Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Hello! This is Episode 398, and in it, I’m speaking with HOME Method members Jan and Landon, who are back to share an incredibly exciting construction update on their passive house new build in Sydney’s north.
This is the fifth instalment of Jan and Landon’s journey on the podcast. They’ve been sharing their story with us across Episodes 338, 339, 367 and 368, and if you haven’t heard those yet, I’d really recommend starting there to get the full picture of how this project has come together.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/398]
As a quick recap: Jan and Landon are building a new home and granny flat as a Passive House in Sydney’s north, on a site that has been in Landon’s family for over 70 years.
They’re both in their 70s and are building with very clear goals, to age in place well, to live sustainably, and to create a home that’s deeply aligned with their values and lifestyle.
As retired teachers, they’ve brought a wonderful learning mindset to this project. They joined HOME Method in January 2024 and have used it as a real foundation for their preparation and decision-making all the way through.
When we last caught up in Episodes 367 and 368, the project was well into design and the early stages of construction.
Now, things have moved very quickly, and the home is actually taking shape before their eyes.
Jan and Landon are living on the neighbouring lot to their construction site, so they can quite literally look out the window and watch their home going up.
One of the most compelling parts of this episode is hearing about the prefabricated wall cassette system their builder uses, and what that’s looked like in practice on site. In earlier episodes, we introduced this system in concept.
Jan and Landon walk us through the reality of it: visiting the panels being built in the factory, seeing the manufacturing drawings that translate the architect’s plans into something that can be precision-built offsite, and watching the entire shell of the house go up in just five days with a crane and a dedicated team.
It’s a fascinating, real-world account of what this construction methodology involves, and of how the precision and accuracy embedded in every stage of that process directly supports their passive house goals.
Plus, they share loads more helpful insights I know you’ll find super helpful for your project.
If you haven’t heard the previous instalments of Jan and Landon’s story, you can find them at www.undercoverarchitect.com/338, www.undercoverarchitect.com/339, www.undercoverarchitect.com/367 and www.undercoverarchitect.com/368.
Remember, if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, you can find that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/398.
Now, let’s dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/398
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when designing, renovating or building your future home inside my signature online program, HOME Method >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 397, and in it, I’m going to talk about staging your project. Whether you’re building new or renovating, for a range of reasons, you may be thinking you don’t want to do everything all at once.
And so, in this episode I’m going to share the things you need to consider, how to avoid mistakes, and what’s involved in getting it right when staging your project.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/397]
This follows on from the last podcast, Episode 396, so if you haven't listened to that one yet, I'd recommend starting there.
In that episode, I talked about Feasibility Studies at the start of your project, and how to understand your options and gather enough information before committing to a specific direction in your project. The thinking in that episode sets up a lot of what we're covering in this episode about staging, so it’s also worth listening to.
Staging can be a smart approach in a project.
If you can't do everything at once, or you're planning to live in your home while work is happening around you, or there are parts of your project that are a few years away, for example a pool, a studio, a second stage of renovation, then staging can definitely be a viable path.
But staging without a strategic plan is where it can get expensive.
And so, I want to make sure you have what you need to approach this in a way that works for you, and doesn’t create problems long-term.
As always, if you’d like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to the resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/397.
Now, let’s dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/396
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 396, and I want to talk about something that comes up at the very beginning of almost every project I hear about.
It usually sounds like one of these questions.
"Should I add a second storey, or extend out the back?"
Or… "Is it worth renovating what we have, or should we just knock it down and build new?"
Or… "We've got a blank block - do we go with a volume builder, or work with an architect or designer and do a custom project?"
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/396]
And what all of these questions have in common is this: they come from a place of genuinely not knowing which direction to go. There are multiple options on the table.
Each of them could potentially work. They can vary in budget and timelines and team structure and approvals. But you don't yet have enough information to choose between them with confidence.
And so what a lot of people do - and I completely understand the impulse - is to just pick one. Pick the option that seems most obvious, or most affordable, or the one that someone recommended, and start moving forward.
Because forward feels like progress. And staying in that uncomfortable place of not knowing can feel like being stuck.
But here's what I've seen happen, again and again. People who make that early decision without doing the groundwork first often find themselves... sometimes months in, sometimes with significant professional fees already spent... discovering that there was a better option they hadn't fully explored. Or a constraint they didn't know about. Or a cost they hadn't factored in. And by that point, going back feels devastating. But pushing forward doesn't feel right either.
In this episode, I want to help you avoid that.
I want to share a way of thinking about this phase of your project that can genuinely change your experience of it. And I want to give you a clear, practical process for how to navigate this decision-making period... so that when you do commit to a direction, you can do it with real confidence and strategy.
As always, if you’d like to access a full transcript of this episode and links to the resources I mention, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/396.
Now, let’s dive in!
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/396
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 395, and this is Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Tanya, about the renovation of their Melbourne home that they’ve now been enjoying living in for a year, and experiencing the results of their efforts in how it functions and performs.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/395]
In the last episode, we heard how Tanya used the Brief Builder inside HOME Method to get really clear on how she and her family wanted to live, and how that helped her confidently choose her team and set her project up for success.
If you missed Part 1, you can head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/394 to listen or download the free PDF transcript.
In this episode, we dive into what happened next.
You’ll hear how that upfront clarity and preparation flowed into their construction phase, and why Tanya describes that part of the project as calm, collaborative and genuinely enjoyable.
We talk about how their site meetings were run, the way they managed communication and record keeping during the build, and how front loading their decisions meant they weren’t second guessing things or making stressful choices on the fly.
Tanya also shares how they reduced demolition waste by rehoming materials before construction began, and what it’s been like to live in the home now, after a year, and experience the results of all that time, effort and intention.
If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s actually possible to enjoy your renovation or building project, I think you’re going to find this episode incredibly encouraging and inspiring.
Remember, if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, you can find all of that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/395
Now, let’s dive in!
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/395
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello! This is Episode 394, and in it, I’m talking with HOME Method member, Tanya. Tanya lives with her husband and daughter in Melbourne. They worked within the existing footprint of the home of the 100-year-old double brick home, undertaking a renovation that dramatically improves how it feels, functions and performs.
[For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/394]
What started as a cold, dark and disconnected house has been transformed into a warm, light-filled and comfortable home that truly supports how their family wants to live.
In this episode, you’ll hear about Tanya’s journey through her renovation, and how she approached it in a way that set her up for success from the very beginning.
One of the key tools you’ll hear her talk about is their Design Brief. Using the Brief Builder from HOME Method and taking time to fill it out enabled it to be a game changer for her project. By investing the time upfront to get clear on how they wanted to live, Tanya and her partner were able to confidently interview and choose their team, communicate their vision, and keep decisions aligned right throughout the process.
It’s a great example of how doing this work early doesn’t slow you down, it actually saves time, reduces stress, and helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.
You’ll also hear how Tanya navigated choosing her architect and builder, how she built a collaborative relationship with her team, and how being informed and prepared completely changed her experience of renovating.
In fact, her builder, Anthony Hickey from Two Tone Construction, who we had back on the podcast in Episodes 359 and 360, shared how much he loved working with her as an educated and engaged homeowner. This is something I see many people worry might create tension with their project team, but in Tanya’s case, it did the opposite.
Something I also really love about this conversation is Tanya’s genuine passion for sharing her story. They had such a positive experience, and Tanya is incredibly generous in wanting others to benefit from what she learned, so they can feel more confident and supported in their own projects too.
Whether you’re planning a new build or a renovation, if you’re worried about getting things wrong, feeling overwhelmed, or not knowing where to start, I think you’ll find this episode both reassuring and instructive about how to improve your project experience, and the home you create.
Remember, if you’d like to grab a full transcript of this episode, you can find all of that by heading to www.undercoverarchitect.com/394
Now, let’s dive in!
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW.
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST:
For links, images and resources mentioned in this podcast, head to >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/394
Accessing my free '44 Ways' E-Book will simplify sustainability and help you create a healthy, low tox and sustainable home. You can download your free copy here >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/ways
Access the support and guidance you need to be confident and empowered when renovating and building your family home inside my flagship online program >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/courses/the-home-method/
Just a reminder: All content on this podcast is provided by Undercover Architect for reference purposes and as general guidance. It does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in any circumstances, including but not limited to circumstances where loss or damage may result. The views and opinions of any guests on the podcast are solely their own. They may not reflect the views of Undercover Architect. Undercover Architect endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or has become inaccurate over time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.