Jen Jones

Jen Jones, renovation project manager, former client-side PM, and wife of Brad Jones (Ep 03), brings construction project management to the residential world. Her central thesis: budget blowouts are caused by misalignment between expectations and reality, not by builders ripping people off. The solution is the same as in commercial construction: ECI (bringing the builder in early), proper scoping, and managing expectations. The conversation also covers post-flood insurance assessments where homeowners are settling 20-30% short because assessors miss scope.

Key Topics Discussed

• Budget blowouts. 20-30% is typical for renovations. Root cause: misalignment between expectations and reality. Homeowners don't factor in reframing walls, subfloor strengthening, consents, contingency. Builder quotes vs total renovation budget are very different numbers (15-20% goes to consents/design/engineering before build even starts).
• ECI and PCSA for residential, Jen recommends bringing the builder in before consent, just like commercial ECI. Match builder to project, identify risky areas, improve buildability, help price accurately. Competitive tendering incentivises builders to miss things.
• Insurance flood assessments. Post-Auckland floods, homeowners taking cash settlements based on assessor reports that miss 20-30% of scope. Full and final settlements mean homeowners can't go back. Consent triggers from opening walls often not considered. Jen offers independent peer reviews of assessments.
• Burnout. Jen burnt out "a number of times" in client-side construction and had hospital stints. Was completing engineering Masters and renovation simultaneously. Led to change of pace into fit-out then own consultancy.
• Andy's 85 defects. Andy found 85 defects in his new-build home, couldn't get the contractor to fix them all.

Notable Quotes

• Jen: "Nine times out of ten when you renovate a bathroom, you pull it out and you need to replace rotten timber, strengthen the subfloor, reframe the walls."
• Jen: "It's better to make compromises on your design at the beginning, as opposed to getting two thirds through and realising you can't afford to finish."
• Jen: "Competitive tender situations, builders will conveniently miss things so their quote looks more competitive."

Guest Background

Jen Jones started in infrastructure (major projects, concrete and steel), then moved to high-end commercial fit-out for a change of pace. Started her renovation consultancy on maternity leave when a Heritage Hall conversion project came up. Manages $50K-$2M renovations, created online resources (ebooks, courses) for DIY homeowners. Married to Brad Jones (Ep 03). "Shout out to Brad Jones."