Dive into this eye-opening episode of the She Renovates Podcast!

Where Bernadette sits down with experienced real estate agent Con to unpack one of the most overlooked deal-makers (and deal-breakers) in renovating for profit the strata report.

While many renovators focus on kitchens, bathrooms, and styling, buyers often make their decision long before auction day, quietly judging a property based on what’s inside a document they may never talk about out loud.

In this episode, Bernadette and Con reveal how strata reports influence buyer psychology, property value, financing, and renovation profitability sometimes overriding even the most beautiful renovation.

From hidden red flags and special levies to why “clean strata” beats cosmetic upgrades every time, this conversation delivers real, on-the-ground insights from the coalface of selling strata properties.

💡 If you’ve ever wondered why a stunning renovation struggled to sell or how to spot strata risks before you buy this episode is essential listening.

Tune in to learn how understanding strata reports can protect your profit, shape smarter buying decisions, and help you renovate with confidence.

“You can have the best renovation in the world, but at some point the strata report will come out and unless the buyer is emotionally attached, that document usually wins.”

-Bernadette Janson

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 – Welcome & Why Strata Reports Matter More Than You Think

02:00 – What Buyers Really Judge First (Before Renovations)

04:30 – Levies, Sinking Funds & Buyer Red Flags

07:00 – Why ‘Clean Strata’ Sells Faster

09:30 – Special Levies, Unknown Costs & Renovation Risk

12:00 – Developer vs Builder: What Actually Matters

14:30 – Can a Great Renovation Beat a Weak Strata Report?

17:00 – What Renovators Must Check Before Buying to Flip

20:00 – Practical Strategies to Protect Your Exit Price

Resources

The School Of Renovating: https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com

She Renovates Podcast: https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com/podcasts-page/

Connect with The School of Renovating

ASK BERNADETTE: https://sherenovates.com.au/podcast/

Subscribe to She Renovates Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3faoWlT

Subscribe to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSchoolOfRenovating

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/renovatingsc

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_school_of_renovating

Episode 271

10 Tips for Clearer Trade Communication

Dive into the latest She Renovates podcast episode!

Ever come home from a renovation trip to find something very different from what you imagined?

That’s exactly what happened to Bernadette, a tiling mix-up that left one of her bathrooms looking nothing like the plan. 😱

In this candid episode, she shares what went wrong, what it cost, and the practical systems she’s now built to make trade communication foolproof, even when renovating remotely.

From WhatsApp groups to the “Single Source of Truth” document, you’ll learn the simple tools that can save your sanity (and your tiles).

00:00 – When grouting goes wrong: the story behind the bathroom disaster

02:45 – Why remote renovating is not for the faint-hearted

04:10 – How scattered messages caused a costly misunderstanding

06:30 – Creating one clear communication channel

08:15 – Introducing the “Single Source of Truth” spec doc

10:40 – Visuals that save you from lost-in-translation moments

13:00 – Keeping trades aligned with WhatsApp and project schedules

15:30 – How to debrief and learn from every project

17:00 – Download Bernadette’s Trade Spec Template + 10-Point Checklist

Resources

The School Of Renovating

https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com

She Renovates Podcast

https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com/podcasts-page/

Connect with The School of Renovating

ASK BERNADETTE:

https://sherenovates.com.au/podcast/

Subscribe to She Renovates Apple Podcast:

https://apple.co/3faoWlT

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSchoolOfRenovating

Follow on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/renovatingsc

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_school_of_renovating

Episode 270

Dive into the latest She Renovates podcast episode!

After five unforgettable years of running She Renovates Live, Bernadette is facing a big question: Should it return in 2026?

In this heartfelt episode (recorded from a forest in Croatia 🌲), she opens up about the highs, heartbreaks, and hard-won lessons behind last year’s event, including a near-disaster with an event manager that almost derailed the entire thing.

Now, Bernadette is turning the tables and asking YOU, the renovating community, to decide whether She Renovates Live 2026 should go ahead.

Discover the story behind the new 24-hour “proof test,” why it matters, and how you can help shape the future of this much-loved event.

00:00 – Welcome from Croatia 🇭🇷 — sailing, forests, and reflection

02:00 – Why She Renovates Live is Bernadette’s favorite event of the year

04:00 – Storytime: how 2024’s event almost didn’t happen

06:00 – The event manager experiment that failed spectacularly

08:30 – How a free-ticket sprint filled the room in 10 days

10:00 – The aftermath: pride, scars, and lessons learned

11:30 – Why 2025 was skipped — and the plan for 2026

13:00 – The new validation experiment: a 24-hour “proof test”

15:00 – How it works: 50 tickets in 24 hours = She Renovates Live 2026 is ON

16:30 – Why it’s like running feasibility on a renovation deal

18:00 – How this process honours the community’s voice

19:00 – The psychology behind the waitlist and VIP members

20:00 – How to join the waitlist and shape the future of She Renovates Live

21:00 – Final words: “You get to decide whether this dream lives on.”

✨ Join the Waitlist: https://member.theschoolofrenovating.com/event-page

Because just like any renovation project — profit (and purpose) starts with proof.

Resources

The School Of Renovating

https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com

She Renovates Podcast

https://www.theschoolofrenovating.com/podcasts-page/

Connect with The School of Renovating

ASK BERNADETTE:

https://sherenovates.com.au/podcast/

Subscribe to She Renovates Apple Podcast:

https://apple.co/3faoWlT

Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheSchoolOfRenovating

Follow on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/renovatingsc

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_school_of_renovating