In today’s episode, I’m in conversation with Matthew Carland, the founder of Carland Constructions. Known for his expertise in the domain of passive houses, Matthew brings to the table a wealth of knowledge that’s not just about construction, but about uncovering the true costs of building sustainably.

Let’s face it - the cost of building has been on a constant rise. And to make the building process even more complex, homeowners’ expectations seemed to have followed suit. In Australia, we’re building bigger homes per square metre than anywhere in the world, in what appears to be an attempt to keep up with the Joneses - whoever they may be!

This all means that the cost to build a home will likely exceed most homeowner’s budgets. So what does it really cost to build? Matthew takes us through his approach to cost analysis, the overlooked aspects of building costs and the best method to understand what we’ll really pay when building our dream home.

Cost Misconceptions and Reality

Confusing the costs of a volume build with what a quote for a custom home build might look like is where a lot of homeowners go wrong. This often leaves people shocked at the disparity in price and will have them rethinking what they can expect to achieve on their budget. On top of this, there’s often a misconception that builders can provide actual numbers right off the bat as to how much a build will cost.

According to Matthew, when it comes to building a custom or high performance home, there can be numerous hours spent on unravelling a design to understand how it’s going to be built - and what that’s going to cost. He breaks down the different factors a builder has to understand in order to provide clients with a rough figure, and we discuss the importance of matching your building designs to your budget.

Building Healthy Spaces

Focusing solely on the dollar amount often misses the broader implications of building choices. Matthew is passionate about educating people on the long-term health benefits of living in a well-built home, and believes that initial investments in building with health in mind can mean substantial savings in healthcare costs over time. We discuss a hope for the future where better standards and practices could lead to both healthier living environments and more cost-effective building solutions.

The Role of the Builder in Educating and Guiding Clients

There’s a lot of misinformation that gets around in the building industry, and Matthew believes it’s unfair for builders to expect clients to know the ins and outs of the process when they walk through the door. He talks about his approach in really breaking things down so his clients understand the many intricacies, as well as the costs associated with them: think options for building materials, design and even energy efficiency choices.

A Call for a Shift in Perspective

While people on the outside might see their builders as expendable, or even unprofessional, Matthew is on a mission to change that perception. His aim is to encourage other builders to raise their own standard of practice, in hopes that those in the broader industry will be inspired to do the same.

At the end of the day, everyone wants the same result. The client wants a well built house. The designer wants to see their design get to site. And for Matthew, he wants to see a house that is built properly, sustainably and works in the way it’s meant to.

So join us today as we discuss the exciting possibilities of creating healthier, more efficient living spaces without breaking the bank.

LINKS:

Connect with Matthew:

Instagram: @carlandconstructions
Website: https://www.carlandconstructions.com/

Buy our book: BuildHer, A practical guide to building and renovating

BuildHer Website: https://buildhercollective.com.au/

BuildHer Instagram: @buildhercollective

BuildHer Facebook: Women who Design, Decorate, Renovate & Build

Register for a call: https://go.oncehub.com/BuildHer

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