Undercover Architect

Helping homeowners get it right when designing, building or renovating their family home.

3 Secrets we keep when renovating or building our home

There are 3 secrets I see homeowners keep when planning and carrying out their home renovation or building projects.

These things are almost unspoken. It’s only been in digging, asking questions, and listening loads, that I’ve seen these things aren’t a one-off – but happen really regularly for many, many homeowners.

These secrets are related to the hesitancy I see homeowners have around discussing money, and the details of their reno or build with others. Particularly with those who could help them stay sane, and feel far more confident and empowered in their project.

There are 2 reasons why these secrets we keep can be really damaging when renovating or building our homes – and can isolate us from the help we need for our success and sanity.

These reasons are:

  1. These 3 secrets breed ‘shoulds’. External and internal pressures that can mean we blow our budgets, and create homes for other people, not ourselves.
  2. These 3 secrets mean we don’t access the support, help and key information that will rocket-blast your project, and help you avoid the mistakes and drama

In this episode, I share 3 stories about women you may identify with. In sharing their secrets with me, they got the help they needed to dramatically change how their projects proceeded – and the types of homes they’ll create for their families.

Listen to the episode now.

If You’re Looking for a Way to Make Building or Renovating Your Home Simple and Rewarding … Let me introduce my flagship program HOME Method.

This online program is a supercharged way to get the education and information you need to understand the process of renovating or building your home. Plus get my help and advice on your project.

I share key lessons I’ve learnt from over 250 of my projects, many more that I’ve studied and analysed, and more than 2 decades of industry experience.

All so you can understand the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid, can skip the heartache and drama, and know that your effort, investment and planning will all be worth it in your beautiful finished home.

To learn more about my flagship online program, HOME Method >>> CLICK HERE

Want to avoid being a newbie, feeling like you have a target on your forehead, waiting to be ripped off or taken advantage of?

And want to feel and sound like you know what you’re talking about when you build or renovate your home?

A recent report by Ernst & Young estimates that by the year 2028 women will control about 80% of discretionary spending worldwide.

And I recall as far back as 2006, when I was Chair of an Industry Committee, we commissioned research to find the purchasing power of women in the property industry. We that found at that time, that when it comes to property, women either controlled, or heavily influenced 80% of the purchasing decisions.

And yet, and I’ve experienced this personally, when it comes to our own projects, we’ll often find designers, salespeople, builders and tradespeople still want to speak to and listen to our male partners.

I’ve had tradespeople, not knowing I’m an architect, tell me they’ll wait until my husband is home to get instructions on a job (even though it was me who organised the job). Or tell me the most outlandish stuff when quoting, thinking I was a mum with a baby on my hip who didn’t know any better.

A woman named Melissa said her greatest worry about building her new home was this:

It is going into a contractual deal where it becomes obvious that I have no experience in this field and “they” have all the experience. Therefore “they” can easily pull the wool over your eyes or to be more blunt – rip you off. As a woman on her own building a house for the first time I feel like I have a big target cross on my forehead saying “easy”.

In this episode, I share 3 key actions for you to consider before you embark on your project, so that all those initial dealings, conversations and choices can achieve 3 things.

These 3 things you’ll achieve are …

  • you’ll get great service from those you’re hiring
  • you’ll know who and what to choose to get the outcome you’re seeking
  • you’ll feel confident and excited about your project, your team and the home you’re going to create

Want to know what the 3 key actions are for you to implement and avoid being a home renovation or new build newbie?

Listen to the episode now.

If You’re Looking for a Way to Make Building or Renovating Your Home Simple and Rewarding … Let me introduce my flagship program HOME Method.

This online program is a supercharged way to get the education and information you need to understand the process of renovating or building your home. Plus get my help and advice on your project.

I share key lessons I’ve learnt from over 250 of my projects, many more that I’ve studied and analysed, and more than 2 decades of industry experience.

All so you can understand the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid, can skip the heartache and drama, and know that your effort, investment and planning will all be worth it in your beautiful finished home.

To learn more about my flagship online program, HOME Method, >>> CLICK HERE

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Season 4 of the Podcast “Know Your Team” starts here >>> KNOW YOUR TEAM

Do you know what the most underestimated mistake is when building or renovating your home?

Listen to the podcast to learn the renovating and building mistakes to avoid, and how to save your sanity and stress less when renovating or building.

There’s a thing I see happen for many homeowners when embarking on and executing their reno or new build. And it’s this: They’re totally surprised at how stressful it is. And how stressed they get.

The stress a project can cause catches many homeowners by surprise – because its source is from an entirely different place to what they expected.

The online world is full of promises of ‘easy’ when it comes to building and renovating your home. There are loads of people out there offering to make it this way. Telling you it IS easy and that ANYONE, ANYWHERE can do it, and do it well, regardless of skill or experience. They’re offering their own brand of magic pill.

I have a firm belief on the magic pill thing – based on my experience over the last 20 plus years. It doesn’t exist. There is no magic pill.

But that doesn’t mean your project has to be a disaster, or you have to resign yourself to a journey of nightmares, budget blowouts, and a horrible experience.

Renovating and building can be simplified. You can minimise stress and avoid headaches and pitfalls and have an enjoyable experience. And, when you get it right, it is all SO worth it.

But first, you need to know something really important. Knowing this is how you can stay sane during your renovation or building project.

And this is WHO you will be when you renovate or build your home. Because WHO you will be, and HOW you’ll behave in your project may take you by surprise. And it fundamentally impacts your project and how well it goes.

There are 3 things to remember when it comes to understanding reasons why stress happens … and why it takes homeowners by surprise (even the industry experts):

  1. there is a huge amount of emotion caught up in the whole idea of ‘home’ – and our attachment to it – and creating change to ‘home’ comes with its own cocktail of emotions that we totally underestimate the power of
  2. when renovating or building, you’re not only dealing with dreams, hopes, and fears, but also status and personal identity, and that clouds rational judgment, no matter how balanced you try to remain
  3. people are people first, and emotions can get out of hand as people differently under stress – even if you’re dealing with businesses as you renovate or build, everyone is a person first and their behaviour can be impacted by what they’re going through personally

Here’s how to save your sanity, and avoid these stress-making mistakes. Listen to the episode now.

If You’re Looking for a Way to Make Building or Renovating Your Home Simple and Rewarding … Let me introduce my flagship program HOME Method.

This online program is a supercharged way to get the education and information you need to understand the process of renovating or building your home. Plus get my help and advice on your project.

I share key lessons I’ve learnt from over 250 of my projects, many more that I’ve studied and analysed, and more than 2 decades of industry experience.

All so you can understand the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid, can skip the heartache and drama, and know that your effort, investment, and planning will all be worth it in your beautiful finished home.

To learn more about my flagship online program, HOME Method >>> CLICK HERE

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
Houzz article >>> Read the survey results here
Podcast about creating your brief >>> CLICK HERE to listen
Podcast to help you think about what you and your family needs from your home >>> CLICK HERE to listen

Do you know how to ask for what you want in your renovation or building project? And be sure you’re getting what you paid for?

One of the most frequently asked questions, or challenges that homeowners share with me is “I have no idea where to start”.

Also, many homeowners tell me also that there are 3 big fears or areas of concern around renovating and building – and these may sound familiar to you. These fears are …

  • how much the project will cost, and whether the budget will blow out
  • how long the project will take, and how much of their own time it will take up
  • how much stress the project will cause them

Are these fears that you have about your project?

In all my experience of working with homeowners who are renovating or building their home, there’s one thing I see REALLY work for them. Both in dealing with those fears, and in helping them get started really effectively and efficiently.

And it’s this: They know how to ask for what they want.

Why is this important? Well, when you know how to ask for what you want with your reno or new home, you:

  • don’t waste money on getting advice from the wrong people or starting the process in the wrong way
  • don’t waste time on design, or consultations for your project that aren’t on budget, possible for your home or area, or a good fit for you and your family
  • get started with the right team for you, who support you, keep you informed and help you manage your risk – and stress as a result

So, it’s definitely key in helping you save time, money and stress in your reno or new build!

Now, let me be clear – knowing how to ask for what you want does not mean you have to:

  • solve every problem for your project
  • design the whole thing yourself
  • get it all quoted and costed all by yourself
  • pick every item, material, fixture and finish on your own

However, knowing how to ask for what you want DOES mean you start your project with some prior knowledge. Knowledge which will help you …

  • be a super savvy and informed homeowner and client
  • be able to interview your potential team and not get taken for a ride
  • communicate with that team effectively from the get-go
  • not waste money
  • not waste time
  • make those first steps the best steps for you and your project – so you get started efficiently and minimise stress along the way

One of the members of my flagship program “HOME Method” actually said this best. When I asked him what he’d found most beneficial in the course, he said this …

“To use myself as an example, stop asking / seeking advice from the people when you don’t fully understand the process of renovation.
You’ll be wasting your time, and the professionals’ time if your head is just full of ideas and you are not clear on your direction.
Once you understand what’s involved with the renovation process (after having done the course), start … being a design detective first to make sure you’re heading in the right direction, before … getting more professionals involved and doing your due diligence.” – Tim, HOME Method Member

Knowing how to ask for what you want is one of the very early things you can do to have confidence in your project, and feel more in control – rather than beholden to and blindly trusting everyone you’re speaking to.

Trust is really important with those you bring on board – but it should be informed trust, backed by due diligence, not blind trust based on hope and crossed fingers.

Listen to the episode now.

If You’re Looking for a Way to Make Building or Renovating Your Home Simple and Rewarding … Let me introduce my flagship program HOME Method.

This online program is a supercharged way to get the education and information you need to understand the process of renovating or building your home. Plus get my help and advice on your project.

I share key lessons I’ve learnt from over 250 of my projects, many more that I’ve studied and analysed, and more than 2 decades of industry experience.

All so you can understand the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid, can skip the heartache and drama, and know that your effort, investment and planning will all be worth it in your beautiful finished home.

To learn more about my flagship online program, HOME Method >>> CLICK HERE

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
Listen to Season 4 of the Get it Right podcast by heading here >>> SEASON 4

How do you research your renovation or new home online and save time?

In this episode, I’ll be sharing tips to help you research your renovation or new home project online, and save time – as well as find online resources you can trust.

This episode is called “How to not get lost down a Google Rabbit Hole!”

Is renovating or building your home on your agenda for this year?

Undercover Architect is packed full of useful information so you can get it right. And what’s in store this year is no exception. I have some fantastic content planned for you, and loads of great things to share.

Today’s episode is all about helping you save time.

Do you know, time is the only finite resource we really have?

It’s like that saying – “We all have the same 24 hours as Beyonce”.

Which actually cracks me up, because I think that 24 hours in the life of Beyonce would look markedly different to 24 hours in my life … but that’s not really the point of the saying is it?

What it’s trying to say is that, we all have 24 hours a day … and how we use them then determines what our days look like, where we get to, the kind of person we are, and what we might accomplish along the way.

I want to help kick your reno or building plans up a gear, and actually get this project done.

And doing that starts with HOW, and WHERE you do your research.

In this episode, I share 3 mistakes that many homeowners make as they search online for help when renovating or building.

And I also give you 3 tips to improve your searching, and find information and advice that will move your project forward – and make you more confident and less stressed.

Listen to the podcast now.