Construction Variations: Stop Them Before They Start

How to Choose the Right Consultants for Property Development

Most beginners build their consultant team in the wrong order and it costs them months and thousands before they even break ground. In this episode of Inside Property Development, I sit down with Marcus from our project management team, someone who coordinates consultants across multiple live development projects every single day, to break down exactly who you need, when you need them, and what separates a consultant team that protects your project from one that quietly destroys it. You'll learn the right order to engage consultants from day one, why your building designer's network matters more than their fee, and how to avoid the costly gaps that only show up at tender, when it's too late to fix them cheaply. If you're building your first development team or you've already been burned by the wrong hire, this episode will sharpen how you think about every consultant on your list. 🔥In this episode: * The four consultants you need before planning * Why the land surveyor goes first, always * How a good designer balances your brief against council * Why cheap quotes hide expensive gaps * What builders know about your consultants that you don't * How slow communication costs you time and money on site * Why council familiarity is a hidden profit lever 👇 Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:37 What consultants are involved in a typical development? 08:23 Which consultants have the biggest impact on a project? 10:25 What mistakes do beginners make when choosing consultants? 📺 Prefer video? Watch the full episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@peterkellyofficial] 🏠 Join Australia’s #1 Property Developer Network Free (Forever!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Now for Free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishnetwork.com.au/] 📣 Powered by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Little Fish Property⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/] ☎️ Book a call with Pete: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/strategy-session/]

5 Affordable Suburbs Developers Are Quietly Targeting

Most developers write off these suburbs the moment they see the postcode, and that's exactly why the margins are still there. You don't need a premium postcode to make development work. You need a suburb where the entry price, planning process, and end values line up. My team and I have delivered hundreds of projects across Melbourne and regional Victoria. Some of the strongest returns came from suburbs that never make anyone's hot list. These five suburbs are where experienced developers are moving right now. One of them isn't even a townhouse play. It's running a completely different strategy, and when you see why, it might reshape how you approach your next project. 🔥 You'll learn * Why Rosebud works when most of the Peninsula doesn't * The zoning mistake that locks up your capital * Why owner-occupier rates predict your resale values * How Clayton plays a completely different game * The overlay check that saves you months * When to build for renters vs owner-occupiers * Why Rosanna's slopes filter out lazy developers * The Thornbury price gap that creates the real margin * Why your numbers need to work today, not someday 👇 Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:16 Rosebud 02:51 Herne Hill 04:29 Clayton 06:09 Rosanna 07:17 Thornbury 📺 Prefer video? Watch the full episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@peterkellyofficial] 🏠 Join Australia’s #1 Property Developer Network Free (Forever!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Now for Free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishnetwork.com.au/] 📣 Powered by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Little Fish Property⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/] ☎️ Book a call with Pete: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/strategy-session/]

The Subdivision Process Explained by a Developer

Most people think subdividing a property is just slicing a block in half. The real process has dozens of moving parts, and getting one wrong can cost you months and thousands. In this episode of Inside Property Development, I sit down with Sasha from our project management team, who deals with subdivisions every single day, to break down exactly how the subdivision process works from start to finish. You'll learn the two ways to subdivide, when to engage your land surveyor, why the VicSmart pathway can deliver a permit in 10 days, the proactive council sign-offs that prevent delays, and how statements of compliance turn into actual titles in your hand. Whether you're planning your first dual occupancy or thinking about subdividing your backyard, this episode will show you exactly what's involved and how to avoid the mistakes that quietly cost most developers months. 🔥In this episode: * The two ways to subdivide a property * Why "tackle it at the end" loses you time * When to engage your land surveyor early * VicSmart: 10-day permits for dual occupancy * The frame stage trigger most people miss * Council sign-offs you should chase proactively * Why pre-construction subdivision is rarely worth it * The 500sqm rule that changes the game 👇 Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:41 What are the key stages involved in subdividing a property? 08:10 What parts of the process usually take the longest? 13:23 What about pre-construction subdivision? 📺 Prefer video? Watch the full episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@peterkellyofficial] 🏠 Join Australia’s #1 Property Developer Network Free (Forever!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Now for Free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishnetwork.com.au/] 📣 Powered by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Little Fish Property⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/] ☎️ Book a call with Pete: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/strategy-session/]

The 2026 Budget Just Killed Property Investing… Or Did It?

One line in the 2026 Budget could add eighty thousand dollars to the tax bill on a single investment property. If you own an investment property, or you're about to buy one, the rules just shifted underneath you. Most people are panicking and assuming property investing in Australia is finished. It isn't. It's been redirected. Negative gearing has been gutted on existing property and the fifty percent capital gains discount is gone. But the budget didn't treat every property the same way. The government drew a clear line between existing stock and new stock, and that line tells you exactly where investor money is being pushed next. This covers what changed, who's grandfathered, why develop and hold just hit a sweet spot, and the four checks I'd run before touching any new build. 🔥 You'll learn * Why negative gearing isn't dead * Why one change costs eighty grand * Where investor money gets pushed next * The carve out protecting new property * How indexation replaced the CGT discount * Who gets grandfathered, who doesn't * Why develop and hold got stronger * The fence the budget drew through property * The four checks before any build 👇 Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:09 Negative gearing has been pulled. 03:04 The 50% capital gains tax discount is gone 05:53 The new property safe zone 07:48 Develop and hold just hit the sweet spot 📺 Prefer video? Watch the full episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@peterkellyofficial] 🏠 Join Australia’s #1 Property Developer Network Free (Forever!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Now for Free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishnetwork.com.au/] 📣 Powered by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Little Fish Property⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/] ☎️ Book a call with Pete: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/strategy-session/]

Construction Variations: Stop Them Before They Start

Most developers brace for the obvious variations. It's the third type, the one hiding in your own documentation, that quietly wipes out the margin. In this episode of Inside Property Development, I sit down with Sasha from our project management team to break down what construction variations actually are, why they wreck so many development budgets, and what experienced developers do to protect themselves. We unpack the three types of variations, client initiated, builder initiated, and the silent killer most beginners miss: documentation discrepancies. You'll learn why variations are almost never fairly priced once your contract is signed, how a single small change can quietly snowball into a six-figure hit by handover, and the four practical things you can do at the front end to stop variations before they start. Whether you're heading into your first build or tightening up your next project, this episode will change how you approach contracts, documentation, and on-site project management. 🔥In this episode: * The three types of construction variations * The time and holding costs nobody factors in * Why variations get priced two to three times higher * How small variations stack to six figures * The bulletproof documentation play * Why a fixed contract beats provisional sums * Reading the special conditions before you sign * Real-time variation tracking that protects margin 👇 Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:39 What exactly is a construction variation? 05:50 Why do variations destroy so many budgets? 07:45 How can developers prevent them? 📺 Prefer video? Watch the full episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@peterkellyofficial] 🏠 Join Australia’s #1 Property Developer Network Free (Forever!) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Now for Free⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishnetwork.com.au/] 📣 Powered by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Little Fish Property⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/] ☎️ Book a call with Pete: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here [https://www.littlefishproperties.com.au/strategy-session/]