She Renovates

In this podcast episode, Bernadette discusses the importance of having a trusted town planner on your team when engaging in property development. Our special guest, Leanne Peterson, highlights the value of finding a town planner who is experienced in property investing and shares insights into the due diligence process. Leanne emphasizes the need for a creative town planner who can uncover unique opportunities and navigate the complexities of zoning, overlays, and development regulations. She also emphasizes the significance of engaging a town planner early in the process to avoid costly mistakes and ensure successful outcomes. Leanne highlights the property development opportunities in the Hunter Valley and the potential for dual occupancy and infill development in various areas. Overall, the episode underscores the essential role of a town planner in maximizing the potential of property investments. Tune in to learn more about the ins and outs of successful joint ventures in property renovation. “I thin

In this episode of the She Renovates podcast, we delve into the world of joint ventures in property renovation. Joint ventures can be a powerful solution when renovators face obstacles that prevent them from moving forward or when they want to leverage their skills and experience to shape their financial future. However, successful joint ventures require careful consideration and planning. Choosing the right partner, establishing clear roles, and setting up a solid legal structure are crucial. We also discuss the importance of emotional intelligence, keeping the number of participants to a minimum, and addressing potential conflicts with open communication. By approaching joint ventures with gratitude and an open heart, renovators can enjoy both financial success and an enjoyable experience. Tune in to learn more about the ins and outs of successful joint ventures in property renovation. “I personally feel that going into a joint venture is a little bit like getting married. So, Basically what happens in

In this episode of She Renovates, Bernadette Janson  interviews Tyrone Hyde, an expert in property depreciation. They discuss the changes in tax laws regarding depreciation and how it affects property investors. Tyrone explains the limitations on claiming depreciation for secondhand items and the advantages for those who buy brand new properties. They also touch on exceptions to the rule and the importance of inspections for maximising depreciation claims. Whether you're a renovator or a property investor, this episode provides valuable insights into the world of property depreciation and how recent tax law changes have affected the industry. Tune in to learn more about depreciation basics, exemptions, and the importance of understanding these concepts for your property ventures. “If you buy a property brand new and you sell it to me one day later, you could claim the depreciation, but the moment I buy it one day old, I can't claim the depreciation of the plant equipment items anymore, which is ridicu

This episode provides invaluable insights for young individuals or anyone looking to invest in an apartment. With the rising cost of freestanding houses, owning an apartment can offer greater control and autonomy over your living situation. Bernadette shares 10 essential factors to consider when purchasing an apartment, regardless of its size. She advises favoring older buildings that have stood the test of time, as some newer constructions have shown major defects. Smaller buildings, preferably under three stories, offer a more intimate community feel and are less prone to construction issues. Avoid buying off the plan, as it often results in delayed appreciation and inflated prices. Bernadette recommends stretching for a two-bedroom apartment for added versatility and potential income generation. A dedicated parking space is also advantageous in areas where parking is scarce. Outdoor areas and a desirable orientation (preferably north-facing) contribute to the property's value and appeal. She emphasizes

“So, if you are going for a loan at the moment, or if you anticipate in the next month or so, go this fortnight before that raise because you'll actually be assessed at a lower rate. So you need to understand that if you want to borrow money and you think you're a bit too close, get in sooner rather than later.” - Louise Lucas EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:  00:39 Meet Louise Lucas 02:23 Supporting Wonder Woman financing 03:33 The complexity of current lending rules 04:00 Know which lenders are assessing rental income at higher percentages 06:32 Louise's knowledge and contacts in the banking industry 07:00 Recent interest rate rise and Louise's Insights 09:15 Advice for those seeking loans 11:00 Using rental statements to help get loans for renovation projects 12:55 Discussion of the buffer and its impact on mortgage payments 16:51 Borrowing with friends or family members  18:45 Structuring investment partnership 20:37 The reverse mortgage strategy for renovating retirement 25:23 Having a buffer account for

“We love property and we love making things beautiful and creating beautiful spaces for family and friends, but also us. It's really important that we connect with nature and we paint with no toxic paints and we everything's done in a really natural way.” -Amali de Vos EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 02:10 Amali and her husband Richard decided to start renovating for retirement 04:20 Amali's second property, and cottage on a 700-square-meter block of land in Berkeley Vale. 05:00 The importance of analyzing the numbers before purchasing. 08:40: Amali's manifestation process 14:20: The importance of connecting with nature and using non-toxic paints in the renovation process. 15:10 - Planning the budget for the Granny Flat project 21:20 Future Renovation Plans 23:10 Comparison of Downsizing Options 25:40 Amali's financial concerns and finding a solution. 27:20 Amali shares her manifestation magic with other renovators at a retreat. Resources Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/ The School

In this episode of She Renovates, Bernadette Janson shares her insights on working with millennials to renovate properties. Join her as she discusses the benefits of collaborating with younger family members to accomplish a shared goal. By sharing her personal experiences working with her children, Bernadette highlights the value of finding each person's strengths, skills, and preferences to make a project successful. Discover how each renovation project brought unique challenges and how each child brought their own unique perspective to the process. Listen as Bernadette discusses the benefits of intergenerational projects and the potential outcomes that can come from them. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 04:41 Importance of building relationships during renovation projects 05:56 Stephen's retirement and decreased borrowing capacity 08:30 Consider the amount of work before starting a project 09:37 Importance of proper insulation installation 11:23 Our approach to this project involves both DIY and trades

Are you interested in creating a profitable income and lifestyle through renovating? In this episode, you will learn how to turn your family home into an asset that generates income to help you build a better future, help your kids, and secure a comfortable retirement. You will also discover the steps to take when considering downsizing your family home, including renovating your home, presenting it in the best way possible, and finding smart ways to age-proof it. Tune in to learn more about the secrets of turning your family home into a profitable asset that will secure your financial future. “Be open to potential and follow your interest to your strengths. So my strength is renovating, and so everything I do, it relates to renovating and it's created a rich life for us” - Bernadette Janson EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 02:50 Creating a retirement plan worksheet 04:20 Short-term rental for passive income 05:20 The 100K Renovation Process 06:40 Take advantage of downsizer superannuation bene

In this captivating episode, Bernadette Janson, founder of The School of Renovating shows how problem-solving helped her close a recent deal that generated an impressive profit of over $700,000. Not only that, she took this seemingly impossible deal to its culmination in just 30 days, without the need to carry out a development, or get any finance! The tale starts with Bernadette’s purchase of a house and granny flat on a large block in Western Sydney, as part of a land-banking strategy with the intention to develop at a later date. Because the long-term rental return wasn’t satisfactory, Bernadette researched the property’s potential for short-term rental.  Although the property was neat and tidy but otherwise unremarkable, she listed it on Airbnb. Because of its size and location, it did very well - even accommodating a number of Olympic sporting teams. When it came time to develop the property, Bernadette found that the rules had been changed by Council, rendering her project impossible. The counci

In this episode, Bernadette interviews Angela Counsel, a leading naturopath and menopause medical coach, on the topic of menopause. Angela emphasises that menopause symptoms are not always the sole cause of discomfort in women during this stage. Instead, menopause can bring underlying issues to the surface because the hormones that once provided a protective barrier are now decreasing. Angela offers practical advice to help women navigate menopause with ease and highlights the importance of embracing this time as an opportunity for personal growth. “We blame a lot of things on menopause. It's not always menopause. Quite often there's something else going on, but what's happened is menopause has brought these things up because our hormones are messengers and they are protective, and so they give us a protection, which means that we can get away with a few things in our younger years. Then as we lose the protection, the things that we haven't been doing quite so well for our body starts to come out.” -Angela

Welcome to Episode 202 of our podcast, where we take a behind-the-scenes look at the 2023 Wonder Women Retreat, an exciting annual event designed to empower, educate and inspire women through property and renovating. Bernadette was joined by Elizabeth Gordon and Rona Diola who shared their experiences of the retreat, discussing its purpose, benefits and success stories. The Wonder Women Retreat provides a creative and inspiring space for women who love to renovate and create profitable projects with property and Airbnb. The retreat brings together a supportive community to build a brain's trust with, develop lifelong friendships and engage in joint ventures. James Burgin, the retreat event manager also joins the conversation, and shares how the perfect venue for this year's retreat came about as well as some of the local highlights we will be experiencing. The team also discussed highlights of the five-day program and why this might be the perfect opportunity for you to jump in to power-up your renovating

In this podcast interview, Bernadette Janson speaks to Katrina Lumsden about how holiday home owners can use social media to boost bookings. Katrina, who is an interior designer and property investor, shares her expertise on Instagram and Facebook, and the importance of the human connection these platforms provide. She emphasizes how Instagram can offer an opportunity to connect with potential clients, particularly those in the older demographic who are still using Facebook. Throughout the interview you will pick up useful tips and insights into how to utilize social media to elevate holiday properties and attract more bookings. “Obviously you want to have a lot of followers because the more followers you've got, the more people eyes you've got on your business and on your property. But it's more about the engagement and the way that you're connecting with the people that you actually have within your community” - Katrina Lumsden EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 00:40 Who is Katrina Lumsden 02:44 Ka

The She Renovates podcast, hosted by Bernadette Janson, is a source of inspiration and information for women who want to turn their passion for renovating properties into a profitable business. The podcast covers a range of topics from renovation and development strategies to business and finance advice. In this celebratory 200th episode, Bernadette is joined by James Burgin and Elizabeth Gordon to discuss the podcast’s evolution, the challenges of renovating and developing properties, and the benefits of the education provided by The School of Renovating... The podcast has become a popular resource for women looking to create a better future for themselves and their families through property renovation and development. Bernadette, Eilzabeth and James highlight the importance of empowering women to take control of their financial future and share valuable insights and tips for successful renovation projects. “The podcast is a great way to not only learn some tips and tricks, but also to get some insight int

In this episode, Bernadette walks listeners through the steps she would take to make decisions about how to maximize the performance and value of a four-bedroom, two-bathroom investment property in Grovedale, Victoria. Before diving into the property, Bernadette discusses an upcoming roadshow that will be touring Australia to help women make savvy property investment decisions. Bernadette then discusses the importance of research and determining whether a renovation should focus on increasing equity, cash flow, or both. Finally, she talks about the importance of desktop valuations and analyzing comparables to support property valuations. “If you are gonna make decisions that you'll spend money on, you need to dig down further and get more concrete numbers as to what you can expect.” -Bernadette Janson EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 01:15 The Ultimate Event for Smart Property Women 04:29 Considering Equity vs. Cash Flow 05:15 Desktop Valuation of the Property 07:30 - Assessment of Revenue throug

In this episode of She Renovates, Bernadette Janson speaks with Tina Dawes, an interior and building designer and the senior design consultant at Caroma showroom at the Design Center in Brisbane. Tina discusses the latest bathroom trends and products available for renovators, as well as the new Livable Housing laws and requirements for making homes more accessible. With over 30 years of experience in construction and renovating, Tina shares her expertise in the industry and offers valuable insights for those embarking on a renovation project. “I think the best thing I ever did was working on the tools with the boys on the site, getting my hands dirty because as a designer there's only a certain amount of things you can learn on a piece of paper or on a screen, and there's nothing quite like getting your hands dirty and seeing how it actually all goes together.” -Tina Dawes EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 00: 09 Who is Tina Dawes? 02:03 How Tina started in the construction industry. 05:50 What the

Welcome to this episode of our podcast, where we sit down with Elizabeth Gordon, a successful property investor and developer who believes in the power of coaching and community. Elizabeth's passion for property investing has led her to undertake various projects, from renovation to Airbnb. Throughout her journey, she has always had coaches and mentors by her side, helping her navigate the ups and downs of the industry. In this episode, Elizabeth shares her experiences with two big property projects she undertook, the coaching programs she joined, the mistakes she made along the way, and how she managed when things didn't go according to plan. She also talks about her membership in Wonder Women, a like-minded community of women property investors and developers, and the value it brings to her life. Join us as Elizabeth shares her insights on the power of coaching and community, and how they have helped her achieve success in the property industry. Whether you are a seasoned property investor or just startin

In this podcast episode, Bernadette Janson interviews Lauren Maetzig, a full-time renovator, Airbnb superhost and mother of two young children. Lauren is a force to be reckoned with, having 5 Airbnb listings and recently started renovating a dilapidated 80-year-old house on her street. In this episode, Lauren talks about her passion for sustainable design and repurposing old buildings, and shares her inspiring story of how she turned a small profit from renovating a Melbourne apartment into a property portfolio that has given her financial freedom. Bernadette and Lauren also discuss how Lauren manages her time as a busy working mother and share tips on how to succeed in the renovation business. “In the first three podcasts that I listened to of yours, I just learned so much and it was amazing. So I really wanted to do the program, like the a 100K program cause I just wanted that, tell me how to do it and I'll do it. And that's kind of what your program's like.It's just you follow these steps and you'll get

“It's something I love to do and it's just a little hobby on the side, but it's definitely helped increase my confidence about the skills that I've learned, in your course, but it's helped me to feel like I've got a little bit more of a sort of safety net when it comes to savings and disposable income.” -Jenna Bradwell EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 00: 56 Who Is Jenna Bradwell? 01:57 The mindset to improve your situation with renovating 04:02 How did Jenna got started in the business of property inspections? 07:30  The concept of the third space. 11:37 How Jenna got into her first property? 13:56 How did Jenna meet Amanda Gould? 15:20 The realistic way to succeed 17:42 The power of renovating and the importance of having a financial rock. 23:56 How Jenna found trades post covid? Resources The School Of Renovating https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com/ Ladies Financial Club https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/ Airtasker https://www.airtasker.automic.com.au/ The Barefoot In

At a time when many people are feeling fear around rising interest rates and the fluctuating property market, Bernadette Janson discusses 5 surprising renovation and micro-development strategies to minimise risk and maximise profit. “Buying something that's dirty, filthy, stinky, usually hoarders properties that nobody's willing to go near. And often the gold is in those properties, because they're so much undervalue, it gives you a lot of leeway.” -Bernadette Janson EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 Intro 00:40 Tips for navigating the current market conditions. 01:24 Adjustments to manage your risk 02:14 Hold your property if necessary. 05:11 Short-term rental is best Plan B 06:06 Cosmetic Plus renovation 08:29 Taking advantage of the lower prices 10:35 Adding a land component to your project 12:41 Micro development 13:22 Renovating your principle place of residence 16:46 Renovating for Airbnb Resources The School Of Renovating https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com/ Airbnb https://ww

In this She Renovates podcast, Bernadette Janson speaks to professional organiser, Virginia Wells about breakthrough ways to improve the quality of your renovation projects through better organisation. When Virginia Wells, a professional organizer, and productivity coach, helps a renovator tackle their chaotic project, she must overcome her client's denial of the problem and create custom storage solutions that are both manageable and efficient. "By having cupboards and storage that is able to be changed and adjustable shelves, you can make it easier to fit in what you want in any given space and create storage solutions that make you smile when you move in." Virginia Wells is a professional organizer located in Canberra and an accredited member of the Institute of Professional Organizers and the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. She enjoys helping people to let go of their stuff so they can live their life more harmoniously. Virginia Wells was faced with the challenge of organizing a space for m