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This week in home building news! Catch up with Az and a colourful array of guests, to hear about who's killing it, who's innovating, and who's getting into strife in the world of new home construction.
Aaron Ng (00:00)
Now, before I get into it, a big shout out to the legends at my construct.
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Az (00:59)
Well, good morning and welcome to the Good Builder Podcast.
Usually I have one person on the couch, but I couldn't decide between these two amazing ladies who I think are some of the best people in our industry, and I wanted to celebrate them both today. The first guest that I have sitting right here, we've never had on the couch. Her name is Alex Harris, and she's from Wattyl absolute lovely lady. We caught up for lunch the other week, and I did not know how much we actually had in common, including some eye issues. But we'll get into a bit of that, and then we're having the
Awesome Bec Return from Adapt Modular.
and we've had her here before. And I must say, and Alex actually agrees, and it's a bit of a reason we've got Bec here today. She is one of the most inspiring ladies, not just in construction, I think in life. Like to go through everything that she's been through. I'll put the link below and you can listen to the podcast, come out the other side, be such a success.
And then be driving this business the way she does is phenomenal. And we were talking about it out the back. So we're going to talk a bit about that today, I reckon, if you don't mind, ladies. And first of all, welcome to the couch, both of you. How are you? Who wants to go first? How about you, Alex? How are you? We haven't had you here before. I'm good. I'm very, very good. It's been a well wind of a of a year. Very excited to be sitting here today with.
two really inspiring people. ⁓ thank you. Thank you. I I think I'm more inspired by you both, honestly. The reason that no, but the reason we honestly did the good builder, I was talking about this yesterday to
Who was it there? I forget. And I'm so sorry that I forgot who I was talking to. No, it was actually Rebecca and Dave from GWA. I went down to their office and had a chat with them. And I met Dave for the first time, and he's the new state manager at GWA. They're lovely blow, great leader. And he said to me, Why do you do what you do? And he's just sort of started to listen to us at everything. And I said, It's it's the people. Like in the end, we want to educate the industry, but first of all, I want to celebrate the great people in his
Because to me, you guys are like heroes. Like honestly, you know, after hearing your story Beck and the things that you've done, you just can't help but be inspired. So yeah, absolute pleasure to sort of have you both on. But Beck, how about how about you? How are you going at the moment? And how's Adapt going? I see you everywhere and it looks like you're building a lot of modular homes and truly modular homes, which is great as well. So what what's happening there?
No, we're good. ADAPT's really gaining traction in the market now, which is which is great. Yeah. as is modular and I that comes around greater education for the consumer about what modular is and what modular can do. So I think with that education comes, you know, greater lead generation and inquiries and what have you and our product speak for it speaks for itself. So we pay particular attention to detail with our homes and we send out
Quality product, you know, we do numerous QA checks throughout the build, and yeah, we just had one leave yesterday that went out to Kingaroy, which was very exciting. wow. but yeah, adapt is good, we're busy, we're busier than what we've ever been, and hopefully we continue on that 10 tangent. You know, we me and Alex have great respect for you. I've got great respect for Alex as well, and I think it's gonna go okay. And I think what we're talking.
out the back, what I feel is you're gonna have a busy summer and it's gonna be a good summer. We're gonna have a nice summer and it's gonna be busy need to be out there pumping out the modular homes. So and hopefully not too many weather adverts. I wasn't trying to jinx all of Queensland so they need modular afterwards, but if they do, a duct is where to go to fix them up. But
Today one of the things I wanted to talk about actually was I actually didn't attend it, but I heard both of you awesome ladies talk about it out the back. And I think it should be celebrated. But there was a recent Master Builders ladies lunch on
And Alex was in attendance and and she was the one that kind of brought it to my attention and things like that. I'll I promised master builders I'll try and I'll get to the next one actually 'cause I an inspired minds lunch, I think it was. And and Beck was ⁓ the guest spokesperson. So you know, Alex
What was it about Beck's story or or things that and and you've got a bit of a partnership at the moment, don't you? Like so Yeah, so it was She wanna talk a little bit about that. Yeah. It was look, it was really exciting for me. I I tended to see Beck there as one of the the guest speakers. It was
Just it truly inspiring to see her on stage and hear her story really raw and deep, where she came from, what she went through and see her and what she's achieved now.
As a woman in construction, it's hard enough as it is, let alone some of the fit stories that we don't know what people are going through in the back end. We don't know what's going on behind closed doors. So to be able to to see her s you know, see your truth and share your story in such a big open but great space to do it was just I suppose so emotionally raw and inspiring. You had everybody in in tears. well I was crying because I couldn't handle the
pressure of being in the public space 'cause I hate public talking but yeah and i like it was a good forum and I I like I went on the panel just you know basically to
Help other people who may be struggling. So, you know, I look at it as a this too shall pass. So it is the same for hard times as well as good times. They always pass. Wow. And things always change. So it doesn't matter if you're going through a tough spot or you're having a good spell, you know, the time those times are only fleeting. And as women in the industry, like men too, don't get me wrong, but we have added stress, we've got so much extra to
Do there's kids, there's bills, there's home life, there's life admin, you know, and sometimes it gets too much. And like I said to yourself, Alex, when we were at at the lunch, you I mean, you can't pour from an empty cup, you need to refill yourself before you can give to someone else. And sometimes it means you know, being selfish, as bad as it seems, because there's a stigma around women being selfish or what's perceived to be selfish and taking.
making time for yourself to you know renew and re-energize and reinvest in yourself essentially. So I just hope that there was something that some people could take away who may be in that spot.
Yeah, it was good. I'm sure plenty of people would have taken a lot away. And it's interesting. Hey, Alex brought up a real interesting point when we were back there having a chat, not trying to serve you guys morning tea, my first morning tea that I put together because I was so excited. I walked up to the shops to grab it. Because I was so excited to have you both in here. Sorry to all our other guests, because I've never done that before and they'll even tell you. But like I was so excited and I'm so inspired and have so much respect for you that I wanted to do it. And and Alex, sorry.
I went off on the tangent, but Alex said a point back there around
A really interesting one around the census for everyone who did that census last night and they were talking about the unpaid hours and work. You can expand a bit on this, Alex, because I'm not gonna give it the right kind of airtime and you know it a bit better. But I went through it too with my wife and I don't know, after going through that and if it made I think a lot of blokes out there realize how much you actually contribute to the home and I think that's very important. And then when you look at it, you saying you gotta be selfish.
I'm like, I don't know if selfish is the right word. It shouldn't even be called selfish because you do a shitload more than any and and I know your situation back. We won't go too much into that, but a single mum, all that sort of thing. But when you go through that and and you know, I've got my my wife there, but
Yeah, being selfish. I don't know if that's right word. It's like just taking a break and and letting someone else sub in for a sec. But what did you sort of see in that Alex? Like I thought that was a real good point and we should talk about it and guys should go to the survey and put your hours in. Let's see who got zero to five like me. That was it it did make me sit back yesterday last night when I was doing the census and it goes in, you know, how many hours, what do you do? All of that sort of thing. How many hours do you do? And then how many unpaid hours do your household work?
do you do? And it says, you know, one to five or zero to five or whatever it was and then five to fifteen or more. There's not one I th like I I definitely had to do five to fifteen because if it's not dropping the kids, it's picking the kids up, it's making dinner, it's
you know, this so putting them to bed, making their lunches, making their breakfast. There's so much that goes into being a parent and in the corporate world and the construction industry as well that people don't necessarily see. And it's it's things that we'd we we choose to do, but it's so much on us, you know. and you know, it would be great if someone just came along just took took a little bit away from us.
But you know, sometimes you're that sometimes you can't. You know, single parents, people who are one one parents they don't have a choice. It is all on them. Yeah. So it's all it it can all be all consuming. Can be. Yeah. Yeah, it can be. But I I'm gonna put a call out to blokes out there to start thinking a little bit. I did, I was like after I after we did that, I was like, no. Lily had a
Basketball game at 7:20 p.m. And this is gonna sound really bad. Everyone's gonna go, Azar, you're a chauvinist pig, but I never used to take her.
So I used to come home from work and Renee would work. She works in The Good Builder, does as many hours as I do. And she works from home and I work from the office because it's just a bit easier. And and I'd get home and then just start my chill out afternoon to re energise from busy days. She would cook the dinner, she would then, you know, get Lily prepared and then seven o'clock out of the door, back at nine PM, I'd be in bed. And when we did that census, I'm just being real honest here.
When I did that census I was like, my God You know, but you it becomes
You said a word, both of you guys I think said a word back there. It becomes like normal. Or is it normal? What did you say? Beck said women go to work, come home and make dinner. Jimmy. You know, like it it becomes a normality. Normal. Men men go to work and and come home to a cooked meal. Women go to work and come home to cook the meal. Yes. That's where I was. Yeah. So and that's just how it is. Yeah. How it is. But
you know, and that's not to say that we don't appreciate how men contribute and all of that sort of stuff. It's not coming from a place of criticism or anything like that. It's just purely observation because that's how it is. Yeah, normality. Yeah, it's the normality of it all. So it it's and it's not to separate men from women, it's just how different our lives are.
in the smallest ways. And yeah, it's just what
What happens? What what's expected? What what is it? What roles you fall into, you know. So Yeah, yeah. I don't know. It got me really thinking, and I probably don't have my thoughts right in line for this podcast, but it's kind of the same with the construction industry, like with women in construction, which is the way it always is, you know, we have less women in construction. We have this attitude that I think we need to change. And and you know, I haven't got the answer for it. And and we were again, we've we've had a few conversations about how do you do it, you know.
Do we have to make a big if if you guys don't mind me talking about, do we have to make a big hoo-ha when women come on this construction site? Or should we change you know, just be more accepting and and help with better pathways rather than making a hoo-ha when they come on site? Because I think sometimes it can make you even feel more segregated and stuff like that. It's like that mere cat scenario where if we I I I think
Beck you're right in it's it should be about the the person's ability to do the job, not the gender of the person doing the job.
and it is about creating better pathways so women do have access, the same access as everyone else. But realistically we don't need to be sitting there dressed in different colours on a workplace, parading the fact that there were a female on a work on a workplace. We just need to have the same opportunities. And you know what, hire me because I'm the best choice, not because I'm a female and you're trying to get reach a gender percentage in your workplace. Yeah. That's correct. And just have that equal fairness.
in the workplace. Yeah. There's sort of nothing worse than being the token female. You know, particularly on work sites that are more orientated toward men. Like there was a a conversation I had with some ladies that I think it was at the Inspired Minds lunch where you know ladies have been on work sites where there's no ladies' toilets, there's no ladies' sanitary facilities. Like I mean, it's not that we opt to have a period or do
anything like that but it's just a natural thing but there's nothing to cater for that. Yeah we're expected to be there. So it's it's like I say it's all of those sorts of things and I I think like what Alex said if we can just be you know accepted and and chosen for a role because of our skill, because of our knowledge because of our capability to do the job
And then, you know, emotional intelligence, you know, all of that sort of stuff. We look at things a lot different to a man's point of view. Yeah. and both sexes have their pros and cons with how they approach things, but I think if people in general are more open towards each other, I mean it can only have a positive outcome. Absolutely. Absolutely. Well when you think about the people that are making really the vast amount of decisions who are building the homes, they're females.
So if you had a bit more of that, I think, emotional intelligence that that females have more than men, I I actually think I'm pretty emotional intelligent, to be honest. I'm pretty emotional, that's sure. cry a lot on this podcast. I think I cried yesterday. Let's not talk about that. But but you know, if they if they if you have more than that, I businesses run better too. Yes, yes. And I've seen them run better.
So while I was sort of saying, you know, they want better pathways and fairness, I think on the men's side too, you blokes out there, because I've seen a bit of this like the chauvinist pigs that are in general manager positions and things like that, start to open your minds and and don't just look for the next bloke.
look for who is the best for the job like these ladies said and I think that's that's a big hindrance too. I think that needs to be raised and call out some of the blokes that are that are like it. I see a lot of that sort of stuff out there and it's not cool. So and if if you guys had that, like just say the ideal world we're all open and it was all equal and that that is that that's all women want, don't they? Really that's all they want. Just a fair, fair chance. Just a fair yep. And I understand why they do sometimes dress up. Well I'm the same as you got the same opinion.
As you, I don't think you need to highlight yourselves, ladies. I don't know if it's gonna sound really bad because if you're gonna do the job, you will be you should be highlighted by your managers and the people that respect you in the business. Like that's how you should be highlighted rather than having to wear a different colour. And that's where I think men's minds have got to change. Because it can do a reverse effect too, because you can find that if you are singled out and hang, you know, you are I suppose a woman in the workplace and you're in, you know.
getting this a war because you're a female, you know, it can actually put other men in your workplace. It's segregated. It's yeah, it makes yeah, it makes them feel iffy because you're being
looked after differently yeah because you're a female. You know, so or just treat us all the same. That's I suppose that's the biggest thing. Give us the same opportunities. Let us have separate toilets. Yes. You know? yeah. just all that's all we're not asking for a whole lot. We just want this Can I get a separate one from the men too? I've been out on site. And I've been on a few sites. I would I want a separate toil I want it as a toilet. Like it's my own because they are bad then. Like
I've I've had a Please guys. When I was in flooring one of my flooring contractors on a big rese build, she literally had to drive fifteen minutes to be able to use the bathroom because there was no food. And that's not cool at all. That's that's not right. No. So again, it's it's just that's the that's the fight that we should be fighting for. Yeah. You know, did you guys on here so I can them? Yeah. That that's what's that's the change we need. Yeah. Right person for the job, yep, and right equipment. And you it's kind
funny 'cause it's not as flashy as what we could do, but it's just logical. It's just like what we should be doing. That's why I I wanted you guys on here to have a chat about that because you you both, as I said, as I introduced you, like I'm
You're the first two people I've served morning tea to in this little studio here and I have so much respect for you and I think that's really you know, I wanted to get your opinion. Your high performers in the industry. Yeah. Pretty cool. Well, on that on that vein, I have to say and give credit to the people and culture manager at Campbell Construction Co. Jess Lancashire. So when I first started over there, she I went into the female toilets and there's a cabinet in there which has
There's everything a woman could need in case she went into trouble at work. There's hair straighteners, there's deodorant, there's face wash, there's sanitary products, there's all the things. So I've taken a leaf out of her book and put that in my toilets at my site. Wow. Because it's just little things like if even for the guys, the guys have got their own products in their shaving cabinet. So if they're feeling a bit stinky, you give themselves a spray, there's you know, hand wash, there's mouthwash, there's all that in there for them to.
support them you know if they're having a rough day if they get caught in the rain it's just little things that can just change your day if if you're having you know a not so good day so I think that aspect it needs to happen in all workspaces because you know just having that support and consideration from someone else that and you don't even expect it because it's so unexpected. Yeah. Right? You just you know that's it's so little. It's so little
I would freaking pay for that, like you know, like right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I was I was amazed when I saw that and I I said to Jess when I started with Campbell Construction Co. that I have never seen that before and it just blew me away. Wow. So just to have that just even unspoken support for your staff, it means a lot.
It means a lot. That's true support though. It's true support. Unspoken support. Unspoken true support. I love it. You know, and I've just taken her lead for that and I just think little things like that are just fantastic. And see that goes a lot in my age, your age, and that's the first time you've seen that. Yeah. Yeah. And I've and I've never seen it. Yeah, and I've never seen it and it's the first time you've seen it. Yeah. And it's such a little thing. Not what I want to get to and I know it's not the answer, but that's what I just wanted to kind of
of communicate with two amazing ladies here. It's like it's the small things, everyone. Guys and ladies, like it's the small things. Small things. It's the fairness. It's not that we don't have to go over the top and do stuff. If we just did all those little things, we'd have a better industry. Hundred percent. yep. Yep. And it's just just all being a part of the team and you know, just prints out motivational pictures and posters that you know you can read and it's just again that unspoken
support she needs to be on the podcast. she's a weapon. You should get her on this you're on. I don't you don't even know me, I don't know you, but I'm gonna come for you. No, she's she's she's a weapon. She's yeah next door. So she needs she needs to be shouted out because I've never met anybody that's like Jess and
She's a big role model for me in the company. So I look to her a lot. So you're a role model for me. So fabulous. So awesome. What about you, Alex? What's been going on in your world? We haven't really had Alex on it, so I want to do a bit of an introduction. Tell them a little bit about where you've come from. Sure. Your history. What you do with Beck. Yes. here. I did want to get into the little partnership you've got going on and how you help everybody. My background is I've been in construction for a number of years, but very different
facets of it, I suppose. originally started off working with VCI which does all the building and construction information. so I used to Is that in New Zealand or here? No, it's here. So yeah, so they're based they're they're they're based in Brisbane. wow.
Yeah. and so w what they did is they they obviously have a subscription service where you can get information on when new builds and different commercial and residue multi res, not really individual homes.
are are being being built. and what I actually used to do is I had a team of we had a team of account managers who used to call on behalf of I suppose small companies that didn't have a sales rep trying to create I suppose opportunities to quote on builds. So whether it was flooring, whether it was
vertical wow. Yeah, so so many different things. We did furniture, you know, you name it. whether it was being specified or are being asked a quote. So did that for a number of for quite a long time and then that's how I got headhunted to go into flooring because I I made a flo a company quite a
good amount of so then jumped into the the flooring space and and worked in I've worked in flooring for a number of years. commercial flooring, residential flooring, did a lot of multi res and then went into the vinyl commercial side of things. went from that and then I've recently I about
year and a bit ago joined Waddle into the decorative paint side of things, which is a whole new kettle of fish because obviously I'd never done painting before. but had a really great opportunity to build great relationships with residential builders and
really I suppose hone on those skills of account management and new business development. And it's easy to build relationships when it's a product that you I suppose I it's easy to sell when it's a good product. Yeah. So I I'm I'm happy to work for a company when the product's good. Yeah. so lot will have a real you know, they do have really, really good products. Absolutely. Been there for about a year a a year and a bit now. me and Beck have
Think you were I think you were my first new Yes. Yes, you were. First new customer. Yeah, yeah. really? Yeah. Wow. What a customer. Yeah. And I just saw a forgive me if I get the colour wrong and please correct me. Pale eucalypt.
No. Yes. It is translate. Yes. We we I just saw a pale eucalypt adapt modular home. That was stunning. I wanna buy it. I could just see it like amongst the gum trees with beautiful stuff. Like it is gorgeous. What a gorgeous colour. So that's a waddle that is colour. Yes, it's a good colour. And that's you don't see much green on homes out there. Like it's you don't. You you don't you'd see little pops, but not not full exteriors. And it it I can see that. You both went the whole way on it.
The top of a hill. Yeah. With the with the light pale grass, you know, flowing on it. That's gonna look gorgeous. but yeah, so that's that's my background working with with with water. But yeah, the the the the industry is a
crazy industry, the construction industry. I love it though. You know, it's it's all about relationships. It really is. It doesn't matter whether what products you yeah you you're selling or or you're whether really it's it's about the relationships you build along the way. Yeah, and the energy of the people that you talk to. And it's you know what? Yeah. When me so I took Alex to my favorite little thai place down there and we had lunch the other week and you know you're such an intelligent lady. The things you talked about was so
much passion that I I had to. I think straight away I was walking down the street before I even got in this back off this office store and it's literally 50 metres up the road I'd written a post about you and was like I was so energized and I remember coming back again I was just pumping away on work because I was like this is who we're doing it for great people in the industry like you know Bec and and Alex because we were talking about you whole all of lunch. That's why we didn't eat the pad thai and it went back to Alex's children which was cool. But yeah
you know like yeah Alex you're you're another inspiring lady in the industry and you've got a lot you actually care for it and like
When we sat down, one of the things I loved about you was we actually didn't say I think we spoke for maybe a minute on model. Yeah, that was maybe I reckon it was sixty seconds, maybe fifty nine. And then the rest of it was the people industry that you love. Yes. People how we can better the industry and and a few ideas for the good builder. Yeah, yeah. So thank you for those. And you might see me and others partner up on a few things, you never know. I really but we're gonna do some stuff. But
That was really cool and and and you know, you've yeah, you know, that's why we I wanted you both on here together, to celebrate you both and and and the partnership you guys have. So what does a good partnership look like for you two? Why do you why do you both love working with each other?
I think a good partnership takes I suppose being able to pick up the phone, you know, if whether it's a bad whether it's a good issue or a bad issue. You know, picking up the phone like this is this is something that's going on, this is something that's great, you know, but if there's a bad issue, let's hash it out and work it out. But I suppose being able to go back and forth in terms of communication. Yeah.
openness. Yeah. You know, that's that's that's huge. Yeah. What about you, Beth? So I I've found Alex extremely good to deal with. You know, she's very knowledgeable with her product. we at Adapt try to use as many Australian products as we can and Waddle's probably one of the bigger names out there that's Australian. I love that. Which is awesome. It's a good reminder for everyone. Australian products as well. Australian products so
Just dealing with Alex, like she said, open communication. If ever I need anything, all I know I can just pick up the phone. And, you know.
She always answers and we always achieve an outcome. And if I need something like straight away, which is often the case of modulo because we do move quite fast. I can't wait a week for something. She's on it straight away. So you know, just her again giving that support that we need, it's it's really invaluable. And we we just if there's any problems, we just sort them out. We just say, like, this is an issue, how can we overcome the problem? Like
We don't ever jump up and down or scream at people because where does that get you besides nowhere? So you know, and I deal with all of our suppliers and subjects the same way. We just have open conversations with them. We've had a roadblock, how can we overcome it? And you know, we go around it. We just keep moving on. The partnerships are more important than blame or pointing fingers or that sort of stuff. It's like how can you and I work together against the problem rather than me against you?
it gets to get to the right outcome. I love it. That's really cool. I think what's awesome about Beck as well is that not only does she care about the home that she's building, but she actually cares about the trades that are doing the home.
So when she was very adamant when she w that she was like, okay, I need something that's low VOC. I need something that's obviously going to get the good coverage, but I want to make sure that when the painters are in there, they're not breathing in those chemicals. So everything that we actually said that's actually care. Yeah, she does. Yeah, I do. A hundred percent. So everything that she's got is all clean air, low VOC, you know, so it's and it's it's great for the home, but it's it was more about the trade. Wow. Yeah. This is
Yeah. And that's where I think maybe I'm painting it all with the same brush, but that's where I think women are a bit more caring. And it's good for everyone. You see what that would do? The painters would be l like loving you. Yeah. And they would go to another job and they would go
Fuck this builder. I'm not gonna paint again for this guy, because he just wants a like the quickest job, blast me in there, sucking in all the chemicals, don't care. But we need an industry of care. One of the things I keep talking about is I was obsessed with the money we're spending on apprentices. I was obsessed with it. And and I had the to be honest, I had the inkling that like money was being wasted and all this sort of thing. I was on this, I don't know what was wrong with me, but I went on this little bit.
Thing. And anyway, in the end, I we talked to all these apprentices, got a survey out, got a few surveys and information from a few different research brands, and they're saying reason why apprentices leave is the culture of the construction industry. Super and the number one reason we wrote an article last week on it, supervisors don't give a shit about me. That's what that's how they feel. They don't give a shit about me.
Like how bad is that? So they just think look they want me dead. Like they want me to go to work and they want to kill me and they don't care if I die and I'm going and I don't and they don't care if I go home or not. And that Yeah.
That's how that's not our culture. Let's just put an underlying culture. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no. But I just wanted to highlight it because I think the entire industry needs that. And you even think of these young blokes. And and maybe again I'm I'm sort of generalizing it. Tell me off if I am. Right. Please do. But like I think, you know, women have more of that motherly nature. So you get these young blokes coming. And I remember going to a few sites. I I've talked about it before on a pod. I went to a commercial site of a big commercial roofer.
And you know, they're pretty brutal commercial roofers actually. And they are, they're a different level. And I went there and this I saw this guy and he was not happy like he was really down in the dumps. Like I reckon he was not happy. And I could I walked over to him and I was I was filming, I wasn't even part of anything. I was just filming myself, you're right, mate. No one was talking to him and he's like, I can't do this, man. Like I hate these guys, they hate me.
Come on man, you know what? Let's go get a drink and we got a drink and I tried to help him through it. I pulled a guy over. I didn't know who he was, but I was like, this guy's having a hard time. I don't know what happened from there. Yeah.
probably got fired and yelled at to be honest, which is really, really sad, because I was having a I was trying to get someone to be compassionate to this young kid. But I can see that that sort of leadership that you both display would be a better solution for our industry. And I think it would better our industry. I know I'm leaning back into women in construction. I didn't mean to, I meant to talk about the partnership, but look I think that's where it's at. It needs to change focus in that direction because look at the suicide rates that we have in construction.
at the moment, like is it one in five at the moment? and we have
You know, organizations like your mates in construction who are there. We promote them in our organization for people to reach out to. We have connectors in our organization that can put staff in touch with people to talk to. But it it starts with the people that you work with and partnerships with people. So it's not just between suppliers and trades, it's partnerships between yourself and your staff because that's a partnership. We have to move forward in the right direction. And it's while
problems arise and time equals money, I'm aware of that more than most people know because you know modulus. It's on you out the door. And it's also on you, Beth, as the leader there. That's on your head. Hundred hundred percent. But we can only achieve an outcome if we're all moving in the same direction together. If we're at odds with each other, if this person doesn't like that person and they can't work together and there's rifts and there's all that sort of stuff. It it it can't
move forward seamlessly. And that's what I try to promote with Adapt is that we all need to work together. We have a number of different aspects and facets of the build that all have to come together to create a house. Like you think of all of the different elements that we need to build a house. It's huge. So the only way I I feel to achieve a positive outcome is to work together and work through the problems and be supportive and just have that shift of that it's not me versus
You, it's us versus the problem. And I think if we had that approach across the board with everybody, it would be a a lot better industry because you know we spend what is it 70% of our time at work. Yeah, yes. Like I'm I'm with my staff more than with than I'm with my kids. Yeah, yeah. And I don't want to hate going to work. Yeah, I want my workplace to be a good place to come and work at simply for that reason. And I hope the staff over there feel the same. Yeah, you know, I do.
don't want there to be stigma or you know that feeling of dread when you're going to work at a place that you hate, you know, or having to work walk on eggshells because you're scared of saying the wrong thing. Yeah. You know, I have an open door policy with everybody. You know, if you've got a concern, come and talk to me. I can't fix it if I don't know. Yeah. If you don't know you can't. I can't change it. You know, can't change it. If there's something we can do better, come to me with your idea. I want your information.
My way isn't necessarily the right way, the best way, the good way, you know, your way of thinking or your way of thinking is different to how I think. And what you've got in your head could be, you know, the thing that changes adapt, you know, for the better. So let's communicate, let's have that out on the table, but for everybody. Like nobody's better than anybody else at Adapt. We're just all cogs of one machine. But we all have a purpose. Working together to create an outcome. We all have a function.
that we have to do and the best way to do it is to do it like a well-oiled machine and if there are any rusty spots or kinks or it let's iron it out and get it working again. So that's the way I sort of set feeling of value. Look I mentor a young man. wow yeah so I actually first met him when he was a checkout boy at Woolies.
And I got him out of Woolies, got him into a job where I was working and then from there I got him into an apprenticeship in electrical. So he's on his fourth year, last year of his apprenticeship now. And he has it's been a battle because he's swapped his apprenticeship with had to go to three different places and he's still in the last year and he's worried that they haven't registered his apprenticeship. There's worry you know, there's so many things to manage, things to manage and that feeling of I'm an just an apprentice. They're not
They don't care like they do with their other staff. So it's like so I've really supported in the background to help, I suppose, keep them motivated, keep them empowered, keep them going because they don't have that and that's what is missing is that they need to have that someone in the feeling value. It's that lack of value out there. We need to make sure no matter where whether you are an apprentice, a supervisor or a GM, everyone has a right to feel
Value. Yeah, I love it. I love it. I think you both explained it very well. I love your analogy of cogs in the wheel. And I think I was smiling so much when you're talking back because I was like, that applies to the entire industry. It applies to the entire industry. If we all acted like that, we're all bits of cogs in this machine. And I don't want to use the housing accord as the goal, but just as it is, you know, we've got to get to that. How do we all play our part to do that? But in a positive way. Yeah, in a positive way. But right now we know you know it's not happening. So
But
yeah. This is why I want you guys on. You should lead the freaking country, both of you. in construction and child. Yeah. No, it's logical. Like you guys know a lot more c than about construction than me. But
You so you have the technical and operational skill plus you've got the logic. And I I I agree with your logic. Like my logic is the same as yours. I think if we all played that game, then we'd be a better industry for it. It's a people game. It is it is a people game. It's people game, whether it's a client facing role or a
So contract of facing role, it's all people. And it's a c gonna continue to because we're not gonna be talking to AI to lay the bricks and talking to AI to stand the frames. You know, it's always gonna be a peop for a long time anyway. And we're we're an industry, right? So as we can sit here, everybody generally knows most most people. They do. We know who's jumping from going from here to there. We know what place is, you know, supporting and what place is is not. Yeah.
we know where change could happen. and I think there's there's a lot that we could do
individually and as companies to show that doesn't even cost money to show that our staff are are supported out there. No. there's people out there doing the right thing, and there's a lot more people that need to be doing it. Yep. Yep. We just need leaders like you too. We know it doesn't cost. It just n needs a bit of brains and some logic and it can be done. It can be done. Well
Over to you, Beck Adapt. What is happening over the next few months over there? What's some of the coolest projects you've got on the go? And and what other maybe cool colour schemes are you doing with Alex Harrisy? Like the pale Euclid one? Have you got there's a few. There's there's quite a lot of private clients that are coming through at the moment. but we've seen an increased interest from developers, so from the multiple space. So we've had quite a few.
make inquiries and particularly in flood zones and what have you. So we're being we're doing a little bit of research and development over there. So just watch this space. It's very exciting. so yes watch this space for for something hopefully that will come off the ground. but over the next couple of months we're doing a a contract for QBuild which is a property out at Coloroy we won the contract for that by attendance so that's very exciting. It's
Very logistically challenging, but I like a bit of a challenge. So it's it's about two and a half hours southwest of Mackay. There's about 50 K's of dirt road to get onto. There's 19 or 21 cattle grids to go through. Are you going? I'll be going up there. I'll be going up there for a road trip. We should go, Alex, road trip. It'll be so good. Let's do it. You'll obviously be using waddle on these things. Yeah, for sure. Yeah, we'll do it. Yep, definitely all on the inside.
But road trip. Yeah. it's gonna be it's gonna be magic because the aspect of it too, it's on a bit of an elevated hill hillock. so it overlooks like the valley. So it's it's gonna be beautiful once it's all done. But yeah, logistically it's a bit of a nightmare. But we'll we'll put our fingers to the and get it done. And
Yeah, a lot of investors are coming to us for new builds following the budget and the
The changes with the negative gearing and new builds and what have you. So there's there's a lot. It's like a multifaceted market at the moment. So modular is kind of is, but we're gaining more and more traction every day, which is awesome. So more and more people are looking for it too, aren't they? Yeah, yeah. You're getting a lot of regional, like yeah. Yeah. A lot of regional, a lot of regional. Huge growth regional. Yeah. And you know, little towns an hour away from the coast, they can't get builders. So we're getting a lot of inquiries from that builders.
can't afford to travel, they're too busy, they don't get trains. Trades won't go. They won't go. So they get we're getting quite a lot of inquiry from just a small corridor, you know, an hour inland. So how cool. Okay. Yeah. Which is so the fluid modulo really thrives. Really thrives where there's no building. It gets outcosted. You can get out. thank you. Yeah it's playing outcosted because all the trade like to get the trades in there to build it, it blows the
cost out. That'd have to stay there, wouldn't it, Neil? Yeah, 100%. So it just blows it blows the budget basically. And the time. Yeah, and the time. So it's a perfect opportunity. Yeah. For a depth. Yeah. Yeah. And modular in general, like anywhere where people can't get builders or or trades, it's a perfect solution because we can build the home in the facility at a fraction of the time and then deliver it straight to someone's site for their door and then we're on site like yesterday. I think it was five hours turnaround.
From when that little house left our factory to when it was installed on site. It's crazy. It's like five hours and they've got a new brand new house. Done and done said that would be so cool. Imagine getting like a text. I know I don't know if you do that. Do you like it? Your house is coming today. It's like you received a pair, you know, something from you know track your house. Yeah, track when you order something online. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That is so exciting. Yeah, and that's what we do with our clients. We we share that excitement with.
them because they you know they can't see it being loaded in the factory. So we take videos and photos and email it to them and say, Your house is on the way. I love that. So then they know it's coming and it's just it's so exciting for them and to see the how like
House on the truck, it's like they're not small, they're they're huge. So just the size of the two, you know, you see their eyes light up and the the crane and the you know, all the big machinery come in and they've if they've got kids, it's like wow, you know, it's there's nothing like it. It's so it's fantastic. Well, we're planning on doing that. That would be amazing. Yeah, for sure. So when we go on the road trip, I've got it. Yeah, you drive, I'll control the drone and chase the soundtrack.
So cool booming ahead no it's positive in a number of aspects but for for being able to provide a new house directly to where someone is is yeah next level I think I think you've done honestly one of the best jobs out there not only of modular builders but builders in general of launching that brand and what you've done there Beck. So that's why I'm so that's only support of the team of Yeah, sorry, I you know I'm I'm pointing at you because you're sitting here and
And I think you do play a big part, but I like I think you've done a really good job over there. and that's really cool. Yeah, obviously it's with support of you know great suppliers like Alex, and I can see the relationship is so good in that open communication, which was your point about you know better industry too, Alex. So and and so Alex, what's going on with you at Waddle? Is there any new things you can talk about, or do I have to talk to Waddle Corporate to get the latest exclusive, or do you have any news coming out, or even in your world, what's happening?
Is anything exciting in your world, other builders you're working with, stuff like that? Well I've had a yeah, we've had a lot of a lot of growth. I've brought on a lot of new builders. I do that's a huge skill set of mine, I suppose, is is is new bit new business. so I have and I'm really so Sunshine Coast is my favorite place in the world. Like I love it. I will take the Sunshine Coast Highway over the Bruce Highway. I've seen a huge
Huge
funny enough, I've actually seen a huge gr growth in ran American style ranch.
let's talk about those. So barn dominiums. I met so Dave from GWA, his brother, owns Longhorn Barn Dominiums. Luke Fryer I want to meet you, Luke Fryer. Well I I could help you. thank you. sorry. No, no, no, yeah. So I I I met with them last last yeah, set them up and th I'm just starting to see the
Turnarounds on that now. Good, amazing homes. But there's also another one that's on the north side called Jacoby Construction that's just started a yeah, they had their open home last week. I unfortunately didn't get a chance because it was my daughter's soccer at the same time. but they've also so but they've also just launched a big barn money as well. I think they they look they look
like they are cool. Yeah. They are cool. I see, I see that I can I under I see the inspiration behind it. and I do have noticed that we've walked away from the white roofs.
You know, like we all if you look at these like seas of surfing surf co surf mist from colourbonds. Yeah, I just do colourbond mask. Energy efficiency code. Yes. Energy efficiency. Yes. But they're walking away. I've seen yeah, so they're obviously finding ways to get What colours have we got? We've got one event like that.
must have a lot of insulation in their roof. But they must do. My roof has none. It works over in New Zealand though. The darker colours. Yes. And things like that work very well. 'Cause I did a little bit of work over there. But I I see the bar dominions very dark and I like the look of them, but yeah, the insulation pieces. Yeah, so it'd be interesting to see that that taking off. Congratulations. So cool. Yeah, so that's they're it'll be interesting to see see what they do over the next next few months.
They've got you just start seeing them starting to take over and seeing their stuff come to life now. but we do I I'm not sure if I could talk about some of the other stuff that we talked about earlier. but you will watch the space as well. Yeah, there's a lot happening. There's a lot there's a lot happening with Waddle, and there's a lot happening with me. I've had, you know, we bonded through out eye issues. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I'm on the up and up in terms of that, getting used to by vocals now. But
it's getting old, isn't it? But not on the up and up with all that. But yeah, things are going great with Yeah. Great with waddle, great with business, new businesses jumping on board every day, so Yeah, that's so cool. And you know, and when I I I was saying before I chucked up a
a selfie with you and I getting messages of whoa she's so cool isn't she wow well how come I didn't get to come to lunch not with you with Alex I'll pay for it you guys can go yeah I'll just sit out and not be there no but no it's really it's really cool in the Barn Dominium space I'll tell what's interesting for me I kind of think almost Barn Dominiums
Now you're gonna get me for this back, but kind of lend themselves to modular, they're kind of the same style of home. So I am hoping that this transition of loving Valdominiums and Modulars just sort of starts to become the norm because we're not gonna do what we do with traditional build and traditional build
Has been very interesting for me to look at in terms of defects and stuff like that, as we're gonna talk about later on. Me and Alex are looking at a little program, but on the low low. But you know, like there seems to be a lot of problems with that traditional build and mold and airtightness and all this stuff. And I'm thinking that I'm probably gonna get shot for this, but.
A lot of our homes aren't gonna last that long that are built that way.
So why aren't we yeah, unless we're I just feel this movement of baruminiums is pretty cool because it's a different way of constructing and then obviously module is cool, it's a very different way of constructing, it's more exact, we're not having all as much wastage as well, and we're not contributing to the wastage of stuff. I don't know. And cost effective as well for what you're Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'm just wondering if the whole industry's gonna Lot or the market's gonna move a bit more to what it's 'cause is it five percent that we build in module at the moment? Well, I think so.
Yeah, there's definitely a trend and more awareness around that space. Like my LinkedIn is just being is modular. Everything I'll look at is modular, but like you're always going to have volume builders like in the traditional stick build. Like, don't get me wrong. you know, stock lanes moving down the modular, yeah. You know, they're considering because they need to keep up housing supply with their developments because they are a developer. So, how do they you know keep up housing supply with the the trade shortage that we have, the Olympics that's coming up?
Up so you know it there is a a shift in focus toward modular and I think that's only going to grow. but as you say, it's also a shift away from the design of modular. So people's perception is that modular is an ATCO building, it's a donga, yeah, it's insulated wall panels, like they look gross, right? But I'm
Trying to design homes and shift the focus away from the single module rectangle box. Yeah. Like the that house that went out yesterday is still a rectangle box, but there's aspects of it that you know make it look a bit funky, which is the pitch roof, you the fresco area. You know, those sorts of things we've just floated not so long ago a new design called the Palm View. So that's a three-module mid-century design.
Look at this. Yeah, and the Barn Dominion would possibly be another one. There's certain aspects of the design that we need to tweak fr in order for it to fit modular.
Yeah but you can but we could but we could we could look at something like that and you know going two stories the way we we want to go so we're looking at that option as well in providing that second story for people and yeah it's just thinking outside of that square you know instead of rectangle rectangle how do we make it fit it's like right let's configure them a little bit different how do we play a Tetris and get a design that's attractive and works you know for for people who want something that's a little bit different.
So yeah, we're open to suggestions. I think people are gonna move away from that cookie cutter. Yeah. I think if like so I'm I'm I was a first home buyer who moved into a cookie cutter estate. And with the market the way is I'm not about to run out and move out because it's quite scary. but eventually I will be one of those people who is gonna buy quarter acre and
put a home on there. What sort of is that home gonna be? It's not gonna be a cookie cutter. But I don't know what it's gonna look like. However, I think once you've done it once you realize that you wouldn't do it again. Yeah. because you do, like my home is probably five, six years old. and I've just re I've just refurbished it and spent fifty thousand on it. You know, and had to replace so much.
And that's from a high volume builder.
Hm, you know, so and it just goes to show what look you're getting five to seven years. Yeah, that's right. I'm the same. Like my house is nine years old and I'm pulling out the kitchen already to renovate it. Replace my whole kitchen. You know, it's and it it comes down to what was happening at the time too. You know, we're talking early two thousands, there was a building boom, people were short on materials, it was just bang it up and get it out, like you know, i it's just a sign of what was happening at the time and I think attention's shifted from that.
A
little bit. It's more, you know, how can we build better? How can we build smarter? They've just changed overnight the energy efficiency code for modular. So that's just come out overnight. We don't we don't have to comply with seven star anymore because we're elevated, we're only we're deemed to comply with five star. So I mean, fabulous for us because some of those things we just were tearing our hair out of how do we comply? You know, they're talking slab on ground, we're on stumps, like what do do? So
it's reactiveness like this from government that we need, you know, to push modular forward, to push alternative methods of building forward so we can create a good housing supply without, you know, cutting corners here or misinterpreting something there. You know, I I was dealing this morning with condensation management and all that sort of stuff, and there's so much out there that you can misinterpret or what have you. And it's just, yeah, we need like I said last time I was on.
And I think we can clear a pathway and one standard for all. Yeah. So we can understand and then base that standard around your methodology, you know, how you construct them. If you're a stick builder, this is how you do it. If you're a modular, you can do it this way. Yeah. So just clarity around that. And then I think everybody will end up with a better, more long-lasting product. because that was actually a comment from QBuild was the longevity of the the build that we're doing up there, you know. If if they need to move it, can they?
Do they have to knock it down? Like, is it reusable? Yes, it is. We can just split it apart and they can ship it somewhere else. So it's a cost saving. Wow. You know, so it's all that sort of stuff. Yeah, it's that is awesome. Yeah, it's got merit. So people are thinking outside of the box when it comes to that type of housing, which is awesome, which is great. We need that. So module has some legs here. When you were saying that, I was just thinking imagine you bought a house and you're going like,
bit more land, picked up the house. Yeah. Yeah. And it's your home, like it is emotion you do get emotionally connected. Like I love my home. I live in an older home. A a much older home. I think it was built in nineteen eighty five or something like that. But you'll I love it, but we'll never take it anyway. No.
And I don't really want a non at home. I don't need anything bigger. I'd love to probably move out and give them a bit more land, but I can't take it with me. No. So then you've got to build again. Or or I didn't build or you're gonna have to build or go module. Yeah, that's right. I never th th thought about that. That's so cool. Yeah. So cool. It just gives another element to, you know, the construction and the investment that you have. Yeah. Because ultimately it is dollars. That's right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the the
usability of it as well as and sustainability because it is a sustainable product because you're not creating something new and using new raw materials or throwing out old ones or demolishing. You can just refurb if you need to in a couple of years time and then I actually saw I saw the other day and now it makes sense. I I saw a a used modular home for sale on a bit of land. And someone would come and pick that up
The family who are selling up would keep their land and then get another one. Okay. How freaking cool. Yes. The people just dropped for me in this podcast. I'm bit slow. I've got it. no, that's super cool. Well, one more question for you guys because we'll we've well, we've got it now, which is super cool. We could talk all day with you guys, but what what do you think the future of housing looks like for Australia? This is a big one. I've already asked, well, I haven't asked Alex what makes a good builder, but.
No, we'll get into that later. But what do you think the future of housing looks like? Modular? Definitely modular. I think it's become fifty-fifty in the market. Yep. Yep. That's your prediction? Yeah, I think so. I think it's poised to not become the dominant methodology, but there is a a change happening. So I think it because there's there's reason for both and purpose for both.
But I think for your remote and rural and you know even regional areas for housing, it definitely has a purpose and an application there. So I think that's where it will will thrive. and with more people, you know, moving to those centres because it is cheaper, the land is cheaper, it they don't have the costs like they do in the cities. sometimes if you have to do training, if you're wanting to live in Australia from overseas, you have to do regional work or move to a regional town.
for a period of time. Yeah. You know, module is the answer to supply quality housing for those people. Yeah. So I think it will find its niche in those areas. And yeah, I think the sky's the limit for it actually because the the thoughts and the think tanks that are around the space and the people who are pushing it will help drive that forward. Yeah, yeah. Cool. And even in commercial.
Hundred percent. Yeah, definitely. Mention that and I'll I've seen a little bit in Alex and a little bit too, which is interesting. What about you, Alex? What do you think I think the future looks like? Definitely the modulus, especially within the regional, like as we were talking about earlier. but also as long like we need to keep it in Australia, so Australia made I love that like we that's what we are, right? We are Australia made. So instead of l working so hard on and I think the big thing like w
What we learn from like COVID and stuff? That we need to keep it in our own country, right? So this is why we need like modular and this is why, yes, we we can still be doing our volume builds and it's gonna happen because there's w we need to keep building homes. Yeah. Like we we but the biggest thing is we need trades and we need things like like modular homes and we need land. Those are the the biggest hold ups we see is is council land developments, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Very cool. Very cool. Well, it was an absolute pleasure having you both on. I think this w went smoother than what I actually thought. Not not thought. I knew it was always gonna go well, but for everyone out there, that whole conversation we just had was just off the cuff. Hey, we were I was trying to feed them snacks out of the bath and then I went, Hey, let's go to a pod, and we just jumped on and that like that's the connection we have, like I think all us three. Like I I I have so much respect. I could talk to you all day.
I am infatuated with what you both do and I'm so pleased that you are leaders, both of you in in Queensland construction, and you're so close to here us here at The Good Builder so I can have you back on because you're both inspirations and that's why we do what we do. So congratulations Beck on everything you've achieved. You Alex too. It was so lovely to meet you the other week and that's why I think a week later you're already on. Yes, yes. because I was so you know. I've been watching you from the start and I think what you do is incredibly
important and now understand definitely like that's why I've followed you for so long because if we don't have people like you I suppose taking some accountability and you know being a spokesperson and raising issues it's really important that people don't talk about yeah then you know we need people there's there's only one of you out there yeah yeah it's it's so needed in our industry like our black hole you know yeah like it's needed we need to have conversations like these yeah that's why
I love you ladies, so we shouldn't say that. that's okay, but that is why is yes it it's all important for us to chat. So
That we covered a lot today. thank you for being so open about all the women in construction stuff. Thank you for being open about both of your experiences in construction and what the construction industry needs. And then we talked about, I think we fixed the whole industry in one episode. We did. We tried. I think we did. We we you did, they did. We fixed women in construction, we know what we need now. So come on, guys, and all the things. We'll we'll write articles around this and contribute it to their attribute it to them, and then we fix the housing shortage, then we fix leadership and
Apprenticeships. Yep. We did. my god. And then and then we talked about what's gonna happen in the future. That was the most comprehensive podcast we've ever done. Alright, we're done. We're gonna Alright, I'm out. I'll press stop and shut up. Thank you guys once again. Thanks.