The Build Insite Podcast

What if you could find out your dream home was a million dollars over budget before you spent a cent on design fees? That's exactly the problem Saxon Hall set out to solve.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Saxon Hall from Align Architecture, we dig into the part of the build process where most projects quietly start to fall apart: the gap between what a client thinks their project will cost, and what it actually costs to deliver.

Saxon walks us through his fixed-fee Sketch Design Service, a transparent early-stage process that pairs the architect and builder together from day one, presents two schematic options (one budget-focused, one brief-focused), and ends with a pre-build feasibility document that gives clients real numbers before they're locked into months of design fees.

We also get into the bigger picture: why builders and architects still struggle to trust each other, how the industry's old-school teaching shapes that dynamic, and what genuine early contractor involvement actually looks like on a real project.

Saxon also opens up about how Align is rethinking contract administration, getting creative with materials to fight rising costs, and why he believes more transparency in the early stages is the single biggest fix the industry needs right now.

What You'll Learn

How a fixed-fee sketch design process protects clients from spending tens of thousands before knowing if their project is even viable

Why presenting two designs (budget vs brief) is the fastest way to find out what a client actually values

How a pre-build feasibility document breaks down site costs, construction costs and consultant fees into one clear total project investment

Why early builder involvement saves more than money; it saves buildability headaches on site

A smarter alternative to traditional contract administration that cuts admin hours without losing oversight

Practical examples of using materials creatively to reduce waste and keep budgets in check

Chapters

00:00 - Recap and Welcome Back

00:17 - Managing Design Costs from the First Conversation

01:00 - Inside the Sketch Design Service

02:00 - Two Designs: Needs vs Wants vs Reality

03:22 - The Pre-Build Feasibility Document Explained

05:30 - Why Walking Away Early Is a Win, Not a Loss

06:42 - How Builders Can Plug Into the Process

08:00 - Why Clients Still Get Burned (The $1M Story)

11:21 - Trust, Ego and How Architects Are Taught

12:29 - The Real Value of Builder Input in Design

14:55 - Relationships as the Foundation of Every Project

16:07 - Reinventing Contract Administration

19:11 - Getting Creative with Materials and Budget

22:38 - Mentoring the Next Generation of Architects

24:28 - Rapid Fire

26:30 - Wrap Up and Where to Find Saxon

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery Guests: Saxon Hall from Align Architecture

📸 Saxon on Instagram: @saxonhallarchitecture 📸 Align Architecture on Instagram: @align.architecture.au

Listen, Watch & Follow

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

Architects get blamed for blowouts. Builders get blamed for misreading plans. But what if the old way of doing things is the actual problem?

In this episode, Dean and Luke sit down with Saxon Hall, Lead Architect at Align Architecture, who made the trek over from Tassie to share how his team is flipping the traditional architect-builder dynamic on its head. From growing up on construction sites in regional Tasmania to leading a six-person team across Hobart and Victoria, Saxon brings a unique perspective shaped by both high-end traditional architecture and hands-on building experience.

We dig into the rise of AI in the design industry, why architecture is more than just a floor plan, and how Align is pushing Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) as a smarter, more transparent way to build. Saxon also shares a behind-the-scenes look at what could be Tasmania's first architecturally designed Passive House Plus project, and why having the right people around the table changes everything.

If you've ever wondered why some projects run smoothly while others spiral into variation hell, this one's for you.

What You'll Learn:
- Why Early Contractor Involvement beats traditional tendering for residential builds
- How AI is reshaping the architectural workflow (and what it still can't replace)
- The real value of transparency and open-book pricing between builder, architect, and client
- Why the builder-architect-client triangle is the foundation of every successful project
- How Align Architecture blends traditional rigour with a modern, collaborative approach

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:33 – Meet Saxon Hall from Align Architecture
01:46 – Growing up on the tools in Tassie
03:04 – Joining Align and shaping the vision
05:46 – Inside the Align team
08:58 – AI in architecture: hype vs reality
11:46 – Why architecture isn't just a floor plan
12:36 – Inside a Passive House Plus design meeting
14:31 – Breaking the architect vs builder mentality
15:46 – Early Contractor Involvement explained
17:52 – Relationships before budgets
18:57 – The hidden cost of tendering and variations
21:48 – Wrap up Part 1

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

In this second instalment of the live panel recording, hosts Dean Backman and Luke Callery continue the conversation with Jesse Raeburn (FRP Group), Dale Cheeseman (The Melbourne Builder), and Matt Minichelli (Elevate Building). This time, the focus shifts to the long game: building the right team, navigating growth speed humps, and learning when to say yes (and when to set boundaries).

The panel opens up about what it really takes to find team members who align with your vision, not just your skill requirements. Dale shares his philosophy on looking for loyalty and longevity in hires, while Jesse reflects on the biggest lesson from his first two years in business: communication is everything. Matt gets honest about being mid-transition right now, pulling back from 60-90 hour weeks and trusting his team to step into bigger roles without losing the company's DNA.

Then come the audience questions, and that's where the gold drops. The builders share their proudest business moments, the strategic value of taking jobs at cost for the right opportunity, and the hard-earned wisdom around client boundaries. It wraps with a personal look at what success means to each of them in five years (spoiler: it has very little to do with revenue figures).

What You'll Learn
- How to identify team members who'll grow with your business, not just work for it
- Why having uncomfortable conversations early removes the weight off your shoulders
- The compounding effect of strategically taking jobs at cost for the right opportunities
- How to set client communication boundaries without losing the relationship
- Why pulling back from the business can be the hardest (and most important) move you make
- The mindset shift from chasing margin to chasing the right opportunities

Chapters
00:00 - Welcome Back to Part 2
00:22 - How to Build a Team You Can Trust
01:38 - Jesse's Biggest Lesson: The Power of Communication
03:34 - Audience Q&A: Biggest Business Challenges
05:32 - Sustaining Growth Without Burning Out
06:30 - Matt's Mid-Transition: Pulling Back While Maintaining Quality
08:55 - Keeping Your Company DNA Through Growth
10:03 - What Are You Most Proud of in Your Business?
12:39 - The Strategic Value of Jobs at Cost
14:42 - The Block Reunion: Matt & Jesse's Backstory
15:34 - Setting Client Communication Boundaries
17:54 - What Does Success Look Like in 5 Years?
19:22 - Wrap-Up & Networking

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

The lights are on, the mics are live, and three builders are about to get real. Welcome to the Build Insite Live Podcast.

In this episode, hosts Dean Backman and Luke Callery bring the podcast to life with a panel of three respected Melbourne builders: Jesse Rayburn from FRP Group, Dale Cheeseman from The Melbourne Builder, and Matt Minichelli from Elevate Building. Recorded in front of a live audience, this conversation strips away the Instagram gloss and dives into the real challenges of running a building business in 2026.

With price increases hitting hard (PVC up 38%, bins up 10%), these builders share how they're navigating fixed-price contracts, managing team expectations, and having those uncomfortable conversations with clients that can't be avoided any longer. From Jesse's transparent approach to price variation discussions, to Dale's insights on maintaining consistency over 16 years, to Matt's focus on trade efficiency and waste reduction, this panel covers the practical realities of staying profitable when margins are under pressure.

But it's not all spreadsheets and site meetings. The conversation shifts to something equally important: the transition from tradesperson to business owner, the mental load that comes with running a company, and the non-negotiables when it comes to family time. These builders open up about working on four hours of sleep, choosing bedtime routines over weekend work, and learning to appreciate the good old days while you're still in them.

What You'll Learn
- How to approach difficult price increase conversations with clients (and why they often go better than expected)
- Practical strategies for maintaining profit margins when material costs spike unexpectedly
- The importance of team communication and getting trades to understand business pressures
- What it really takes to transition from the tools to the office (and why the mental load is heavier than the physical one)
- How successful builders protect family time while still growing their businesses

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction & Welcome to Build Insite Live
00:39 - Meet the Panel: Jesse, Dale & Matt
02:14 - What Makes a High-Performance Building Company?
04:02 - Navigating Price Increases & Fixed-Price Contracts
06:00 - The Art of Difficult Client Conversations
08:05 - Bowlins Partnership Acknowledgment
10:04 - From Tradesperson to Business Owner: The Transition
14:55 - Family First: The Non-Negotiables
18:29 - Wrap-Up & Part 2 Preview

🎧 Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite

Scaling a build company isn't just about hiring more people or chasing bigger jobs. Sometimes the real growth happens when you slow down, sharpen your systems, and trust your team to run with it.

In Part 2 of this live podcast, hosts Dean Backman and Luke Callery sit back down with Sam Hammond (Built by Hammond), Luke Davies (Davies Constructions / Future Builder / Align Architecture), and Adam Antony (VEO Building) for an open Q&A with the audience. The conversation digs into how each of them has scaled their businesses through culture, clarity, and the right use of AI, not by chasing more headcount.

From leading by example on site, to using one-page role docs that actually work, to honest talk about the tools that delivered and the ones that flopped, this episode is packed with practical lessons for builders at any stage. The guys also share straight up advice for young builders entering the industry and the mindset shifts that helped them get out of their own way.

🎯 Key Takeaways / What You'll Learn:

How to scale your business through efficiency instead of just adding more staff
Why culture and clear communication beat fancy software every time
How AI tools can multiply what your existing team is capable of
The power of one-page role descriptions and structured meeting cadence
Real talk on the software and tools worth your money (and the ones that aren't)
Why authenticity and confidence matter more than you think when running a build business

Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome to Part 2
0:55 - Why AI is a Multiplier, Not a Replacement
0:12 - Leading by Example: Lessons From Japan
0:22 - How to Scale Revenue Without Scaling Your Team
0:23 - Adding Architects to Your Project Management System
0:00 - Build a Daily Learning Habit With AI and YouTube
0:46 - Top Advice for Young Builders Starting Out
1:34 - Stop Doing It All: Hire Experts to Accelerate Growth
1:14 - Use AI to Build Your Business Plan and Avoid Costly Mistakes
1:24 - The Power of Business Coaching and Being Authentic
1:48 - Hiring the Right People for the Right Role
1:33 - The One-Page Role Description That Drives Clarity
1:55 - Meeting Cadence: The Secret to Scaling Without Chaos
1:34 - Rapid Fire: Tools That Work and Money Wasters to Avoid

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery
Guests:
Sam Hammond - Built by Hammond
Luke Davies - Davies Constructions/Future Builder/Align Architecture
Adam Antony - VEO Building

Listen to the Build Insite Podcast on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
🌐 Explore more at: https://buildinsite.com.au/
📸 Follow us on Instagram: @build.insite