Podcast
Builders Beyond Borders
Hosted by Builders Beyond Borders · EN
If you're a first-time home builder or want to renovate your home in Australia and feel overwhelmed by the process, you're not alone.
Builders Beyond Borders is the podcast that helps everyday Aussies navigate the home building and renovation journey with confidence. Hosted by experienced Australian builders, this show delivers real stories, expert insights, and practical advice for anyone planning to build or renovate their home.
Each episode unpacks what really happens on-site — from understanding builder quotes to avoiding budget blowouts and delays. Whether you're still dreaming, ready to break ground, or somewhere in between, you'll learn how to avoid costly mistakes and make informed decisions.
If you're searching for honest conversations about new home construction, home renovation tips, building timelines, or what to expect during a custom build in Australia, this podcast is your new best mate.
Follow Builders Beyond Borders and start building smarter!
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
45. Block or Grand Designs? Why Most Homeowner Budgets Don't Match the Real Cost of Building
Yesterday00:23:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Builders Beyond Borders, we sit down to unpack one of the biggest disconnects we see in the industry: the gap between what homeowners think their build or renovation will cost, and what it actually costs to bring their project to life. Hugh is joined by Andy and Louise from Perway Construction Services in Western Australia, and we get into the reality of what's happening on the ground right now. We talk about where homeowners are getting their information from, why shows like The Block and Grand Designs are shaping expectations in ways that don't line up with real-world costings, and why so many clients are walking into first meetings with budgets that are already well short of what their dream project actually requires. We share real examples from this week's client meetings, including a full home renovation that a designer had quoted at $350,000 when the true cost was closer to $1 million. We talk about scope creep once interior designers come on board, why clients need to stop holding their budget cards close to their chest, and why comparing a high-performing eco pod to a Bunnings flat pack is never going to give you an accurate picture of value. If you're planning a build or renovation, or you're already in the middle of one and wondering why the numbers keep shifting, this is a conversation that will change how we think about budgeting from day one. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au
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44. The Value of Having a Business Coach as a Builder in Australia
1w ago00:33:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode we sit down to talk about something that's been a game changer for our building businesses: having a business coach in your corner as a builder. We talk about our years inside Builders Business Blackbelt, a coaching group built specifically for residential builders across Australia. We get honest about what pushed us to reach out in the first place. For Matt, it was staring down the barrel of bankruptcy after mispricing two big jobs early in his business. For Paul, it was the mindset side, dealing with difficult clients and feeling ready to walk away from building altogether. Shannon shares how the three biggest pain points builders carry, financial stress, difficult clients, and personal burnout, are usually what gets someone to finally pick up the phone. We talk about why mindset sits underneath everything else, how the weekly momentum calls became a lifeline through Covid and beyond, and why the community of builders around us has become just as valuable as the coaching itself. We also touch on the shift from keeping your cards close to your chest to being open and vulnerable, and why that's the thing that actually unlocks real change in your business and your life. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au
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43. When Something Goes Wrong on Your Build, This Is How You Know You Chose the Right Builder
2w ago00:22:53Tap to summarizeEvery building project will face challenges. Unexpected site conditions. Delays. Variations. Mistakes. Supply issues. The difference isn't whether something goes wrong—it's how your builder responds when it does. In this episode of Builders Beyond Borders, Hugh, Andy, and Dean have an honest conversation about one of the most overlooked parts of the building journey: the difficult conversations. The phone calls no builder wants to make. The conversations homeowners often fear. And why these moments reveal far more about your builder than when everything is running smoothly. The team shares personal experiences of handling unexpected project issues, why transparency builds trust, how avoiding difficult conversations creates even bigger problems, and why choosing a builder is about far more than comparing quotes. If you're planning to build or renovate, this episode will help you understand what great communication really looks like—and why the right builder is someone who tells you the truth, even when it's uncomfortable. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au
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42. Tools Down: Why Good Builders Burn Out And What It Costs Homeowners
2w ago00:47:34Tap to summarizeBuilder burnout doesn't just affect the builder. In this episode we sit down with Mick Hawes from Builders Business Blackbelt, o unpack why so many good, capable builders end up overloaded and undercharged, and what that actually costs the homeowners they're working with. From free quoting to poor communication systems, we dig into what's really happening behind the scenes in the building industry, and what homeowners can do to spot a builder who has their processes sorted. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why charging for quotes protects both the builder and the client What a financial health check revealed about builder profitability The signs of a builder with strong systems and processes in place Why not every builder is the right fit for every client How poor communication creates a stressful building experience What the "tip of the iceberg" theory means for handling problems early Why cheap, fast and high quality can't all exist in the same build Want to join the number one Builders Coaching Program? Visit Builders Business Blackbelt here: https://buildersbusinessblackbelt.com.au Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au
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41. Tools Down: Builders Talk Mental Health
4w ago00:35:29Tap to summarizeThis one's different. We put the tools down and have the conversation most blokes in the building game never have. We talk about what happens when builders do the inner work. Andy opens up about getting sober, the seminars and men's weekends that turned things around for him, and why the man behind the build matters when a client is trusting you with the biggest investment of their life. Paul shares his recent men's weekend, the shadow work, working through a marriage breakdown, and breaking the pattern that gets passed down through generations. Hugh talks about a relationship and a business that both fell apart nearly 20 years ago, and the work he now does supporting men who are struggling, including men who've been to the brink. We get into the stuff that actually helps. Going for a walk. Breath work. Cold plunges. Getting around the right people. Why working on yourself comes before working on the business, and why "I don't have time" doesn't hold up when it's the most important thing you'll do. It's a raw one. If you're driving home after a rough day, this is the episode we made for you. You're not alone, you're number one, and what's going on in your life matters. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au
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40. Going In Blind: What Most Homeowners Don't Know Before They Build or Renovate
Jun 2100:29:40Tap to summarizeEver felt like you've signed up for a build or reno and suddenly you're way out of your depth? You're not alone, and you're not the problem. In this episode of Builders Beyond Borders, we sit down to pull back the curtain on what really happens once a project gets going, and why so many homeowners feel like they've walked in blind.Between us we've seen it all: the decision fatigue, the budget shocks, the relationships that buckle under the pressure, and the one thing that quietly makes or breaks every single project. We get into the questions homeowners are asking, the questions they should be asking but aren't, and the practical stuff that keeps a build on track and a household sane. If you're thinking about building or renovating, or you're already in the thick of it and feeling overwhelmed, this is the honest, no sugar coating chat you wish someone had with you before you started. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au
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39. Is Your Builder Still Learning? The Sign of a Good One You Probably Didn't Think to Ask
Jun 1500:29:47Tap to summarizeWhen you're choosing a builder, you'll ask about price, timelines, references and maybe their last few jobs. But here's a question almost no homeowner thinks to ask: is your builder still learning? In this episode, Louise from Perway Construction Services, Paul from Independent Building Solutions and Hugh from New Realm Homes get into why a builder who's constantly improving is one of the best signs you've found a good one. The industry never stops changing. New methods, new materials, new regulations, new tech. The builders worth your money are the ones keeping up. They also dig into something that catches a lot of homeowners off guard: plenty of genuinely skilled builders go broke. Not because they can't build, but because nobody ever taught them to run a business. The crew talks honestly about why the back end matters just as much as the building, and why a builder who's sorted their systems, finances and communication is far more likely to deliver a smooth job for you. As Paul puts it, you're either green and growing or ripe and rotting. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au
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38. Why Builders Lie Awake During a Storm Too
Jun 700:17:35Tap to summarizeWhat goes through a builder's mind when a major storm rolls in? Most homeowners assume the stress ends once the keys are handed over, but experienced builders often carry a different kind of responsibility. In this episode, Dean Hodgetts and Matt Auld share a candid conversation about building in extreme weather conditions, the decisions made behind the scenes to protect homes, and why quality builders often go beyond minimum requirements to ensure long-term performance. From coastal wind ratings and structural bracing to material selection and maintenance planning, this episode offers a fascinating look at the responsibility builders carry long after construction is complete. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au
Transcribe →37. Why the Best Builders Say No (And Why That's a Good Sign)
May 3100:21:45Tap to summarizeMost homeowners assume a builder saying no means they're too busy, too expensive, or just not interested. But here's the thing the best builders know: saying no is often a sign you've found the right one. Good builders don't say yes to everything, and in this episode we get into exactly why that matters for you. Louise from Perway Construction Services (WA) sits down with Paul from Independent Building Solutions and Hugh from New Realm Homes to talk through the real reasons a quality builder will turn work away, and why that honesty is actually protecting you, your money, and your home. Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au
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36. Can't Afford to Build? Here's What Builders Want Homeowners to Know
May 2400:22:35Tap to summarizeCan you actually afford to build right now? It's the question on everyone's mind, and in this episode the team tackles it head on. With interest rate rises, economic uncertainty and prices that have shot up over the last few years, plenty of homeowners are wondering if they've missed the boat or whether they should just wait it out. We cover why inquiries have dropped off, why prices aren't going to come back down, and the big mistake people make when they try to do too much too soon. We also gets into the real value of having a proper conversation with your builder before you make any decisions, why being upfront about your plans can save you a fortune, and how the equity sitting in your home might mean you're in a better position than you think. If you've been sitting on the fence about a build or reno because you're worried about the cost, this one's for you. Whether it's now or later, the message is simple: have the conversation with your builder first. You might be surprised what's actually possible.
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