Home Building Podcast

About Home Building Podcast

The Home Building Podcast is Perth's go-to resource for anyone designing, building, or renovating a home. Hosted by Behan Flaherty founder of Independent Building Advice and 25-year building industry insider each episode gives you the kind of honest, practical advice the building industry usually keeps to itself. From choosing the right builder to design decisions, contracts, hidden costs, and everything in between. Independent. No builder bias. Just eal advice from someone who's been on the inside. Building in Perth? Book a free call with our team at independendentbuildingadvice.com.au

Publisher

Independent Building Advice

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Aug 2025

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

63 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Oct 2026

   WA Brick Shortage: Alternative Ways to Build Your Home | Home Building Podcast

   There's a brick shortage in WA, and it could affect your build. Behan explains why Midland Brick is prioritising its biggest and most reliable builders, then gives a high level run through the alternative build methods, including brick veneer, full timber and steel frame, reverse brick veneer, SIPs and modular construction, with the myths and trade-offs of each. What you'll learn: - How Midland Brick is allocating limited supply, and why smaller builders and new clients are most exposed - Why brick veneer uses fewer bricks and what it means for the "hollow wall" knock - How timber frame with insulation compares with brick on sound, according to Behan's past testing - Why termites aren't a good reason to rule out a timber frame - Why reverse brick veneer is often recommended for WA's hot summers and cool winters - Why Perth has a roof carpenter shortage, and how COVID grants pushed up brick and timber prices - How SIP and modular construction work, and where they suit best (especially acreage and country builds) - What to ask your builder if the shortage is affecting your build Chapters: 00:26 - The WA brick shortage and what you can do about it 02:33 - How Midland Brick is allocating bricks 03:35 - Brick veneer and the hollow wall myth 06:12 - Fully framed timber homes 07:48 - Termites and timber framing 08:54 - Steel framing 09:49 - Thermal mass and reverse brick veneer 11:58 - Perth's roof carpenter shortage 13:25 - Where the brick shortage is heading 14:08 - SIP construction 15:24 - Modular construction 17:08 - Talking to your builder and next steps 18:00 - Share your feedback and request a deep dive FREE Homeowner Decision Checklist 👇🏽🏡 Not sure where to start? Download our free checklist to help you plan your build, renovation or extension before you speak to anyone. info.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/decision-checklist-page?utm-homebuildingpodcast Found the episode useful? Please follow & leave a comment. It really goes a long way to getting it to more people like you. Need design & building advice? Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au (https://www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/) Want more home building episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/ (https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/) Follow us on socials: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/independentbuildingadvice/ (https://www.instagram.com/independentbuildingadvice/)) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IBABehan (https://www.facebook.com/IBABehan)) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@independentbuildingadvice (https://www.youtube.com/@independentbuildingadvice)) Disclaimer: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, site conditions, budget, or local council requirements. Building, design, investment, and rental outcomes vary significantly depending on individual factors. We recommend seeking personalised professional advice before making decisions related to property, construction, or finance.

2. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Negative Gearing and Capital Gains Tax Changes Explained - Robert Tawil | Home Building Podcast

   The government has changed the rules on negative gearing and capital gains tax, and a lot of Perth homeowners and investors are unsure what it means for them. Financial adviser Robert Tawil of Vantage Wealth returns to re-record our earlier chat and breaks the changes down in plain English. We cover selling, subdividing and building, and when it's worth getting an expert in your corner. What you'll learn: Why the market matters less than your personal situation if you're staying in your home long term How capital gains tax works when you sell your main residence versus an investment property What changes on 1 July 2027 and how gains are split between the old and new methods How negative gearing now works on existing properties, and why new builds keep the concession Why reduced borrowing power is cooling the market, not just investor sentiment What happens to your tax when you subdivide your own block, or build on it Why you shouldn't demolish your home before your approvals are locked in The difference between a financial adviser and an accountant, and when to speak to each Chapters: 00:24 - Why we re-recorded after the new laws 02:09 - Market uncertainty and days on market 04:01 - Does the market matter if you're staying put? 10:25 - Why get advice before big decisions 15:44 - Selling a home you've lived in for 20 years 16:35 - Capital gains tax changes on investment property 19:41 - Negative gearing: how the rules changed 28:01 - New builds versus existing homes 28:42 - Granny flats and subdividing 30:36 - Why you shouldn't demolish too early 33:24 - Subdividing your own block and capital gains tax 34:46 - Financial adviser versus accountant 38:14 - When to start talking to an adviser 43:38 - The $10,000 question FREE Homeowner Decision Checklist 👇🏽🏡 Not sure where to start? Download our free checklist to help you plan your build, renovation or extension before you speak to anyone. info.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/decision-checklist-page?utm-homebuildingpodcast About Our Guest: Robert Tawil is a licensed financial adviser at Vantage Wealth in Perth. He helps clients plan for retirement and manage investments, insurance and structures, working alongside their accountants. He is also currently building with IBA. Found the episode useful? Please follow & leave a comment. It really goes a long way to getting it to more people like you. Need design & building advice? Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au (https://www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/) Want more home building episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/ (https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/) Follow us on socials: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/independentbuildingadvice/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IBABehan) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@independentbuildingadvice) Disclaimer: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, site conditions, budget, or local council requirements. Building, design, investment, and rental outcomes vary significantly depending on individual factors. We recommend seeking personalised professional advice before making decisions related to property, construction, or finance.

3. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Boring Numbers in Building (But Extremely Important to Know) | Home Building Podcast

   Reading your plans and understanding your build 101 How many of these did you know? Comment them below We break down the "boring" details builders assume you already know - coursing heights, FFL, slab thickness, door and window codes - the stuff that quietly makes or breaks your build. Miss these and you can end up with a garage that won't fit your 4WD, a kitchen benchtop that costs thousands more than it should, or a home that floods every time it rains. What we cover: Brick coursing - why 86mm is the number to know, and how to read course heights on your elevations Reading a survey - how to check if your land slopes, and why it matters more than you think Finished floor level (FFL) - what it tells you about flooding risk and street presence Stone benchtops - the slab sizes that keep costs down, and the difference between 20, 40 and 60mm edges Provisional sums vs fixed price vs cost plus - and why one of these puts all the risk on you Room sizes - what actually makes a "good" bedroom, garage or hallway Slab thickness options and why the upstairs slab matters more than people think Door and window codes - what those little letters (A, FX, OBS) actually mean on your plan Bi-fold and stacker doors - the one detail almost everyone gets wrong Chapters: 00:51 - Brick coursing and the 86mm number 01:43 - Finished floor level (FFL) and reading a survey 04:36 - Why you should order a survey early 05:32 - Stone benchtop slab sizes 06:49 - Stone thickness options 07:44 - Ideal bench-to-island distance 08:21 - Naked flame vs induction cooktops 08:59 - Why 1:100 plans make sizing easier 11:09 - It's normal to struggle reading a plan 12:01 - Provisional sums explained 12:24 - Fixed price vs cost plus 16:05 - Hallway widths 16:57 - Double bedroom sizes 19:10 - Slab thickness options 21:37 - Garage heights and courses 22:37 - Garage sizes 23:09 - Step-downs for outdoor areas 24:23 - Door widths 26:35 - Front door sizing 27:26 - Window codes (A, FX, OBS, S) 28:54 - How to read window height numbers 30:17 - Gas lift and bi-fold doors 31:39 - Stacker doors and which one opens first 32:11 - Lighting plan legends Found the episode useful? Please follow & leave a comment. It really goes a long way to getting it to more people like you. Need design & building advice? Find out more on our IBA website www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au (https://www.independentbuildingadvice.com.au/) Want more home building episodes? Visit our YouTube or website https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/ (https://independentbuildingadvice.com.au/home-building-podcast/) Follow us on socials: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/independentbuildingadvice/) | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IBABehan) | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@independentbuildingadvice) Disclaimer: The information discussed in this episode is general in nature and does not take into account your personal circumstances, site conditions, budget, or local council requirements. Building, design, investment, and rental outcomes vary significantly depending on individual factors. We recommend seeking personalised professional advice before making decisions related to property, construction, or finance.

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