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PODCAST

Get It Right with Undercover Architect

Amelia Lee, Undercover Architect

If we haven’t met before, I’m Amelia Lee, the architect behind Undercover Architect: an online business to help and teach homeowners like you how to get it right when designing, building and renovating your home. Undercover Architect is all about giving you access to the industry knowledge and insights you need to avoid the mistakes and dramas that can cost you thousands, tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And it’s about levelling the playing field, so that the world of

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All Episodes

43:58

Passive House Design and Budget Lessons: Project...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/08/11

Hello! This is Episode 367, and in it, I’m speaking with HOME Method members, Jan and Landon, about their new home and granny flat that they’re building as a Passive House in Sydney’s north. Jan and Landon have specific goals for their project. They’re both in their 70s, so they’re considering how they can age in place well, as well as create a home that’s in alignment with their sustainability and lifestyle goals. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and

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32:17

How to Avoid the Drama in Your Renovation or New Build

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/07/21

Hello! This is Episode 366, and in it, I’m diving into the Drama Triangle and how it can show up in the communication and relationships involved in your renovation or new build project. This episode is a little different to the usual tips, strategies, and homeowner stories I share here. But I know from experience - personally and professionally - that how you communicate can make or break your project journey. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF

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36:38

Project Mistakes You’re Making (Without Even...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/07/14

Hello! This is Episode 365, and in it, I’m sharing the top 5 mistakes I see homeowners make in their renovation or new build projects - without even realising they’re doing it. These aren’t the obvious, dramatic missteps you hear horror stories about. They’re subtle, sneaky habits and beliefs that can quietly derail your progress, blow your budget, or leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure as your project unfolds. They’re also incredibly common, and totally avoidable

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46:18

When Sustainability Meets Real Life: The Perfect...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/07/07

Hello! This is Episode 364, and in it, HOME Method member, Shauna, is back with Part 2 of our conversation about building her new family home. In this episode, we dive deeper into the long-term view Shauna took with this home, and how that shaped her decisions around budget, investment, and design. And you’ll hear how she tested her thinking along the way, continually asking herself if her choices were still delivering a better result than the alternatives. [For all resources mentioned in this

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44:21

Balancing Budget, Sustainability and Family Needs in...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/06/30

Hello! This is Episode 363, and in it, I’m chatting with HOME Method member, Shauna, who has recently completed her new family home. Shauna is a sustainability practitioner by profession. So, what does someone who works in sustainability do when creating their long-term family home? Well, you’ll hear how she approached her new build with intention, clear objectives, and a pragmatic approach that balanced the realities of her budget and site with her overall goals and wishlist in her

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33:37

How to Manage Project Costs Without the PAC Process

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/06/23

Hello! This is Episode 362, and in it, I’m sharing what to do if you’re not using the PAC Process - or Paid As Consultant Process - but still want to ensure you don’t get massively disappointed when your project gets priced before you start construction. Perhaps you still want to competitively tender your project? Or you’ve found out about the PAC Process too far into your project? Or your architect or designer isn’t interested in doing it at all, or has another method

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36:19

Top Questions About Home Building and Renovating

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/06/16

Hello! This is Episode 361, and in it, I’m answering the questions I didn’t get to during our recent live webinars. I hope these answers are interesting to hear, and perhaps help you feel more equipped and confident in navigating your own project. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/361.] Whenever I host a live session, I’m always blown away by the type and curiosity of the questions that come

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37:09

Getting the Best Build Experience, with Builder,...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/06/09

Hello! This is Episode 360, and I’m back with Part 2 of my conversation with builder, Anthony Hickey, from Melbourne-based Two Tone Construction. Anthony recently completed a renovation project with HOME Method members, Tanya and Paul, and as he said in Part 1, they’ve redefined his benchmark for his ideal client! In this episode, Anthony and I talk about how to set up effective communication between a builder and a client, especially when you’re a client who has invested in

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43:48

Getting it Right in Your Renovation, with Builder,...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/06/02

Hello! This is Episode 359, and I’m super excited to bring this conversation to you. For some time on the podcast, we’ve been hearing the stories of HOME Method members in all different parts of their projects. Some right at the beginning, some mid-way through and keeping us updated over their project timeline, and some who have moved into their finished newly built or renovated home. I’ve been getting so much great feedback from you about these episodes. About how much

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23:42

Why People Join HOME Method: In Their Words

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/05/26

Hello! This is Episode 358, and in it, I’m sharing something a little different. Over the years of running my signature online program, HOME Method, we’ve welcomed hundreds of homeowners who are navigating all kinds of new builds and renovations. And when someone joins, we ask them a few questions - not just to get to know them, but to better understand how they’re feeling, what they’re hoping for, and where they need support. In today’s episode, I want to share some of

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38:10

Perfection vs Reality: How to Navigate Your New Build...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/04/07

Hello! This is Episode 357, and it’s Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Ellen, about her new build and the construction process of her family home in Ballarat, Victoria. It’s been under construction for around 7 months. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/357] If you missed Part 1 of this conversation, head back to Episode 356 so you can catch up on what we’ve discussed. You can

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42:56

Building with Confidence: Contracts, Builder and...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/03/31

Hello! This is Episode 356, and in it, HOME Method member Ellen is back to give us an update on the construction of her new home in Ballarat, Victoria. Ellen and her partner are doing a knockdown-rebuild, and creating a single-storey home for their family, which includes Ellen and her partner, and their two teenage kids. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/356] Ellen was on the podcast in Episodes 336 and 337

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40:55

Early Design Phase: Budget, Plans, and Feedback, with...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/03/24

Hello! This is Episode 355, and I’m back with Part 2 of the latest project update with HOME Method members, Louise and Zane, who are renovating their Melbourne Californian Bungalow. They’re early in their design phase, and whilst they have a floor plan design that’s starting to tick the boxes on their wishes and wants, it’s still sneaking up over their budget. This is a great insight into the early design stages of a project, how you juggle competing demands and priorities,

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43:26

Choosing the Right Team for Your Renovation, with...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/03/17

Hello! This is Episode 354, and in it, we’re getting an update from HOME Method members, Louise and Zane, about their renovation project. If you’re curious about what the early parts of a project experience are like as you choose your team and commence work with them, this is going to be super helpful information for you. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head towww.undercoverarchitect.com/354] As with Ben that we had on the podcast

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39:11

Managing Your Renovation Budget When Designing, with Ben

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/03/10

Hello! This is Episode 353, and it’s Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Ben, about the renovation and extension of his and his partner’s 1920’s Californian Bungalow in Melbourne. As we jump into Part 2, I talk more with Ben about their budget, and how they’ve worked with it over these design changes and the timeline, as well as the way Ben and Mike are now viewing their investment and what they want to get from it. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast

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37:05

How to Design a Home Renovation and Extension, with Ben

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/03/03

Hello! This is Episode 352, and in it, I’m talking with HOME Method member, Ben. He and his partner, Mike, are designing the renovation and extension of their Melbourne Californian Bungalow. In this episode, you’ll hear how Ben and Mike came up with their renovation and extension design, and some of the challenges they had along the way. They followed a more traditional route of tendering the design, only to discover that the cost to deliver exceeded their budget, which meant they had

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38:59

Trusting a First Time Builder with your New Home...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/02/24

Hello! This is Episode 351, and it’s Part 2 of my conversation with HOME Method member, Tatiana, about her new build in regional Queensland on a site with a specific Council Buffer Zone they’re having to contend with. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/351] If you missed Part 1 of our conversation, make sure you head back to Episode 350 to catch up before you dive into Part 2. You can listen or read

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43:32

New Home Build with Affordability and Family in Mind,...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/02/17

Hello! This is Episode 350, and in it, I’m talking with HOME Method member, Tatiana. She lives with her partner and three boys in regional Queensland, and is getting ready to design and build their new home. We meet Tatiana at the very beginning of her journey. Their project faces challenges, including a tight budget, council restrictions due to a nearby water treatment plant, and managing sun exposure for the local climate. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable

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51:41

How Do You Create a Luxurious Home?

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/02/10

Hello! This is Episode 349, and in it, I’m going to discuss a topic that is, I believe, often the promoted ‘thing’ out there through glossy mags and social media: ‘How to create a luxurious home’. And because it seems to be promoted so heavily, by inference, it seems that it’s supposed to be one of the goals when creating your ideal home. However, I have found that the definition of ‘luxury’ can have MANY connotations. Not always positive either.

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38:47

Designer Detailing and On-Site Decisions during...

Get It Right with Undercover Architect ·

2025/02/03

Hello! This is Episode 348, and I’m back with HOME Method member, Michael as we continue the conversation about the construction of his new home in Western Australia - a home that he and his wife intend to retire to and enjoy a relaxing lifestyle that makes the most of the beautiful location. [For all resources mentioned in this podcast and a free, downloadable PDF transcript, head to www.undercoverarchitect.com/348] If you missed Part 1 of this conversation, head back to Episode 347 to listen

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430 results

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