Grab the free e-guide “How to Design a Home – 5 Simple Steps to Get Started and Get it Right”.  This guide will take you through how to create a home that works for you – now and always. It’s based on my work with hundreds of clients over more than 2 decades in this industry, and will simplify the design of your future family home. You can get it by heading to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/homedesign  This episode is all about the designer you choose for your project. If you’ve decided you’re going to work with one, it’s usually the first choice you’ll make.    And I say ‘if’, because I know that many homeowners don’t work directly with a designer. From what I’ve seen, especially in my time in Undercover Architect, many homeowners will draw up their own design on an app, or on paper, and then take it to a builder. The builder may have their own drafting team, and so that homeowner-prepared design then gets converted into drawings for approval and construction.  However, if you have decided to work with a designer, the first question many homeowners have is ‘who do I choose?’ … which is quickly followed by ‘how do I know for sure they’ll be any good?’  So, how do you find the right designer for you and your project?   Well, firstly, it’s accepting that not all designers are created equal. Then it’s a case of assessing their experience, how they treat you, and knowing how to work with them to get the best from the relationship.  So, I’m going to give you 7 nuggets of knowledge to use to assess your designer.   You can use these before you start working with them to determine if they’re worth hiring … and in the early stages of your project when there’s still time to walk away without too much collateral damage.   These 7 Knowledge Nuggets are:  They have a process that demonstrates efficiency  They can communicate  They don’t take feedback personally  They tell you what you need to hear  They guide you  They treat your money like their own  They have industry knowledge and experience  Listen to the episode for more info now.   And head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/how-to-choose-a-designer for the full transcript of this podcast.  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

Know what to look for in an architect's or designer's quote so you can protect yourself and your project. Request your FREE Guide now … It includes a complete transcript of this podcast, my top 10 tips, plus 3 bonus tips not mentioned anywhere else >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/quotechecklist  This episode is to help you know what to look for in an architect’s or designer’s quote. If you’re receiving fee proposals from potential designers for your project – and infact any consultants you might need on your team, this episode will be great for you.   I’ve seen many architect and designer quotes in my time now, and to be frank, some of them are shocking. They expose both the homeowner and the designer to a huge amount of risk.   And it’s fine when everything goes well, but if there’s any discrepancy or frustration during the project, then it can be very difficult to understand next steps, and what recourse you might have in your project. The fee proposal, and any agreement you sign, becomes a type of contract for the services you’re paying for. When it’s not well-written, it can cause huge problems.  What type of problems? Well, let me share a scenario I hear FAR TOO OFTEN when it comes to homeowners working with designers. This is not typical to architects … it happens with building designers, interior designers, draftspeople – I hear it across the board.  So, in initial conversations, the designer seems great. They don’t seem precious about aesthetic or particular design direction. They tell you they’re not fixed on any one style, and will design to what you’re seeking aesthetically.  They tell you your budget is spot one for what you want to build or renovate.  They give you a timeframe to execute your project and they’re ready to start now.  And so you sign on the dotted line.  Things start well enough, but then things slow down, they’re not responding to your phonecalls or emails, and missing deadlines they promised.  Or, they’re now telling you your budget isn’t enough, and they’re not willing to have their reputation damaged because you want them to design a budget project.  And style-wise, they now have a specific vision for your project, and really couldn’t care less if it’s how you wanted your home to look.  They now seem to be precious about their reputation, and their design style and vision. They take feedback personally. They threaten to resign when you express your frustrations. They tell you they own copyright and you can’t take the design anywhere else.   You’re backed into a corner, bullied and battle-worn, and feeling like you’re funding the work of an ego-maniac. And you can’t wait for the whole thing to be over and for you to just be in your finished home already. It’s not the home you dreamed of, you’re spending more than you wanted, it doesn’t look the way you expected, but you’re tired, and feel stressed every meeting and during every conversation with the designer.   You feel you’ve got too far into the process to turn around now, and anyway, who would pick up the process now? So, you keep paying your increasing bills, and subjecting yourself to terrible service from a design professional who only demonstrates arrogance in their ability and little respect towards you as their client.  Sounds horrible doesn’t it? And it is. And unfortunately it’s a scenario I hear far too often, and as I said, it’s not typical to architects. It happens across the board, regardless of the design professional’s qualifications.   Some design professionals are just terrible at taking care of their clients.   The good news? You being informed is the key to not hiring these people in the first place, or seeing the red flags early so you can terminate things quickly.   It starts with your quote or fee proposal, and the agreement you sign with your designer. So, let’s look at what needs to be in it, so you can check this off for your project. I’ve got 10 things for you to look for in your architect’s or designer’s quote or fee proposal.   Listen to the episode for more info now.   And head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/quotechecklist and download the full transcript of this podcast.  FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

Got questions about your renovation or new home?  This episode answers 3 questions I receive frequently from the UA Community.  I receive a lot of questions from homeowners. Between comments on the blog, people getting in touch over email or social media, and from the members in my online programs, it’s always great to see what homeowners are curious about, and the help they need.   I’ve selected these 3 questions because I receive them really regularly. These 3 questions are:  What is the best stage to get a quantity surveyor in to do a cost report on your design?  Do I really need a Project Manager on my new build or renovation?  How do I find time to get my reno or building planning started?  Listen to the episode for more info now.   FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE

This episode introduces a new Project Diary on the Undercover Architect website – the design and construction of a new home in New Zealand.  This is a project I designed for the owners late last year, and so, in this episode, I share how the design process went, and how I worked with these homeowners to create the design for their future forever family home.  So, what’s a Project Diary? Well, it’s where we follow the journey of someone who is building or renovating their home. There are already 2 Project Diaries on the Undercover Architect website.  One is the renovation of a Queenslander cottage, and the other is the construction of a new family home for the Andersons. These project diaries go step by step through their journey … from their design process, their quoting, their selection of a builder and then the construction and completion of the home. It’s really great if you’re planning a project yourself to see how another family did theirs, and what they learnt along the way.  And it’s the Andersons that we’re following again.   See, late last year, they got an offer they couldn’t refuse to relocate back to New Zealand, which is where they’re originally from. They put their home on the market, it sold quickly and they found a large block of land in New Zealand. They worked with me to create design for their home, and they’re now working with a local draftsperson, builder and other consultants to kick their project off.  And they’ve kindly invited us along for the ride. So, I thought I’d use this podcast episode to give you an insight into how the initial design for their home was created.   And then over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more information, as well as photos and videos from their building site in New Zealand. Whilst I’ve never seen it in person, the Andersons are awesome at photographing the progress, and even taking drone footage. So, you’ll get a great chance to see how this project unfolds in the months ahead.  In this episode, I’ll be sharing with you how the Andersons briefed me on their needs, wants and wishes for this home, and the designs I created as a result. You’ll also be able to check out these designs by heading to the website >>> head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/newzealandhome1   Listen to the episode for more info now.   FOR RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST CLICK HERE