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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.
TGB Podcast EP363 Jack James James Marsden Builders FINAL (00:00)
Yeah, like we just we try to pay pay same day. We have been doing that. Now we might look at a seven day thing just to help for our cash flow. But like we I felt like we didn't deserve that until we showed our worth by paying the same day for everyone and making sure the job's ready and like um you know I'll be there and making sure I'll move the tiles for the tiler and I'll clean up his stuff for him just because you know, he he's doing so much for me, like I feel like I've got to do so much back, like and just to have the opportunity for them to be around. So um they're so important. And it's a sense of
Same.
We are back and I have another amazing guest. We're at the TPB summit here on the Gold Coast at the Star Casino. Um, it is the last day of the summit and I have Jack James sitting here, who is the owner and director and co founder of James Marlson Builders. Yeah. Um, an amazing builder that builds on the north side of Bruzi. I just had a chat with him.
Didn't really know what they sort of built, but they build high end renovations of one point five to two mil. I think we need a high end renovation builder that's good in North Brazilian. Where do you build? Up to the sunny coast as well? Yeah, up to the sunny coast. So yeah. And then we do t two fifty K to one mil. So we're just below that one mil. Sorry. So that's all good. That is cool. Sorry about that. No, no, no, no worries at all. So we're trying to be niche down because there is a lot of builders in the area in Brisbane that do do one mil plus, you know, one point five renaws.
So we're trying to target the two fifty K to one mil. Um you're in my budget 'cause we're looking for a renovation. Oh right. And I'm on this any coast and I'm not buying. We will chat after this pod because I'm gonna convert my garage and this big shed that I've got out the back. Yep. I wanna convert it into an a home where my mum can come and live. Yeah. Um so I want to do some stuff like that. And uh yeah, I think we'll yeah, we're in that budget range of about five perc some.
Perfect. And that's like honestly like most of the clients that come to us are in that situation where, you know, it's they love where they live still. Um and they're not ready to move suburbs because if they do, it's a big you know, just to buy in the same area to upgrade, you gotta go thirty Ks north or something like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So and you know, yeah, they love where they live. The kids are already at school and stuff like that. They just need that little bit of extra space. And all it is is just an additional bedroom.
An additional en suite. Yep. Just making that kitchen a bit bigger. That's easy. yeah, that one job at the moment, an orchid flower that we're doing. Um, yeah, we're just making but we're just giving them an en suite and a kitchen. Literally that and a deck. Yeah. Um so and getting it within their budget and stuff like that too. So um and then we're happy as well to stage stuff 'cause that's you know, with with the budget that we're at. Yeah, yeah. like sometimes we'll just only put the sheets on the en suite.
But at least we'll get it to a point so at a later date the clients can come through and then fit it out later. That is so 'cause some you know, some builders might be like, no, it's all in or out. but for us we're always happy to, you know we w we want to make sure that people get what they want, you know, with the budget that they have. Yeah. So that is so cool. Like I think you've got a big opportunity ahead, hey. Yeah. Like there is so much of a all all the people we talk to and our neighbours and things like that. There's so much of that going on because it's state of real estate right now. Yeah. I think we bought in
I'm in the sunny coast. Yeah. And we'll get into you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, um, we bought in there for about six hundred, seven hundred. It's now worth one point nine. Yeah. Any buy back in that area. Absolutely. I don't want to leave the area. Yeah. I love my home. I just want it more fitting for as we're growing as a family. Yeah. Yeah. As my mum gets older, if my aunt's mum gets older.
For sure. I want them to come and be able to stay with us. And I'm finding as well that uh getting a bit more, you know, it was I felt like it was harder to get that extra dwelling and stuff as well. But I feel like it's more of a common uh a granny flat and stuff like that too. And you know, making most of the space that we've already got. So uh yeah. Yeah, absolutely cool, Jack. Yeah, mate. I don't think I even kicked off with the first question. I went straight into how can you build for me because I think you're a great buildup. Yeah. But my qu first question was actually meant to be how'd you get into building that?
Well how did you get into this? How did you get up end up owning this business? Yep. What happens? So um I guess from the start, my dad's a plumber by trade. Yeah. Um, so my two brothers who are younger than me are Sparkies. Um, at the age of fourteen, I was going and working for builders on school holidays. Um, so just working as a carpenter and um just learning because dad just really wanted to get into it. Dad's into his property. Um he's always been wanting to get into some developments and stuff like that. Never had a real chance.
to really do so some of his own projects, but that was his passion and still is. some possible stuff maybe in the future and stuff. And then, um, yeah, our neighbour at the time when I was fifteen was a builder. so this was in two thousand and eight. Yeah. And I went over there and dad was dad is a very much uh loves a chat. Um got a good relationship with him and then I just started a school based apprenticeship when I was in grade eleven. Yeah. at the age of fifteen and signed up and that was it. And then ever since then
the whole way through. I worked for him for about six years, then worked for another custom builder in um on the Brisbane's North side. Went to commercial for a bit, worked on as a carpenter doing um Mr. Percival's. So and Felon's brewing down there. And then so I got to do all that deck. So that was all old timber beans that they used. They took it away, recycled it and we put it screwed it all down. Beautiful spot oh I'm I very lucky. That was you.
Yeah, every time I go there, which is pretty often, I'm gonna think of you now. Yeah, that's a freaking fit. That shows your craftsmanship. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. People love that. Yeah, I did a sneaky as well. We were putting the soffits up, uh, around Mr. Percival's, I the V J lining around there. I wrote my name there a couple of times just for, you know, hopefully if anyone ever pulls it down, I've got my Jack James, two thousand and might have been two thousand and
it might been two thousand eighteen now or nineteen when it was done. We were there. What a um what a project to work on. Yeah, it was really commercial. Yes. under the story bridge, kinda bit you know, kind of nice, you know, a bit of history and stuff. Yeah. You've you've created an iconic. You've been part of an iconic, like really. Yeah, yeah. Um, so that was very lucky, got into that. And then I me and my wife, we went to Canada for two years and I worked there as a carpenter as well. That was that that was cool. That was cool. Was it dark? Yes, that's that's I if anything, to be honest.
My biggest takeaway from it was that I am so grateful for where we live. Yeah. 'Cause uh working in the s winter there, uh, you know, the sun is down at eight AM. Yeah. So we're already working for an hour in the dark. Mm. And then we are packing up at um four o'clock and it's already been dark for an hour. Yeah. So and there's snow everywhere and so negative seventeen degrees we were working in outside. So we would jump inside, warm up, jump back out, get into it.
Um so that was yeah, inches as well. So working all that out. And then um came back and then I just did a couple of caches like I used to and then um thought I better do this kind of properly. Not you know, I was doing it properly enough, I was doing the good work and stuff, but and then um yeah, now I'm now I'm here essentially worked as a carpenter contractor and now builder. So and then a little item as well as that.
Currently we don't I don't actually have my builder's license, I've actually got a nominee for the company. So I'm still getting my experience so that I can officially get my license. So cool. Um and the move to do it. Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah. But that is one of the coolest things. You've got and done it, you know what you want to do, you've got all this experience and you're ready, you're people you're doing it. Yeah. Yeah, that's it. So in it now and here we are, yeah, at the T V V summit and um just trying to grab it by the horns and have a crack and I'm loving it the whole way through. That's cool. That's what I want to ask you, Jack. Yeah.
Why did you get them to the T B D summit? How did you end up here as well in TPD and all that sort of thing? Was there a bit of a turning point where you kind of went, need to be helpier or Yeah. So we me and Ben, we were working away about a year and a half ago now. Um we were doing like three projects at a time and we were working Sundays on site, doing everything at night and all this stuff, and then always trying to learn and stuff and watching stuff online and podcasts when we can. I I was actually listening to your podcast.
A year and a half ago. Oh, and yeah, and then Marty was on, who's owner of T T V. And then I was just listening to it, but like every every minute of the podcast it was just resonating and it's like, Well, that all makes sense. That's all the stuff I'm trying to look for. Yeah. And I think we signed up. We emailed them straight. it and it's I think another like lesson out of it too is like 'cause I know these guys market. Now I do 'cause it kinda gets directed at me but
I actually never heard of T V B before. Yeah. But I know how much they put out there, but it's amazing that even myself being a young builder and stuff and never heard it online. Yeah. you think you're marketing enough, but you're barely you know what I mean, you're barely trying because it's you you know, yeah. Never heard it out there and stuff. And then um and then yeah, we had a talk to them and it just made sense and then we're here now. Mate, that is so cool. And like I said to you, like it was really cool that you kind of listen to our pod and I'm not that kind of guy that I'm like all the listeners in the world. But I think I said to you
Reason we do it and I know the reason why you do it. We all want to make a difference. We all want to support the industry, we want to get better, we want to do that. So mate, it's fucking cool to have you on the podcast. Yeah, yeah. I've never really had someone jump on and go, Hey, I'll listen to you. Like I did suck from it. Yeah. So I think I told you a couple of months ago I was having a hard time and going, Yeah. Am I just in my own echo chamber? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Am I listening to myself? Yeah, yeah. You know, what's going on here? So, mate, I if
I went at a conference with three hundred bills in the next room, I'd probably cry tears you join. Yeah. Yeah, nice. I really appreci yeah, I really appreciate it. So I thank you very much. Yeah, it really made a made a difference for us. that's okay. Thank you. Yeah. No, well mate um joining T P B, what's some of the biggest learns that you've had over the last couple of days, Jack? Yeah. Um yeah, with T P B, like it's just more like the coaching like itself is is awesome in itself. But the the thing that I think that
just makes a difference is just having events like this and rubbing shoulders with other guys that are in it doing it right now, and then realizing that you're not the only one making mistakes the whole way through. Um and then yeah, and like I would say that I'm a I'm part of the Project Freedom, which is like the they got different levels and stuff like that. And we've got a WhatsApp group and all of us uh builders in the group are on there. And I really feel like I use and abuse it. I'll
constantly be like if I'm just sitting at on a Sunday afternoon and I'm just stuck on something, I'll be like, hey, what are you guys doing this? What are you guys doing that? And um yeah, and then everyone is so like like we yeah, helpful. Everyone wants to help and someone's already done that that, you know, had that issue before and they conquered it and they're like, and then they must have had that light bulb moment and then they can probably see me when I'm asking those questions. Like, I remember what I did when that happened, so I'll let you know real quick. So um yeah just asking for help and them providing the opportunity to ask for that help.
I think is the massive point rather than um because there's like even yeah. This episode is proudly supported by the New Home Electrical Specialist. If you're building new homes out there, you already know electrical is one of those trades where shortcuts show up later and usually at the worst time. The new home electrical specialists focus purely on residential new builds. They understand the sequencing, the pressure and what builders actually need on site. Clear communication, proper training.
proper planning and work that's done right the first time. If you want an electrical partner who knows how new homes really get built, head to T N H E S dot com dot AU to learn more. They're absolute legends. Well with um Jack Build Building Company, what do you wanna aspire to? Where do you want to take it, mate? Yeah, so um we th this summit actually helped us out a lot 'cause I actually want to actually move up to the sunny coast, me my wife and son
Um, it's been a dream of ours before I even started uh bu working for myself. Um, so yeah, I'd like to keep doing what we're doing here. Me and Ben are gonna work out how the business might be, whether you know, we're all under still at one umbrella or maybe it's a branch off thing or something like that. Um but I just really just wanna have like a a just a solid team where everyone just loves coming in for their job. we're only small at the moment, we've got one apprentice, a couple of VAs and stuff like that. But I think just client experience is just number one and then everything will follow s after that.
If you know I mean. Um and obviously for some builders it's different because they might not do clients, only do developments and stuff. But for us I think that's just our number one priority. Um so to serve them right. To serve them right, do the right thing and I love it. Yeah, yes. And like if we just make that our like North Star, then I think everything else will follow. That's what's the goal. So I can see and you mean like I I just see Sacks for bright future. Yeah. For you and Ben. Yes, partner, yeah, the business mate. I I love I can see the passion in you. Yeah. Is that
Is that always been in you for the industry? Like you you're almost like when I first saw you and when we talk, and I'm the same as you, man, I'm pretty animated, but you're like jumping out of your skin about stuff. Like you really want to go and conquer it and do it. Yeah, yeah. How you feel about the the building company and what you want to do? Yeah, I think so, yeah, yeah. Like it's yeah, it's that's it's number one. It's all you know, it's all I think about, it's all I wanna do on a even on a Sunday afternoon, flood along and do work on the business and stuff and even though I'm getting more time on my hands, I still wanna keep it growing and it's just
Yeah. And it's just just creating the community and, you know, around us and stuff like that too is important and whether it is just other builders or or clients or subbies or and making everyone, you know, just wanting to do the right thing and be honest on the way through and all that stuff. I think it's just really important. It just I think it's self serving. Yeah. It just makes up make makes me feel better and if you know what I mean too. So it's just a it's a a it's a feedback loop, isn't it? It is, a hundred percent. And I I love that you talked about the client journey.
Yeah. Like I think as builders sometimes we talk about the technical stuff. We talk about how do you deal with how do you wrap the home, how do you do all of this? From that, you're just building trust and record like that. Ah, so yeah, yeah, that's that's it. And uh I I remember I was trying to work out like what it does s success look like and yeah for me it's like getting invited to my plumber's daughter's twenty first birthday or or going, you know, going with a supplier to the footy at the box.
Um, you know, 'cause we've got a good relationship with him and it's going to You get your head on so good, man. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. Although like going to the client's um, you know, with the architect and the client for our third project that we're doing together as a team or something like that, and going with my wife and their, you know, partner and stuff like that. And just like that it's not really like a monetary thing. Like that will come, you know what I mean? Like that's just part of it that we need to be able to do that stuff. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, 'cause if you have all that, yeah. You get that. Yeah. I think
You we probably haven't had someone talk about building like that. yeah, yeah. In a way. Like and I think that's really cool, Jack. Like you're you're thinking about what is the stuff that'll actually serve you. You know, not just not just nitty-gritty, but what is the mission of what we're trying to do and and what do you actually really want? Like good relationships and what does that mean? What what does that look like? Which is going to the twenty first birthday of your architect or whatever. That's freaking mate. That's wild. Yeah. And I bet you
Do you have many problems with trades or anything like that? No, not not too yeah, not really. We try to definitely do because we're good anyway. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, we yeah, all our trades are great. Um, yeah, like we just we try to pay pay same day. We have been doing that. Now we might look at a seven day thing just to help for our cash flow. But like we I felt like we didn't deserve that until we showed our worth by paying the same day for everyone and making sure the job's ready and
Like you know, I'll be there and making sure I'll move the tiles for the Tyler and I'll clean up his stuff for him just 'cause, you know, he he's doing so much for me. Like I feel like I've got to do so much back, like I just to have the opportunity for them to be around. So um they're so important. And it's a sense of team. Yeah. This is what I love about what you just said, mate. Like I used to do the same thing, like I remember we'd do handovers and I'd be there at five AM in the on in the morning on a Saturday before anyone, yeah, sweeping out the home. Yeah.
picking up the shed. Yeah. Whatever. Yeah. And although we had people that were doing it, it's like we all pitch in and we all we all do it. That's a really again a sign of a really good builder. Yeah. You know, because we are a big team. If you have subbies, you know, all that sort of thing, we're still the same team. So the more you we hone on that so much and I love the way you talked about it and we we haven't talked about enough with good builder. Yeah. Like we gotta look at it like we're almost a footy T. Yeah.
You know, and you play that part, and you play that part, and then you sub you over there, you play that part. We're all still you might be a part of another business, but we're quite the same team. Absolutely. Come from different clubs. Yep. Come in, you start telling. Yeah. You know, I think that's really cool. Yeah. I love your philosophy around that. Yeah. That's a fucking cool way to think about it. Yeah. Yeah. being, you know, relatively young with the business. Yeah. What are some of the what are some of the not kinks but things that you're very mindful of and working on at the moment.
beside the marketing stuff. Yeah. Obviously you're here doing that. Well what are some other stuff that you're kind of finding out that you might need? I think um we um did lean heavy in a lot of um trying to build relationships with local architects, drafties in the area and stuff like that and and it's been really, really good. And um now our issue is that we do have a lot of work so we've just got to keep up with the estimating side of things. So so um so like one problem to another one so you sold one if you know what I mean. Yeah, yeah. That's what people don't understand about building. Yeah, yeah. You manage so much but
So estimating of one them? Yeah, so yeah. So we actually uh hope we are onboarding a new VA on Monday. Yeah. to help us out with that at the moment. So right now I'm just working on some systems on how we can efficiently uh estimate. 'Cause it is just a it is really in the it's just a matter of, you know, just putting all the the the plans to an information to a price. Yeah. And it can be systemized. We can see that it can be done. Like right now we can click away and do it ourselves 'cause it's all in our head. But we've just got to kind of get it to paper. And I think it is very
doable and I've met people here that have done it too. Yeah. Um, to systemize it out so that um someone can do it for us and then we just review it at the end. They do the eighty percent of it, we do the last twenty percent. So um that's something that we're working on at the moment. So there's the next step. So 'cause 'cause we do we love being on the tools and we kinda want to keep it that way as long as we can. Yeah. Um so we're kinda just trying to hire ourselves out of the office. Yeah. Essentially. Yeah. So 'cause that's where all the fun happens as well. Yeah, yeah. You know, on site. Yeah. So we love that. Yeah. Yeah.
I think that's a really important point though, Jack. Like you've got to know what you love, why you're doing it. And like at the Good Builder, we're not we're not sprooking like one way of building a building business. You've got to understand that we actually talked about this with another builder, I forget his name. He was here at T T B, but he was saying to me, There's two types of builders. There's a systemised builder that kind of has the setback and they're working in the office. Yep. And then there's the builder that is like a craftsman and they love being on site for love.
working in the project and I love being in the trenches and they love the camaraderie of the people on site. Yep. There's no right or wrong. No. And if you're good at that and you love that and that's where you're best suiting because you energise the team that are doing that and you're and and energizes you, fucking do it. Yeah. I know a real cool builder, you might have seen a muffin um the one the HIA award at Sunshine First Jag Builders. yeah, maybe yeah, I think so. wow, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh
I've seen the home. It was the most mind blowing home that I've ever I was just holy shit, like this cooler than any Hollywood mansion or whatever. Yeah. Aussie home, freaking awesome, in the yeah. But the Jag Builder guy, he lived on site. Yeah. well today. Yeah. Two years. Yep. And he's a good builder. But then some people's opinion may be like, why is it should be off the tools every day? Yeah. Well, you don't build a house like that. Yeah. You don't build craftsmanship like that. Yeah.
Unless you're that type of build. So I think it's really cool that you you've realized where you want to be and Yeah. And and when you work that out, you can supplement the rest of the business and you and you can really easily work out what you need. Would you say that? Yeah, that's right. Get myself out of the office. Yeah, pretty much. Yeah. Yeah. And just leaning into our strengths. Yeah. And that's all I've ever done is been on the tools my whole life. So it's all I know essentially pretty much that's never worked anything else. So um just lean into it. I yeah, that's the goal.
Yeah. Cool. Yeah. Well mate, I've only got one more question for you, Jack. And this has been such a fucking cool podcast. And like I said, I'm gonna come out, I wanna see some of your projects. Yeah, awesome. What is awesome is I love meeting dudes that garden that are like, you know, just down that road. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, so absolutely half an hour of that. Yeah, awesome. you know we're called the good builder, mate. Yeah. What do you think makes a good builder? Um, for me, thinking on this, even though I did s mention all these items like the client journey and and client experience and all of that as the forefront as should be the highest priority, but
I think though the biggest thing that overarches that is to g we've got to make sure that you're a profitable builder. 'Cause it's if you don't have the money to be able to have the client's experience, then you can't give that client experience or or or have the subbies same day pay or do all these wonderful things along the way and build the way that you want as well, which is like important to us is that we don't use waterproofing membranes internally. We only use the Wheedy board or the multi panel. So that's important to us. It's a little bit more expensive but
We can't do that unless we are profitable. So um and it's not to say that we're profitable so that we go out and have land cruises and big trucks or anything like that. But it's profitable so that we can have a business that is sustainable and we can do the good work that for everyone. Yeah. So I think that's what makes Very interesting. I think that's what's in that's what is the the what makes a good builder because it's nearly a requirement. So that's why I would probably pick that, even though there is so many other little things that we talked about.
today on it. But um that's why I put that at the top. I love it. You know you're the only second person that said that. All right. And the other person said it I greatly respect you too, mate. I know meaning what I'm about to say in another way, but is another man I greatly respect. Yeah. Peter Wood. wow so he runs Avid Property and and Harmony and he just absorbed A. V Jettings into the Avid Property group. He's big time. Everyone kinda knows him. He's been in industry for many, many years. Yeah. And when I asked him, I was um
I but the greatest respect for him, the whole industry does. Yep. And uh he gave the answer similar to yours. I was like, Oh First I was like I won't lie, I was like looking for more of a golden nugget. You know, I was like, Man, known you for years, we're so well respected. There must be something in you and you've run the most amazing businesses. Yeah and they you are a good guild. Yeah. And that he's Yeah, that's why yes, that's why I look at it as well. Kinda need it. So it's a lifeblood so we can do what we want to do.
And what's important to us. Yeah. Very interesting. Yeah. Very interesting. But I love Yeah. Awesome. Well, Jack, mate, as I said, we'll have you back on when you come see some of your projects. Awesome. Um, for the life you've been builder will be around, which I'm sure will be a long time. And I wanna track how you're going and let's just stay in touch. Yeah, that's As we know, golden gray, mate. We'll just chat sit on the couch and Jack and go, How was that, mate? How's the last ten years? I think it would be That'd be amazing. I'd love it. Imagine that decade down the track, me and you sitting here going
Yeah. That was cool. Yeah, yeah. What a journey. Yeah, got three kids now. I'm on that. Appreciate it, Aaron. Thank you very much. Thanks, yeah. Thank you. Absolute legend, mate.