In this episode, Rebeka sits down with BuildHer Kate Hawkins to talk about her recent renovation project in Geelong, which she impressively finished in just six weeks!

Having made a bold move to uplift their family's life from New South Wales, Kate opens up about how she found the property and the vision that guided the renovation.

They dive into the satisfaction that comes from hands-on work, and the emotional connection that grows when you're personally invested in a project, making mindful decisions to create a home, not just complete a quick "flip" project.

Kate also touches on the value of building strong, long-term relationships with tradespeople and the care she took to honour the home's heritage throughout the renovation process.

This beautiful home is now on the market which you can view below - best of luck Kate!

https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-east+geelong-146067228

In this episode, Rebeka sits down with BuildHer Kate Hawkins to talk about her recent renovation project in Geelong, which she impressively finished in just six weeks!
Having made a bold move to uplift their family's life from New South Wales, Kate opens up about how she found the property and the vision that guided the renovation.
They dive into the satisfaction that comes from hands-on work, and the emotional connection that grows when you're personally invested in a project, making mindful decisions to create a home, not just complete a quick "flip" project.
Kate also touches on the value of building strong, long-term relationships with tradespeople and the care she took to honour the home's heritage throughout the renovation process.
This beautiful home is now on the market which you can view below - best of luck Kate!
https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-east+geelong-146067228

Rebeka Morgan from BuildHer Collective chat about all things building and renovating and everyday people making their mark in the building industry.

Building With BuildHer hosted by BuildHer Collective

Building With BuildHer

Hands-On, Hearts-In: Transforming a Heritage Home in Six Weeks!

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 why treating finance as a strategy (not a transaction) can be the difference between sitting on the sidelines and actually getting deals done. Because here is the truth: not all lenders are created equal, not all brokers think like developers, and the way you structure your finance matters just as much as the deal itself.

We walk through how to approach brokers with intention, why starting with “how much can I borrow?” is often the wrong question, and how to flip the script - find the deal first, then reverse-engineer the finance to make it work. We also touch on different strategies such as equity release, LVR, development finance, construction loans, and why sometimes access to cash matters far more than chasing the lowest interest rate.

And perhaps most importantly, we unpack the mindset shift from feeling risk to actually calculating it - because so many women are far closer to their next project than they realise… they just have not been shown how to leverage what they already have.

Think of this episode as your behind-the-scenes guide to the money side of property - the part no one really teaches, but everyone needs. Because the women who build wealth in property are not just good at design or numbers… they know how to make money move.

If you have ever thought a broker was just there to tell you &ldquo;how much you can borrow&rdquo;&hellip; 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 why treating finance as a strategy (not a transaction) can be the difference between sitting on the sidelines and actually getting deals done. Because here is the truth: not all lenders are created equal, not all brokers think like developers, and the way you structure your finance matters just as much as the deal itself.
We walk through how to approach brokers with intention, why starting with &ldquo;how much can I borrow?&rdquo; is often the wrong question, and how to flip the script - find the deal first, then reverse-engineer the finance to make it work.&nbsp;We also touch on different strategies such as equity release, LVR, development finance, construction loans, and why sometimes access to cash matters far more than chasing the lowest interest rate.
And perhaps most importantly, we unpack the mindset shift from feeling risk to actually calculating it - because so many women are far closer to their next project than they realise&hellip; they just have not been shown how to leverage what they already have.
Think of this episode as your behind-the-scenes guide to the money side of property - the part no one really teaches, but everyone needs. Because the women who build wealth in property are not just good at design or numbers&hellip;&nbsp;they know how to make money move.

 Understanding the Role of Brokers in Real Estate Financing

If you have ever found yourself deep in the Instagram rabbit hole saving kitchens, bathrooms and tiles like a woman possessed… this episode is for you.

Rebeka and BuildHer Collective’s Head of Design, Rebecca, chat about how to use media as a market guide without letting the pretty pictures take over your project. Because while inspiration is everywhere right now, not every trend belongs in your build - and not every beautiful finish makes financial or practical sense.

Together they lift the lid on how experienced developers filter the noise, identify the elements that actually resonate with buyers, and translate inspiration into cohesive, high-end spaces that sell. From choosing a hero material (hello Turkish Delight stone) to resisting the temptation to add every “bell and whistle”, this conversation is a masterclass in restraint, market alignment and designing homes people truly want to live in - not just admire on Pinterest.

If you are renovating, building or developing for profit, this episode will sharpen how you interpret design trends and turn inspiration into smart, strategic decisions.

If you have ever found yourself deep in the Instagram rabbit hole saving kitchens, bathrooms and tiles like a woman possessed&hellip; this episode is for you.
Rebeka and BuildHer Collective&rsquo;s Head of Design, Rebecca, chat about how to use media as a market guide without letting the pretty pictures take over your project. Because while inspiration is everywhere right now, not every trend belongs in your build - and not every beautiful finish makes financial or practical sense.
Together they lift the lid on how experienced developers filter the noise, identify the elements that actually resonate with buyers, and translate inspiration into cohesive, high-end spaces that sell. From choosing a hero material (hello Turkish Delight stone) to resisting the temptation to add every &ldquo;bell and whistle&rdquo;, this conversation is a masterclass in restraint, market alignment and designing homes people truly want to live in - not just admire on Pinterest.
If you are renovating, building or developing for profit, this episode will sharpen how you interpret design trends and turn inspiration into smart, strategic decisions.

Using Media as a Market Guide

Buying a property to renovate or develop for profit is not a time to rely on “good vibes” - it's about whether the deal actually stacks up. And in this episode of Building with BuildHer, Rebeka covers exactly that: how to properly assess a property before you commit, so you are making strategic decisions, not expensive guesses.

This conversation is all about learning to defend a deal. Not in a scary, boardroom way - more in a calm, confident “I know why this works” kind of way. Rebeka walks through the research, feasibility thinking and number-checking that should happen before you buy, from understanding current value and potential resale, through to holding costs, timelines and how quickly profit can disappear when assumptions are not properly tested.

There is a gentle reminder that if you're developing property as a business, you need to be able to articulate exactly why a deal works - financially, strategically and practically - to yourself, your spreadsheet, your broker, and anyone else backing the project. If the numbers wobble when questioned, the deal probably does too.

If you are serious about renovating, building or developing for profit, this episode is a really valuable listen. It is practical, grounding, and exactly the kind of clarity that helps turn “I think this could work” into “I know why this will.”

Buying a property to renovate or develop for profit is not a time to rely on &ldquo;good vibes&rdquo; - it's about whether the deal actually stacks up. And in this episode of&nbsp;Building with BuildHer, Rebeka covers exactly that: how to properly assess a property before you commit, so you are making strategic decisions, not expensive guesses.
This conversation is all about learning to defend a deal. Not in a scary, boardroom way - more in a calm, confident &ldquo;I know why this works&rdquo; kind of way. Rebeka walks through the research, feasibility thinking and number-checking that should happen before you buy, from understanding current value and potential resale, through to holding costs, timelines and how quickly profit can disappear when assumptions are not properly tested.
There is a gentle reminder that if you're developing property as a business, you need to be able to articulate exactly why a deal works - financially, strategically and practically - to yourself, your spreadsheet, your broker, and anyone else backing the project. If the numbers wobble when questioned, the deal probably does too.
If you are serious about renovating, building or developing for profit, this episode is a really valuable listen. It is practical, grounding, and exactly the kind of clarity that helps turn &ldquo;I think this could work&rdquo; into &ldquo;I know why this will.&rdquo;

Hands-On, Hearts-In: Transforming a Heritage Home in Six Weeks!

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