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Ever wonder what's actually going through a designer's mind when they meet you for the first time?

Are they impressed? Skeptical? Already planning to work with someone else?

In this episode of the Inspired Builders Podcast, Aaron from Green Coast Building Design reveals the 3 specific things he looks for when builders reach out to him—and honestly, it's not what you'd expect.

It's not your portfolio (though that helps).

It's not how many projects you've built (though that matters).

It's not even your price.

Aaron looks for:

Body language and mannerisms that signal willingness to collaborate

Questions instead of statements - "How can I help?" vs "Here's what I do"

Genuine relationship building BEFORE there's a client on the table

And here's the kicker: the builders who understand this? They never struggle to find quality projects.

In this episode, we unpack:

- The exact words and body language that give designers confidence you want to collaborate

- Why "project is king" eliminates ego and actually gets homes built

- What quality documentation looks like (and why it protects YOUR business, not just the designer's)

- How to interview designers so you're working with the right people

- Why Aaron believes builders should expect MORE from their designers, not less

- The collaboration method that stops projects failing before they start

- How to build designer relationships before you have a client

This episode is for you if:

You've ever walked out of a designer meeting unsure where you stand

You're tired of pricing projects that never get built

You want designers to actually reach out to YOU first

You've felt like the design process works against you instead of with you

You're ready to be the builder designers want to work with

Chapters:

0:00 - What do designers really look for in builders?

8:56 - Aaron's story: From the GFC to collaboration

18:30 - The 3 things that get builders chosen

29:00 - Why "project is king" changes everything

42:00 - Quality documentation: What you should expect

58:00 - How to approach designers (questions vs statements)

1:10:30 - Building relationships before you have a client

1:23:00 - The future of design and multi-generational housing

Key Takeaways:

- Body language matters more than you think

- Ask "how can I help?" not "here's what I do"

- Build relationships 6 months before you need them

- Quality documentation protects your business

- Project is king—not ego

Are you a builder? Do you want to be cutting-edge in your marketplace?

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https://go.bizvideo.com.au/consult

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