Builders Beyond Borders

Builders Beyond Borders

If you're a first-time home builder or want to renovate your home in Australia and feel overwhelmed by the process, you're not alone. Builders Beyond Borders is the podcast that helps everyday Aussies navigate the home building and renovation journey with confidence. Hosted by experienced Australian builders, this show delivers real stories, expert insights, and practical advice for anyone planning to build or renovate their home. Each episode unpacks what really happens on-site — from understanding builder quotes to avoiding budget blowouts and delays. Whether you're still dreaming, ready to break ground, or somewhere in between, you'll learn how to avoid costly mistakes and make informed decisions. If you're searching for honest conversations about new home construction, home renovation tips, building timelines, or what to expect during a custom build in Australia, this podcast is your new best mate. Follow Builders Beyond Borders and start building smarter!

  1. 41. Tools Down: Builders Talk Mental Health

    2d ago

    41. Tools Down: Builders Talk Mental Health

    This one's different. We put the tools down and have the conversation most blokes in the building game never have. We talk about what happens when builders do the inner work. Andy opens up about getting sober, the seminars and men's weekends that turned things around for him, and why the man behind the build matters when a client is trusting you with the biggest investment of their life. Paul shares his recent men's weekend, the shadow work, working through a marriage breakdown, and breaking the pattern that gets passed down through generations. Hugh talks about a relationship and a business that both fell apart nearly 20 years ago, and the work he now does supporting men who are struggling, including men who've been to the brink. We get into the stuff that actually helps. Going for a walk. Breath work. Cold plunges. Getting around the right people. Why working on yourself comes before working on the business, and why "I don't have time" doesn't hold up when it's the most important thing you'll do. It's a raw one. If you're driving home after a rough day, this is the episode we made for you. You're not alone, you're number one, and what's going on in your life matters.   Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast   Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

    35 min
  2. 40. Going In Blind: What Most Homeowners Don't Know Before They Build or Renovate

    Jun 21

    40. Going In Blind: What Most Homeowners Don't Know Before They Build or Renovate

    Ever felt like you've signed up for a build or reno and suddenly you're way out of your depth? You're not alone, and you're not the problem. In this episode of Builders Beyond Borders, we sit down to pull back the curtain on what really happens once a project gets going, and why so many homeowners feel like they've walked in blind.Between us we've seen it all: the decision fatigue, the budget shocks, the relationships that buckle under the pressure, and the one thing that quietly makes or breaks every single project. We get into the questions homeowners are asking, the questions they should be asking but aren't, and the practical stuff that keeps a build on track and a household sane. If you're thinking about building or renovating, or you're already in the thick of it and feeling overwhelmed, this is the honest, no sugar coating chat you wish someone had with you before you started.   Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast   Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au

    30 min
  3. 39. Is Your Builder Still Learning? The Sign of a Good One You Probably Didn't Think to Ask

    Jun 15

    39. Is Your Builder Still Learning? The Sign of a Good One You Probably Didn't Think to Ask

    When you're choosing a builder, you'll ask about price, timelines, references and maybe their last few jobs. But here's a question almost no homeowner thinks to ask: is your builder still learning? In this episode, Louise from Perway Construction Services, Paul from Independent Building Solutions and Hugh from New Realm Homes get into why a builder who's constantly improving is one of the best signs you've found a good one. The industry never stops changing. New methods, new materials, new regulations, new tech. The builders worth your money are the ones keeping up. They also dig into something that catches a lot of homeowners off guard: plenty of genuinely skilled builders go broke. Not because they can't build, but because nobody ever taught them to run a business. The crew talks honestly about why the back end matters just as much as the building, and why a builder who's sorted their systems, finances and communication is far more likely to deliver a smooth job for you. As Paul puts it, you're either green and growing or ripe and rotting.   Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast   Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au

    30 min
  4. 38. Why Builders Lie Awake During a Storm Too

    Jun 7

    38. Why Builders Lie Awake During a Storm Too

    What goes through a builder's mind when a major storm rolls in? Most homeowners assume the stress ends once the keys are handed over, but experienced builders often carry a different kind of responsibility. In this episode, Dean Hodgetts and Matt Auld share a candid conversation about building in extreme weather conditions, the decisions made behind the scenes to protect homes, and why quality builders often go beyond minimum requirements to ensure long-term performance. From coastal wind ratings and structural bracing to material selection and maintenance planning, this episode offers a fascinating look at the responsibility builders carry long after construction is complete.     Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast   Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/ Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au

    18 min
  5. 35. Why Square Metre Rates Won't Tell You What Your Build Really Costs

    May 17

    35. Why Square Metre Rates Won't Tell You What Your Build Really Costs

    Ever asked a builder "how much per square metre?" and copped a long pause? There's a reason for that. In this episode, Dean and Shannon from DJH Builders, Hugh from New Realm Homes, and Matt from Warrnambool sit down to unpack why square metre rates have quietly disappeared from builder advertising, and why relying on them to budget your new home or reno will lead you down the garden path. They talk through how the building game has changed since the 80s, why volume builders have backed away from the old "X dollars per square" marketing hook, and the surprising reason a smaller house often costs more per square metre than a bigger one. They also get into how new building code changes, thermal ratings, and the sheer amount of choice in finishes today have blown the old metric out of the water. If you're thinking about building or renovating and trying to make sense of quotes, this one's worth a listen before you go any further.   Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast   Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/   Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au

    24 min
  6. 34. Building a New Home? Here's How Site Inspections Actually Work

    May 10

    34. Building a New Home? Here's How Site Inspections Actually Work

    Ever wondered what actually happens during site inspections on your build? Or whether you're allowed to just pop down to your own house whenever you feel like it? Paul Kennedy from Independent Building Solutions in Canberra and Hugh from New Realm Homes in Melbourne pull back the curtain on the meetings, inspections and site visits that happen during a build. From mandatory council inspections to those casual drive-bys where you spot something that looks a bit off, this one covers what's reasonable, what's risky, and how to keep the relationship with your builder running smoothly. A must-listen for anyone about to start a build or already knee-deep in one.   Listen on Spotify// https://open.spotify.com/show/0eGpiuFZidHdOcFunXPo4q Apple Podcast// https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/builders-beyond-borders/id1841312899 Youtube// https://www.youtube.com/@BuildersBeyondBordersPodcast   Follow us on Facebook// https://www.facebook.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast/ Instagram// https://www.instagram.com/buildersbeyondborderspodcast_/   Looking for a builder? Perway Construction Services in Western Australia - https://www.perway.com.au DJH Builders in Tasmania - https://djhbuilders.com.au New Realm Homes in Victoria - https://newrealmhomes.com.au Independent Building Solutions in Canberra - https://www.ibscanberra.com.au Matt Auld Builder in Victoria - https://mabuilder.com.au Wayne Prestone in Victoria - https://prestonbuilders.com.au

    19 min

About

If you're a first-time home builder or want to renovate your home in Australia and feel overwhelmed by the process, you're not alone. Builders Beyond Borders is the podcast that helps everyday Aussies navigate the home building and renovation journey with confidence. Hosted by experienced Australian builders, this show delivers real stories, expert insights, and practical advice for anyone planning to build or renovate their home. Each episode unpacks what really happens on-site — from understanding builder quotes to avoiding budget blowouts and delays. Whether you're still dreaming, ready to break ground, or somewhere in between, you'll learn how to avoid costly mistakes and make informed decisions. If you're searching for honest conversations about new home construction, home renovation tips, building timelines, or what to expect during a custom build in Australia, this podcast is your new best mate. Follow Builders Beyond Borders and start building smarter!