The Bank Pulled Our Loan After We Knocked the House Down

Dianne Kovacevic and her husband Dave spent years getting ready before they bought a single site. He refused a limited builder's licence and spent a year on slabs and foundations to earn the unlimited one. She completed a diploma in contract drafting and estimation. Only then did they go looking fo…

Size, Materials, Labour: How Elise Weavers Keeps Her Third Reno on Budget

Elise Weavers is back for renovation number three: a single fronted Melbourne terrace on 370 square metres, nearly done and already home. In this episode, Elise and Rebeka unpack the three levers Elise pulls to control cost on every project: the size of the build, the materials she chooses, and the…

Would You Do This Deal? Assessing a Live Site With My Boys

Most of us think a feasibility is a spreadsheet. It isn't. It's a decision-making tool, and the thinking behind the numbers is what tells you what to put in them.   In this solo episode Rebeka takes you behind the scenes as she helps her two boys, Liam and Ben, assess a live site for their first …

Trust the Numbers, Trust Yourself: Louise Woodcroft on Renovating Through Uncertainty

We'd all like to believe we make property decisions with a calculator. The truth is messier. Doubt, second-guessing, and a market that never sits still all get a vote.   In this episode Rebeka sits down with Louise Woodcroft to talk about what it actually takes to make the hard calls in property …

Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should: Using AI Without Losing Your Voice (with Rhiannon Lee)

Everyone's either terrified of AI or shouting that you're behind. This episode is neither. Rebeka sits down with Rhiannon Lee - founder of Oleander and Finch and one of the design industry's clearest voices on AI - for the most honest conversation we've had about using these tools without losing yo…

Colour, Mood and Buyer Psychology with Cat Brown of Arch Melbourne

We spend so much time obsessing over layouts, floorplans, stone selections and budgets… but what if the thing that actually stops people in their tracks is something far less obvious? In this episode of Building With BuildHer, Rebeka sits down with Cat Brown from Arch Melbourne to unpack the power…

The Flip That Gave Lauren the Confidence to Quit Her Job

What happens when a highly organised project manager, three young kids, and a slightly terrifying leap-of-faith moment collide? You get one very impressive first property flip. In this episode of Building With BuildHer, Rebeka sits down with DevelopHer Lauren McKenna to unpack her first renovation…

From 30% to 54% ROI: How Zerin Is Scaling Smarter with Every Project

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can actually turn a profit in this market, this episode is your proof that you can. We're joined by DevelopHer Zerin who has just wrapped up her second project in under 12 months, delivering a 54% ROI (yes, you read that right) - and she breaks down exactly how …

From Data to Decision: Where AI Helps in Property Development (and Where It Doesn’t)

Think AI is the shortcut to smarter property development? It is… just not in the way you might expect. In this episode, Rebeka walks through how she is using AI in real time across projects, from scanning markets and spotting opportunities, to testing ideas and streamlining day-to-day operations. …

Understanding the Role of Brokers in Real Estate Financing

If you have ever thought a broker was just there to tell you “how much you can borrow”… this episode might just change the way you think about playing the property game. In this conversation, we cover the real role of a loan broker when you are renovating, building or developing for profit - and w…