118 – Steve Robson – What every property developer should know about builders

If you're a property developer, one of the most important relationships you'll ever have is with your builder. Yet surprisingly few developers ever get the chance to hear how builders actually think.

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Robson, Director of Hickory Homes, to explore property development from the builder's perspective. Steve started his career as a carpenter before establishing Hickory Homes, where he specialises in custom homes, difficult sites and high-quality residential construction. Having also completed his own duplex developments, Steve understands the challenges from both sides of the table.

"The cheapest quote isn't always the cheapest project."

Together we discuss the practical realities of building in today's market, why construction costs have escalated so dramatically, what developers often misunderstand about builders, and how stronger builder–developer relationships can save both time and money.

Whether you're planning your first duplex or your tenth townhouse development, this episode is packed with practical insights that could improve your next project.

In this episode we discuss:

Why developers should engage a builder much earlier in the design process.

How involving a builder before detailed documentation can save significant redesign costs.

The biggest mistakes developers make before construction even begins.

Why builders dislike giving simple "$ per square metre" estimates.

What actually goes into preparing an accurate building quote.

Why two builders can legitimately produce very different prices for the same project.