The Good Builder Podcast

Every now and then a guest walks onto the pod and you walk away genuinely fired up about the future of this industry.Lewis Italiano is one of those guests.He's a carpenter from WA, still finishing his apprenticeship, and already has a resume most blokes twice his age don't come close to. Gold at the regional and national WorldSkills competitions. A Medallion for Excellence representing Australia on the international stage in Lyon. Training stints through China, Japan and France. Master Builders Apprentice of the Year for 2025. WA Training Awards winner. And in between all that, he's standing up in front of high school students and parents talking about why the trades are one of the most future-proof career paths in the country.This is the first apprentice we've ever had on The Good Builder, and Az sat down with Lewis to unpack the mindset, the work ethic, and the standards behind a story that everyone in the industry should be paying attention to.We get into where it all started on the family dairy farm, why woodwork class in year 11 changed everything, and the realities of starting an apprenticeship on $350 a week. Lewis breaks down what WorldSkills actually is, what it's like representing your country against 1,600 competitors from 60 nations, and why he believes Australia is still on the back foot when it comes to celebrating the craft.We also talk about the stigma parents still carry around the trades, why mindset matters more than money in the early years, and what builders and supervisors can do to attract and keep the next generation of apprentices on their teams.If you're a builder looking for the kind of apprentice you actually want on your crew, this is what one looks like.If you're a young person sitting on the fence about which path to take, listen to this one twice.What We CoverGrowing up on a dairy farm and where Lewis's work ethic actually came fromFalling in love with the craft through high school woodworkThe reality of apprentice wages and why mindset beats money in the early yearsWhat WorldSkills is, how you get there, and what it's like competing internationallyRepresenting Australia in Lyon, France against 1,600 competitors from 60 countriesWinning Master Builders Apprentice of the Year 2025 and what it actually meantSpeaking at Parliament House and why advocacy matters for the future of the tradesThe stigma parents still hold around the trades and how to shift itWhy AI won't be replacing tradies any time soonWhat makes a good apprentice and what builders should look for in their next hireLewis's plans to take on a second trade, build his own home, and keep mentoring the next generationSponsor CalloutsThis episode of The Good Builder is powered by MyConstruct — the all-in-one construction management platform built for Australian builders. Quote, schedule, manage, and communicate with your clients from one place. Head to myconstruct.com and get your 30-day FREE trial.We're also proudly partnered with Pay.com.au — the smarter way for builders to pay suppliers, subcontractors, and the ATO using your existing credit card. Earn points on every payment, improve your cash flow, and use the code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points when you sign up. Terms apply at pay.com.au/tgb.#TheGoodBuilder #TheDailyDose #AustralianBuilders #Apprenticeship #WorldSkills #ApprenticeOfTheYear #Tradies #ConstructionAustralia #CarpentryLife #FutureOfTrades #MasterBuilders #LewisItaliano

Aaron is back with Emily Pollard from Nesta Builder Brokers for another Monday breakdown, and this week they dig into something Aaron has been watching in the Google search data for the past 12 months. The Australian housing market is splitting in two. On one end, more buyers are looking at modular, prefab, tiny homes and alternative builds. On the other, the luxury custom market is busier than ever. And right in the middle, the everyday buyer is getting squeezed.Aaron and Emily unpack what is actually driving the search data, where the project home builder fits now that million dollar builds are becoming the new normal, and what builders need to think about when picking their lane. They get into granny flats and secondary dwellings, intergenerational living, the rise of cashed-up first home buyers in the under-million market, and the buyers agents pushing equity uplift promises that often do not stack up.This is a real conversation about where the market is heading, what builders are seeing on the ground, and the gap between what the data says and what is actually happening in display villages and on building sites across Australia.What We CoverThe two ends of the market that are growing, and the middle that is going quietWhy people are searching for modular and prefab, and why it is not always cheaperWhat now actually counts as a high end build in AustraliaWhy project builders are quietly moving into the million dollar spaceThe granny flat and secondary dwelling boom, and why we should stop calling them granny flatsIntergenerational living and the cultural shift happening in Australian housingWhat the under-million first home buyer market really looks like in 2026The buyers agent equity uplift pitch, and why Emily is over hearing itWhere modular fits in display villages, estate covenants, and the future of housingWhy builders need to pick their lane and stop racing to the bottom on priceSponsorsThis episode is proudly brought to you by MyConstruct, the construction software built by Australian builders for Australian builders. If you are still running your jobs, contracts and client comms across text messages and spreadsheets, there is a better way. Head to myconstruct.com for a 30 day trial.This episode is also supported by Pay.com.au. Pay your business expenses, earn points on everything, and use the code GOOD20 to score 20,000 bonus points when you sign up. Head to pay.com.au/tgb

Quality, on time, on budget. If that's how you sell yourself, you sound exactly like every other builder in Australia. And in a market this tight, sounding like everyone else is one of the most dangerous places you can be.In this Friday wrap, Az covers three big stories breaking across the industry this week, then goes deep on the one thing every builder needs but most never sit down to define: their Unique Value Proposition.He shares how UVP work drove $700 million in growth at GJ Gardner Homes, how it helped Avondale Homes hit $24 million in three years targeting a specific niche, and the five practical ways you can find yours this week.Plus an honest look at the mental health stat we can't ignore, the NCC 2025 split that's just gone live in Victoria, and the lessons from Tom Sachs at Stroud Homes Lockyer Valley.What We CoverThe RBA rate move and what it could mean for builder enquiry over the coming weeksThe Built and Bunnings modular construction deal and what it signals about affordability and speedNCC 2025 going live in Victoria on 1 May 2026, and why Master Builders called the timing extremely disappointingWhat Victorian builders need to action right now on lead-free plumbing and Class 2 waterproofingThe compliance challenge for multi-state builders crossing the Vic and NSW borderThe peer-reviewed University of Melbourne research showing one construction worker still takes their own life every two days in AustraliaWhy loneliness is the single strongest predictor of risk, and four practical things builders can do from the top downWhy paying subbies on time is one of the most concrete mental health actions in your controlKey lessons from Tom Sachs at Stroud Homes Lockyer Valley on coming through the side door of the industryTom's three pillars of a good builder: leadership, knowing your numbers, then knowing how to buildMarkup versus margin and why most builders go under on the quote, not the buildWhat a UVP actually is, and the brochure test that exposes whether yours is realWhy "we care about clients" and "quality on time on budget" are commodities, not differentiatorsThree reasons UVP matters more in 2026 than ever beforeFive lenses to find your UVP: client, niche, process, proof, and personalityThe three places your UVP must live: website and socials, sales conversations, and operationsWhy UVP is a business exercise, not a marketing exerciseYour Friday action item: don't write your UVP from your desk, mine it from your marketSupport Resources MentionedMates in Construction: 1300 642 111 (free, 24/7)TIACS: 0488 846 988 (free phone and text counselling, Mon to Fri, 8am to 10pm)Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7)SponsorsThis episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct — head to myconstruct.com to see how they're helping builders run better businesses.And by Pay.com.au — pay your bills, invoices and banking through their platform and earn bonus points you can spend on travel, family, whatever you like. Head to pay.com.au/TGB and use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points to get you started. Terms and conditions apply.#TheGoodBuilder #DailyDose #AustralianBuilders #ResidentialConstruction #BuilderBusiness #UVP #BuilderMarketing #NCC2025 #VictorianBuilders #ConstructionMentalHealth #MatesInConstruction #TIACS #BuilderMargins #StroudHomes #MyConstruct #PayComAU

Tom Sachs didn't take the traditional path into building. He left school early, started lopping trees, discovered a love for working with timber in a mate's shed, and eventually found his way into a carpentry apprenticeship. From commercial construction to residential building, and finally to owning a Stroud Homes franchise in the Lockyer Valley — Tom's story is anything but straight lines.In this episode, Az sits down with Tom to unpack the journey, the lessons, and the mindset that shaped the builder he is today.What we cover:How tree lopping led to a passion for timber and eventually a building careerThe commercial construction apprenticeship that surprised him — and what he took from itWhat joining the Stroud Homes franchise system actually looks like from the insideWhy knowing your numbers matters more than being the best person on the toolsHow Tom built a stable team from day one and why culture starts with the person at the topThe role his wife plays in the business and why that partnership worksWhat leadership, numbers, and knowing how to build all add up to — in Tom's own wordsThis episode is one of those conversations that pulls everything together. Practical, honest, and lived in. If you're a builder trying to figure out how to grow a business without losing your standards, this one's for you.This episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Learn more at myconstruct.com.Also supported by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb#construction #building #StroudHomes #franchise #tradie #builder #thegoodbuilder #podcast #residentialbuilding #buildingbusiness

Reddit doesn't lie. It's where clients go when they don't know where else to turn. And right now, it's full of confusion, frustration, and questions that the building industry hasn't answered well enough.This week, Az and co-host Emily Pollard from Nesta Builder Brokers spent time in the trenches of Reddit and Facebook groups, reading what real clients are actually saying about building a home in Australia. What they found wasn't just a trust problem. It was an education problem, a marketing problem, and honestly, an industry honesty problem.They talk about base price marketing and why display home tactics are fuelling consumer rage, the gap between what builders do and what clients understand, variations and why they keep blowing up relationships, the role of builder brokers in bridging that divide, and why the building experience itself has fundamentally changed for clients who can barely afford to get in the door.Emily brings something rare to this conversation. She talks to builders and clients every single day, without being tied to one company. That perspective cuts through.If you've ever wondered what your clients are reading before they even pick up the phone, this episode will change how you think about that first conversation.What we cover:What real clients are saying on Reddit and Facebook right nowWhy base price marketing is destroying industry trustThe gap between client expectations and builder realityVariations, contract confusion, and where communication breaks downHow the housing affordability crisis has changed the emotional experience of buildingWhat builders can do right now to be more transparent and rebuild trustSponsors: This episode is brought to you by MyConstruct, construction management software built for Australian builders. Find out more at myconstruct.com.And by Pay.com.au, use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more

A big Friday Daily Dose...and a couple of important changes coming at The Good Builder.From next week, the Daily Dose is moving to three episodes a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday. More room to breathe, deeper conversations, bigger guests, and more space for the research and data builders have been asking for.In today's episode, Az unpacks:— Why TGB is shifting to three days a week and what builders can expect — A 900% uplift in search terms for both modular and luxury custom builders, and what it tells us about a market splitting in two — Master Builders Australia putting the productivity case in front of the Senate, with construction productivity down 21.5% over the last decade and regulatory burden adding up to $327,000 per new home build — A heads up from Ash Turner at Glenvill Homes on clients running tender packs and contracts through ChatGPT, and what builders need to think about — The new MyConstruct and Billgrid integration that lets builders open up their trade and supply network instantly, all inside one workflowPractical, timely, and built for builders.Articles for every story are up at thegoodbuilder.com.auPowered by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders, by Australian builders. Head to myconstruct.com.Also sponsored by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 to get 20,000 bonus points when you pay your business bills through the platform. Head to pay.com.au/TGB.

This one was completely off the cuff.Toby from BuildGrid flew up from Melbourne to visit us at The Good Builder Studio, and Jake from MyConstruct happened to be in town too. So we hit record.What came out of it is one of the more practical conversations we've had on the podcast. Two of the country's most respected construction software founders sitting on the couch, explaining a new partnership that's now live and what it actually means for builders on the ground.Here's the short version. If you sign up to MyConstruct, BuildGrid is now plugged in. That means when you're sending out a request for quote, you're not just emailing your usual trades and waiting. You can push that scope into BuildGrid's network and open up access to a much wider supply chain. No extra cost. No clunky workaround. Just better visibility on capacity, pricing, and compliance.We dig into:Why both Jake and Toby believe collaboration beats the all-in-one approachHow the integration helps solve one of the industry's biggest issues right now, capacityThe compliance and licensing piece, and how it protects builders from riskWhat this means for franchise builders, regional builders, and anyone trying to scaleWhy pushing sales away because trades are stretched is a real problem in 2026The case study opportunity we're putting on the table for any builder who wants to use both platformsThis is not a sponsored ad read. MyConstruct is a long-time supporter of The Good Builder, and we genuinely back what Jake and Toby are doing. If you're a builder feeling the squeeze on capacity, productivity, or supply chain, this episode is worth fifty minutes of your time.Sponsor mention: This episode is brought to you by MyConstruct, Australia's leading construction management software for residential builders. Get a 30 day trial at myconstruct.com.Also supported by Pay.com.au. Use the code GOOD20 when signing up to receive 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for detailsCalling all builders: We're looking for one builder using MyConstruct and BuildGrid to feature in a full case study. Videos, interview, the lot. If that's you, get in touch through thegoodbuilder.com.au.

Dan Urquhart from 1000 Feet Deep is back on the podcast, and this one gets real.Az opens up about the season he's in right now...fired up, frustrated, and questioning where all the money in the industry is actually going. Dan meets him there with a calm, grounded conversation about how leaders move through hard seasons without losing themselves or their business in the process.This is a wide-ranging chat about leadership, team, culture, and the foundations that hold a building business together when the season shifts. Dan shares what he learned through COVID at GJ Gardner, why a strong mission gives you a backbone to measure problems against, and the three questions every leader should be asking themselves regularly: what do I need to drop off, what do I need to take up, and what do I need to move on from.It also gets personal. Both Dan and Az speak openly about the baggage leaders carry from past seasons, the cost of trying to do it all alone, and why surrounding yourself with the right people is the difference between weathering the next storm and getting caught out by it.In this episode:The seasons mindset and why leaders need to be present in the now while preparing for what's coming. The COVID lesson about success having weight, and why foundations are exposed when the pressure ramps up. Why mission, vision and core values are not corporate fluff but the anchor that lets you right-size every problem you face. Leadership, team and culture as the only three things you can actually control, and why everything else (reputation, consistency, finances, communication) is a byproduct. Why builders going to coach after coach are often trying to fix problems that started with weak leadership foundations. The personal side of leadership, the scars we carry into the next season, and why healing matters before the next chapter.Plus, Az floats a new idea: a living case study where The Good Builder backs one builder through the systems, leadership development and processes that we believe make a good builder. If that's you, get in touch.To learn more about Dan and 1000 Feet Deep, head to: https://www.1000feetdeep.com.au/SponsorsThis episode is brought to you by MyConstruct — construction management software built by builders, for builders. Fully customisable and locally owned. Start your 30-day free trial at myconstruct.comAlso proudly supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 to unlock 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more.

Most builders will take any deal they can get.Ash doesn't.In this episode, Az sits down with Ash, State Sales Manager at Glenvill Homes, inside their new Docklands headquarters in Melbourne. Glenville is one of Australia's quieter success stories. No marketing machine. No noise. Just a business built on sharp standards, deep trust, and a culture of doing things right.Ash's path into construction wasn't straight. A computer games degree, a stint at Telstra and Apple, and a cold call from a recruiter eventually landed him inside a business he's helped grow from a small Brisbane office to a serious retail and wholesale player across Queensland.In this conversation they cover:Why saying no to a client is sometimes the smartest business decision you can make. How Glenville moved from wholesale into retail and what it took to get 42 deals done in six months without a billboard in sight. The trust problem at the centre of every builder-client relationship — and why it's only getting harder to earn. How AI is already changing the way buyers research and assess builders, and what you should be doing about it right now. Why referrals carry more weight than any marketing spend — and the responsibility that comes with them. What makes a builder genuinely worth trusting in a market full of noise.Ash is exactly the kind of operator this industry needs more of. Thoughtful, transparent, and genuinely focused on getting it right. This one is worth the full listen.SponsorsThis episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct, the all-in-one platform built for residential builders by builders. Try it free at myconstruct.com.And by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to https://pay.com.au/tgb for more.#TheGoodBuilder #GlenvilleHomes #AustralianBuilders #ConstructionPodcast #BuilderMindset #TrustInConstruction #BuildingBusiness #HomeBuilding #ConstructionAustralia #SalesStrategy #BuilderLife #ResidentialConstruction #AIInConstruction #MelbourneBuilder #QueenslandBuilder #WholesaleBuilder #BuildingIndustry #SmallBusinessConstruction #TradiesAustralia #GoodBuilding

Most builders know materials, margins and project management. Very few know what the materials going into their homes are doing to the people living inside them.In this episode, Aaron sits down with Zara D'Cotta, building biologist, EMF specialist, and founder of The Healthy Home. Zara spent years navigating her own cancer diagnosis, environmental illness, and the search for a safe place to live. That experience became the foundation for her work helping builders, architects, and designers across Australia and New Zealand understand the relationship between the built environment and human health.This conversation covers ground most of the industry hasn't touched yet.Topics covered in this episode:Zara's personal journey through cancer, melanoma, and environmental illness — and what it revealed about the homes we buildWhat building biology actually is and why it was founded in post-war GermanyThe four areas that matter most in a healthy home: materials, moisture, air quality, and electromagnetic radiationWhy low VOC doesn't automatically mean safe — and what builders and designers should be asking insteadHow moisture gets trapped in walls during construction and why mold appears in homes less than two years oldWhat electromagnetic fields are, why the electrical code doesn't account for them, and how they can affect sleep, health, and wellbeingThe difference between a genuinely healthy home and one with a sauna and a dog bathHow builders can position themselves in the healthy homes space with integrity and transparencyWhat makes a good builder — Zara's answer will stay with youThis is bigger than building. But it starts with builders.Zara's work and upcoming workshops: https://www.thehealthyhome.com.au/This episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct, the all-in-one platform built for residential builders by builders. Try it free at myconstruct.com.And by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to https://pay.com.au/tgb for more.

Az is back from Melbourne with something every builder using AI on their website needs to hear.The AI isn't broken. That's actually what makes it dangerous.In conversations with Gavin Sloan from Live Chat Monitoring, one of the world's largest live chat and AI agent providers with over 4,500 clients, a clear pattern emerged. Builders who deployed AI agents on their websites found those agents happily recommending competitors, quoting prices, outlining timelines, and answering every question so thoroughly that prospects never felt the need to book.The fix isn't expensive. It's not technical. It's guardrails, a few clear sentences that tell your AI what it can and can't say, who it works for, and when to hand the conversation to a real person.In this episode, Az breaks down what guardrails are, why they matter, the five things your AI should never do, and the moment a conversation stops being an AI job and becomes a sales conversation.Three practical actions you can take this week, starting with a test you can run in the next five minutes.This episode is brought to you by MyConstruct. Go to myconstruct.com for your free 30-day trial.Thank you to this month's monthly sponsor Pay.com.au — get 20,000 bonus points when you go to pay.com.au/tgb. Head there for terms and conditions.

Your contract could be killing deals before they even start.This week on the Monday episode, Az is joined again by Emily Pollard from Nesta Builder Brokers — and she brings the heat. Emily has read hundreds of building contracts. What she finds inside them would surprise most builders. And what clients think when they read them? That might surprise you even more.They cover the contract clauses that are quietly blowing up sales, how provisional sums are being used in ways that cost clients tens of thousands they never saw coming, why some special conditions may not even hold up in court, and how simply showing clients your contract early could save months of wasted time for everyone.This is not about attacking builders. It's about understanding what's happening right now — with banks, with clients, with trust — and what a smarter approach to contracts actually looks like.If you're signing jobs, chasing finance approvals, or wondering why clients are pulling out late in the process, this episode is for you.Episode Co-Host Emily Pollard | Nesta Builder Brokers nesta.com.auThis episode is brought to you by MyConstruct. Go to myconstruct.com for your free 30-day trial.Thank you to this month's monthly sponsor Pay.com.au — get 20,000 bonus points when you go to pay.com.au/tgb. Head there for terms and conditions.

Most builders don't talk about underpinning. Most homeowners are scared of the word. And most of the industry doesn't understand what actually causes a foundation to move — or who's responsible when it does.Nicole Rosenthal is the Director of Foundation Solutions, a specialist screw pile underpinning company based in Southeast Queensland. With 31 years in the construction industry — starting as a receptionist at an engineering firm and working her way through operations, marketing, and business ownership — Nicole brings a depth of knowledge that's rare in this space.In this episode, Nicole breaks down what underpinning actually is, why it's not always the builder's fault when foundations move, and what builders can do right now to protect themselves and their clients. She also calls out the misleading tactics being used by some operators in the underpinning market, advocates for proper documentation to stay with the home for its lifetime, and explains why screw pile underpinning is simply not comparable to the alternatives.This is one of those conversations that fills a genuine gap. If you've ever had a client call you about cracks in a slab and not known what to say, this episode is for you.What we cover: Nicole's 31-year journey from receptionist to business owner. What underpinning is and when it's actually needed. Why the builder is less often at fault than the media suggests. The difference between screw pile underpinning and alternatives — and why it matters. Misleading marketing in the underpinning space and what to watch for. Why foundation documents should stay with the home forever. Foundation Solutions' proprietary Lift Rig Max system. What makes a good builder — Nicole's answer.Connect with Nicole: https://foundationsolutions.com.au/Sponsors: This episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct, construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com and get your 30-day free trial. Also supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more.

Today's guest is Matt Hope, former master franchisee of GJ Gardner in NSW, ACT, and WA, and now co-founder of Wattle Court, a residential building franchise built for the second, third, and fourth home buyer market.Matt spent 20 years working inside franchise building businesses. He grew his GJ Gardner group to 34 franchisees doing $800 million and became the largest in the national network. He's now applying everything he learned to build a different kind of franchise — one that's selective, values-driven, and built for the long term.In this conversation, Matt and Az cover:Why knowing your market matters more than knowing your product How to read a balance sheet, not just a P&L, and why the difference nearly kills builders The work in progress problem most builders and their accountants ignore Why Wattle Court says no to franchisees more than it says yes Margin protection during cost escalation — what worked during COVID and what builders need to do right now Why Matt hosted a mental health and mindset retreat in Bali instead of a sales conference Business should be enjoyed, not endured — what that actually meansIf you're a builder carrying too much, knowing too little about your numbers, or wondering whether franchising is the right structure for your growth...this one is worth your full attention.Check out Wattle Court at wattlecourt.com.auThis episode is brought to you by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com for your 30-day FREE trial.Also supported by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for terms and conditions.

Az sits down with Nick from Goop Guys for a conversation that goes well beyond surface protection.They talk about the real cost of defects, the difference between builders who think proactively and those who don't, and why protecting windows, benchtops, and flooring during a build isn't a luxury add-on — it's a margin decision.Nick shares what he's seeing across residential and commercial builds nationally, from $800,000 window schedules on custom homes to the surge in commercial inquiries ahead of the 2032 Olympics in Southeast Queensland. They also get into the uncomfortable truth about builders who quote tight and then bleed profit through defects and repairs they never accounted for.This one is practical, honest, and worth your time — whether you're a volume builder, a custom builder, or a tradie who cares about handing over a job you're proud of.Topics covered: Window protection on site | Defect rates in residential and commercial construction | The real cost of a build vs what you quoted | Commercial growth and the Olympics pipeline | Proactive vs reactive building cultureSponsors: This episode is brought to you by MyConstruct — visit myconstruct.com for your free 30-day trial. And by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 BONUS points and head to pay.com.au/tgb for more.

This week on Tuesday Headlines, powered by MyConstruct, Az covers four stories that matter for Australian builders right now.First up, Emily Pollard of Nesta Builder Brokers is raising the alarm on something the industry has been ignoring. The people selling new homes to Australians, builder brokers, new home sales consultants, channel partners, are completely unregulated. No licence. No ethics board. No oversight of any kind. And every builder absorbing the cost of a failed prelim or a misled client is paying the price for it. Go back and listen to Monday's episode with Emily if you haven't already.Next, a good news story out of regional Queensland. Sunshine Coast developer RM Capital settled a 19.8 hectare parcel in Gympie for $13.5 million and started construction the very next morning. 29 lots underway. 24 already pre-sold. This is what a professional development operation looks like, and it signals real pipeline opportunity for builders who have the right relationships in place.Third, why the last 5 per cent of a build is where reputations are won or lost. Surface damage at handover costs more than most builders realise, and it is almost entirely preventable. The Goop Guys team breaks down what protecting your finish actually looks like and why it matters for every referral that follows.And fourth, with costs still moving and the market where it is right now, a practical framework for having the over-budget conversation with clients. How to do it early, how to do it honestly, and how to come out of it with the relationship intact.Plus a Public Service Announcement the industry needs to hear. Builders and estimators have been calling in. Do not use the conflict in Iran as your excuse to raise prices before your costs have actually moved.This episode is powered by MyConstruct. Head to myconstruct.com and get your 30-day FREE trial. Also supported by Pay.com.au, use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for terms and conditions.

Today's episode is a big one for The Good Builder.We'd like to introduce Emily Pollard, our first ever co-host, and someone who has been quietly doing some of the most important work in the Australian building industry.Emily is the founder of Nesta Builder Brokers, a platform that bridges the gap between educated buyers and quality builders. She spent five years inside Stroud Homes developing a deep, practical understanding of the entire build journey — from first enquiry through to contract — and she brings that experience to every conversation.In this episode, Az and Emily sit down for the first time on mic. They talk about how Emily found her way into the industry, what she sees going wrong in builder sales processes, why client education is the most underrated tool in a builder's business, and what it really means to be a good builder.This is a conversation about the industry as it actually is, not as the marketing suggests.What you'll hear in this episode:Emily's story — from wanting to be a tradie, to running a trade business during COVID, to becoming one of the sharpest minds in new home salesWhat Nesta Builder Brokers does, and why Emily built it the way she didThe real reason contracts fall over before they're signed — and why it usually traces back to the sales processWhy chasing volume without fixing process is costing builders more than they realiseWhat good client communication actually looks like — and why calling someone eight times in a day isn't the answerWhy salespeople keep jumping ship, and what builders can do about itEmily's answer to the big question: what makes a good builder?This episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct, construction management software built by Australian builders, for Australian builders. If you're still running jobs through spreadsheets and text threads, it's time to change that. Visit myconstruct.com and get started with a 30-day free trial.Also supported by Pay.com.au. Use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points.#GoodBuilderPodcast #EmilyPollard #NestaBuilderBrokers #AustralianBuilders #BuilderSales #NewHomeBuyers #ConstructionIndustry #HomeBuilding #BuilderCoHost #GoodBuilder

Farah Drake has been in the building industry for over 30 years. She started out helping her dad, fell in love with being on site, and never left. Today she runs Willow Grove Homes and Granny Flats in South East Melbourne — a registered building company specialising in granny flats, small second dwellings, and multi-generational housing. She is also one of a small number of female building company directors in Australia.This episode is a different kind of conversation. Farah talks about what it was like to be a woman in construction 30 years ago — the comments, the dismissals, and pushing through anyway. She talks about why she chose the granny flat niche, what it means to build for people in the final chapter of their lives, and why she still calls it a privilege. She also breaks down the regulatory changes in Victoria that opened up the small second dwelling market, where tiny homes sit in the compliance picture, and what builders need to know before stepping into this space.And she has big plans — Willow Grove is expanding into Queensland.What we cover:Growing up in a family building business and how the industry shaped Farah from the startWhat it was really like to be a woman in construction 30 years ago — and how much has changedWhy Willow Grove focuses on granny flats and multi-generational housing, and the deep client relationships that come with itThe Victorian regulatory changes from December 2023 that opened up small second dwellingsTiny homes versus granny flats — the compliance gap and why it mattersThe challenge of stepping back from the tools to run the businessWhat Willow Grove measures, how they retain their trades, and why some subcontractors have been with Farah for over 20 yearsThe expansion into Queensland and what Farah is building towardWhat makes a good builder — in her own wordsThis episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct, construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com and get your 30-day trial. Also supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more.

Peter Wood is back. Head of Villa World Homes by Avid Property Group, 50-plus years in the industry, and the most-listened-to guest in Good Builder history. Last time he left the community with an answer on what makes a good builder that no one has matched since. This time, the conversation goes deeper.Az and Peter cover the real pressures hitting builders right now, material surcharges, the administrative burden behind every price rise, and what it actually means to have 180 homes on the ground when costs are moving daily. They dig into the AV Jennings integration, the land crisis behind the housing crisis, and why trust with your suppliers and trades is the only thing that holds when everything else gets uncertain.Peter also talks about what he found when he went back to Hervey Bay — a young workforce that proved attitude beats experience, and why the regions might be producing the next generation of great tradies. Plus how Villa World manages customer communication at scale, why they measure 18 points of supplier performance, and the question Peter sends himself every Friday at 8am.What we cover:Why material surcharges are creating a hidden administrative crisis for buildersThe real story behind the AV Jennings integration and what Peter learned bringing two cultures togetherLand release in Australia — why Peter calls it a land crisis, not a housing crisisThe Hervey Bay project and what a young workforce taught Peter about attitude and cultureCustomer communication at scale — portals, milestones, and Net Promoter ScoresHow Villa World measures supplier performance across 18 criteria — and what they do with the resultsWhy integrity is a business strategy, not just a personal valueThe question Peter asks himself every Friday morning to stay on trackThis is one of those conversations you will want to come back to.#TheGoodBuilder #DailyDose #PeterWood #AvidPropertyGroup #VillaWorldHomes #AustralianBuilders #BuildingIndustry #ConstructionLeadership #LandCrisis #BuilderLife #HousingAustralia #ConstructionPodcast #BuilderMindset #TradesAustralia #ResidentialBuilding #IntegrityInBusiness #GoodBuilder #BuildingBusiness #AustralianConstruction #SupplierRelationships

A year ago, we started this podcast with no studio, no blueprint, and no audience. Just a belief that the people building this country deserved a better conversation.Today, 30,000 of you are tuning in. And that changes everything about what comes next.In this episode we want to talk directly to you about where The Good Builder is heading. Because this platform was never about us. It was always about giving this industry a voice.We're opening the studio — in person and online — to builders, tradies, suppliers, and subcontractors who have something worth saying. We'll produce the episode. We'll publish it. And it will live on The Good Builder forever.Over the coming weeks you'll start to meet some guest hosts. People doing real work in this industry who finally have somewhere to say it.Renae and I will still be here. But we'll also be working in the background on things we genuinely believe will move this industry forward.This platform is yours just as much as it is ours. That was always the point.Email us on [email protected] to apply for a community episode.Supported by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com to get your FREE 30-day trial.Also sponsored by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. T's & C's Apply. Head to https://pay.com.au/tgb/#TheGoodBuilder #TheDailyDose #AustralianConstruction #BuildingIndustry #Builders #Tradies #ConstructionCommunity #BuilderPodcast #ResidentialBuilding #IndustryVoice

Your clients are more anxious than they have been in over a decade. The data explains why, and what you can do about it.This week on Tuesday Headlines we unpack two of the biggest stories shaping the Australian building industry right now. First, the client confidence data every builder needs to understand before their next sales conversation. Then, a clear-eyed look at why the Middle East supply shock is not COVID 2.0 — and why that distinction matters for your business.What we cover:The key consumer confidence index has fallen more than 36 points below its long-run average. At the same time, price expectations sit near 15-year highs. Your clients want to build. They are just frightened. We break down what is driving that fear, what two consecutive RBA rate hikes have done to borrowing capacity, and why the sales environment differs dramatically state by state right now.We also dig into the findings from 97,000 verified consumer reviews of Australian home builders — and the single biggest driver of a five-star review that most builders are not talking about.Then we turn to the Middle East conflict. The COVID comparison is everywhere right now. We look at where it holds, where it breaks down, and what builders should be watching as petroleum-derived material costs and diesel prices move fast.In this episode:Why client hesitation is a sentiment problem, not a pricing problemWhat two RBA rate hikes have done to first home buyer borrowing powerThe state-by-state confidence split and what it means for your pipeline97,000 customer reviews: the seven pain points that keep appearingCOVID vs. the Middle East conflict: a side-by-side comparisonWhat the speed of this supply shock means for contracts and pricingLinks to Articles:https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/your-clients-are-more-anxious-than-ever-here-is-what-the-data-tells-us-about-why/https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/covid-did-not-break-australian-construction-but-it-left-the-industry-exposed-now-the-middle-east-conflict-has-arrived/The Australian Building Industry Health Report Q1 2026 is free to download. Grab your copy here: report.thegoodbuilder.com.au/landing-pagePages of data covering insolvencies, construction costs, consumer sentiment, workforce shortfalls, land supply, interest rates, government policy, and the full Iran conflict supply chain analysis. The most comprehensive picture of the Australian building industry in one place.This episode is powered by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Manage jobs, communicate with clients, and cut the admin. Get your 30-daty trial at myconstruct.comAlso proudly supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points at pay.com.au/tgb

The TGB Australian Building Industry Health Report is out now. Sixty-plus pages of real data — no spin, no government talking points, no marketing fluff.But data is only useful if you know how to put it to work.In today's Daily Dose, Az walks through five practical ways builders can use the report right now — from pricing jobs in a cost environment being shaped by the Strait of Hormuz disruption, to understanding which developers control the land in your market, to knowing exactly what homebuyers are complaining about before they complain to you.This is not a summary of the report. It's a guide to using it.In this episode:— Why gut feel is not a pricing strategy when material costs are moving this fast — The Top 30 developer rankings by state and what they mean for house and land in 2026 — What 97,000+ homebuyer reviews tell us about where trust is breaking down — How to walk into any negotiation, client conversation, or deal assessment with something solid behind you — The forward-looking signals in the report that builders should be watching right nowPlus — the Mitre 10 competition, a heads up on an upcoming guest who is going to challenge a lot of what you think you know about the homes we build, news on the digital marketing workshop, and something very exciting on the horizon at The Good Builder.Grab the report at https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/australian-building-industry-health-report/Powered by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Get your 30-day FREE trial - myconstruct.comAlso sponsored by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more and terms and conditions.

Today's guest is John Davis, Director of MMC Modular and creator of ModFloor, a light gauge steel chassis system that is changing the way modular buildings are designed, manufactured, and transported across Australia and internationally.John's story spans Darwin in 1974, residential building in Queensland, a successful expansion into New Zealand, and launching a light gauge steel framing company in the United States before anyone else had done it. When he returned to Australia in 2012, he set his sights on solving one of modular construction's most expensive and persistent problems: chassis deflection and the skilled labour required to build them.What came out of that was ModFloor, and then ModFloor Plus. A system assembled by unskilled labour in under three hours, with no welding, no cutting, and deflection figures that have transformed the economics of transporting modules to regional and remote sites."In this episode John and Az cover:- The real cost of chassis deflection and why modular builders are allocating up to $25,000 for remedial work on country jobs- How MMC Modular's in-house roll forming machinery and online design portal removes the need for builders to employ engineers or experienced detailers in-house- The case for a separate NCC code for modular and factory-built housing, and why the current system is holding the industry back- Why modular construction is manufacturing, not building, and what that mindset shift means for operators who want to scale- The land lease sector, litigation risk, and how MMC's relocatable system is solving a compliance problem most developers haven't faced yet yet- How MMC's steel and insulated floor panel is helping builders eliminate concrete entirely in regional buildsJohn's answer to what makes a good builder, covering costing, product knowledge, and thinking laterally about new materialsJohn can be reached directly on 0412 918 297 or through the Steelfast website at www.steelfast.coSponsored by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Find out more and get your 30-day trial at myconstruct.comAlso sponsored by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. T's & C's Apply. Head to https://pay.com.au/tgb/#TheGoodBuilder #BuildersOfAustralia #AIForBuilders #ConstructionTech #BuildingBusiness #IncreaseConstruction #AIAgents #ConstructionIndustry #SmallBusinessAustralia #BuilderLife #BusinessAutomation #ResidentialBuilding #DailyDose

Az sits down with Drew and Sean from Increase Construction and what starts as a conversation about AI quickly turns into one of the most eye-opening episodes the show has done.These two aren't talking about AI. They're doing it. Live. On camera.In this episode, Az gets a behind-the-scenes look at the AI agent system Increase Construction has built. One that replaces the equivalent of $1.5 million worth of specialist staff, works 24/7, and pulls all of a building business's data into one live dashboard. Marketing, operations, sales, and technology all in one place, constantly updated, ready for whoever needs to make a decision.They walk through real use cases, show the backend of their setup, talk about what it actually costs, and explain why the construction industry is ripe for this kind of change.Az shares what it looked like from the inside of a major franchise network and exactly what a tool like this would have been worth.This one's not theory. It's happening now.Sponsored by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Find out more and get your 30-day trial at myconstruct.comAlso sponsored by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. T's & C's Apply. Head to https://pay.com.au/tgb/#TheGoodBuilder #BuildersOfAustralia #AIForBuilders #ConstructionTech #BuildingBusiness #IncreaseConstruction #AIAgents #ConstructionIndustry #SmallBusinessAustralia #BuilderLife #BusinessAutomation #ResidentialBuilding #DailyDose

If you don't know your numbers, you're flying blind.That's the reality Josh Pierpoint has seen up close across 15 years in the industry, and across 56 builders in just the last 12 months through his business, Elevate Estimate.In this episode, Az sits down with Josh for an honest conversation about what's really going wrong in building businesses right now. They talk about the wave of fuel levies and price rises hitting builders on fixed price contracts, why estimating is the function most likely to make or break your business, and what happens when builders try to wear too many hats.Josh also opens up about the critical shortage of qualified estimators coming through the industry, why there's no real training pathway, and what that means for builders trying to fill that seat.This one is timely, practical, and straight from the front line.In this episode:Why estimating is the single highest-risk function in your businessThe price rise wave hitting builders right now — and what to do about itHow Josh works with builders from sales estimate through to purchase orders and variationsThe estimator shortage no one is talking aboutWhat makes a good builder (Josh's answer might surprise you)Connect with Josh and Elevate Estimate: https://elevateestimating.com.au/about/Sponsors: This episode is brought to you by MyConstruct, construction management software built for Australian builders. Check them out at myconstruct.com.Thanks to this month's podcast sponsor Pay.com.au. Our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up!Also supported by Pay.com.au — use code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. T&Cs apply. Head to pay.com.au/tgb.

The Strait of Hormuz is 8,000 kilometres from Australia. Right now, it's hitting your build costs — and most of the commentary out there isn't telling builders what they actually need to know.In today's episode Az breaks down the Iran conflict and what it means for your supply chain in plain terms — which materials carry the most risk right now, why engineered wood and standard pine framing are two very different stories, which Australian-made alternatives are worth specifying, and three things you should do this week.Plus — the TGB Australian Building Industry Health Report drops today. Thirty-plus pages of real data on where the industry sits. Brisbane land prices have exceeded Melbourne. Construction costs are up 47% since pre-COVID. And the number one driver of a five-star customer review isn't what most builders think.And Az responds to two posts from the weekend that got the community talking: what Plantation Homes' communication to customers during price rises means for every builder regardless of size — and whether the people selling services to builders have actually been inside a successful building company themselves.Free report download at thegoodbuilder.com.au. April 1 — and that's no joke.This episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Jobs, clients, documents, and site management all in one place. Head to myconstruct.com to check it out and get your 30-day trial.Thanks to this month's podcast sponsor Pay.com.au. Our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up — use code GOOD20. T&Cs apply. Head to pay.com.au/tgb.

This one's a bit different — and a bit special.Az sits down with Vicki Cooper from Tamworth Property Co, who also happens to be his mother-in-law. With nearly 30 years in real estate across Queensland and New South Wales, Vicki brings real insight into what's driving regional growth in one of Australia's most active inland markets.Tamworth is moving. Commercial, industrial, residential — the development pipeline is stacking up. With land sitting around $200–$300 per square metre compared to Sydney's $2,000+, the numbers speak for themselves.What we cover:What's driving Tamworth's residential and commercial expansionKey developments including Eagle View Estate and the Gunniganoo precinctWhy the Maas Group (ninth most active developer in NSW) is going all-in on regionalLand affordability compared to capital city and coastal marketsThe real estate–builder relationship and why it matters more than most thinkWhy communication remains the number one factor in customer experienceWho it's for:Builders, trades and professionals watching regional markets — or anyone thinking about where the next wave of opportunity sits outside the capital cities.Brought to you by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Learn more at myconstruct.comThanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.USE code: GOOD20T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

Before the TGB Australian Building Industry Health Report drops, Az puts you to the test.This episode is a pop quiz built from real data inside the report — land prices, shrinking blocks, customer sentiment, and the one factor that determines a five-star review more than anything else.No headlines today. Just some numbers that genuinely surprised us when we were putting the report together.Have a crack. See how close you get.What we cover:The current national median residential lot price — and how fast it's growingWhich capital city is now more expensive for land than Melbourne (hint: it's not Sydney)The capital city with the smallest median lot size in the countryWhy Australians feel it's the worst time to buy — even as they expect prices to keep risingThe phase of the building journey that generates the most customer complaints by a wide marginWhat 97,000 customer reviews say is the single biggest driver of a five-star ratingHow much more a new home costs today compared to pre-COVID — and what's forecast for 2026The full TGB Australian Building Industry Health Report is dropping very soon at thegoodbuilder.com.au.Supported by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. myconstruct.comThanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.USE code: GOOD20T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

In this episode, Az breaks down the TGB Australian Building Industry Health Report — a 30-plus page document built from publicly available data across the ABS, ASIC, RBA, Master Builders, HIA, QBCC, Infrastructure Australia and more, including over 97,000 customer reviews analysed.This isn't opinion. It's the facts of what's happening across the Australian building industry, pulled together in plain English.What we cover:What the report actually is and why nothing like it currently existsBuilding activity, approvals and how the numbers stack up against the National Housing AccordBuilder insolvencies — the real numbers, what's driving them and what's coming nextConstruction costs, material pricing and regional cost escalation forecastsWorkforce and skills — which trades face the most acute shortages and why the problem is structuralCustomer sentiment and experience — what tens of thousands of reviews reveal about what matters mostLand supply, pricing, interest rates and borrowing capacityGovernment policy, incentives and industry risks on the horizonSubcontractor and supply chain healthMental health in constructionWho it's for: Builders, trades, suppliers, manufacturers, consultants, brokers, advisors — and homeowners thinking about building.The TGB Australian Building Industry Health Report drops April 1. Head to thegoodbuilder.com.au to grab your copy.#TheGoodBuilder #TGBReport #AustralianConstruction #BuildingIndustry #ConstructionAustralia #BuilderLife #ResidentialConstruction #BuildingApprovals #ConstructionCosts #WorkforceShortages #BuilderInsolvencies #HousingAccord #ConstructionData #BuildBetter #TradesIndustry #ConstructionNews #BuildingAustralia #HomeBuildingAustralia #ConstructionInsights #BuilderCommunity

Five things every builder needs on their radar this week, from a $500 giveaway to diesel prices, fixed-price contract exposure, a major industry health report, and a night out for a great cause.What we cover:The Pointsbuild shoutout and how to enter our $500 Mitre 10 giveaway before 26 AprilThe Iran conflict, the Strait of Hormuz, and why diesel is up 67% since early MarchWhy PVC, concrete, steel and plumbing materials are all repricing right nowThe fixed-price contract problem — and what your escalation clause position actually meansThe TGB Industry Health Report — one of the most comprehensive looks at the Australian building industry to dateThe Care-Factor event — Reboot Mindset Academy beneficiary, founded by Todd Carney and Mitch PierceCompetition — Win a $500 Mitre 10 Gift Card Subscribe to The Good Builder eNewsletter for your first entry. Join the TGB Community Directory for a second. Both free. Closes 26 April 2026. 👉 thegoodbuilder.com.au/join-the-community-winCare-Factor 2026 Event — Supporting Reboot Mindset Academy Tables, tickets and sponsorship available. Live entertainment, 350 guests, Todd Carney and Mitch Pierce attending. 👉 care-factor.com.au/2026eventLinks:Pointsbuild: pointsbuild.com.auTGB Giveaway: thegoodbuilder.com.au/join-the-community-winCare-Factor Event: care-factor.com.au/2026eventThanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.USE code: GOOD20T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

Your weekly construction industry news wrap. Five stories that matter for builders and trades this week.This week: The Federal Government appoints Australia's first Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator as diesel supply chains come under pressure. Why the smartest builders are treating everyday site work as high-trust marketing. Goop Guys and the rise of low-risk specialist franchises expanding across Australia. Everyone's Place reaches 200 completed homes in Queensland. And why CPD done properly is one of the best investments you can make in your building business, featuring our Community Directory Member of the Week, PointsBuild.PointsBuild is offering 20% off all courses for TGB Directory members. Check them out: https://bem.pointsbuild.com.au/bem/welcome or call 1300 892 829.Powered by MyConstruct. Construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com.Join The Good Builder Community Directory: thegoodbuilder.com.auWhat We CoverFederal Government appoints first Fuel Supply Taskforce CoordinatorWhy diesel price and supply pressure matters for constructionHow builders are turning everyday site work into powerful contentGoop Guys and the rise of specialist service franchises in constructionEveryone's Place housing program hits 200 homes in QueenslandWhy CPD is smart business, not just compliance (feat. PointsBuild)PointsBuild: TGB Community Directory Member of the WeekThanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.USE code: GOOD20T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgb

Most builders think they lose work on price. The reality is, they're losing work before the conversation even starts.In this episode, Az shares a story from inside the industry, a lead response audit he ran in 2018 while working within a national home building franchise. Real enquiries were submitted to some of Australia's biggest residential builders, and the response times were tracked from the moment of submission.The fastest response was 25 minutes. The slowest was almost six days. And multiple national builders never responded at all.That data is backed by some of the most respected lead management research in the world — including the MIT/InsideSales study, which found that responding within five minutes makes you 21 times more likely to qualify a lead. And a 2024 study showing more than 63% of businesses never respond to a lead at all.If you're spending money on marketing and leads are coming through, this might be the most important ten minutes you hear this week.What we cover:The 2018 lead response audit — what happened when real enquiries were submitted to major Australian buildersWhy the fastest response in the audit was 25 minutes and the slowest was nearly six daysThe MIT/InsideSales study: responding in 5 minutes makes you 21x more likely to qualify a leadWhy 78% of customers go with the company that responds firstThe 2024 data showing 63% of businesses never respond at allA simple framework for getting your response time under two hours this weekWhy this pairs with last Monday's episode on follow-upPowered by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com for your 30-day trial.

Everyone is talking about AI right now. Most of them are trying to sell you something.Drew and Sean from Increase Construction are not. They went quiet, leaned in hard, and built something real. A team of AI agents running inside their business. A general manager. A marketing manager. Operations. Sales. Each one with a name, a role, and a job to do.They deliberately stalled hiring staff for over a year because they had a gut feeling something was coming. They were right.In this episode, Drew and Sean pull back the curtain on exactly what they've built, what it cost, what went wrong (including the 3am wake-up call from a $2,000 bill), and what it means for builders who are watching all the AI noise and wondering what's actually worth paying attention to.This is one of the most practical conversations we've had on the podcast. No jargon for the sake of it. No selling a widget. Just two guys who broke the thing 40 times and came out the other side with something that works.What we cover:What AI agents actually are — and why they're different from talking to ChatGPTHow Drew and Sean built a virtual team that reports, learns, and checks its own performanceThe real cost — $5 to $10 a day to run the whole operationThe $2,000 mistake at 3am and what it taught them about guardrailsWhy they chose to invest internally instead of hiring three full-time staffPractical use cases for builders — NCC compliance, defect manuals, trade sourcing, multi-channel marketingHow AI removes the admin layer and gets better information to the decision-maker fasterWhy most AI products in construction are just repackaged widgets with a new labelWhat "leaning in" actually requires — and why doing it half-hearted will burn youWhere this is heading for builders over the next 12 monthsIf you've been sitting on the fence with AI, this episode will help you figure out where to start and who to trust.Links and resources: Increase Construction — https://www.increaseconstruction.com/about

Bricklaying is a dying breed. That is the reality. But Damian and Tara are doing something about it.In this episode, Az sits down with the husband and wife team behind DA Bricklaying and DAT Tools, two businesses built from the ground up with no shortcuts, no outside funding, and no corporate playbook.Damian has been laying bricks for 27 years. Tara has been right beside him through all of it. Together, they turned a sole trader operation into a professional crew, competed on the world stage at the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 in the United States, and launched a self-funded tools business born from real pain points on the job.This conversation is raw, honest, and full of lessons for anyone running a trade business or building something with their partner.What we cover:How Damian went from laying bricks at 14 to running a respected crew in MelbourneTara becoming the first female mason tender in the history of the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500The real challenges of scaling from sole trader to a full business with overheads, crews, and cash flow pressurePractical lessons on tracking your numbers, managing tax, and building a financial bufferWhat it takes to build a reputation through word of mouth aloneWorking as a couple across two businesses while raising two young kidsThe story behind DAT Tools and how on-site frustrations became real productsWhat makes a good builder from a bricklayer's perspectiveIf you are a tradie thinking about starting a business, or you are already in one and wondering how to do it better, this is one to listen to.🔗 Check out DAT Tools and support an Australian family business doing it the right way.https://www.dattools.com/https://www.instagram.com/damianamusobricklaying/

The Good Builder Directory is live. In this episode, Az walks through what it is, why it was built, and what it means for builders, trades, and suppliers who care about who they do business with.This isn't another listing site. It's a curated space built around reputation, trust, and the same standards The Good Builder has always stood for. Early members get the best positioning, and right now, the categories are wide open.Az also puts a spotlight on JV Recruitment — a nationwide construction recruitment and labour hire provider — and shares a key piece of content they partnered on called From Apprentices to Supervisor: Building Career Pathways That Keep Talent. If retention is costing you, this one's worth your time.What We CoverWhat the Good Builder Directory is, and what it isn't. Why curation matters more than reach when it comes to trusted referralsWhat directory members get access to (profile, TGB badge, exclusives) Spotlight: JV Recruitment and the people you need to knowWhy retention is the new recruitment....and what builders are getting wrongThe five things builders who keep their best people do consistentlyLinks mentioned:Good Builder Directory: thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directoryJV Recruitment: jvrecruitment.com.auMyConstruct: myconstruct.com

Four big stories. One theme. Pressure, coming from every direction.This week on Tuesday Headlines, Aaron breaks down what's happening across the global and local construction landscape, and why builders who aren't paying attention right now could get caught short.What we cover:US-Iran conflict and your build costs — Oil prices have surged 12–20% in a short window. Fuel isn't the only exposure. Freight costs, imported materials, steel, glass, and electrical components are all in the firing line. And if inflation ticks back up, that's a problem for the RBA, interest rates, and buyer confidence.WA's fuel security roundtable — Western Australia's Premier Roger Cook called an emergency roundtable with fuel providers, logistics operators, and government officials. Supply is currently uninterrupted — but the fact that the meeting happened tells you something. Regional construction remains the most exposed.Concrete, aggregates, and the infrastructure pipeline — The Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia group has flagged that Australia may not have enough supply to deliver its own infrastructure commitments. The Brisbane 2032 Olympic wave and major freight corridors could outstrip local production capacity. If you're tendering on civil or major subdivision work in Southeast Queensland, start talking to your material suppliers now.HIA takes aim at the NCC — The Housing Industry Association has lodged a detailed submission calling out the National Construction Code for growing more than eight times longer than when it was first introduced, referencing double the number of Australian standards, many of which builders have to pay for separately just to understand. The HIA is pushing for simplified language, a five-year update cycle, freely available standards, and clearer pathways for modern construction methods.None of this is sky-falling territory. But the builders who are reviewing their exposure, talking to their supply chain, and pricing properly right now will be the ones best placed when the pressure arrives.Mentions this episode:Rebecca Askin, Adapt Modular (recent guest — NCC and modular construction)Damian and Tara (DA Bricklaying) — coming up this weekDrew from Increase Construction and Sean — AI in construction, dropping this weekSponsor: MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. One platform for jobs, communication, and contracts. 30-day free trial at myconstruct.com: https://myconstruct.com/signup/

Most builders say the same thing about content. They don't know what to post, they don't think their work is interesting enough, and they don't have the time.This episode flips that thinking completely.Az breaks down why builders aren't short on content — they're short on awareness. If you're on site every day solving problems, holding standards, and making decisions, you're already sitting on more material than you'll ever need. This episode shows you how to see it, capture it, and share it — without a studio, a strategy, or three hours spare.What's covered:Why documenting beats creating for buildersWhat you think is boring — and why your clients find it fascinatingThe one-minute daily habit that builds a content bank you can draw from all yearThree content categories that consistently work for buildersSponsor: MyConstruct - construction management software built for Australian builders. Scheduling, client communication, and document management in one place. Head to myconstruct.com

Most builders have never thought about putting their frame in a client conversation. Christine Briggs thinks that's a missed opportunity — and she's built a career proving it.Christine is the driving force behind WoodSolutions' national timber campaign, a consultant with 35 years in the timber and forestry industry, and one of the most genuinely industry-focused people you'll meet. She sits on multiple boards, advocates for sustainability without the greenwashing, and has quietly been one of the most impactful behind-the-scenes voices in Australian residential construction.In this episode, Az and Christine dig into why timber framing is more than a structural choice, it's a marketing asset, a trust signal, and increasingly, a point of difference builders aren't using.What we cover:Christine's 35-year journey through timber, forestry, and constructionWhy the average Australian home stores the carbon equivalent of 126 Sydney-to-Melbourne flightsThe "150 seconds" stat that stops people cold at dinner partiesWoodSolutions' new carbon calculator and how builders can use it with clientsThe "What's Behind the Wall" campaign and why it matters right nowHow timber framing fits into the customer journey — from display home to handoverWhy culture and brand are two sides of the same coinGender diversity in construction and why Christine is still pushing hard for changeWhat makes a good builder — and why Christine's answer is unlike any we've heardThis episode is proudly brought to you by: myconstruct.com

Bec Askin didn't plan to be in construction. It just became her life. And then she made it her own.In this episode, I sit down with Bec from Adapt Modular (a division of Campbell Construction Co.) to talk about her 25 years in the industry, studying for her QBCC licence while raising two kids solo during COVID, and why she's now heading up a modular building division doing work that genuinely matters.We talk about:How Bec went from admin to licence holder while doing it all on her ownThe barriers women still face on site (and why it's more about acceptance than it is about progress)What Adapt Modular is building and who they're building it for (including a disabled bathroom for a school two hours north of Birdsville)Why long service leave for admin workers is broken and needs fixingThe NCC, modular building codes, and why the industry is fighting with itself over prefabWhat a good builder actually looks like (Bec's answer is one we've never heard before)Bec is the kind of person who doesn't make a big deal of what she's done. I had to push her to tell the story properly.Worth the listen.#constructionindustry #builderlife #womeninconstruction #buildingbusinessThis episode is proudly brought to you by myconstruct.com

You've heard it before...builders burning out, running the business solo, quoting at night and doing payroll on weekends. But when it comes to getting support, most builders don't know what it actually costs. This episode fixes that.Az is joined again by Anisha and Nayan from Scale Up Smart — and this time, it's all about price. What does it cost to outsource estimating, project management, admin, design and drafting, or marketing coordination? What's the difference between part-time and full-time? Developing level versus mastery? And how does it all stack up against hiring locally in Australia?Spoiler: the numbers are going to surprise you.But this episode quickly becomes about more than cost. It's about what builders actually get — vetted staff, three layers of quality assurance, twice-weekly software training, seamless integration into your existing systems, and a structured 90-day onboarding process designed to give you clarity before it gives you results.From a $330-per-week part-time estimator to a full-time mastery-level project manager at $700 per week, the team walk through every core role and what it delivers. There's also a sneak peek at an upcoming guaranteed marketing package from Scale Up Smart — one Az is very excited about.What we cover:The real cost of outsourced estimating, project management, admin, design and drafting, and marketing coordinationPart-time vs full-time and how to match the right level to your business sizeHow Scale Up Smart vets, trains, and supports every team member before they touch your businessWhy clean books, clear schedules, and consistent marketing all point to the same outcome — peace of mindWhat the first 90 days actually looks like when you bring on a Scale Up Smart resourceThe upcoming guaranteed lead generation package — and why Az nearly started a building company again on the spot

It's Tuesday and the headlines are rolling. This week's Daily Dose covers five stories that matter to builders right now — from a geopolitical conflict that could hit your build costs, to a WA land release tying housing directly to major resource projects, to one of Queensland's fastest-growing builders revealing the mindset behind their 4.9-star sales system.Powered by MyConstruct.What we cover:When success starts breaking things — why momentum without foundations creates problems inside your building business, and what Dan Urquhart from A Thousand Feet Deep says to fix firstUS-Iran conflict and your build costs — what rising oil prices, shipping disruptions, and unpredictable lead times could mean if you're running fixed-price contracts133 workforce homes in Karratha — the WA government's Pilbara land release and why their model of tying housing directly to major projects is worth watching nationallyAvia Homes' 4.9-star sales system — the key insight Hayden Ashton shared about why slowing down your sales process could be the smartest move you makeBec Askin's modular mission — a preview of Thursday's episode with the single mum, licensed builder, and head of Adapt Modular who's helping rebuild housing faster after disastersAll five articles are live at thegoodbuilder.com.au.Links:MyConstruct - myconstruct.comThe New Home Electrical Specialist - tnhes.com.au

Dan Urquhart from 1000 Feet Deep is back on the couch...and this one gets real fast.Dan knows what it looks like when a building business starts to crack under the weight of its own success. He lived it. And now he helps builders understand the foundations they need before the cracks appear…not after.In this episode, Az and Dan get into why success can actually be the most dangerous thing for a business without the right foundation underneath it. They talk about negative momentum, the worker vs. leader mindset, and why the phrase "I just can't find good people" is usually a leadership problem in disguise.They also cover Dan's upcoming events — a webinar on March 11th and a one-day masterclass on March 19th in Newcastle — built around the three foundations every building business needs: leadership, team, and organisational structure.If you've ever felt like things are rolling downhill and you can't stop it — this one's for you.What we cover:Why success has weight — and what happens when your business can't carry itThe difference between a worker mindset and a leadership mindsetNegative momentum: what it is and how to spot it before it takes overWhy "I can't find good people" is the wrong questionDan's March webinar and masterclass — what they cover and who they're for🔗 Links mentioned:A Thousand Feet Deep webinar (March 11) — https://www.1000feetdeep.com.au/event/webinar-foundational-performance-planOne-day masterclass Newcastle (March 19) — https://www.1000feetdeep.com.au/event/hand-head-heart-masterclass---thu-mar-19th-2026A Thousand Feet Deep socials — https://www.instagram.com/1000feetdeep_/1000 Feet Deep Podcast: #15 Eric Grothe Snr | Skillset, Mindset & Character: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2592709/episode_players/18759107-15-eric-grothe-snr-skillset-mindset-character?client_source=large_player&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzsprout.com%2Fadmin%2F2592709%2Fpodcast%2Fembed#TheGoodBuilder #DanUrquhart #AThousandFeetDeep #BuilderLeadership #ConstructionBusiness #LeadershipFoundation #BuildingIndustry #BuilderMindset #BusinessForBuilders #GoodBuilder #ConstructionAustralia #LeadershipDevelopment

In this episode, Az sits down with James Renshaw and Jason Shedden from the Bellevue Group Australasia — the team behind VuTrade, an Australian timber connector manufacturer with over 35 years in the building industry.This one's less about product specs and more about the philosophy behind doing things properly. James and Jason talk about what it means to actually listen to builders, why they only bring products to market that solve a real problem, and how cutting corners on something as critical as a timber connector can cost a builder — and a homeowner — far more than the few hundred dollars saved.They also get into the compliance issues quietly sitting in the market right now, the shift they're seeing toward custom builders who care about quality, and why peace of mind might be the most underrated thing a good builder can offer.A genuine conversation with two blokes who are in the industry for the right reasons.What we cover:How VuTrade was built on a builder's background and a family commitment to qualityWhy listening to the trade is baked into how they develop every new productThe real cost of non-compliant or substandard timber connectors on siteStainless vs galvanised — using the right material in the right applicationThe growing split between volume builders and quality-focused custom buildersWhy Australian-made matters beyond the taglineWhat makes a good builder, according to two people who work with them every dayFor more on VueTrade head to: https://vuetrade.com/#TheGoodBuilder #VuTrade #BellevueGroup #TimberConnectors #AustralianMade #BuildingCompliance #ConstructionAustralia #BuilderLife #QualityBuilds #AustralianBuilders #CustomBuilders #BuildingIndustry #GoodBuilder

Gregg Somerville is the General Manager of Stonewood Homes, a franchise builder with roots going back to 1987 and a growing presence across Queensland.In this episode, Aaron sits down with Gregg to unpack what a franchise model actually gives a builder that going it alone can't. The conversation covers the Homeye system that lets builders price and customise homes in real time, why the best builders still struggle with the business side, and how Stonewood is expanding across Queensland with the right people in the right places.Gregg also shares what he genuinely believes makes a good builder — and it's not what most people expect.If you're a builder doing five homes a year and thinking about how to reach twenty, this one's worth your time.In this episode:Why builders who are great at their trade often run bad businesses — and what to do about itThe Homeye system: real-time pricing, bill of materials, and 3D customisation in one toolWhat franchise fees actually pay for (and why it's often cheaper than going alone)How Stonewood approaches franchisee onboarding and due diligenceThe Queensland market and why Greg sees a long runway aheadWhat makes a good builder, in the eyes of the customerConnect with Stonewood Homes: Visit stonewoodhomes.com.au and head to the franchise recruitment page to start a conversation with the team.

In this episode, I sit down with two blokes who know exactly what it takes to build a business that lasts, Jake from MyConstruct, one of Australia's leading construction management platforms, and Sean Hewitt, franchisee of Stonewood Homes on the Sunshine Coast.This one goes deep. We talk about what actually holds builders back when they try to scale...and it's rarely about skill. It's about systems, cost visibility, and the discipline to get the foundations right before chasing growth.Sean brings the builder's perspective...someone who's seen businesses grow fast and fall apart, and is now applying every one of those lessons to build Stonewood Homes Sunshine Coast the right way. Jake brings the systems view, more than a decade of experience working with builders of every size, from two homes a year to hundreds.What came out of this conversation was real. No fluff. No theory. Just honest talk about knowing your costs, tracking what matters, hiring at the right time, and building a business you'd actually want to work in.In this episode:Why builders who can't take a week off haven't got the right systems in placeThe real cost of reactive supervision and loose material trackingWhy software doesn't fix chaos — it just digitalises itHow Sean is setting up Stonewood Homes Sunshine Coast for long-term successWhat MyConstruct is building next — live weather stamping, client portals, AI messaging cleanup, and moreIf you're running two to five homes a year and thinking about what's next — this episode is for you.

Your weekly construction industry news wrap — five stories that matter for builders and trades. This week: DCOH acquires Melbourne's Unlimited Commercial Constructions in a major national expansion; new Queensland land clearing rules that could delay your projects; DARE Property Group starts construction on a $1.3M+ Fitzroy boutique apartment project; Bunnings enters the flat-pack modular market; and the GBCA breaks down the 2026 policy agenda including NCC 2025 adoption and lead-free plumbing timelines.This week on the pod: Wednesday — Jake from MyConstruct and Sean Hewitt (Stonewood Homes Sunshine Coast) on scaling a building business. Thursday — Gregg Sommerville, GM of Stonewood Homes Australasia, live from Auckland. Friday — James Renshaw and Jason Shedden from Bellevue Group and ViewTrade.Powered by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Visit myconstruct.com.au.DCOH / Unlimited Commercial Constructions — thegoodbuilder.com.auQueensland Land Clearing Rule Changes — thegoodbuilder.com.auDARE Property Group / Saint David Fitzroy — thegoodbuilder.com.auBunnings Flat-Pack Pods — thegoodbuilder.com.auGBCA 2026 Policy Snapshot — thegoodbuilder.com.au

Seven out of ten Australians have changed their mind on who to build with based on what they read online. Not a referral. Not a recommendation. A review from a stranger.And that research is happening before they ever pick up the phone.In this episode, Aaron breaks down exactly what potential clients are finding when they search your name — and what you can do about it this week. From handling one-star reviews without losing your cool, to building a simple process that gets happy clients to actually leave feedback, this one is practical from start to finish.You'll learn:Why your Google profile is your new front doorHow to respond to negative reviews in a way that builds trust, not damageThe right way to ask for reviews without it feeling awkwardWhy staying silent on reviews is costing you jobsPowered by MyConstruct — the software helping builders stay organised, deliver better experiences, and protect what they've worked hard to build.🔗 Check out MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

Nicola Scott is one of the most respected voices in the Queensland construction industry. As a senior figure at Master Builders Queensland, she's spent years connecting builders, championing standards, and quietly showing up for the people around her.But this episode isn't just about industry.Over the past year, Nicola has navigated a breast cancer diagnosis, a mastectomy, and the loss of her father — all within months of each other. In this conversation, she talks openly about what that period looked like, how the industry responded, and what it means to keep showing up when life gets heavy.We also get into her career at Master Builders, what she sees changing across the industry, and why the relationships builders build matter just as much as the structures they put up.This one is honest, warm, and a reminder that behind every role and every title, there's a person.What we cover:Nicola's breast cancer diagnosis and recovery journeyLosing her father nine weeks after her diagnosisThe overwhelming support she received from the construction industryHer role at Master Builders Queensland and what it actually involvesWhat she sees happening across the building industry right nowGrowing up in Humpty Doo — and working in a beer fridge at 12Connect with Nicola Scott: Master Builders Queensland — Sunshine Coast Office LinkedIn: Nicola ScottThanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.USE code: GOOD20T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgbThe Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

We talk a lot about housing in this country — supply, affordability, policy, targets. But we don't always talk about who that housing is actually for.Glenn is the head of Harnessed, a purpose-driven building business operating within the Mazzei Group. For over a decade, he and his team have been doing some of the hardest, most meaningful work in Australian construction — delivering inclusive, affordable, and social housing outcomes for people who genuinely need them. Indigenous communities. Domestic violence survivors. People with disability. The ones Az calls the "missing middle."In this conversation, Glenn breaks down what inclusive housing actually means, why the building is often the easiest part of the problem, and how his business has built a model that is both commercially sustainable and deeply values-driven. We also get into modular construction, key worker housing, the challenges of remote builds, and why wraparound services matter just as much as the roof overhead.It's a raw, honest, and genuinely moving conversation. One of the most important we've had on this podcast.If you're a builder, developer, or supplier who wants to get involved — or if you just want to understand where the real pressure points in Australian housing actually are — this one's worth your full attention.Thanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.USE code: GOOD20T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgbFor more on Harnest: https://harnest.com.au/about/The Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/

Aaron sits down with Kyle Zanetto, Tasmanian Young Builder of the Year, founder of Future Builder Co, and one of the most genuine voices in the Australian building industry. Kyle opens up about how he fell into building, what drove him to near-burnout juggling competitive bodybuilding and a struggling construction business, and how that rock bottom moment pushed him to rebuild smarter. They talk about what separates real builder coaches from flashy marketers, how technology is reshaping the trades, and why looking after yourself is the first thing you should do If you're a builder wanting to grow a better business, and become a better human along the way — this one's for you.For more on Kyle head to:https://www.futurebuilder.co/https://www.zanettobuilders.com.au/Thanks to this month's Podcast sponsor Pay.com.au, remember our audience gets 20,000 bonus points when you sign up.USE code: GOOD20T&C's apply go to pay.com.au/tgbThe Good Builder Directory: https://thegoodbuilder.com.au/business-directory/packages/MyConstruct: https://myconstruct.com/