I’m not overstating it, when I tell you that this one thing can be at the heart of most building disputes, errors and costly mistakes. In fact, a lot of serious litigation cases can be credited to this one thing failing or missing. 

So what is it? This one crucial tool? 

It’s  … COMMUNICATION. 

When it’s done well, it helps projects run smoothly, achieve great outcomes and create homes that are a joy to live in. 

And when it’s not. Well, it’s how projects unravel, money and time is wasted, loads of stress is caused as well, and the whole experience of renovating or building made awful. 

When you build or renovate your home, there are so many moving parts to pull together. Different team members, different ideas, decisions, processes … boxes to tick, rules to satisfy, budgets to meet … 

And in the middle of all of that will be you, and anyone else in your family who gets a say, figuring out what you want from your finished home – and how to bring it to life. 

That’s the sometimes-hilarious-sometimes-frustrating thing isn’t it? Not only do you have to get it right in communicating your vision to those helping you design and build it. You also have to get on the same page as your partner, or your family members, in actually creating that vision in the first place! 

No wonder it can get hairy sometimes. 

So, in this episode and the next, I’ll take you through some of the most important elements of communication for your project, and how to use them successfully to get great results, and save yourself headaches along the way.  

And then in the third episode of this interlude, I’ll share some of the key mistakes I see people make, so you can avoid those too.  

What are the first 3 Communication tools? They are: 

1. Your team 
2. Your brief 
3. Your language 

Listen to the podcast now to learn more about these first 3 Communication tools so you can get it right. 

Links mentioned in this podcast: 

Terminology used in building >>> www.yourbuilding.org 

A glossary of building terminology >>> www.ownerbuildercourses.com/building-terminology 

What drawings do you need for your project? >>> http://undercoverarchitect.com/what-drawings-do-i-need-to-build-or-renovate-my-home/ 

Your Secret Ally, 

Amelia Lee, UA x 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• looking at the spaces you want to create 
• how you want to wrap them up (their size, shape, etc ) 
• and what you want to put in them (finishes, fixtures, furnishings, etc) 

When you start to allocate your budget to these dreamed and imagined spaces, finishes and fixtures, it can be a surprise to see how quickly it gets consumed.  

And often, in my experience, the reaction can often be “But where is all the money going?” 

There are many things required to create a working, finished new or renovated home, and they can chew up a significant chunk of your budget – and yet be almost invisible in the finished product.  

So in this episode, we go through the main areas where money can disappear in any project, so you can manage them in yours. I share the main hazards to be aware of, and how you can protect your budget in each of these areas.  

Of course, the ones I’m listing here are not exhaustive – the best way to manage your budget is to manage all of it!   

However, I’ve seen these areas regularly surprise homeowners, and end up costing them far more than they intended.  

I take you through 4 main areas that can swallow your budget for a seemingly invisible result. I also share key tips to help you protect your budget in these areas – and overall. 

Money gobbler 1:Services (especially electrical and plumbing) 

Money gobbler 2:Excavation and retaining 

Money gobbler 3:Your home’s skeleton (the structure) 

Money gobbler 4:Extra living expenses during your project  

And one last word on this …  

I see some homeowners behave like it’s a foregone conclusion that their project will blow budget and timelines. Renovating and building doesn’t have to be that way. 

The renovating and building journey is not a one-step process. It’s a step-by-step journey of discovery and selection. Sometimes you only have 2 options. Sometimes you have 200. Sometimes you may feel like you’re crawling, and at other times it feels like big jumps towards the finish line. 

The most straight-forward way to avoid nasty surprises on your reno or new home journey is to start with good information and a reliable team. Then you can also work to make informed choices as you go. Checking and adjusting along the way. What did we say in an earlier episode? ADAPT AND INNOVATE!! 

Revisiting your design, your budget and your timeline at each of these stages will help you do this, and make the best choices for you … your budget, your site and your life. That’s the way you create the perfect home for you.  

Listen to the podcast now to learn more about these 4 main areas, and how to protect your budget, and manage your risk overall. 

This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED. 

Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project.  

Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who I’ve personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in my own projects, and in client projects.   

And so I’ve been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.   

Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now!  

Your Secret Ally, 

Amelia Lee, UA x 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And then construction will start.   

They’ll head to site and start seeing progress. And then they’ll start changing things. Or they’ll see a material or fixture somewhere, fall in love with it, and have to have it – even though it’s more than what they’d originally budgeted for, or already selected. 

This might be because construction feels like the last point at which you can be sure you’ve got it right. Your last opportunity to ensure you’ve made the best choices, because once it’s in, it’s permanent and you’ll be living with it. 

And perhaps too, it’s because it can be hard to visualise things when they’re all on paper. You’re looking at lines on a page that represents rooms and spaces and joinery. Often homeowners will walk on site and say “Oh, is THAT what it looks like” like it’s the first time they’ve actually realised.  

When you make changes on site: be it because you’ve not understood how something actually was designed … or you see an alternative product or material you would rather use … or you change your mind about anything you’ve previously selected or included in your design … these changes rarely save you money.   

More often than not, they cost MORE in time and money. 

And it’s in these changes that homeowners can blow their budget. They’re spending a little extra here and there. All those ‘little extras’ add up over time, get a builder’s margin added onto them, and can end up being a big budget blowout.  

In this episode, I share the ways you can spend your budget wisely, and stay on track for your project, as well as the tools you can use. I go into detail on these three specific strategies: 

Strategy 1: Start how you intend to finish … and finish how you started 

Strategy 2: Monitor your progress – in time and money 

Strategy 3: Be realistic about your own abilities 

Following these strategies will help you to manage the spending of your budget with the same discipline you set it with. And ultimately that will help you stay on track in your renovation or new build, and deliver the finished result without huge financial headaches.  

Listen to the podcast now to learn more about these strategies and stay on track with your spending!  

Links mentioned in the podcast 

Microsoft now has a template you can use to set up your budget in excel 

https://www.microsoft.com/australia/madewithoffice/article/how-to-keep-track-of-your-diy-renovation-in-excel.aspx 

Pocketbook is one of my favourite apps for streaming your bank account and tracking / categorising transactions 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/pocketbook-personal-finance-expense-tracker/id653330894?mt=8 

Renovation Budget Tracker ($4.50) 

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/renovation-budget-tracker/id381991960?mt=8 

 AMP Budget Tracker 

https://www.tracker.qandamp.com.au/ 

Tom’s Planner 

https://www.tomsplanner.com/ 

LED Lighting and how to get it right 

http://undercoverarchitect.com/what-is-led-lighting/  

This season, Undercover Architect has a podcast partner: Kiiko LED. 

Kiiko LED is customisable, DIY, LED strip lighting, that you can order online to your specifications, for your needs and project. 

Kiiko LED is founded by Craig Thomas, who I’ve personally had the pleasure of working with for over 12 years now, in my own projects, and in client projects.  

And so I’ve been able to organise with Kiiko a fantastic UA Community only offer. If you head to their website at www.kiiko.com.au/undercoverarchitect you’ll be able to access a $25 discount to use on your first order.  

Check it out, and start building your Kiiko LED strip lighting now! 

Your Secret Ally, 

Amelia Lee, UA x 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.