The Home Build Play Book.

Every build project has a play. One that can be mapped out in a build playbook. But unfortunately, most of us don't know what the play is — and don't realise until too late that it was the wrong play from the start.

This is the work I do. I'm committed to changing the story where build projects start wrong, then ultimately finish wrong. When we work together, we test out the different plays and predict the investment of a build project before it starts — while we can still easily adjust the intended play, or the hoped-for outcome.

So let me introduce you to the home-build playing field. Think of it as our pre-game whiteboard.

The field is broken into thirds, representing the stages of building. On the left is the idea stage — where homeowners dream up and communicate their hopes for the project. (Working with homeowners in this third is where I can have the biggest impact.) In the middle is the design stage, where the idea is realised through a design solution, construction documentation and the relevant approvals. On the right is the build stage, where the project is priced, then built.

Off the field to the left sits a yellow circle — the homeowner. I make homeowners yellow because they're the top banana of any project, charged with starting it right. (A scary and daunting position when designing and building isn't your jam.)

To the right is the completed home — new build or reno — where the homeowners move in and finally enjoy it.

And up the top, just off the field, sit a pink circle and a blue circle: the design team and the build team. How they're engaged across the playing field is yet to be chosen. And it matters.

The playing field is always the same, regardless of the size, type or style of project.

In the coming weeks I'll introduce you to the six main plays I see adopted across home build projects. I've seen all of them done well, and I've seen all of them done poorly. It isn't that one is better than another — it's that one will be better suited to a given project. The key is in choosing the right one.

First cab off the rank: the Owner-Builder Play. For those crazy cats sitting back watching The F*&%ing Block and thinking, "Oh yeah — I could do that!" 🙄

P.S. On Saturday 22 August at 1.30pm I'll be presenting on exactly this — the six build plays — at the Melbourne Home Show. I'd love to see you there. Grab your free tix here.