A howling wind shreds a campsite, a lonely mate nearly gets blown away, and a highway stop turns into a $1,018 gut punch over an unregistered company car. That flash of blue lights opens the door to a bigger question we’ve all felt: why do the systems that happily take your money fail at the moments that matter? We pull apart VicRoads bureaucracy, the dead weight of outdated taxes, and the slow grind of council delays that can sink a project long before a slab is poured.
Then we go straight at the sacred cow: owner builders. George takes the gloves off—most people don’t have the time, the trade leverage, or the coordination to deliver a safe, durable home without paying for it twice in delays and defects. We break down how trades price owner builders, why vague drawings explode into variations, and where hidden risks live behind paint and plaster. Robbie presses on freedom, AI as a coach, and whether a smarter framework could unlock a better path for those who can’t or won’t hire a builder.
We search for a middle ground that respects ambition and protects outcomes: short, targeted education on sequencing, codes, contracts, and estimating; mandatory stage inspections beyond slab and frame; and independent oversight from registered builders or project managers who can approve each gate before you move forward. Along the way we share practical buying signals—documentation quality, real branding, transparent communication, and how a well-run process beats a too-cheap quote every time.
If you care about building—your home, your business, or the industry—this conversation gives you usable filters and a clear sense of where things break and how to fix them. Join us, then tell us where you stand: should anyone be allowed to build a house, or is it time to reform the rules? Subscribe, share this with a mate who’s planning a build, and leave a review to help more people find the show.
