I sort of looked kind of like me, you know, in my same position. And I thought, okay, this is, this might get me that one step further, you know, with a little bit more.

Information than what I already have now. 

Yeah, yeah. Talk me through the process of finding out what a building 

broker is. Yes. So I remember seeing some comments on the Facebook group and reading into them a little bit more. And then I went onto your website. Yeah. And from there I just read, you know, about the help that you can give.

Finding the block, finding the builder, and that just sort of fit with me at that point resonated and I thought, yeah, that's exactly what I need. Yeah. At this point. Yeah. Um, in the journey. Yeah. Someone to help. Someone to help. Especially 

doing it on your own too. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Daunting, scary.

You don't have like anyone to ask. Not not anyone to ask, ask questions, but it's just like, you're not just like turning around to someone to be like, Hey, like what do you think of this? Yeah, yeah. Should we do this? You're doing it on your own, which is fucking awesome. Yeah. I don't have, but it's also scary too.

Yeah. 

I don't have anyone in my immediate family or extended family who's in the building industry either. So yeah, I just sort of needed that. That insider to, you know, reassure and, and help at that point. 

Yeah. Yeah. And going through, so you're pretty set on your location mm-hmm. And your block and stuff.

Mm-hmm. And you knew, like, I guess going through that process, everyone was like, new estate. New estate. New estate. Yeah. How did you stay grounded in what you wanted without compromising? 

Yeah, so I think it was more just when options were being provided to me. Deep down I was like, no, that's not really what I wanted.

Not listening. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I know why people did offer those things. Yeah. But it also then was a bit of a reality of, okay, well in those areas I'm not going to be able to likely afford a street front. Yeah. Lock. Um, so then it was sort of a matter of deciding, well, am I okay with that? Yeah. Am I willing to compromise on that?

So I can get the location that I want or the other way around. And in the end, I settled on going with the location Yeah. And having, uh, finding a subdivided block. Yeah, yeah, 

yeah. The house behind the house. Yes, yes. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. Yeah. Let's talk about that. Mm-hmm. So I know we, when you came in for the info session, we went through all the pros and the cons and the risks Yes.

And the differences between mm-hmm. Older Yes. And newer states. Yes. And the risk with the older block is they're more unknown on site. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Retaining, yep. Fencing, which we'll get into, and certain requirements and restrictions with councils Yes. And stuff like that. Yes. Like one of yours was 33 or 30.

Four course ceiling that you have Yes. Have throughout the home. Yes. Which that obviously added. Mm-hmm. 10 grand into the budget versus sitting at 28 course. And that was the something Yes. Of that council that, that needed that. So then that came into play too. Mm-hmm. Um, and the site works and things like that.

Yes. Talk us through how you navigated that. 

Yeah, so I sort of, at the point that I decided I was going to go with an established block, I sort of knew that there were going to be things that popped up. You know, that is the risk of purchasing an established block and not knowing what's there. Yeah, I was probably, looking back, I was a little naive and.

It's not that I wouldn't do it again, but it's just that, you know, I'm realizing now how much actually does go into, uh, that kind of block as opposed to, you know, something a bit more simpler. Yeah. Yes, yes. Yeah, 

definitely. And I think, I mean, I've done a few. A house behind house and older blocks and stuff.

Yes. Yours was definitely one of the most trickiest. So if you did it again, let's Hopefully you have better neighbors. Yes. And less fencing issues because I would say that was majority of hundred percent. Hundred percent of the Of it. Yeah. And it sucked because the neighbor that was causing the issue was the one at the front who subdivided it.

Yes. Which Yes. Just really doesn't make any sense. No. 

So in my head it was, um, because it was an established block, the fence was old asbestos fencing. Yeah. And in my head I just thought, okay, uh, that will be replaced at the very end. Yeah. That's something I can, you know, wait for until the end. Yeah. But as it turned out, it sort of needed one.

It definitely did need it. Yeah. Um, as we started building Yeah. And two, there was a bit of damage. Yeah. Um, done to some of the fences. So then that sort of needed to be replaced. Yeah. Um, a lot quicker than I had anticipated. Yeah. Yeah. And 

that was getting the co was it the concrete truck originally at the start down the driveway?

Yes. 

Bin that was something on the Siteworks, a narrow lot that was $10,000 as well. But yes, it was the skip bin truck going down the driveway, hitting the fence between my neighbor and I, and then also. A fence at the back that was pretty much all almost over that got, um, knocked by one of the tradesmen as well.

Yeah, yeah. 

And it's hard 'cause. They obviously don't care as smart when they're working or doing. Yes. It's not that they don't care. No care in the sense of they're working, they're doing things Yes. And shit just happens on site. Yeah. And it sucks because at the end of the day, it falls. The be wipes their hands, the trades wipe their hand and it it, it falls on Yeah.

You to kind of like navigate mm-hmm. And pull it all together. Let's go back a step. Okay. And talk about the design process. Mm-hmm. Now. Yeah. I guess with the design on being an older block mm-hmm. And a smaller block at the back with council requirements. Yeah. It is quite tight. Yes. In what you can and can't do.

Yeah. What were your non-negotiables in your design? 

Yeah, so I wanted, um, my non-negotiables were, I wanted the master bedroom to be separate from Yeah. The other bedrooms. And I wanted the living room and kitchen to be open. Yeah. Plan. Aside from that, they were pretty much, you know, the only two, um, non-negotiables that I had because I knew there wasn't a whole lot of space to work with.

Yeah. Yeah. 

And that was, I guess, one of the compromises you knew going in location Yes. Block. Yeah. You were happy to compromise on design and be like. Yeah. Whatever works on the block Yeah. Is what works on 

the block. And I suppose it was interesting, um, even seeing the plans come back from, um, the city of ula, you know, and their restrictions, how it had to be 50% greenery.

Yeah. Um, you know, I just didn't even, I wouldn't have even thought of these things beforehand. So just working with some of those. Parameters was, was interesting. Yeah. Yeah. 

And certain like open living requirements. Yes, yes. The turning circle. Yes. 'cause it's at the back and that takes up, it does quite a big chunk, chunk of my garage.

Yeah. Yeah. You can have the, the store room in the 

garage. So my garage is huge. 

Yeah. Compared to my house. But you know, it is, yeah. You have to have this, have to work 

with those things. 

Four meters square storage in there and all that stuff. But I mean, I, and. Also thinking about having that functional storage too, which like in your kitchen.

Exactly. All the overhead cupboards and things like that. Mm-hmm. Which makes a huge difference. Yeah. In the, in the design. Yeah. And the high ceilings do make a huge impact. A hundred percent. Absolutely. I'm really 

pleased that I went with that everywhere. Yeah. Because that does make a huge difference. Yeah, yeah, 

yeah, for sure.

Yeah. Cool. What do you think was like one of the most challenging parts of the build? 

You know, it's funny, I actually remember starting the build and thinking, well, I don't see how this is going to be stressful at all. Like, what? What could actually go wrong? Yeah. I think, you know, it was all the unexpected things that popped up.

Yeah. Really. And I think just having to manage the communication of that. Yeah. Communication with different people, neighbors, tradesmen. Yeah. The building company. Yeah. I think that was the most stressful. Um, and sort of. In that wanting things to get fixed quickly. Yeah. And other people not sort of being on my Yeah.

Same timeline. Yeah. Yeah. I think that was the hardest, just navigating those things that came up that I was not expecting. Yes. Um, in terms of just stress, but also financially as well. Yeah. The fences, uh, of. Got brand new beautiful Colorbond fences around the whole property. But that probably added another 25,000 Yeah.

Um, to the beginning of the build that I, I wasn't initially expecting. So I think just, yeah, navigating those unexpected things that popped up was the most challenging. Yeah. Yeah. 

Yeah. And that's all the stuff when you get. To sight or Yes. Neighbor troubles or trades. Yeah. You're you gonna know about beforehand.

Yeah. Yeah. Which is really hard. Yeah. Because you're kind of like, and if you want, if you're an organized person, which you are and you want things done Yes. That other people usually don't meet those things. Exactly. It become even more frustrating. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. How did you find it? I guess working with your builder.

Mm-hmm. At points. Mm-hmm. There's obviously a lot of negative stuff in the building industry. Yeah. About working with builders. How did you find in general, navigating a complex situation? Mm-hmm. Like this On a block behind? Yes. A block. Yes. Navigating that with us even. Yes. And your builder as well. 

Yeah. I think it was a lot easier having, uh, you in the middle.

Yeah. Because I could sort of use you as a venting board before I, um, spoke to the builder. Yeah. But also you did step in a few times and contact the builder for me and sort of had those conversations so. So thankful for that because I think had I not had that then I probably wouldn't have been as clear when communicating with the builder.

Yeah. And you gave me a lot of information about sort of what happens next or what is a realistic, you know, option to expect. So, um, look, the, I found the builder, they always got back to me. Yeah. You know, and sort of reassured and let me know what the next steps were. But it was definitely assuring having, um, the broker in the middle just to.

Check in or you know, have that sounding board before I went and spoke to the builder. Or even just checking in to see how things were going with the builder. Yeah. And getting a bit of communication back. 

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Awesome. What was your favorite part of your journey? I think 

the, my favorite part of the journey was pre-start.

Yeah. And getting to choose all of those things. I didn't, I came I think $2,000 above my budget for Pre-Start, which is quite small. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but I'm really pleased with the amount of upgrades and things that I've done that I managed to squeeze out of that, you know, small-ish amount. Yeah. 

Yeah. Yeah.

How much did, did you end up upgrading at pre-start? So, 

my budget to upgrade at pre-start was 10,000. Yep. And I ended up. Spending 13,000. That's not too bad. Yeah. That's pretty good. Yeah. Yeah, 

yeah. And for the finish and the style of your home too. Yeah, 

exactly. So I'm really, I think that's one of the best things as well with the build of the high quality.

Yeah. Um, burn, you know, appliances and finishes. And I've had a few people actually say to me, oh. I've been recently to some other project builder homes, and you can really tell the difference here. Yeah. With the finish and the quality. So yeah, I was really happy with that, to have that. Amazing. A lot of that stuff just included Yes.

You know, as a base first and then to just add a few bits and pieces on. Yeah. 

Yeah. And yeah, you can really tell the difference in like between Yes. Nice custom finished cabinetry. Mm-hmm. Or different appliances. Yes. And it's like the really little things that you might not think about, but then when you see it, you're like, yeah.

Oh wow. That does make a big difference. Yeah, and I think that's 

one thing that I was super mindful of. I didn't want it to just look like a stock standard, you know, new build. I really wanted to put some extra touches and I think I was definitely able to do that, um, within a reasonable amount from pre-start.

So really happy with that. Yeah. Yeah. 

Amazing. And I guess that helps too, like the smaller house being able to then be like, I can spend Yes. On a little bit more. Mm-hmm. The nicer things here because the money isn't going to the size. Yes. The someone else might be like, I'm going for the size. And then a lower basic.

Yes, lower spec. Mm-hmm. But I think you really got that good balance between like location Yeah. And like the finish and the quality of it. Amazing. What's one thing that you think you struggled with through the process other than kind of like. The big things that we've spoken about already. Yes. Um, 

I think what I'm sort of have struggled with the most is wanting the house to be absolutely perfect right now.

Yeah. And like, I literally only got my keys four weeks ago, but Yeah. Yeah. You know, I've got this vision of everything I wanna do and it's going to take time, but I just want it, you know, done now to look amazing now. So I think that's the hardest. That is one of the hardest things. Having patience.

Patience, um, and just waiting and chipping things off one at a time. Yeah. Um. Especially patience through the whole 

process 

too. 

You're like, oh, my slab and I want keys yesterday. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So 

patience probably. Yeah. Yeah. How 

long was your overall build from slab to keys? 

Yeah, so my slab went down at the end of June.

Yep. And then I got my keys at the end of March. So. Nine. Nine. Just eight, eight and a half, nine months. 

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's pretty awesome. It's, yeah. Yeah, yeah. And pre-construction was only like, 

yeah. And had it, there were a few delays with the, um, building permit, but had it not been for that, yeah, it would've been super fast as well.

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Amazing. Yeah. Oh, that's good. 

If you were. Giving advice to someone who is in your position starting the building journey? Yes. And looking at an older block in an older area. Mm-hmm. What's some advice you would give them or advice to your past self? Yes. Yes. That you would give yourself? I 

think I would probably just, you know, I think.

For me, it's the fences. Yeah. And I wish, you know, I wish the fencing had already been done. Yeah. So either to have it done, first of all before anything sort of started, or, um, to, I guess if 

you do that though, then you can run into the issue of True having a fencing done. Yeah. The concrete or someone coming down, coming in for damage, knocking your new fence, and then being like.

No, I've gotta pay for that again. So if I was to do it again, I'd probably just be a bit more conscious on looking at the, um, the state of the fencing. Yeah. Just making sure that was in an okay state to be able to sort of Yeah. You know, deal with that a little bit later. It's hard because the fencing 

is.

Reliant on 50 50 with someone else. Yes. And I think that's the part that makes it the most difficult. True. 

True. 

Mm-hmm. Because you can either be like, we're both paying for this Yes. Or one can be an asshole. Yes. Or vice versa. Yeah. And then that adds a whole, another layer of mm-hmm. Yes. 

Complexity. 

So 

in a way, I'm sort of, you know, it would've been a lot easier had the fencing just gone up and I didn't have to worry about it.

Now it's done. I mean, looking back it was stressful, but I think it was worth it. Yeah, 

yeah, yeah. Now you can be like, yeah, it's done. Yes. Yep. And you have nice and fancy. I do have Nice 

and fe, but it's 

still a bit annoying. And what else did you say you felt like you struggled with? Just the, 

well, I spoke about the patience before and just wanting everything done now and, and having it.

Perfect. Yeah. What else? Um, oh, your advice backwards. My advice. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I would probably just, you know, be, spend a bit more time just being really clear on the what ifs of a, an established block. Yeah. And just even penciling that into my budget perhaps. Yeah. A little bit more. 

Yeah. Having 

that buffer there.

Yeah. Yeah. And just learning a little bit more about the block. Yeah. Um, and what comes with the, that style of block. In saying that though, a lot of this stuff. Just happened. Yeah. Like no one was going to know that was gonna happen beforehand. Yeah. So I suppose just knowing that's a risk. Yeah. Yeah. Um, for those types of blocks that things can come up, but hopefully most of it is fixable.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And I guess it's all about having that team around you, right? Yes. To navigate those complex situations like nothing. In building ever go smoothly to hundred percent. Like we had a client this week and the brickies started and they've put the wrong feature brick on the walls. Oh. So obviously not good.

Yeah. But the solution already onto it. The builders sending out new bricks, the brickies getting, which is good, but at the time it's so hard to navigate. It is because. 

Yeah, and I think I, in my build I had, I think one, a nib wall was built in the, on the wrong side of the, um, bathroom. And then a, they put the wrong sink in.

Yeah. And it is frustrating, but yeah. You know, how do you navigate that feeling? Yeah, it's, it's disappointing. It's, yeah, you kind of think like. Oh, well how can this happen? You know? Yeah. But I suppose bigger picture is, you know, people make mistakes and these things happen and both things were able to be fixed.

But it is disappointing when you go and visit and it's like, that's not how it's meant to be, you know? Yeah. But just, you know, everything got fixed in the end, so Yeah. And that's the main thing. 

And they will always fix it. Yes. But at the time, a hundred percent, it's very, very frustrating. Yeah, for sure.

What the fuck? I paid this money, um, and the sink's 

wrong. Yeah. One thing I probably would do. As well is just be, would've been a little bit more thorough on my pre-start. Yeah. Um, uh, looking at the agenda when the final agenda, when it came in. 'cause I did have a few issues. Um, yeah. With me just a bit of miscommunication and thinking things were included.

Yeah. And then they weren't, I had selected them on the portal thinking they would automatically go over to the agenda and they hadn't. So just being a little bit more thorough. Checking through that and making sure everything I was thinking was on there and clarifying. 

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It is always good to be.

More thorough than what you think is thorough with building. Yes. Because there's so many people working on the job and then people interpret things differently. Mm-hmm. And then in today's day and age, where you add a portal into mix. Yes. So there's technology issues. Yes. And things don't connect, but then you assume.

Yeah. And like, yeah. Number one advice in building. Never assume. Never assume. Yes. Always ask the question. Yeah. So then you can get clarified. Yeah, yeah, yeah. With your. I know when we did your land contract. Mm-hmm. Because that was another thing, like land agents. Yeah. Private real estate agents selling old blocks are very different to land agents selling.

Yes. Developed new estates. Yes. Like developers and land agents selling new estates. They do it all the time and they work very closely with. Building reps, brokers, yep. Building companies so they understand how long building contracts are gonna take. Yes. And all those things. Yes. So one of the challenges mm-hmm.

That we had was the finance clause. Yes. Which normally you would do 90 days. Mm-hmm. When you sign a land contract mm-hmm. For finance, subject finance, which gives you time to do your design. Yes. Which is a few weeks, get a building contract. Mm-hmm. Which is mm-hmm. Four weeks and then go back to the finance broker and lodge for finance.

And did they do 30 days or 60 days? I think they did 60. 60, but it was over Christmas and New Year. Yes. Yeah. So then the finance clause is 60 days, and then you're like, okay, cool. Well. Let's say it takes two weeks to get a design done, which is a quick turnaround. Yes. And then four weeks for a building contract, were already at the six weeks.

Yeah. And then it was the public holidays. It was, yes. So they were very 

onto 

us too. 

Mm-hmm. And I think we ended up going over. Um, yeah. And then there was that risk of having to pay each, each ing. We ended up scraping in there. Yeah. At the very end. That feels like years ago. I know, 

I know. I'm just thinking that too.

And I'm like, man, that feels like a celebr. Really. It's only like 

15 or 16 months 

ago. 

So much more has happened since then, but um, that is an awful, we, I think we just scraped through in the end, but it was a bit touch and go for a bit there as well. Yeah. Yeah. 

And that makes a huge difference in the process too.

Yep. They don't understand how it works. And as a first home buyer, you need to. Yeah. The reason it's important is so you can lodge your build and your land at the same time. Yeah. So you get your first time owner's grant and don't pay any stamp duty and all those things. Yes. And 

I think one thing that, um, you know, was helpful with the building broker, which.

I suppose I didn't even think about at the beginning was your help with finding a block. Yeah. Um, and even, you know, getting the block. I actually remember me remember messaging, you sounds so dumb now, but I was like, well how do I actually even put an offer in? 

Yes. I mean that's true. 'cause it's kind of a different process.

Yeah. And you helped me through that whole 

process, so that was really handy having you there. For that initial process. Yeah. Just even looking at the blocks. Yeah. Sizing, budget, all that kind of thing. And then, you know, putting in offers and working with that. And also even when we're putting in the offer on the block, just making sure that I would have enough budget 

Yes.

To then build. Yeah. Knowing sort of what I wanted. So that was particularly helpful as well, having that help right at the beginning to even find and purchase the block. 

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. And it's a. Trap, like a lot of people fall into. I had, um, someone call me the other day from, um, and who was a friend of another client.

Mm-hmm. And yeah, she almost put in an offer on the block and would not have been able to put a house on it. Yeah. And it's just like, you just don't know these things. You don't, you've gotta look at the overall picture. Yes. And then the block. Yep. And then the build. But if you don't know how much a build costs, how can you work?

Exactly. And the site works, which yours is also very different. Mm-hmm. And the, I guess even the finance timeline, right? Yes. Of being like, oh, we've got 60 days. Yeah. We've gotta move. Yeah. Otherwise the block's gone. Yeah. Yeah. Those timeframes and deadlines and Yeah. Things that you don't know in your overall journey.

Mm-hmm. Do you like, was your most exciting part of the process? 

I think, um, the most exciting and like, does it still 

feel 

real? No, it doesn't. I don't actually feel like it's my house or I'm gonna be living there. You know, I think the most exciting part was when the walls were up and things started to be added.

You know, like the cabinetry and that kind of thing. 'cause then you could actually see what it. Was going to look like. Yeah. And you know, every little part is exciting, the slab and then, you know, but having it actually there and being able to see, yeah, I think was the most exciting part. Walk. Yeah. And then, you know, if I was to go visit and see something else had been done, that was really exciting too.

Yeah. So just being able to visualize it properly, not just looking at it on, on paper. On on paper. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that was the most exciting when it got to that point where walls were up, plaster was on, and things were going in, and you could see how it was going to look. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How do you.

And. It depends how much you go and visit your house. Yes, and everyone does it, but how do you manage that? Oh, I've been today and nothing's happened, kind of thing. Like that feeling, which happens. Yeah, a lot. I mean, it depends how, if you go to site every day, and some clients do go to site every day, we tell 'em.

Calm down, please don't go to site every day. Yeah. It looks like nothing's happening. Yes. Because sometimes you go there Yes. And you're like, fuck, no one's been there in three days, but if you go in a week, yes. It's very, the progress looks different. Yeah. Like that emotional side of building. Yeah. 

Yeah. 

I'm, 

I wasn't going that often, to be honest.

Yeah. And I think that's a good thing. Yeah. No, no, no. It was a good thing and I think the things that happened with the fencing and stuff sort of made me just. Not go as as much as I did. Just wanted to sort of forget about it and go look when it was done. Yeah. My mom and dad went a lot more than me. Yeah.

Oh, and so they would go on the weekend and take photos? Yeah, and that was probably about once a week. Yeah. So that was a good timeframe to then see. A few times it was like, oh, nothing's happened. But most of the time there was, yeah. One thing added or an extra thing done. Yeah. Yeah. So I would recommend only going weekly or even Yeah, lot like more because then you it you do actually see stuff in between.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I didn't. Didn't really have that problem of going too much, but I can see how you would, if I lived closer, I probably would've. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. 

That's good. Gives like a 

natural barrier between 

you. Yeah, and I guess it's funny 'cause you think, oh, nothing happens. This happened, but your build is still done in eight and a half months.

Yeah, exactly. So there's like, so I was pretty fast and that was 

over Christmas and year as well. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, so there doesn't have to be like No. Yeah. People there every day doing things, which I think. Sometimes you think in building like, oh my God, no one's here today. Nothing's happening. It's gonna be delayed for three years.

Yeah. It's like, whoa. It's all still gonna work out. But it's just like navigating that like Yes. Emotional side. Yeah. And the venting and 

like 

I 

agree. I think that was. So helpful to have that. Yeah. You know, because there were some really stressful emotional times. Yeah. But just to be able to voice node and just Yeah.

You know, get it out and get some advice, was really, really helpful at those points. Yeah. 

Yeah. What do you think your, like, highlight or like mm-hmm. Best part of working with us specifically was, 

yeah. I think, you know, one of the highlights definitely was the pre-start preparation. Yeah. That was amazing.

And I, I can't even imagine what the house would've looked like. Yeah. Had I not had that. Yeah. Because just to think about some of those things on such a deep level Yeah. You know, the lighting and the PowerPoint location and how high it is on the wall and things like that. Yeah. Being able to have Maddie there to be like, help Yeah.

Maddie there to, she's got that knowledge there, um, to know. You know, have you thought about this or what about this? Also her knowledge on, um, how much things cost if I was to do it afterwards. Yeah. And weighing that up and that, um, was something we spoke about with the overhead cupboards. Yeah. I ended up getting them done and I'm so pleased that I did that.

Yeah. But just having someone there to be, you know, to say, okay, I actually think it would be around a similar. You know, price to get it done now or this, that's when you got your variation back. It was, yep, yep, yep. So 

you got options costed. Yes. Yeah. 

Yep. Um, and I had a few options of my shower as well, um, and the painting and things like that.

Maddie was able to, you know, help me just to know what would be worth doing and what's better to wait until after. And I think just what jobs have you waited to do after? Yes. And what things did you keep in? Okay, so. In hindsight, remember there was some issues with the alfresco. Yes. It, like, I can't even Yeah, yeah.

So in hindsight, probably would've, like, would've kept that alfresco roof on. So patio is something that Yeah. Um, I need to do now. I think it was with 

the open living area, it was, 

it, it wasn't gonna be very big. 

It was gonna be like, yeah. Two meters by meter, which should've been like. Tiny. Yes. So 

I opted not to have that and do a patio later.

Yeah. Yeah. Um, I chose not to have the paving in the alfresco and I'm getting that decked, so I'm getting that done. Next month deck will look great. Yes. No, I'm looking forward to that painting. Yep. Um, but I actually went with someone from Maddie's recommendation Oh yes. And got a really good price and the whole house is done.

Done. And compared to some other quotes that I got. 

Yeah, 

that good. So I 

was 

happy with that. 

And that would've been less than what 

the builder was gonna charge you to? Yes, yes. Yeah. Um, brick paving, so builder only did a certain amount, um, at the front of the house and the garage, so I've just had the rest of the driveway paved.

Yeah, those are probably the main things. A little bit of landscaping I've got to do, but not much. Not a lot. I didn't get. The shelf and rail installed in my wardrobe. Yep. So I'd like to get that fitted out. And also mirrors. I chose not to have the standard mirrors and I'll put my own in. Yeah. NICE's fine.

Yeah. So a few little bits and pieces to still do. Yeah. Gives your 

little project to work on. It'll be amazing to see what the value 

Yes. 

Of the house. I agree. And the land, once you do all these beats and bots. Yeah. Even now, like the clients we've had. To three or four handovers in the last site. Four weeks?

Yes. 

There's like not even nothing like no landscaping, nothing bits easily like 150, 200 grand. 

Yeah, 

I, and yours being in an older area 

and stuff like that too. It's gonna be super interesting. I looked on my banking at the other day and. It was just a, um, estimate based on the air and things. Yeah. But that was 200 grand more.

Um, and that was just a random, you know, estimate. So I'm really looking forward to having it valued and see what happens. Yeah. Because they'll 

take into consideration it being new and all the finishes and everything like that. 

And that's, I think some, one thing that. I was a benefit of going with you was that I felt like I had that support.

So at that point I could go at a reasonably fast pace. Yes. Because I'm looking back now and um, you know, some of the blocks that I was looking at when I first started compared to now, they've gone up like a hundred thousand. Oh yeah. You know, I wouldn't have been able to do it. Now. Yeah. As, as much as I did do then.

So I think just having the confidence to be able to jump in there. Yeah. And do it was another thing that, looking back I'm really happy I did because I think it would be a whole different story. Yeah. If I had a waited. Yeah. And, and you know, it might have, I might not have even been there. No. 

It's a very, very hard, which really sucked.

It's very hard for a single income owners at the moment to get into. Mm-hmm. Unless you are. In the minds. Yeah. Earning ridiculous amounts of money, let's say. Yes. It's very, very tough because the prices have gone up. Yes. But then interest rates and affordability. So it's working opposite directions. So you honestly got in at like the most perfect time.

Yeah. Without trying to time the market. But you've spent time in the market. Yeah. And now you've got two roughly. Yeah. 200 k mm-hmm. Equity sitting there. Yeah. Um, and you think, so like going back to what you said before, do you think having that extra support, it made you, like, make decisions? Definitely quicker and more, definitely more confidently versus quicker 

and more confidently?

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. But without feeling rushed? Yes. Yeah. Yes. No, it definitely didn't feel rushed. Yeah. So you just felt like, yeah, I just felt supported. I did feel supported and felt like it was the right thing. Yeah. Um, and stuff just got done, you know? Yeah. Yeah. 'cause then I wasn't overthinking and Yeah.

Procrastinating and deciding. I just sort of knew and I had, you know, yeah. Your support there, and that made those decisions a lot easier. Yeah. I guess 

it's like, yeah. I've never really thought of it like that. Being like, oh. We, you would just probably sit there and think about it more. 'cause then you overthink it and like, oh, is it right, is it wrong?

And what's right or wrong? Anyway. But like yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You sit in that room than just being like, let's do it. Hey, let's do it. What do you guys think? Call vice versa. And like having that sounding board and that team there. Yeah. Oh, that's good. Um. I'd asked you before what you think your, like, your favorite parts of like, working with us was.

That was pre-start prep. Did you have any others? 

Um, I think just having that ongoing support. Yeah. Being able to message whenever. Yeah. Um, you know, as I said, I send a few voice notes. Yeah. Sometimes in an absolute party or just some long messages and just having. Someone to talk to that knows about it, but also it was really sympathetic.

Yeah. And, you know, could help was definitely a highlight. Yeah. And you know, that was throughout the whole process. Um, and even now still. Yeah. You know, so, um, that's definitely. Uh, huge highlight is having that sort of, not on tap, but you know what I mean. Oh, having that all the time pretty much is on tap.

It's 

so, so pretty much there. Yeah. That's, I guess, yeah. The, how do you think it would've gone, I guess, if you had gone direct to a builder or like had a different team, how do you think knowing, like you'd spoke to a few other people, what do you think, like the difference would've been? 

Yes. I don't think I would've been able to achieve.

I sort of felt, I, I know this is gonna sound weird, but I felt more comfortable to, to go after what I wanted. Good. I don't know that I would've, I think I sort of would've just accepted what I was given. Yeah. Had I gone with some, someone else. Yeah. I feel like I really got everything that I wanted, um, and how I wanted it.

Yeah. Is that 'cause you felt more. Comfortable to communicate that or, yeah, I think so. I think so. And just have someone to do like, Hey, what do you think about this? Yes. You know, is this a possibility? Yeah. Should I ask that kind of thing? Yeah. 

Um, yeah. Yeah. And you think, I guess like if we look at like building broker verse.

Sales rep. Yes. You think you would've felt like you couldn't ask those questions to someone who worked for a builder? Yeah. I don't know. Yeah. Maybe that was different feeling based on the experiences that I had. Yeah. Um, it is a different setup though. Yeah. So when I try and think it is completely 

different.

Yeah. Um, so I definitely, yeah. Felt more comfortable to be able to explore different things maybe than I would've in a typical experience. But again, that's just based on the few experiences I had. Yeah. Um, yeah. 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. What advice would you give to a first home buyer thinking about going through the building process?

I think just get in there and see. You know, don't let the thought that you can't afford it hold you back. I think start and, you know, engage with a broker and just see where you are at first of all, because that probably held me back for a good couple of years just thinking that I wasn't able to do it.

Yeah, you just had this like mental block just being like, oh, I don't, I think that. Outta my reach. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think it's something that I could do. Um, yeah. So I think just, just jump in there and sort of explore. Yeah. And my other advice would just to be really, really thorough. Yeah. Um, and just look over the plans and everything, you know, a million times.

Um, there's a few things that. You know, I don't think anyone would've picked up, but there's a little, I've got a little, um, hand towel hook in my laundry. Yep, that's way too low. And also the towel rails.

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