What Even Is a Building Broker? (And Why You Need One)

Speaker 1: 0:02

Welcome to Homebuilding Like a Boss, the podcast dedicated to helping first home buyers in Perth build their dream home with ease and excitement. I’m Jamie, your host and go-to building broker. Are you ready to feel empowered, in control and excited about your building journey? I’ll help guide you with expert advice, insider tips and tricks and real-life stories to help you navigate the confusing world of homebuilding. Tune in as I take you on the journey to building your home like a boss. Hello and welcome back to another episode of the podcast.Speaker 1: 0:41

This week we’re going to be chatting about what is a building broker? Now, the reason that I am chatting about this and bringing up this conversation today is last week I think it was last week somebody posted in one of the building in Perth Facebook groups and they were asking about recommendations on a building broker, and then that sparked a lot of comments about what actually is a building broker, and not a lot of people know that building brokers exist, what we do and how we help people, and in this episode, i’m mainly going to be talking about what I do as a building broker, how I help my clients and bits and pieces that we do through the process and how I also get paid. I know that sparks quite a lot of interest on Facebook comments. A lot of people think they pay more for a building broker. There’s a lot of misconceptions out there, so I’m going to chat about what I do as a building broker, how I help my clients, how I get paid, just so you have all the information on us and up front. There’s people who have opinions on Facebook about how we get paid, what we do. This is my version of what I do as a building broker, how I help my clients and how I get paid. I can’t comment on what other building brokers do, how other building brokers get paid, but this is what I do and how I help my clients. So, as a building broker, i work independently for the client rather than the builder. I am here to help you through the process, hold your hand and navigate what goes on in the building process, similar to a mortgage broker how mortgage broker helps you find the best deal, the best bank, the best interest rate, rather than you going direct to a bank. I’m here to help you find the best builder for your build and help you through the process, plus, basically, a whole bunch of other stuff that I help my clients with. So I will advocate for you through the process. So you have somebody in your corner. Therefore you throughout the process pre-construction and construction. So, depending if you have a mortgage broker or not, i work very closely with a mortgage broker Tanya she’s one of my co-hosts on the other episodes and you can either nominate your own finance broker or I can help you through that process as well and we’ll work out your eligibility.Speaker 1: 3:11

What can you borrow? how much are you comfortable with finding your block of land, checking your site works, the orientation, the shape, the location, the amenities? where do you want to be in the beach, north, south? where do you want to live? and what’s important to you around location, block size do you want a big block, a small block? do you need room for a big garage, a shed at the back? what do you need location wise? From that, i’m here to help you through the process of finding the right builder for your block, your budget and your building goals. What’s important to you? time frames, price inclusions. Every builder is different and unique and it’s important to know that not every builder can build on certain blocks, certain style houses. Some builders will do great things on green titled blocks some builders won’t build on battle axe blocks. So all those and they’re two different types of blocks and builds and you want the right builder for that to deliver you the best home that you can I’m here to help you know which builders to stay away from, whose time frames have blown out, price increases and avoiding all the negative, bad things that are happening and being portrayed in the media.Speaker 1: 4:35

I just had a info session with a lovely couple now about building and like one thing that they said. Well, if it wasn’t for the media and all the bad things and the negative things happening, we probably would have built six months ago. And it’s such a shame because it’s the negative things and the bad things that get portrayed and the most noise. Nobody’s talking about the positive experiences The house is being handed over within 12 months, clients not getting priced increased, actually having a positive, successful, fun building experience and clients getting into their dream homes. And that’s what I’m there to help you do Avoid the bad stuff.Speaker 1: 5:13

If something’s in building, don’t go to plan, but it’s about what’s, the plans and the solutions, to keep working you through the process and knowing those things, and it’s not just getting a sketch and putting it out to tender across 20 different builders. That’s not how I work. I like to get to know you what you’re looking for in your house. Your lifestyle, every house, every client, every build, every block is so different. It is not the same. How you live is different. How you want to design your house is different. I do not have a client that has ever built the same house on the same estate, the same block, like it is all. Everyone is so different And I’m here to help custom design that and find your house built for you. It’s built for your lifestyle and your build and help you through that process, along with all the education and support.Speaker 1: 6:07

Understanding the lingo What does this mean? If you’re building on a battle axe block or an infill block, we might have to go to planning. That takes an extra 90 days. Like it’s things. If you don’t know, you don’t know. So how do you learn these things? We weren’t taught at school how to build a house, how to navigate the process, how to understand building terminology, what all of this stuff means, and there’s so many different moving components in building different parts, different people, different teams that are involved, understanding how all of that works.Speaker 1: 6:38

When documents need to be signed, what needs to be given to the builder, how things need to be done so that you have the best possible process, and somebody to ask questions or what do you think about this, how do you think about this? And then I have a team and other people who then help me through, help me and give support, and I have like Barma. I can ask her interior and architectural questions or her feedback on designs. If you’re not sure on a design or a layout, i can ask her what is her opinion and she will help through that process as well. So, yeah, i find out more about you, what your goals are, what do you want in a house? And then from that, from learning about you what you want, your budget, your time frames, i can then work out Okay, yeah, this, i think X, y and Z, builder, x, y and Z and X, y and Z are three great options. Are these a Y? Go, do your research, have a look, ask me questions And then from there we get some quotes and sketches done up showing you your inclusions, your price, your design And you know what. Oh, yeah, that’s great. I’ve done my research, i love the sketch, i love the design. That is, builder I want to go with And it might be first shot. Yeah, that’s the one. Or you might say, hey, jamie, look, i want to look at another option. Can we look at X, y and Z? Yep, we can look at X, y and Z. Here’s your two differences, and then you can weigh out your pros and cons. Do your own research, have a look at that.Speaker 1: 8:08

I work with a certain panel of builders, panel of builders that I trust. I know how they work, how they communicate, are they transparent with clients? Are they honest with clients? Can’t just, oh, jamie, can you help me and work with this builder Doesn’t work like that. I cannot put me and my brand and that on the line without doing my due diligence on that builder. So, all of my builders I know what’s going on in the background, how they operate and, using that information that not necessarily normal person would know, going through the process, my clients are in the process. I know how things are going. I do this day in and day out. That helps you navigate the process.Speaker 1: 8:53

Now, as a building broker, one of the huge and biggest misconceptions is paying extra for a building broker. Now I do not get paid more than an internal sales rep would get paid. You can go to the same builder directly and it’s all covered in the price. There is no additional cost to work with me. I get paid through the builder as a flat commission fee and across all of my panel of builders I get paid the same commission fee across everyone. So it doesn’t matter if we go with option A, option B, option C, option D. You need to be the one that’s happy with the builder, happy with the plan, happy with the quote, and you have me there through the process. So my service, my education, my support and the value that I provide my clients is in addition, you can go to the builder direct. I can guarantee you will not get the support, the education and the value that I provide as me through my service.Speaker 1: 10:01

So, helping you prepare for pre-start, you get a four hour consult with Barma, who’s an interior and architectural designer, before you’re pre-start, to go through your working drawings with a fine tooth comb, review your electrical plan, your colors, your cabinetry, where does your coffee machine go? Where do you put your appliances in the kitchen? How do you use your kitchen? Where do you want this to go, that to go All part of the process to prepare you for pre-start and all these little things along the way I know work and add up to a successful, positive building experience with less mistakes, less money down the drain, positive, happy, fun clients and you guys getting into your dream home that you love. Not these disaster stories. Building should not be like this And I’m there as your building broker.Speaker 1: 10:49

Some of my clients call me their building project manager. I do so much more than just find you the best deal. Through my service I’m here to educate, support, guide you And I think that is one of the most invaluable parts. Yes, go do your research, find the builders, compare market rates, do all those things. I can do that with my eyes closed, back of my hand, i know, and that cuts out for you. You save time, money and whole lot of stress. Let me tell you, there’s still definitely stressful parts of building, but the amount of stress, money and time I save my clients is wild. It’s just non-comparing. So you can go to a builder direct, you can build with that builder. But I think the different component is using me as your building broker, your project manager, your support, your assistance. There, especially, like with full-time jobs, we’re working all the time.Speaker 1: 11:45

What if things can’t be done? The builder might come to me or finance broker might like hey, i need a copy of the builder’s receipt or the deposit for finance. Cool, yep, i can grab that easily, send it off to the finance broker. You don’t even know that that’s happening in the background. I’m here to help you through. Maybe you have a down vow on your property, so that’s where your the bank hasn’t valued the house and land package to what the contract is, and it might be, let’s say, 20 grand less. I’m there to help navigate down.Speaker 1: 12:15

But else, how do we get around this? Do we need to look at different banks, chat with your finance broker? Do we need to remove something out of the contract? Like, i’m here that if hiccups arise, you have somebody there to support you through that hiccup. It’s not just sign the dotted line. Now you’ve got to build off, you go into the system. I’m there with you all the way until you get keys, even through construction. I’m here to help. If you need something, give me a call, a message. Hey, i’m not quite sure about this. This is what the builders done, or blah, blah, blah, whatever it could be. Yeah, ok, what are the options? I’m here to help you through that process, all the way until you get your keys, and then we celebrate together at key handover.Speaker 1: 12:56

You know, building is such a huge milestone and achievement. It needs to be celebrated more. You know you guys are building this beautiful home. You’re investing all this money. Celebrate it. It’s such a huge, huge achievement. So that’s what I do as a building broker. How I get paid. It’s the same across all my builders. This is how I have set my business up. Obviously, i don’t know how other people do it. It could be a totally different system And you need to find the person that you vibe with and who’s going to help you on that journey.Speaker 1: 13:28

Because, look, it might not be me and maybe it’s somebody else, and that’s OK. As long as you find your right team and the right support to help you through that process, then that’s what matters. You know, ask them how they’re going to help you, how they find the right builder, what’s their process? Do they just put it out to 20 different builders, but all those builders is doing the same thing. What? who’s better at admin, construction, timelines, communication? Yes, i could probably get you a cheaper quote here, but what are the downfalls of the cheaper quote, because if it’s too cheap you’re probably going to blow out in your time frames and your quality. So, understanding that building is a balancing act and trying to find the balancing act that suits exactly what you need and supporting you through start to finish So that, in a nutshell, is what I do as a building broker And there is so much that clients don’t even know that I do that.Speaker 1: 14:21

I’m here to help and, knowing that you have somebody to ask these questions, call up. If you’re having a mental breakdown because you’re stressed about something and title got discontinued and blah, blah, blah. Like I’m here, pick up the phone, let’s chat, let’s work through it, look at your options so you can have the best possible experience and support, because the right team for your building experience, that’s what matters the most And there’s a lot of people, there’s a lot of parts, there’s a lot of components in it and you need the right team. It’s the same as I always tell if the clients if they’ve got a mortgage broker, make sure your mortgage broker will find somebody that specializes in construction loans, because construction loans are totally different to established loans and that can make or break your experience on the finance component, like. I have had clients. We have such great building experience but they which is fine that they’ve gone out using their own mortgage broker or somebody that else was referred to them And that process has totally gone upside down, which then affects the overall build process.Speaker 1: 15:25

So just make sure, yeah, you know okay. Yeah, does my finance broker do construction loans, cause that’s a huge part of it. You know it is so different established first construction, so many different parts and moving things that need to happen. I’m there to make sure and tie it all in that it happens and you get the best possible outcome for you and your build. So, yeah, if you have any questions about what is a building broker or you’re unsure, you want to have a chat.Speaker 1: 15:54

I go over all of this stuff in a lot more detail the building process, hidden costs, what to look out for, what to expect, working with me in my free info sessions. So, yeah, if you would like to book in for one of those, i’ll put the link in the show notes below. It’s free, just come in, just book. Even if you don’t think your buildings three, six, 12 months away, get the right information so you can make an educated decision on what is best for you. You might come in I’m not the right person or established might be better for you. You just need to come in, get the information and then make the decision from there. So yeah, i will chat with you on the next episode.Speaker 1: 16:35

Thank you so much for tuning in to the HomeBuilding Like a Boss podcast. I hope you enjoyed today’s episode and learned something new. Remember you’ve got this and I’ve got your back. Until next time, stay inspired, stay informed and stay confident on your building journey. I can’t wait to chat with you on the next episode. Don’t forget to check out the show notes for more information and free resources If you haven’t already hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode of the HomeBuilding Like a Boss podcast.