Over the years Amelia has been working with homeowners, she has often them asked this question …    “What are you most afraid of when renovating or building your home? What makes you most nervous, causes the most stress and brings about that feeling of overwhelm?”   The answer to this gets delivered in different ways. Sometimes with tears, and sometimes with hearty chuckles. Sometimes with quiet whispers like it’s something they don’t want to admit. But it always (and Amelia means ALWAYS) the response is similar.   There are a few main fears, and this one generally jumps out first. This is what you tell Amelia:  You’re nervous about what it will cost you to renovate or build or home  Can you afford to do what you want to do, this dream you have in your head (and heart) about your future home  How can you know you can start and won’t blow your budget along the way, and   How do you avoid being taken advantage of due to your lack of knowledge … being ripped off … being made a fool of … or making expensive mistakes.  These fears are understandable and totally justifiable. For every story of a successful renovation or building project, there’s a disaster story as well. One where homeowners have overspent by huge amounts sometimes. And we’re often talking about sums of money we’re borrowing from the bank, or have spent a long time saving or earning.   And, of course this fear is real because when you stuff it up at this scale, the consequences can be far reaching … financially, mentally, emotionally. It can impact so many areas of your lifestyle and your life – and those that you share it with.  In this podcast episode, Amelia shares the 3 main animal types (!) that homeowners can turn into when navigating this fear during their projects. And what goes wrong when they do.  And, she also asks you to flip your thinking about your project budget … in a way that can fundamentally change the journey, and the outcome you create in your finished home.  Listen to the episode now, and you’ll hear more about what’s coming up in this Season 3 of the “Get it Right” podcast, and how it will help you if you’re building or renovating.  And, for the first time ever, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED.  Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.  Perhaps you’ve been looking for that integrated, designed lighting solution, and found it really hard to access as a one-off for your project. It’s expensive to get made to order, or requires your electrician to do a bunch of work on site to make it happen.  Previously this level of customisation and design was only accessible to those in the trade. Kiiko instead brings custom linear LED to you, from their headquarters in Brisbane, Australia.   You can order online via the Kiiko website. So you pick your design, your length, your LED light type. If you need help with designing your LED strip lighting solution, you can always jump on the phone or email to one of their team too.     Kiiko is founded by Craig Thomas, who Amelia personally has had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in her own projects, and in client projects.    And so Amelia has been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.    Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

Finding out what your renovation or new home will cost you is not a one-step exercise. In fact, in Amelia's experience, the best results come from approaching this question from various angles.   When you work out what your project will cost you in a more holistic way, using several inputs and types of information, you ultimately come up with a much more reliable answer. And can be more confident your project will stay on budget, PLUS create a great outcome for you as a finished home.  So, what does Amelia mean by this?   Over the course of this season, Amelia will be taking you through various strategies you can use to determine what your renovation or new home will cost. And what to do when it’s looking like it will cost more than you want to spend. What information to trust, and what not to. And how to stay informed and involved throughout. Because staying on top of your budget is one key factor to staying in control of your project overall.    So let’s start at the beginning. Where do you start when determining your budget? What are the first steps you can take when trying to work out what it WILL cost you to renovate or build your home. Or more to the point – what it COULD cost you and what it SHOULD cost you.   Amelia thinks that’s the key … we’re really looking at three costs here when it comes to setting your budget. What it COULD cost you.  What it SHOULD cost you.  And what it WILL cost you.  And each of those three figures might be entirely different from each other, and also impacted by many other factors.   In this episode, Amelia gives you tips to get started on determining each of these ‘costs’. And she also talks about cost vs value, and how you can use it to gain great clarity for your project.  Listen to the episode now, and learn where to start when determining your budget for your renovation or new build. It’s an important first step in any project starting well.   This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED.  Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.  Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who Amelia personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in her own projects, and in client projects.   And so Amelia has been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.   Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

Often when you’re starting to think about your project, and trying to determine the budget you need to set aside for it, you don’t to have to many public conversations about it. This is for a few reasons. One might be that you just feel clueless. You don’t know who to start speaking to, or the questions to ask. And in feeling like that, you may be worried that you’ll look foolish. Say something you’re not supposed to, or give professionals and builders information that gives away too much. It may be too that you don’t want to give too much away too soon. Show your hand and then be at the mercy of trusting everyone to not be taking advantage of you. Amelia knows that one thing that many homeowners she speaks to fear, is all the unknowns. And whenever you’re in that kind of territory, feeling out of your comfort zone, it’s can be a hard place to be. And to admit that you don’t really know what you’re doing whilst you’re there. Amelia would like to say this to you, though, if this is how you are feeling. You aren’t supposed to know what you’re doing – especially if this is the first time you’ve renovated or built your home. However, you’re sitting at home, and you’re thinking this whole renovation and building thing through. You’ve watched The Block, and House Rules, and Fixer Upper. And you’re thinking, I just want to get a handle on budgets, and how much things cost, before I start bothering anyone, or feeling like I’m wasting anyone’s time. So, how can you do it? Let Amelia give you some places to start. FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

There are 5 top money saving ideas Amelia hears homeowners use to explain how they’ll save big money in their reno or new build. In this episode, Amelia share why these can be in fact MYTHS. Huge mistakes that can actually cost you far more in the long run. So what are these money saving ideas? They are … Money Saving Idea #1: “I can get cheap tiles … or paint … or timber … via a friend / family member etc, so I’m going to save loads of money” Money Saving Idea #2: “My friend / family member is a builder / electrician / plumber and will be doing the job for us at cost, or for free”. Money Saving Idea #3: “I’ll save money because I’m going to buy all my fixtures and finishes separate to the builder's contract. I’ll be able to find bargains, and avoid the builder’s margin on these items.” Money Saving Idea #4: “I’m going to project manage my renovation or new build.” Money Saving Idea #5: “I’m going to do my project as an Owner-Builder.” For each of these 5 Money Saving Ideas, Amelia shares what can and does go terribly wrong. She also shares her main tips for each one, to help you avoid the pitfalls. And, she also shares with you what one big key is to saving money on your project. If you’ve been thinking of any of these 5 Money Saving Ideas as the reason you’ll save money on your renovation or new home … or it being the reason you can actually afford your project, then listen to this episode now. Learn why these 5 Money Saving Ideas can actually be myths and cost you far more in time, money and stress. This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED. Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project. Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who Amelia has personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in her own projects, and in client projects. And so Amelia has been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order. Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now! FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

Amelia wants to take you through some of the early mistakes she sees homeowners make. Ones that can cause budget blowouts down the track – before you’ve even begun your renovation or new build. These are the components that homeowners can overlook completely. And in doing so, they miss the opportunity it gives them to be strategic in their project. And, they potentially set themselves up for extra costs or cancelled projects. Amelia recommends that you wrap your head, and your budget, around these things as early in your project as you can. Because doing it early can impact the choices you make about how you renovate or build your home. And about how you create your home design. So what are these early components that get missed by many? Well, if you’re renovating, it how you deal with what needs to occur to your home as part of its maintenance and upkeep anyway. And if you’re building, it's how you deal with what needs to happen to prepare your land for a new home. In this episode, Amelia explains how to use early information in your renovation project to impact what and how you renovate. And to bring clarity to your overall budget, and strategic thinking to your decisions and choices. And Amelia also explains how to investigate the land you’ll be building on, to see what it can tell you about how to build, what to build and how to save money doing it. Listen to the episode, as Amelia shares what can go wrong, and what you should do instead. This information can help you make those first steps in your project far more confidently. And they can prevent big budget blowouts that derail and kill projects altogether. This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED. Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project. Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who Amelia has personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in her own projects, and in client projects. And so she's been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order. Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now! FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

When you’re first starting out on your project, you’re generally looking for a designer or a builder (or both). And ultimately you’re trying to find someone you can trust, and who is a good fit for your project.  It can be tricky to know how much to say, and whether to admit you don’t know what you’re doing. This episode is all about how to have that first conversation with your potential designer or builder.   Amelia shares what goes wrong when you don’t choose well, and what can go right. And she also gives key tips for how to speak with them when first on the hunt for yours.  Amelia thinks that when you understand what can go wrong, and what it looks like when you get it right, it helps you be more alert and aware in your search for your team at the outset.  When you find the right designer and builder for you, these two professionals can be the ones to facilitate a great outcome for your project, and help you create a home you love to live in.  Finding the right designer for you:  What can go wrong:  Not be able to communicate effectively  You’ll take a long time to reach a design resolution  The designer will overspend your budget and timelines  What happens when you get it right:  Process overall will be simplified  It will also be more efficient  You’ll have more certainty around cost and time   Tips for how to have the first conversation with your potential designer:  Speak about your budget in ranges  Let them know what the budget needs to include  Look to designers with demonstrated experience in projects similar to yours   And finding the right builder for you:   What can go wrong:  You expect your builder to be a designer as well  Communication breakdowns occur  Poor management and quality in your project   What happens when you get it right:  The builder is efficient, polite and organised  Site is a great place to be  Honest and open communication skills  Tips for how to have the first conversation with your potential builder:  Review the language you use  Check previous experience  Check credentials and licenses  When it goes well with your design and builder – and it can – your reno or new home project can be enjoyable. Even when unexpected challenges come up, having the right team around you can make those experiences so much simpler to tackle.   And relying on your team to carry you, support you and share your journey, can help you feel confident that all the effort, time and money will deliver the home – and lifestyle – you’re hoping for.  This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED.  Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.  Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who Amelia has personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in her own projects, and in client projects.   And so Amelia has been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.   Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

There’s a saying that goes something like this …  “A new home or renovation will always cost twice as much, and take twice as long, as you expect it to”  It’s usually given as a warning to those embarking on their project. And often it’s handed out at school gates or BBQs or in the workplace … where well-meaning friends and colleagues who’ve been through a project of their own, share learnings from their own experience.  However, in Amelia's opinion, there’s a big issue with this piece of advice. What she actually finds is this:  Homeowners in fact start  their project expecting that it will take half as long, and cost half as much as it actually will.  Amelia dooesn't know how expectations and reality got so far apart. Perhaps it’s a diet of reality TV programs and big shed hardware stores.  So, let’s look at what can happen when you realise your budget is unrealistic, and how to get yourself back on track so you can keep going on your project.   There are four main areas where Amelia see homeowners run into trouble and discover their budgets are unrealistic for what they’re seeking to build or renovate.   These 4 main areas are really categorised by red flags, or warning signs, so Amelia's going to talk about them in that way so you can keep them on your radar for your project.   These 4 main warnings or red flags are:  Looking for magic pills  Not understanding the impact of your decisions (and this extends to those you’re working with not advising you either)  Not listening to warning from your professional team  Not tracking your budget  So, is your budget unrealistic for your project vision? Listen to the podcast now to get help on what to do if it is – and keep you moving forward towards your finished home.   This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED.  Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.  Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who Ameilia personally has had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in her own projects, and in client projects.   And so Amelia has been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.   Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

When homeowners find out – often with total shock – that their expectations for their renovation or new home project don’t match the reality of its cost, a readjustment has to occur for them to keep going on their journey.  The challenge is that many homeowners often wait far too long to get to this point of readjustment.   They hop on a train towards their destination (that is, their new or renovated home), without checking that they’re on the right train. It’s only several stops along their trip that they check, and discover they’re on an express train to somewhere they didn’t mean to go.   So, how do you avoid this? How do you avoid the hurt of derailing a train (ie your project) and it ending in disaster?  Simple. Get your expectations meeting reality as early as possible. If you can readjust early, then you can hop on the best train for you.  Part of this is working out the cost of your renovation or new home. Homeowners often feel this is a one-step process, however it’s definitely not.  This is how Amelia recommends you source costing information on your new home or renovation project … and when. And then manage your budget and spending along the way.  There’s several steps, and in this podcast, we move through them one by one …   Step #1: At the very start  Step #2: To help you choose the best design concept to move forward with  Step #3: Before you lodge for your Council Approval (DA, Development Application, Development Approval)  Step #4: Before you get Building Approval   Step #5: Before you sign a contract with a builder  Step #6: During the construction project  Step #7: Before making the final payment  If there’s anything you take away from this season of the podcast, Amelia would love it to be this …  Determining what your project will cost is an incremental process.   You set your budget at the beginning, and you keep testing and adjusting as you go. Providing more information, resolving more detail, and finding out cost estimates along the way.  Amelia has said it before, but it’s literally like moving through a funnel … one that gets narrower as you go … and moves you towards where you want to get to as you sift and filter all the info you need along the way.  Listen to the podcast to learn more about these steps, how to get costing information, and who to talk to.    Links mentioned in the podcast  Definition of Provision Sums and PC Items: http://www.build.com.au/prime-cost-and-provisional-sum-traps  This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED.  Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.  Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who Amelia has personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in her own projects, and in client projects.   And so Amelia has been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.    Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

One of the things I often see occurs is that homeowners will be so diligent during their early phases of their projects. Total ninjas when juggling competing demands, sorting their priorities, hunting down bargains, making strong decisions so they meet their budget.  And then construction will start.    They’ll head to site and start seeing progress. And then they’ll start changing things. Or they’ll see a material or fixture somewhere, fall in love with it, and have to have it – even though it’s more than what they’d originally budgeted for, or already selected.  This might be because construction feels like the last point at which you can be sure you’ve got it right. Your last opportunity to ensure you’ve made the best choices, because once it’s in, it’s permanent and you’ll be living with it.  And perhaps too, it’s because it can be hard to visualise things when they’re all on paper. You’re looking at lines on a page that represents rooms and spaces and joinery. Often homeowners will walk on site and say “Oh, is THAT what it looks like” like it’s the first time they’ve actually realised.   When you make changes on site: be it because you’ve not understood how something actually was designed … or you see an alternative product or material you would rather use … or you change your mind about anything you’ve previously selected or included in your design … these changes rarely save you money.    More often than not, they cost MORE in time and money.  And it’s in these changes that homeowners can blow their budget. They’re spending a little extra here and there. All those ‘little extras’ add up over time, get a builder’s margin added onto them, and can end up being a big budget blowout.   In this episode, I share the ways you can spend your budget wisely, and stay on track for your project, as well as the tools you can use. I go into detail on these three specific strategies:  Strategy 1: Start how you intend to finish … and finish how you started  Strategy 2: Monitor your progress – in time and money  Strategy 3: Be realistic about your own abilities  Following these strategies will help you to manage the spending of your budget with the same discipline you set it with. And ultimately that will help you stay on track in your renovation or new build, and deliver the finished result without huge financial headaches.   Listen to the podcast now to learn more about these strategies and stay on track with your spending!   Links mentioned in the podcast  Microsoft now has a template you can use to set up your budget in excel  https://www.microsoft.com/australia/madewithoffice/article/how-to-keep-track-of-your-diy-renovation-in-excel.aspx  Pocketbook is one of my favourite apps for streaming your bank account and tracking / categorising transactions  https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pocketbook-personal-finance-expense-tracker/id653330894?mt=8  Renovation Budget Tracker ($4.50)  https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/renovation-budget-tracker/id381991960?mt=8   AMP Budget Tracker  https://www.tracker.qandamp.com.au/  Tom’s Planner  https://www.tomsplanner.com/  LED Lighting and how to get it right  http://undercoverarchitect.com/what-is-led-lighting/   This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED.  Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.  Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who I’ve personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in my own projects, and in client projects.   And so I’ve been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.   Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

As you begin to design and plan your new home or renovation, chances are you’ll be:  looking at the spaces you want to create  how you want to wrap them up (their size, shape, etc )  and what you want to put in them (finishes, fixtures, furnishings, etc)  When you start to allocate your budget to these dreamed and imagined spaces, finishes and fixtures, it can be a surprise to see how quickly it gets consumed.   And often, in my experience, the reaction can often be “But where is all the money going?”  There are many things required to create a working, finished new or renovated home, and they can chew up a significant chunk of your budget – and yet be almost invisible in the finished product.   So in this episode, we go through the main areas where money can disappear in any project, so you can manage them in yours. I share the main hazards to be aware of, and how you can protect your budget in each of these areas.   Of course, the ones I’m listing here are not exhaustive – the best way to manage your budget is to manage all of it!    However, I’ve seen these areas regularly surprise homeowners, and end up costing them far more than they intended.   I take you through 4 main areas that can swallow your budget for a seemingly invisible result. I also share key tips to help you protect your budget in these areas – and overall.  Money gobbler 1:Services (especially electrical and plumbing)  Money gobbler 2:Excavation and retaining  Money gobbler 3:Your home’s skeleton (the structure)  Money gobbler 4:Extra living expenses during your project   And one last word on this …   I see some homeowners behave like it’s a foregone conclusion that their project will blow budget and timelines. Renovating and building doesn’t have to be that way.  The renovating and building journey is not a one-step process. It’s a step-by-step journey of discovery and selection. Sometimes you only have 2 options. Sometimes you have 200. Sometimes you may feel like you’re crawling, and at other times it feels like big jumps towards the finish line.  The most straight-forward way to avoid nasty surprises on your reno or new home journey is to start with good information and a reliable team. Then you can also work to make informed choices as you go. Checking and adjusting along the way. What did we say in an earlier episode? ADAPT AND INNOVATE!!  Revisiting your design, your budget and your timeline at each of these stages will help you do this, and make the best choices for you … your budget, your site and your life. That’s the way you create the perfect home for you.   Listen to the podcast now to learn more about these 4 main areas, and how to protect your budget, and manage your risk overall.  This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED.  Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.   Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who I’ve personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in my own projects, and in client projects.    And so I’ve been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.    Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!   FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE