Instagram story viewer> @buildplaylive> Posts

Kribashini Hannon I Your Building Broker

@buildplaylive

2.4K

followers

5436

following

We help you plan your project, hire your design team, control your budget and hire the right builder.
Author | Consultant I Building Advocate

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

You've been Googling builders for months.

Imagine spending one afternoon actually meeting them. Face to face. Questions answered. No guessing.

That's Speed Date Your Builder™. 24 October. Hyde Melbourne Place, Melbourne.

100 seats. Link in bio to grab yours before they're gone.

Lock in before midnight tonight to save 25% - this discount code will no longer be valid after midnight.

SDYB25OFF for 25% off.

#buildplaylive #speedDateYourBuilder #findyourbuilder #renovationmelbourne #buildwithconfidence by @buildplaylive

17

5

5 days ago

One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make is treating contingency as an optional.

It isn’t.

A contingency isn’t a random percentage. It should reflect the level of risk in your project.

Sloping site? Heritage overlays? Tight access? Unknown ground conditions? Overhead power lines? Complex structural work? These all increase the level of risk and should be factored into your contingency from day one.

As a rule of thumb, I like to see a higher contingency at the beginning of the project, sometimes up to 30% depending on the level of uncertainty.

As the design progresses, reports are completed, engineering is resolved, and decisions are made, that contingency can be refined.

But one thing I rarely recommend is starting construction with less than a 10–15% contingency.

The best projects aren’t the ones that never have surprises.

They’re the ones that have planned for them. 💛 taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @buildplaylive

46

5

3 months ago

At Build Play Live, we’ve always been clear about who we work for. You.

That’s why we chose to do things a little differently.

We don’t take commissions or referral fees, and we don’t have financial relationships with the builders, designers or suppliers working on your project.

You pay us a fixed fee, and our advice is there to help you make the best decisions for you, your home and your budget.

When you’re building or renovating, there are some pretty big decisions to make, often involving a lot of money, and it can be hard to know who to ask when you just want someone to look at the whole picture and give you independent advice.

That’s exactly why we built Build Play Live this way.

We want you to understand what you’re committing to, feel confident in the decisions you’re making and, most importantly, enjoy what you’re creating.

Know what you’re doing.
Love what you’re building.

If you’re starting to think about building or renovating, getting independent advice early can make a huge difference.

The link is in our bio to book a clarity call.

#buildplaylive #homeowneradvocacy #buildwithconfidence #renovationmelbourne #buildingally by @buildplaylive

32

3

2 months ago

This is one of the most common - and most expensive - assumptions in residential building.

You've spoken to the bank. You know what you can borrow. So you know what you can build, right?

Not exactly.

What the bank approves is based on your financial position - your income, your assets, your serviceability. It's a lending decision, not a building one.

What a build actually costs is based on something else entirely. Your scope, your site, your specification, your builder, your contract, your provisional sums, your variations, your client-supplied items, your landscaping, your finishes… your everything.

These two numbers - what you can borrow and what your build will actually cost - don't automatically match. And the gap between them is where projects get into trouble.

We see it regularly: clients who have finance approved and a design they love, who go to tender and discover the quotes are significantly higher than the budget they'd been working to. By that point, the design fees are spent. The decisions feel locked in. And changing course is expensive.

The building budget conversation needs to happen before the design conversation. Not after.

That means understanding not just what the bank will lend you, but what your project will realistically cost to deliver - scope, site conditions, builder type, procurement pathway and all.

Those are two very different numbers. And knowing the difference early is everything.

📩 Link in bio to book your clarity call.

#buildplaylive #buildingbroker #yourbuildingbroker #beforeyoubuild #renovationbudget by @buildplaylive

5

0

2 days ago

We certainly are a bunch of homeaholics! 🏡

Anyone else spend hours scrolling Pinterest, Instagram, saving inspiration, stalking realestate.com.au and dreaming about what their next home or renovation could look like?

Here’s the thing. All that time spent dreaming and thinking is actually an important part of the design and building process.

But there’s a point where dreaming needs to turn into planning.

I often meet homeowners who are waiting for the perfect time to renovate.

When their finances are perfectly lined up. When the kids are older. When family life is less hectic. When the market feels right.

And they’re all valid reasons to wait.

But what I see people miss is their moment in the market.

While you’re waiting, building costs can change, opportunities can pass, and that delay can end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars without you even realising.

That’s why I love what we do at Build Play Live.

We help homeowners get clarity on what’s possible, what it’s likely to cost, how to approach design, when and how to hire a builder, and how to get the very best outcome from the money they have to spend.

Because you don’t have to be ready to renovate tomorrow to start making smart decisions today.

There’s never a perfect time to renovate. But there is a right way to start.

And we absolutely love helping people get there.

Image credit @niki_schuch__ @jackecarlin
Design credits @emc_two @alessandrasmith_design @corinna_corry_ @buildplaylive @shelbyann_studio @tecture_ @sandra_githinji by @buildplaylive

14

1

3 days ago

Here's the thing about a builder who's brilliant on site.
The work looks incredible, the references check out, everyone who's used them raves about the finish. And for the first few months, everything is exactly as promised.

Then something unexpected happens. It always does.

A structural issue nobody saw coming, a variation that needs negotiating, maybe it’s a decision that needs to be made quickly and clearly with real money on the line.

Suddenly the builder who was so easy to work with is nowhere to be found.
This is one of the most common patterns we see, and it’s also one of the hardest to spot before you sign - because the references only cover the good part.

Nobody calls their builder's past clients and asks: "What happened when it got hard?"

The quality of a builder isn't just in the work they produce when everything goes smoothly. It's in how they communicate when it doesn't, how they handle variations, how they show up to difficult conversations, whether they pick up the phone when the answer is complicated.

That's the builder you actually need. Not just the one who does beautiful work on a perfect day.

Before you commit, ask:

→ Can you walk me through a time something went wrong on a project and how you handled it?
→ How do you communicate with clients when there's a problem on site?
→ What's your process when a variation comes up?
→ Can I speak to a client whose project had a significant challenge?
The answers will tell you everything the finished photos can't.

Psst - Speed Date Your Builder is on 24 October at Hyde Melbourne Place.

We've already asked these questions - so you don't have to go in blind. Every builder in the room has been independently vetted, not just for the quality of their work, but for how they show up when it counts 👀

Link in bio to grab your spot.

#buildplaylive #buildingbroker #yourbuildingbroker #SpeedDateYourBuilder #hiringabuilder by @buildplaylive

7

0

3 days ago

It’s a wild ride being a Building Broker, and boy, do I love it!

From idea to move in, we get to be part of some pretty incredible projects, helping our clients navigate the big decisions, tricky moments and everything in between.

When I created Build Play Live, I wanted to offer something different.

Independent building advice and advocacy that was flexible. A service clients could tap into for as little or as much support as they needed, whenever they needed it.

And the results are speaking for themselves.

We’re closing in on HALF A MILLION DOLLARS in savings for our clients!

I honestly can’t believe it.

But beyond the savings, it’s about helping people move forward with confidence, avoid costly mistakes and get to the finish line.

So proud of what we’re building, and incredibly excited to help our next round of clients bring their projects to life.

This is exactly why I love what I do. 💛 taken in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia by @buildplaylive

13

0

4 days ago

11

0

4 days ago

🎟️ GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED 🎟️

Planning to build or renovate?

This could be the most valuable date you've ever been on!

We're giving away TWO VIP tickets to Australia's first homeowner and builder matchmaking event, Speed Date Your Builder™ valued at $900.00.

On 24 October, we're bringing Melbourne homeowners together with independently vetted builders, designers and industry experts for one afternoon of honest conversations, practical advice and the opportunity to find the right builder for your project.

No more confusing quotes, endless research or wondering who you can trust.

Just real conversations, expert guidance and the confidence to make informed decisions before you commit.

📍 Hyde Melbourne Place, Melbourne
📅 Saturday 24 October 2026
⏰ 12pm – 5pm

TO ENTER:

Follow @buildplaylive

Like this post.

Tag someone who needs to be in the room, one tag per comment, and every comment counts as another entry.

BONUS: Share this post to your stories and tag us for an extra entry!

Competition closes 11:59pm Friday 16th October . Winner announced Saturday 17th October via our Instagram Stories.

This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram.

Prize is not redeemable for cash.

T&Cs apply.

#SpeedDateYourBuilder #BuildPlayLive #GiveawayMelbourne #MelbourneHomeowners #BuildingYourDreamHome #HomeRenovation #MelbourneBuilders by @buildplaylive

19

46

6 days ago

A great builder isn’t necessarily the right builder for your project.

Understanding how builders operate, their flexibility, values, work ethic, pricing and willingness to collaborate is absolutely crucial to finding the right fit.

And this project is the perfect example of why.

We needed a builder who could:

* Mobilise incredibly quickly.
* Work alongside trades our client had already engaged.
* Collaborate with a pool supplier they’d never worked with before.
* Integrate a new pool and deck into the project.
* Navigate ongoing design changes.
* Work within an open-book building model.

It was a BIG list of asks.

And frankly, plenty of great builders would have said no.

But because we understand how different builders operate, we were able to find someone who could embrace the challenge and help our client get their project moving.

I’m immensely proud of this one.

Not just because of the finished result, but because we found a solution to a really tricky project delivery problem.

And this is exactly what sparked the format of the day for our Speed Date Your Builder workshop.

Giving homeowners the opportunity to understand different builders, how they work and what they’re willing to take on, BEFORE committing to a building pathway.

Because finding the right builder isn’t just about finding someone who can build your home.

It’s about finding someone who can deliver your project in the way it needs to be delivered.

Speed Date Your Builder | 24 October | Hyde Melbourne Place

Tickets are on sale now! Use code SDYB25OFF when you grab a tix, link in bio.

#speeddateyourbuilder #workshop #architecture

Home of Mood_objects
Builder @Chamberlainproperty
Project Management @buildplaylive
Building designer @ingridzr
Interior design @shelbyann_studio
Styling @studio.Parcell
Landscape @miniscapes
Images @jackecarlin by @buildplaylive

14

1

7 days ago

One chance to meet different types of builders on the same day before you decide what’s best for you.

This event helps you figure out what the best building pathway is / where costs are sitting and how to spot a good builder from “dogey”.

Have a no obligation chat a get to know what’s ahead of you.

Speed Date Your Builder™ is on 24 October at Hyde Melbourne Place - and this is your sign to stop sitting on the fence.

Vetted builders. Expert education. No sales pitch. Just a relaxed vibe, canapes and drinks, and the clarity to move forward with confidence.

Tickets from $450 - but you can get 25% off if you book before the 12th October

Code: SDYB25OFF - link in bio 👀

#buildplaylive #speedDateYourBuilder #hiringabuilder #buildwithconfidence #melbournebuilding by @buildplaylive

18

0

8 days ago

I believe understanding your building pathway is one of the most important things you can do before starting your project.

The type of builder you choose, how they operate and what your project demands can completely change how you approach design, budget and planning.

But here’s the problem.

Most homeowners skip this crucial step because speaking to different builders takes time. Months of chasing people, visiting showrooms and trying to piece together your options.

That’s exactly why I created Speed Date Your Builder.

One day. Different types of builders. Real conversations to help you understand your options and make informed decisions before you get too far down the wrong path.

If you’re planning to build or renovate in the next two years, these are conversations you don’t want to miss.

24 October | Hyde Melbourne Place

Tickets are on sale now. Link in bio or DM me.

#yourbuildingbroker #architecture #build #newhome #renovation by @buildplaylive

12

1

9 days ago