Survival of the Fittest.

According to this article by REB, the building industry has officially hit hard times, as confirmed by Master Builders Australia. Productivity has dropped 18% over the past decade, while construction costs have jumped more than 40%.

So, if we had just enough builders back then—even allowing for some attrition—we now have more builders than projects. That means some won’t survive. It’s not personal. It’s maths.

The ones who will make it? They’re not the loudest. They’re the clearest. They know their value. They filter clients early. They’ve built processes that hold steady even when the market doesn’t.

They don’t assume they’ll survive. They prepare to.

Because survival of the fittest isn’t about being the most hopeful—it’s about being the most trusted. And when uncertainty reigns, trust becomes the currency.

Trust isn’t earned all at once. It’s built gradually, through every interaction. Every touchpoint is a trust point—a moment to show your client you care about them, their family, and their future home.

That care doesn’t need to be loud. It needs to be consistent. The builders who will thrive are the ones building relationships as deliberately as they build homes.

Because in the end, it’s not just about delivering a project. It’s about creating an experience where people feel safe, seen, and supported from start to finish.

So make sure they trust you to build it.

PS: Feel like the industry’s shifting under your feet? Book a quick 20-minute ‘Cuppa with Katie’ and let’s get your footing back.