12 steps.
One chance to get it right.
Most renovation mistakes aren't bad luck. They're the result of not knowing what to do — and when. These are the 12 steps Rob uses with every client. They exist because the gaps between them are where money disappears.
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Enter your renovation budget — find out below.
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Your renovation. Your risk.
The 12 steps
Each step covers something that catches homeowners off guard. Click any card to see what it costs when people don't know it.
Step 01
Where do I start? Getting your bearings
Most people call a builder first. That single move costs them — before a single brick is laid.
$8,000+ in wasted concept drawings
See what you learn›
Step 02
Meet the Professionals
Not knowing who does what — and when — leads to hiring in the wrong order. That costs time, money and professional relationships.
Wrong hire at the wrong time
See what you learn›
Step 03
How much is this going to cost?
Two couples. Two budget mistakes. Both nearly lost their projects — and neither knew there was a simple approach that would have saved them.
$25,000–$30,000 emergency shortfall
See what you learn›
Step 04
Architect, Draftsperson or Volume Builder?
They sound similar. The differences are legal, financial and permanent. The wrong choice leads to designs that can't be approved — or fees paid twice.
Aborted design costs and restart fees
See what you learn›
Step 05
Planning vs Building Permit: What do you need?
Most homeowners assume their builder handles this. The bill to fix a missed permit is reliably ten times what the permit itself would have cost.
$14,000 retrospective permit trap
See what you learn›
Step 06
The Rules That Control Your Design
Your property has a hidden rulebook. Most homeowners don't know it exists until they've invested in a design that can't be built.
Months of delays and costly redesigns
See what you learn›
Step 07
Designing for Comfort, Efficiency and Lower Running Costs
The most expensive mistakes are baked into the design. You don't see them until you move in — and then you pay for them every year.
$15,000–$25,000 post-build fixes
See what you learn›
Step 08
Layout, Cabinetry and Interior Design
A beam. A bench. Two decisions that look simple on paper — and cost tens of thousands once construction starts.
$32,000 structural surprise
See what you learn›
Step 09
Choosing a Builder. The Tender Process
Picking the cheapest quote is one of the most reliable paths to a dispute. Rob nearly got burned himself — after 25 years in the industry.
Budget blowouts and builder disputes
See what you learn›
Step 10
Working with Your Builder
Once construction starts, small undocumented changes compound fast. Dan found out at the end — when it was too late to dispute.
$23,000 undocumented variation trap
See what you learn›
Step 11
The Home Stretch: What to Check Before You Move In
Most people hand over their final payment the moment they get the keys. That move gives away your last — and most important — piece of leverage.
Paying for defects you'll never recover
See what you learn›
Step 12
Real Stories. Real Renovations.
Survey data from homeowners and builders. What causes cost blowouts. What people wish they'd known earlier. And four Australians who went through it and came out the other side.
Real patterns. Real lessons. No theory.
See what's inside›
From the people inside this course
I won't sign a job if you don't have full documentation. It's a recipe for disaster.
James Dobie — Builder, Critique Building & Construction
You should always have a slush fund, especially for an older house. It's a fund for known unknowns.
Jonathan Lipshut — Builder, 360 Constructions
There's often an imbalance of power. Owners don't understand what's compliant and what's not.
Sean McDonnell — Building Surveyor, Red Textas
Finance becomes the solution to your construction — rather than going down the path and then finance becomes the problem.
Darren Matthews — Mortgage Broker, Matfin Home Loans
We've done 80 to 90% of the work in the factory, we bring it in on a truck and we put it in. It's too late if there are things that have been missed.
Jonathan Wynn — Cabinet Maker, Wynn Joinery
You need to have a voice — but it's how you bring it up and when. Bring it up as early as is humanly possible.
Jonathan Lipshut — Builder, 360 Constructions
Inside the course — homeowner interviews
Sharon
"I walked in completely blind. But if choosing the chandelier was the hardest part — I think I did really well."
Anna
"The back had a beautiful pool and garden. But the master bedroom faced the street. The whole house felt upside down."
Julie
"We prepared ourselves for the worst. But our experience was genuinely positive — and I think we know why."
Adi
"You're spending a huge amount of money on your home. For a builder to disappear — this is your hard-earned cash."
Every one of these steps is covered in full detail.
The tools, the scripts, the checklists, the questions to ask and the red flags to watch for. Everything you need to protect your budget, your timeline and your sanity.
