Development Insight Ep 47

We’re back for 2026 and kicking things off in the new (almost finished) podcast studio with Ryan Houston for a deep dive into one of the biggest decisions developers face: volume builders vs custom builders. In this episode, we break down: • Why your end buyer should always come first and how that decision shapes everything from design to builder selection • The real differences between volume builders and custom builders—cost, speed, quality, systems, and risk • How volume builders win on price, repetition, speed, and fixed-price certainty, especially for investor-focused projects • Why custom builders are better suited to premium locations and owner-occupier markets, where design, emotion, and the 1%ers matter • The role of trade repetition, systems, and timelines, and how speed directly impacts feasibility and profit • How developers get caught out by using the wrong comparables, leading to blown margins or unsellable stock • Why design flexibility is powerful but expensive, and when it makes sense to pay for it • Real-world insights from Ryan’s background as a tradie working under volume builders and how those systems actually operate on site This episode is all about aligning location, buyer avatar, design, and builder choice so your development stacks up—not just on paper, but at sale time. Whether you’re a first-time developer or scaling into larger projects, this is a must-listen to start 2026 the right way.