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Home Building Hub

Colin Bischof & Darren Brennan

121 episodes

1 week ago

Before you dive into display villages for inspiration, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the styles, trends, and sales pitches. In this episode, we share four simple but powerful tips - from setting your intention to avoiding “zombie mode”- so you can make the most of your visit and start shaping your new home vision. Topic timestamps 1:16 Visiting Display Homes 1:28 Industry experience shapes how display homes are viewed 2:47 Why This Topic? – Visiting Display Homes Again 3:18 The Displ...

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Before you dive into display villages for inspiration, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the styles, trends, and sales pitches. In this episode, we share four simple but powerful tips - from setting your intention to avoiding “zombie mode”- so you can make the most of your visit and start shaping your new home vision. Topic timestamps 1:16 Visiting Display Homes 1:28 Industry experience shapes how display homes are viewed 2:47 Why This Topic? – Visiting Display Homes Again 3:18 The Displ...

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Episodes (20/121)

Home Building Hub

Ep. 121 | 4 Tips to Avoid Overwhelm When Visiting Display Homes.

Before you dive into display villages for inspiration, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the styles, trends, and sales pitches. In this episode, we share four simple but powerful tips - from setting your intention to avoiding “zombie mode”- so you can make the most of your visit and start shaping your new home vision. Topic timestamps 1:16 Visiting Display Homes 1:28 Industry experience shapes how display homes are viewed 2:47 Why This Topic? – Visiting Display Homes Again 3:18 The Displ...

1 week ago

15 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 120 | Top 5 Things You Need to Know Before Making Structural Changes

Send us a text Thinking about moving a wall or changing your floorplan? In this episode, we share the top 5 things you must check before making any structural changes - from pre-designed options to avoiding costly mistakes with wet areas and double-storey layouts. Topic timestamps 2:11 - Use design options already prepared by your builder 5:10 - Make sure room sizes actually work 7:57 - Be careful with wet areas 11:40 - Double storey mistakes you must avoid 17:08 - Don’t make cha...

2 weeks ago

23 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 119 | Overshadowing explained… and how it can really cost you.

Send us a text In this episode, we down the concept of overshadowing - how it affects your home design, when it applies, and how builders identify it. They share practical tips to spot potential issues early, especially on titled land, and explain the key rules and design solutions to help you stay compliant and avoid costly setbacks. Topic timestamps 2:45 - What is overshadowing? 6:20 - When does overshadowing apply? 6:49 - How does a builder identify overshadowing? 8:29 - What ...

3 weeks ago

20 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 118 | What to Budget For When Building a New Home

Send us a text Getting your budget right is the first real step in the building journey - but most people don’t know where to start. In this episode, we break down the full process of setting your game plan, from confirming your finance capacity to comparing quotes, and share a free Google Sheets budgeting template to help you stay on track from day one. Topic timestamps 2:30 - The process. 7 Steps explained. 15:08 - 7 Steps summarised 16:16 - Budget items to consider (free spreadsheet ...

1 month ago

24 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 117 | Cracking the code: 5 Confusing building contract terms explained

Send us a text Building contracts can be full of hidden traps and confusing jargon. In this episode, we break down the five clauses that trip up most homeowners - covering prime costs, provisional sums, payment schedules, special conditions, build time frames and utility connections. Topic timestamps 02:28 Prime Costs (PCs): allowances for items not yet selected (e.g., taps, tiles) 03:41 Provisional Sums (PSs): estimated costs for work not yet defined (e.g., excavation) 07:3...

1 month ago

28 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 116 | Going All-Electric: What Home Buyers Need to Know

Send us a text We unpack what “all-electric” means for new homes - from heating and cooling to cooking and hot water. Learn when the rules came in, why they matter, and the key inclusions and upgrades you’ll need to budget for. Topic timestamps 2:55 - Why all-electric? 7:53 - Heating and Cooling changes 11:15 - Cooking inclusions 13:15 - Hot water service 13:59 - Power supply upgrades 15:35 - How are builders including these items into quotes, inclusions and pricing? Liking the show? P...

1 month ago

23 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 115 | October 2025 First Home Buyer Deposit Scheme - Explained

Send us a text In this episode, we break down the government’s First Home Buyer Deposit Scheme updates kicking off in October 2025. We cover who qualifies, the property price caps, and how the scheme impacts loans, eligibility, and the wider housing market - plus one major cost the government hasn’t addressed. Topic timestamps 1:28 - The announcement 1:55 - The snapshot 5:31 - The caps 9:55 - Who can use the scheme? 10:55 - What property does it apply to? 11:48 - Do you need to ...

1 month ago

23 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 114 | The Top 5 Strategies on How to Pay Your Loan Off Faster

Send us a text Slash years off your home loan with five proven strategies you can start today. We unpack easy ways to pay extra without feeling it, offset vs redraw (and when to use each), refinance traps that add interest, and why comparing lenders through a broker beats going direct. Plus, the #1 mistake slowing borrowers down - and how to avoid it. Topic timestamps 1:57 - What is the easiest way to pay more than the minimum off your loan without really noticing? 9:44 - What's the differen...

1 month ago

27 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 113 | 5 Things You Need to Know If You're Self-Employed and Need a Loan

Send us a text Join us as Scott Baker from Toast Finance busts open the common misconceptions around getting finance if you’re self employed. Tune in to learn about simple, actionable guidance that covers options if you’ve just started out, what to do after a loss year, and the pros and cons of buying in a trust. Liking the show? Please leave us a 5 star rating on your podcast platform and share the show with others - thank you. Please consider subscribing too. Got a question, topic idea...

2 months ago

29 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 112 | What’s working and what's falling short in Home Building?

Send us a text Industry advisor Ryan Gazzard joins us to cut through the noise: what’s genuinely working in home building right now - and where projects keep falling short. We unpack clear briefs and realistic budgets, expectation management, and the systems great builders use. Walk away with practical steps to de-risk your build before you sign. Topic timestamps 1:55 - Ryan’s background. 3:00 - The relationship between a customer and their builder. 7:11 - What are the top three things...

2 months ago

45 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 111 | Expert Consultant Shares Top 3 Mistakes Home Buyers Make

Send us a text We sit down with Fabian Pisano from Phase Consulting who reveals the top mistakes home buyers make when starting their building journey. From tackling overwhelming contracts to avoiding costly paperwork errors and managing variations, you’ll hear practical advice that could save you time, stress, and money. Topic timestamps 4:02 - If you could give one piece of advice to anyone about to embark on the journey of building a new home, what would it be? 6:03 - What are the top thr...

2 months ago

38 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 110 | What do I need to know about my soil test?

Send us a text In this episode, Colin and Darren break down everything you need to know about your soil test - from what it is and how it’s classified, to why your soil class matters for your build. They also explore the key factors that can impact your results and what to do once you have them. Topic timestamps 1:13 - What is a soil test? 3:15 - How is the soil classified? 8:44 - Why your soil class matters 12:32 - What affects the soil test results? 15:07 - Recap & call to ...

2 months ago

20 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 109 | What Is a Building Surveyor? And Should You Choose Your Own?

Send us a text In this episode, we explain the role of a building surveyor in your new home build, when they get involved, and whether they truly operate independently. We also discuss if you can appoint your own surveyor, why most buyers don’t, and the potential benefits of making your own choice. Topic timestamps 1:44 - What is a Building Surveyor? 3:35 - When Do They Get Involved? 5:04 - Are They Independent? 8:13 - Can You Choose Your Own Surveyor? 9:14 - Do many buyers appoint their own ...

3 months ago

18 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 108 | What is Developer Approval and how does it work?

Send us a text In this episode, we unpack Developer Approval - what it is, why it matters, and how the process works. From design guidelines to who actually conducts the approval, we share practical tips to help homebuyers navigate this often misunderstood step in building a new home. Topic timestamps 2:40 - What are design guidelines / covenants? 5:14 - What is Developer Approval? 9:35 - Who Conducts It? As in who actually reviews and approves? 16:10 - How Does It Work? 18:01 - ...

3 months ago

22 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 107 | EXCLUSIVE: HIA Victoria Boss Keith Ryan Breaks Down the New Building Watchdog

Send us a text In this exclusive episode, HIA Victoria boss Keith Ryan joins us to unpack the new Building & Plumbing Commission (BPC) and what it means for builders and homebuyers. From rectification powers to insurance reforms and upcoming legislation - this is essential listening for anyone in the industry. Topic timestamps 2:57 - What exactly is the Building & Plumbing Commission, and what are the benefits to the BPC being introduced in Victoria? 11:12 - How will the new powers o...

3 months ago

50 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 106 | Are Upgraded Facades Really Worth the Money?

Send us a text In this episode, we unpack the real value behind upgraded facades - are they worth the extra spend or just a visual splurge? We break down what a facade actually is, how many options you’ll get, and the key tips to help you picture the final look before you commit. Topic timestamps 1:40 - What is a facade? 3:18 - How many facade options are available to choose from? 6:53 - Is it worth spending the money on an upgraded facade? 16:25 - Tips to help understand how a facade will lo...

3 months ago

20 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 105 | Leading Sales trainer reveals: How to find the right builder for you

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with a leading sales trainer who’s coached building company sales teams across Australia. Learn how to be the kind of buyer builders go the extra mile for, how to brief your sales consultant for the best result, and how to separate price from real value when choosing your builder. Topic timestamps 9:07 - Being the buyer type the builder is trying harder for? 16:01 - How to select an experienced sales person? 21:45 - Letting an experienced sales pers...

4 months ago

48 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 104 | The Building Bottleneck: 5 Things the government must act on - NOW!

Send us a text In this punchy episode, Colin and Darren break down the five biggest barriers slowing down new home supply - and what the government needs to do to fix them. From planning delays to broken supply chains, it’s a no-nonsense look at the urgent actions needed to unlock housing affordability. Topic timestamps 4:12 - Fast-Track Planning and Approval Processes 7:48 - Incentivise Land Release and Infrastructure Investment 9:05 - Reform Labor and Materials Supply Chains 12:38 - Rethin...

4 months ago

23 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 103 | How long your base price REALLY is protected for?

Send us a text Your builder’s base price isn’t locked in forever. In this episode, we explain what a base price actually includes, how long it’s protected, and the key differences between price lock and contingency periods - plus a real-world example to bring it all together. Topic timestamps 2:08 - What is a base price? 4:24 - What is a “price lock” period? 7:22 - What is a contingency period - and how does it work? 12:16 - A practical example Liking the show? Please leave us a 5 star rat...

4 months ago

18 minutes

Home Building Hub

Ep. 102 | Top 3 things buyers don't consider when building

Send us a text Many buyers get caught out by surprises during the build process. In this episode, we break down three key things most people overlook - unexpected costs, unclear exclusions, and design oversights - that can make or break your new home experience. Topic timestamps 2:45 - Budgeting for unknown or unforeseen costs 6:26 - Understanding your exclusions just as much and your inclusions. 13:40 - Neglecting important design and floorplan items Liking the show? Please leave u...

4 months ago

23 minutes