'Get it Right with Undercover Architect' Podcast
Season 12: Rebuild + Build Better
This season will help you learn how to rebuild after bushfires, and build better homes wherever you are located (and what every type of build or renovation you're undertaking).
We're diving into a range of topics related to rebuilding after bushfires, building or renovating in bushfire prone areas, and more generally, designing and building more resilient homes.
Get started on designing your future home ... and get it right! Request your free 5 Step E-Guide now.
[#166] Season Introduction - How to rebuild and build better
Season 12 | Episode 00
This season will help you learn how to rebuild after bushfires, and build better homes wherever you are located (and whatever type of build or renovation you’re undertaking).
Well, here we are for the beginning of Season 12, which is called Rebuild + Build Better.
This season of the podcast is a range of conversations with some fantastic experts. And we’re diving into a range of topics related to rebuilding after bushfires, building or renovating in bushfire prone areas, and, more generally, designing and building more resilient homes.
[#169] Know Your Rights when Making an Insurance Claim | David Keane, Solve My Claim
Season 12 | Episode 03
Making an insurance claim can often be the first step in rebuilding after loss or damage.
Want to know your rights when making an insurance claim? David Keane from Solve My Claim, shares more.
Solve my Claim provides expert support and assistance to anyone struggling with their insurance claims. And having gone through this personally, I’m so glad to introduce David Keane to you.
[#170] Your Options when Making an Insurance Claim | David Keane, Solve My Claim
Season 12 | Episode 04
What are your options when making an insurance claim?
What might happen if you don’t want to rebuild what you’ve lost? Or have only suffered partial damage to your property?
David Keane, customer advocate and director of Solve My Claim helps us understand our options when making an insurance claim.
Solve My Claim provides expert support and assistance to anyone struggling with their insurance claims. Their main office is in Alice Springs, and we assist with claims across the whole nation of Australia.
[#171] How to Protect Yourself When Making an Insurance Claim | David Keane, Solve My Claim
Season 12 | Episode 05
Understand how to protect yourself when making an insurance claim.
David Keane, customer advocate and director of Solve My Claim, helps us understand some specific terminology in your insurance policy, and also how to protect yourself when making an insurance claim.
In November, 2008, my husband and I (and our house) went through The Gap storms. A big Silky Oak fell on our roof and cracked it open. I was 4 months pregnant with our second bub, and our eldest was 17 months old.
[#172] Bushfire Consultants, BAL Ratings + AS 3959 | Jeff Dau, Ember Bushfire Consulting
Season 12 | Episode 06
What do bushfire consultants do when you’re planning to build or renovate in a bushfire prone area?
And what do BAL Ratings (or Bushfire Attack Level Ratings) and AS 3959 mean for your new build or renovation project?
Bushfire Consultants are an essential team member when building or renovating in a bushfire prone area.
Meet Jeff Dau, Bushfire Consultant from Ember Bushfire Consulting, to learn more.
[#173] Getting it right when building in bushfire prone areas | Jeff Dau, Ember Bushfire Consulting
Season 12 | Episode 07
Getting it right when building in bushfire prone areas is much simpler when you use a bushfire consultant.
They can help you choose the right strategy and approach, especially when you have a BAL 40 or BAL FZ rating.
Bushfire Consultants are an essential team member when building or renovating in a bushfire prone area.
This episode is Part 2 of my conversation with Jeff Dau, a Bushfire Consultant from Ember Bushfire Consulting.
[#174] Bushfire Home Design + Getting Help | Julie Firkin Architects Part 1
Season 12 | Episode 08
What can the past tell us about bushfire home design and getting help with your design?
The Bushfire Homes Service was created in response to the 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria, to help those needing to rebuild, and give access to free home designs.
This episode is Part 1 of my conversation with Julie Firkin, from Julie Firkin Architects.
In this episode, I’ll be talking about what’s been done in the past to help homeowners with the design of their homes when rebuilding after bushfire.
[#175] Bushfire Home Design + Options Available | Julie Firkin Architects Part 2
Season 12 | Episode 09
What’s possible when working on your bushfire home design and other options available for making your community more bushfire resistant?
If you’re wanting tips for your bushfire home design, or you’re exploring other options to make your community more bushfire resistant, you’ll find this conversation really helpful.
This episode is Part 2 of my conversation with architect, Julie Firkin.
In this episode, we’re talking about Bushfire Community Centres, working with architects in the recovery efforts, and what it means to help someone after such a traumatic event.
[#176] How to design affordable, sustainable homes for bushfire | Envirotecture Part 1
Season 12 | Episode 10
How do you design affordable, sustainable homes that are also bushfire resistant? Andy Marlow and Dick Clarke from Envirotecture tell us.
Balancing affordability and sustainability can be challenging when building and renovating.
Add in bushfire resistance, and it can be extra tricky.
Both Andy and Dick have such great knowledge to share, and I’m really looking forward to sharing their wisdom with you.
This episode is Part 1 of my conversation with Andy Marlow and Dick Clarke from Envirotecture.
[#177] Passivhaus Design + Construct and Bushfire Homes | Envirotecture Part 2
Season 12 | Episode 11
Learn more about Passivhaus design and construct, and how you can have bushfire homes that are sustainable and affordable.
Andy Marlow and Dick Clarke, from Envirotecture, share more.
Envirotecture are specialists in sustainable design, Passivhaus design and construct, and creating fantastic solutions for all types of homes, including bushfire homes.
This episode is Part 2 of my conversation with Andy Marlow and Dick Clarke from Envirotecture.
[#178] Financing Your New Build or Renovation | Amy Beattie, Good Green Home Loans
Season 12 | Episode 12
Financing your new build or renovation is an important step in bringing your future home dreams to reality.
So how much harder is it to finance your new build or renovation if your site is challenging? Or you’re building in a bushfire prone area? Or rebuilding after losing your home in a fire?
Amy is a Mortgage Broker and owner of Good Green Home Loans, a mortgage broking business that puts sustainability at the forefront of its lending decisions.
[#179] Home Loans 101 and Lending Criteria - Part 2: Amy Beattie, Good Green Home Loans
Season 12 | Episode 13
Do you understand Home Loans 101, and the various lending criteria that decide a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’?
Amy is a Mortgage Broker and owner of Good Green Home Loans. If you’re seeking sustainability from your home lenders and mortgage broker, you’ll love meeting Amy.
This is Part 2 of my conversation with Amy about home loans 101 and the lending criteria that will decide your mortgage.
[#180] How to Choose the Right Home Insurance | David Keane, Solve My Claim
Season 12 | Episode 14
Want to know how to choose the right home insurance? David Keane, Solve My Claim, helps us know what to check when choosing.
Choosing the right home and contents insurance policy can have a huge impact on how protected you are, and what you’ll receive if you suffer loss or damage to your home or contents.
Learn what to look for here.
[#181] Are you covered with your current home insurance? | David Keane, Solve My Claim
Season 12 | Episode 15
Do you know if you’re covered with home current home insurance? David Keane, Solve My Claim, tells us how to check, and what to know.
It can be confusing to read your home insurance policy and know what all the terminology means, and if you are properly covered for loss and damage.
Learn how to know if you are covered with your current home insurance.
It’s the last part of my conversation with David Keane from Solve My Claim, in what’s been an amazing interview (over 5 episodes!) full of such helpful information and insights into home and contents insurance, insurance claims, and how to ensure you’re protected when you need to be.
[#182] The latest in Australian Bushfire Building | Part 1 Australian Bushfire Building Conference
Season 12 | Episode 16
What’s the latest in Australian bushfire building?
I attended the Australian Bushfire Building Conference in September 2020.
In this episode, I share my learnings from the conference, and some useful information for anyone building in a bushfire prone area, or rebuilding after bushfire.
[#183] Defending your home from bushfire through design | Australian Bushfire Building Conference Part 2
Season 12 | Episode 17
What’s the most significant thing you can do to make your home more resistant in the event of a bushfire?
When I attended the Australian Bushfire Building Conference in September, I was really interested to hear a lot of discussion about this topic: focussing on the importance of defence in any bushfire building strategy.
With over 30 years industry experience, Amelia Lee founded Undercover Architect in 2014 as an award-winning online resource to help and teach you how to get it right when designing, building or renovating your home. You are the key to unlocking what’s possible for your home. Undercover Architect is your secret ally