The Home Project Podcast

How do you protect yourself from costly disputes?

Signing a JCT contract guarantees protection and clarity throughout your build.

We break down the most common procurement routes and explain why choosing the right contract matters more than most homeowners realise.

Traditional lump sum contracts give you maximum control over specification and finishes but require complete design before tender and can extend your programme. Design a...

How do you avoid costly delays on a build?

Planning permission approved is just the beginning, not the green light to start building.

We break down the eight RIBA stages that structure every successful residential project, from initial feasibility through to post-occupancy evaluation.

Through our combined experience as architect and quantity surveyor, we explain why spending time on technical design prevents six-figure cost overrun...

Why does your day one budget never match your final cost?

That first figure feels fixed, but it's actually just the starting point for a journey of controlled change.

We walk through every stage of cost control, from initial budgeting to final account settlement. As an architect and quantity surveyor, we explain why early builder estimates carry risk, how professional cost planning builds in allowances for design variability, and w...

Are you choosing the right design team for your home?

Getting this decision right is an essential part of a successful home build project.

In this episode we explore why appointing the design team is the second most important decision in any high value home build, and how that early choice influences cost, risk, programme and quality from day one. We unpack what a design team really is, who should lead it, and how that changes as p...

What actually has to be approved before you can build?

In this episode, we give a clear overview of the statutory approvals that apply to residential construction projects, and explain how they shape what you can design, when you can start on site and how much risk you carry.

We break down planning permission, permitted development and pre application advice, and explain why approvals are about strategy, not just permission.

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Building a high value home means managing far more people than you expect.

On a residential project, dozens of professionals are involved, each with a specific role, responsibility, and risk attached. We break down who does what, who works for whom, and where confusion can lead to costly mistakes.

We explain the key roles across the full build team, including architects, project managers, quantity surveyors, engineers, contractors,...

Home design is about more than drawings.

It is about decisions that shape how you live for decades.

In this episode, we break down what the architectural design process really looks like on a private home project.

We walk through how a design brief is developed, why it cannot be rushed, and how understanding family life, future needs, and everyday habits directly influences layout, flow, and long-term success. From early discovery ...

Most people think a home project starts with an architect or a builder.

In reality, the most important work happens long before that conversation ever begins.

In this episode, we explore what homeowners really need to think about before engaging any professionals. From understanding what’s driving the project in the first place, to aligning as a family on goals, budgets and timelines, we unpack the conversations that can make or br...

Building your own home should be exciting, but too often it becomes overwhelming, and stressful for all the wrong reasons. We believe the home building process is misunderstood, full of hidden risks and unnecessary complex, at all scales. 

In this podcast, we’ll be exploring how you can build your home with none of the stress, jargon free.

We’ll. be sharing how we approach home projects, why so many builds go wrong, and how underst...