The Good Builder Podcast

The Good Builder
  • 5.0 (4)
  • BUSINESS NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY

This week in home building news! Catch up with Az and a colourful array of guests, to hear about who's killing it, who's innovating, and who's getting into strife in the world of new home construction.

  1. The Daily Dose #284 | From Tree Lopper to Stroud Homes Franchise Owner — Tom Sachs on Building the Right Way

    4 HRS AGO

    The Daily Dose #284 | From Tree Lopper to Stroud Homes Franchise Owner — Tom Sachs on Building the Right Way

    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

    54 min

  2. 2 DAYS AGO

    The Daily Dose #283 | Is What Reddit Is Really Saying About Builders Right Now True?

    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

    33 min

  3. 5 DAYS AGO

    The Daily Dose #282 | Big Changes at TGB, the Market Splits in Two, and Master Builders Take It to the Senate

    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 workflow Practical, timely, and built for builders. Articles for every story are up at thegoodbuilder.com.au Powered 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.

    12 min
  4. The Daily Dose #281 | MyConstruct x BuildGrid: The Partnership Opening Up Australia's Builder Supply Chain

    6 DAYS AGO

    The Daily Dose #281 | MyConstruct x BuildGrid: The Partnership Opening Up Australia's Builder Supply Chain

    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 details Calling 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.

    35 min
  5. The Daily Dose #280 | Dan Urquhart on Seasons, Leadership & Why You Can't Build Alone

    28 APR

    The Daily Dose #280 | Dan Urquhart on Seasons, Leadership & Why You Can't Build Alone

    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/ Sponsors This 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.com Also proudly supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 to unlock 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more.

    1hr 2min
  6. The Daily Dose #279 | Future-Proofing the Industry with Toby Loft from BuildGrid

    27 APR

    The Daily Dose #279 | Future-Proofing the Industry with Toby Loft from BuildGrid

    Productivity isn't a buzzword. It's the thing quietly costing builders more than they realise. In this episode, Az sits down with Toby Loft — co-founder of BuildGrid — for a wide-ranging conversation about what's actually holding the construction industry back, and what a smarter, more future-focused approach looks like. Toby has spent years inside the industry, including a long stint at Mitre 10, watching how builders, trades, and suppliers operate, where the friction lives, and what happens when procurement gets done properly. This episode covers: Why productivity — not labour or materials — is the construction industry's biggest problem right nowHow BuildGrid connects builders, trades, and suppliers in one place to cut duplication and reduce frictionWhy price isn't winning supply chain relationships — and what actually isThe real cost of an inactive job site, and how locking in procurement early protects your marginWhat future-proofing actually looks like for a custom home builder in 2025 and beyondHow a Brisbane custom home builder used technology to limit price rises to 10% when everyone else was copping 30–60%Why the apprenticeship crisis and the productivity crisis are connected — and what to do about itThe upcoming integration between BuildGrid and MyConstruct, and what it means for the industryBuildGrid is free for builders. If you're not using it, this episode will tell you why you should be. Sponsors This 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.com Also proudly supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 to unlock 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more.

    44 min
  7. The Daily Dose #278 | Why Clients Choose a Builder (And What They're Really Looking At)

    26 APR

    The Daily Dose #278 | Why Clients Choose a Builder (And What They're Really Looking At)

    Emily Pollard is back for her third Monday co-host session, and this one goes deep on something every builder needs to understand — how clients actually choose who they build with. Emily is the founder of Nesta Builder Brokers, a service that helps clients across South East Queensland find the right builder, assess contracts, and make smarter decisions before they sign anything. She works with a panel of 20 builders and pulls 135 data points on each one. She sees this process up close every single day. In this episode, Az and Emily break down: Why clients still pick builders off the back of a display home and a good feelingWhat Nesta actually looks at when assessing builders — and why most clients have no idea how to read a QBCC licenceThe difference between how everyday clients choose versus how an educated, data-driven process worksWhy customer service and communication still win or lose the job — even when the product is solidThe widening gap between volume builders and boutique custom builders, and what it means for the average Australian trying to build a homeWhy the mid-tier of the building market is quietly disappearingThis conversation is equal parts practical and honest. If you want to understand what clients are actually thinking — and what Nesta is teaching them to look for — this is worth your time. Sponsors: This episode is proudly supported by MyConstruct — construction management software built for Australian builders. Check them out at myconstruct.com. Also supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 for 20,000 bonus points. Head to https://pay.com.au/tgb to get your points and learn more.. Connect with Emily Pollard: Nesta Builder Brokers | South East Queensland - https://www.nesta.com.au/

    45 min

  8. 23 APR

    The Daily Dose #277 | 5 Questions Every Builder Is Asking Right Now

    This week's episode, we go straight to the source. Five of the most common questions coming in from The Good Builder community right now, answered in one hit. No fluff, just practical answers you can actually use. In this episode we cover: Where to find quality trades and subbies, especially when you're moving into a new area or scaling fastWhat to post on social media as a builder, and the types of content that are actually getting cut through right nowHow to better qualify your leads so you're spending time on the right enquiriesWhat to do about marketing when your budget is basically zero, including some genuinely underrated free strategiesHow to tap into supplier relationships to fund the marketing you need but can't currently affordWhether you're a volume builder or doing a few homes a year, there's something practical in here for your business. Sponsors This 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.com Also proudly supported by Pay.com.au — use promo code GOOD20 to unlock 20,000 bonus points. Head to pay.com.au/tgb for more.

    18 min
See All (284)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

This week in home building news! Catch up with Az and a colourful array of guests, to hear about who's killing it, who's innovating, and who's getting into strife in the world of new home construction.

Information

  • Creator
    The Good Builder
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    284
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Good Builder
  • Show Website
    The Good Builder Podcast

You Might Also Like