The Build Insite Podcast

Getting your builder’s licence is one thing. 
Staying in business long term? That’s a whole different challenge.

In Part 2 of Episode #53, host Dean Backman continues the conversation with Luke Said from Impact Build diving deep into the realities of insurance, licensing, contracts, cash flow, and what it truly takes to run a sustainable building business in Victoria.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the pressures builders face behind the scenes. From navigating DBU licensing and financial requirements to managing stage claims and payment structures, Luke shares honest insights into the parts of the industry that don’t often get talked about publicly.

They explore:
• Why the current insurance and licensing process feels overly complex
• The dangers of taking on projects beyond your capacity
• The importance of proper payment structures (Method A vs Method B)
• Why understanding contracts is critical for survival
• Cash flow mistakes that quietly sink building businesses
• The pressure young builders face to “go big” too soon
• Balancing business, fitness, family and friendships

Beyond the business talk, this conversation gets personal, touching on health, mental clarity, mateship, and the reality of juggling ambition with relationships.
A grounded, practical episode for builders at every stage of the journey.

What You’ll Learn
• Why upgrading your licence impacts more than just paperwork
• How poor payment structures create hidden cash flow stress
• Why contracts matter more than most builders realise
• The risks of scaling too fast in today’s market
• Why mentoring and coaching can fast-track your growth
• How fitness and balance affect your performance as a business owner

Chapters
00:00 – Welcome Back (Part 2)
00:19 – Licensing & Insurance Challenges
03:03 – Volume Builders vs Custom Builders
05:36 – Why Pre-Plaster & Waterproofing Inspections Matter
08:24 – Stage Claims & Cash Flow Pressure
11:27 – Learning Contracts Properly
14:01 – Project Delays & Financial Stress
16:16 – Advice for Young Builders
19:24 – Fitness, Balance & Mental Clarity
24:09 – Friendships & Business Pressure
27:01 – Advice for Builders 5–10 Years Behind
29:17 – Rapid Fire Questions

Hosts: Dean Backman 
Guest: Luke Said from Impact Build

🎧 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

When you surround yourself with the right people, you quickly realise how much there is still to learn.

In Part 1 of this conversation, host Dean Backman sit down with Luke Said from Impact Build to unpack the journey from green apprentice to performance-focused builder in the Macedon Ranges.

Luke shares how an unexpected start in carpentry — sparked through a local footy club connection — set the foundation for an 18-year career in building. From being “as green as it gets” to now leading a team committed to higher standards, this episode explores what really shapes a builder: work ethic, mentorship, and the willingness to think differently.

They dive into:
• The power of mentoring and coaching in business
• Why builders must see themselves as business owners first
• The evolution of building standards in cold climates
• How performance building changes the way teams think on site
• The responsibility builders have to educate their clients

This is an honest conversation about growth — personally, professionally, and as an industry.

What You’ll Learn
• Why surrounding yourself with the right mentors accelerates growth
• How early work ethic shapes long-term success
• Why thinking like a business owner changes everything
• The difference between minimum standard and performance building
• How upskilling your team builds long-term competitive advantage

Chapters
00:00 – The Power of Mentorship
00:18 – Introducing Luke Said (Impact Build)
01:35 – How Luke Got Into Carpentry
06:18 – Mentors, Family & Hard Decisions
09:20 – Builder vs Business Owner Mindset
11:43 – Starting Impact as a Carpentry Business
14:25 – Learning Through Trial & Error
16:07 – Building in a Cold Climate
19:28 – Competing on Quality vs Price
22:07 – Educating Clients on Performance Builds
25:06 – Wrap Up

Hosts: Dean Backman 
Guest: Luke Said from Impact Build

🎧 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 theory’s one thing. Making it work on site? That’s where it gets interesting.

In Part 2 of our chat with Jesse Raeburn (FRP Group), we dig into what it really looks like building a new company from the ground up — keeping the team lean, staying selective with projects, and using your own build as the ultimate “showroom” to win the right clients.

Jesse breaks down why FRP isn’t chasing volume, how they’re pushing best-practice building (not minimum standard), and the mindset shifts that come with family, business growth, and long nights doing admin after the kids are asleep.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why doing fewer projects can create better outcomes (and better margins)
• How a builder’s own home build can become the best sales tool
• What “best practice” looks like on real jobs (wraps, sealing, ventilation, detailing)
• Why planning ahead is a non-negotiable skill when you’re starting out
• How transparency with pricing and margin builds trust (and wins more work)

Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to the Build Insite Podcast
00:08 – Part 2 recap and where we left off
00:18 – Team setup and why FRP is staying lean
01:12 – Winning the first client build (and why trust mattered most)
03:16 – Using your own project as a showroom for future clients
04:33 – Building best practice, not minimum standard
05:59 – Lessons for new builders: planning and scheduling properly
07:16 – Sponsor shoutout: Bowens
08:00 – Saying no to the wrong jobs (and why it’s powerful)
10:00 – Family, work hours, and being fully present on weekends
12:45 – Sponsor shoutout: Circa
13:30 – Pricing transparency: showing your spreadsheet and earning trust
16:49 – Rapid fire: tools, disasters, styles, and what’s next
20:12 – Where to follow Jesse + wrap up
21:19 – Podcast disclaimer

🎧 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

There’s no such thing as work-life balance when you’re building something great.
But if you love what you do, does it even feel like work?

In this episode of the Build Insite Podcast, we sit down with Jesse Raeburn, former tradie, real estate agent, The Block contestant, and now co-founder of FRP Group.
Jesse’s journey isn’t linear. From tiling commercial high-rises in Queensland to hustling listings in Melbourne, from selling houses on The Block to competing on it, and now launching his own building company, this conversation is about backing yourself, burning the safety net, and chasing what lights you up.

We unpack:
• Why Jesse believes “balance” is overrated when you’re building a dream
• The grind of starting over in a new city with zero contacts
• How a trade background became his unfair advantage in real estate
• What really happens behind the scenes on The Block
• The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur

This isn’t just a chat about building houses.
It’s about building yourself.

What You’ll Learn
• Why loving what you do eliminates the idea of “work-life balance”
• How to leverage your trade skills beyond the tools
• The power of handwritten letters and old-school hustle
• Why removing financial pressure helps you negotiate with confidence
• What resilience actually looks like when doors keep closing

Chapters
00:00 – “There’s No Such Thing as Work-Life Balance”
00:30 – From Tiler to Real Estate Agent
02:10 – Starting a Business at 22
04:50 – The Melbourne Real Estate Hustle
07:30 – Breaking Into The Block
10:30 – The Reality of TV vs Real Life
14:00 – Launching FRP Group
18:00 – Backing Yourself Without a Safety Net

Jesse’s energy is contagious. His journey proves that if you’re willing to go all in, sell the car, downsize the lifestyle, knock on 100 doors, you can create opportunities most people wait around for.

If you’re a tradie thinking bigger, or a business owner questioning the grind, this one’s for you.

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery 
Guest: Jesse Raeburn from FRP Group

🎧 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 work doesn’t slow down, the pressure just changes.

In Part 2, we wrap up our conversation with Dale Cheesman and dive deeper into what it really takes to run a complex, multi-arm building business without burning out.
Dale opens up about managing stress across high-end residential, events, and joinery, and why investing in people, systems, and health matters more than watching the bank balance. From apprenticeship culture and leadership transparency to AI, admin efficiency, and coffee machines on site, this episode is packed with practical lessons builders can actually use.

We also explore the future of construction, rising costs, smarter pricing, the role of AI in admin and pre-construction, and how builders can stay competitive without losing their values. It’s an honest, grounded conversation about evolution, balance, and building businesses that last.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• How the right people and systems reduce pressure long-term
• Why health, mindset, and culture matter just as much as profit
• What’s changed with apprentices — and how builders should adapt
• How AI is already helping builders with pricing, admin, and decision-making
• The real challenges facing builders as projects scale and costs rise

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome back to Part 2
00:24 – Managing pressure across residential, events & joinery
01:53 – Systems, staff & not chasing the dollar
03:30 – Apprentices then vs now
05:03 – Scaling up & finding the next project
06:37 – Leadership visibility & team transparency
08:36 – Coffee machines, culture & site morale
11:12 – Building costs, pricing gaps & client expectations
14:18 – AI in construction: admin, pricing & decision-making
19:04 – Project management software & systems
21:19 – Health, balance & avoiding burnout
25:01 – What’s next for The Melbourne Builder
26:25 – Rapid fire questions & final advice

Hosts: Dean Backman & Luke Callery 
Guest: Dale Cheesman from The Melbourn Builder

🎧 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