Plan Design Build Repeat: Recent Episodes
Rachael Gowling
Plan Design Build Repeat is a podcast to inspire you to create a thorough plan, help you break down the industry jargon and simplify the build process so you can plan, design and build your dream home.
Rachael has many years of experience building and renovating her own homes and has helped many others on their reno and build journeys.
It is Rachael's mission to share her knowledge, inspire, encourage and support you to achieve your goals and your dream home.
Building can be fun and so rewarding with a thorough plan and it can be for you too.
So, if you are looking to take on a new build or renovation project, interested in property and design, then this podcast is for you!
Join Rachael as she talks all things building and renovating on the Plan Design Build Repeat Podcast.
In this podcast episode I share my thoughts and tips on why decluttering your existing kitchen is an important exercise to do before you start to design your new kitchen.
By doing this before you start your new kitchen design process, you will intentionally design your kitchen to your meet your needs, your desires, maximise your budget, give you the chance to really think about the functionality, your storage needs, how much space you actually need and ensure that you settle on the right layout to suit you.
For more information, you can visit www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com or Instagram @plan.design.build.repeat
In this episode, I share my tips and a few common mistakes I often see when it comes to the electrical planning for a new home or renovation. With some prior planning you can ensure you avoid these mistakes in your home.
For a full list of these tips you can find the electrical planning tips here
For more information, you can visit www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com or Instagram @plan.design.build.repeat
A butler’s pantry is one of the most desired spaces in a new home and is very high up on many homeowner’s wish list when renovating. A butler’s pantry can serve many different functions and purposes depending on your desires. There isn’t a 'one size fits all' solution.
The problem is, without prior planning, the butler’s pantry often doesn’t quite fit the desired layout in a lot of floor plans.
It is really important to give a lot of thought to how you will use this space and thoroughly plan out the design and how it will be laid out before the floor plan is finalised and definitely before construction begins.
If you have been dreaming of a new kitchen with a butler’s pantry, be sure to check out this quick little podcast episode.
For more information, you can visit www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com or Instagram at @plan.design.build.repeat
Sarah is a scientist, writer and designer and has created the iconic Airbnb… Captains Rest, which located in a remote part of the west coast in Tasmania.
This is a beautiful renovation story of a run-down shack by the sea.
After the success of Captains Rest, Sarah has gone on to educate thousands of students and other Airbnb owners via her online school, The Hosting Masterclass.
Recently Sarah launched her best-selling book Principals of style and her new online school - Principles of style and storytelling.
Through her skill, love of science + design she has completely transformed her own life and the lives and homes of 1000's of her students by sharing her proven principals.
Sarah's story and journey is truly inspirational!
If you have been thinking about creating an Airbnb property business or want to further your skills and creativity in design, then this podcast is for you.
If you’d like to know more about Sarah’s courses or Captains Rest, you can head to sarahandrews.co and follow the links
In this episode, I’ll be helping you with a question that I am asked A LOT. That is….
Hey Rach, I’m really not happy with my plans. What can I do?
It can be really disheartening and you may have a real sinking feeling that you have spent months and months designing your new build or reno but you are just not happy with the plans.
Often by this stage you may have –
- Spent a significant amount of money on design and planning fees.
- You may have also spent months going back and forward with either a draftsman, building designer or an architect and you may feel further away from your desired home than you were months ago.
- At this point you may now have a plan that you just don’t love or that has been costed out way over your budget.
- You are tired, stressed and very frustrated.
If this sounds like you (or if you are planning to start the design phase) I share my tips and advice in this episode on what you can do to get your plans back on track.
For more information or to contact Rachael, you can head over to www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
In this episode, I talk about a few things to check before you finalise your floor plan.
I have helped many people with getting their floor plans as they desire, and I am fanatical about the details being correct from the start.
Ideally, you don’t want any detail to be left to the imagination or interpretation of different trades which means you are less likely to have mistakes and miscommunications when your build starts.
I share a few tips for you to check off your floor plan designs to save you money in the early design stage and during construction and to achieve the best outcome when the house is complete.
The biggest savings for your build or renovation are often made in the initial floor plan design stage! It really pays to spend a considerable amount of time getting your plans right at the start.
If you would like my help reviewing your floor plan you can contact me at https://www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com/workwithme
In todays episode, I share ten of my design tips for you to consider when designing your kitchen.
There is no doubt that the kitchen is the heart of the home and kitchens do absolutely sell houses. It is so important to plan out your new kitchen thoroughly before you start your build or renovation.
A well-designed new kitchen should be beautiful but also highly functional. I know from my own experience you can achieve BOTH a beautiful and functional kitchen on most budgets.
If you would like me to help you with your kitchen layout or design you can make an appointment to discuss your home at https://www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com/workwithme
In episode 19, I chat all things tiny homes with Grant Emans, the Director of Designer Eco Tiny homes.
- Are you looking to downsize your home and your mortgage?
- Are you looking for an affordable airbnb property?
- Are you looking for a more environmentally friendly home?
- Are you tired of trying to break into the property market?
- Are you looking for extra accomodation for your property without doing a major renovation with all of the council approval process?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then this podcast episode is for you!
For more information on Designer Eco Tiny homes visit www.designerecotinyhomes.com.au or on Instagram @designerecotinyhomes
For more tips and inspiration from Rachael, you can visit www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com or on Instagram @plan.design.build.repeat
In episode 18, I chat to Belinda Botzolis who is a Senior Property Advisor about all thing’s property valuation and a little bit on the tax side as well.
Belinda talks about her perspective as a valuer on buying a home, how to add value when renovating or building, whether you should or shouldn’t you renovate, the difference on where to spend and where to save on a forever home, a rental property or a property you are renovating and selling for profit. Belinda also talks about the importance of tax depreciation schedules for investors.
Links:
Belinda's Instagram @thevaluershouse
Belinda's TikTok @thevaluer
www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
Instagram @plan.design.build.repeat
Renovating and building can feel like one long rollercoaster ride and when you are in the thick of it and it can, at times feel really overwhelming.
In episode 17 of the podcast, I share 10 tips I use when building and renovating my own homes to avoid getting overwhelmed.
If you would like to chat, please feel free to reach out.
www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
Imagine SEEING your home before you build.
Are you seeking?
- Clarity on your plans so you know what you’ll end up with?
- Confidence to be able to make the right decisions to suit you & your family?
- An enjoyable build process (yes, it’s possible) that isn’t held up by variations or delays?
Is this you?
- Struggling to visualise the floor plans and the space & layout of your home?
- Unable to decide on things because you’re worried about making the wrong decision?
- Worried about ending up with something you don’t love?
In this episode, I talk to Marian from One to One Walkthroughs about how to ensure your floor plan is as you desire BEFORE you build your home.
For more information you can visit -
otog.com.au
plandesignbuildrepeat.com
Windows are one of the trickiest parts to get right in a floor plan design when building or renovating a new home.
Often how your windows will function from the interior is overlooked.
In episode 15, I cover suggestions to check and consider regarding your windows before finalising your floor plan design.
For more information or if you have any questions please head over to www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
In today's episode, I talk all things flooring with the lovely Catherine from Flooring Xtra.
Your flooring choice for your home needs to be made with a lot of consideration, as it needs to be hard wearing and durable for many years to come.
Catherine takes us through the different product ranges that Flooring Xtra has to offer and considerations you should think about when deciding on which type of flooring is best suited to your home and budget.
For more information you can head over to www.flooringxtra.com.au and for a full transcript of this podcast episode, you can head over to www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com/flooringxtra
In this episode, I share my design and process tips to consider and the budget categories you will need plan for when planning a bathroom renovation.
A bathroom renovation needs a lot of thorough planning and needs to be well thought out and well planned to avoid mistakes, misunderstandings with your renovation team and budget blow outs.
You can find a link to the free downloadable bathroom planning checklist at www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
In episode 12, I talk all things laundries. Whether you are building a new home or renovating, creating a functional laundry will make a massive difference to your day to day life. I discuss several tips, ideas and design considerations for your new laundry. Grab a pen and get ready to take some notes.
For further information, head over to www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
Have you ever wondered if you need an Interior Designer for your new build or renovation?
You may be thinking...
- Doesn't my builder or architect take care of everything for me?
- I already know what I want for my interior.
- What can I expect?
- What do I actually get from an Interior Designer?
- When do I engage in an Interior Designer?
- How much does it cost?
- How do I choose a good one?
- What is the process?
In episode 11, I cover all of these questions. By the end of this episode you will have clarity around the interior design process.
For more info, please visit plandesignbuildrepeat.com
Are you looking at getting into the property market, to move up the property ladder, buy an investment property or looking to generate more money to pay your mortgage off faster?
In this episode, I talk about the pros and cons of each type of property you can buy and share my thoughts and experience on maximising the opportunities with buying different types property.
In episode 9, I discuss how to find your design and build team and I give you suggestions on what to look for and what to ask before you agree to go ahead with locking in your team.
So, you are ready to go ahead with getting started on your renovation or creating your new home but you aren't sure who to speak to first? A builder, building designer, architect? What is the process? What do you need to ask them? Are they right for you and your build?
I unpack all of this and more in this episode. This step in the design and planning stage is crucial to the success of your new build.
Episode 8 is packed with tips along with a FREE downloadable resource on the website to give you the opportunity to thoroughly prepare your vision and define what is important to you in your dream home before you discuss your ideas with your chosen designer, builder and trades.
Spending time to plan out and clarify your vision and effectively communicate it with your team is a solid base for a successful build or renovation. It will save a lot of time and stress during the build process and your project will run a lot smoother if you and your team are on the same page from the start.
The free resource can be found at www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
I've created this FREE resource for you as I am passionate about helping others achieve success. My mission over here at Plan Design Build Repeat is to help you simplify the build process and to inspire you to plan, design and build your dream home.
The very first stage of this process is to ensure that you can afford the home, build or renovation of your dreams but not to the detriment or sacrifice of other areas in your life that are important to you.
This exercise will allow you to prioritise and re-evaluate where you are spending your money according to your goals and what is important to you.
Firstly, head over to www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com and download the FREE workbook and spreadsheet called "Personal Budget and Goals Review".
In this podcast episode, I share the journey of our 80’s brick reno.
We purchased the 1984 original house with the idea of it being a long-term investment property in the future. It was completely original, very dated and was in dire need of a renovation.
Over the last 15 months we have gradually renovated the entire house inside and out on a very tight budget while living in the home.
Join me as I share the renovation journey and my tips on how we completely renovated this home on a tight budget.
Renovating for profit or in this case to manufacture additional equity by doing a cosmetic renovation in a long-term investment property is a different strategy than renovating your forever home and a clear strategy and plan needs to be made prior to purchasing the property.
If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you!
www.plandesignbuildrepeat.com
Instagram @plan.design.build.repeat
In episode 5, I share the journey of our Coastal Cottage new build.
After completing 4 projects prior to starting this build, I took my prior learnings and thoroughly planned out the floor plan design and accurately priced out every selection for the home to ensure we had an accurate budget and fixed priced contract.
This was my saving grace as little did we know that we were going to have a very bumpy ride with our builder.
I share my tips on how to price out your build, not only to know your actual budget before you start but to ensure your have yourself covered legally if you come across a builder like ours who tries to take you for a ride!
In this episode, I share our story of building our beach house new build.
A beautiful by the sea. A journey that not only delivered many building and design lessons but this experience also brought the pivotal point of what is truly important to our family.
As beautiful as this home was, it was simply not right for us and the way we like to live. We quickly learnt that a bigger house is not always better.
Even though it wasn't right for us, we had many achievements in this home that we were really proud of and we took so many learnings from this journey.
In episode #3, I discuss my experience and learnings from my very first new build.
Even though my husband and I had both renovated in the past, this new build journey was completely new to us! Renovating and taking on a new build, is a very different process.
While our new build went well and was successful, we took many learnings from this project and was a great learning experience for our most recent builds and renovations.
I share, how we could have saved ourselves tens of thousands of dollars and how we could have achieved a better interior fit out, if we had of put more effort and attention to detail into the floor plan design stage.
In this episode, I share my journey to buying my first property and my first reno.
It was a filthy and disgusting run down two bedroom unit that was completely unliveable! It was a diamond in the rough, needing a very good polish!
I had a very small renovation budget of just $35,000 to completely transform the interior before moving in. It was quite the journey!
Many of these learnings, principals and formulas I have used in more recent projects and I know would be of interest to you too if you are planning to renovate for the first time or trying to break into the property market.
Welcome to the very first episode of the Plan Design Build Repeat podcast!
In this introduction episode, I will share:-
- A little bit about who I am and the things I love
- My background
- How I first got interested in building and design
- Discuss whats next for me in my building and renovating journey and what my future goals are
- Most importantly I explain why I am here doing this podcast for you
It is my mission in this podcast to share my knowledge, break down the industry jargon, and help you simplify the build process, so you can take control of your own project and plan, design and build YOUR dream home.
If you have any questions, please reach out @plan.design.build.repeat on Instagram or drop me an email at rach@plandesignbuildrepeat.com
I'd love to connect with you and be part of your journey!