Menu
Deciding it’s time to build a new home is a major moment in anyone’s life, and it’s a tricky thing to navigate towards that goal these days, so if you have hit that sweet spot, you should be very pleased with yourself. Alongside the excitement you must be feeling, there could be a bit of trepidation, especially if this is your first time dealing with the New Zealand residential new build process.
It’s really important that you understand some of the crucial points to consider before building a new home in New Zealand so that you have all your ducks in a row when it comes time to break ground. Some of the things you need to consider are related to regulatory compliance, and there are points around pricing and plans that are important to have a grasp on so that you don’t run into trouble with your budget or your timeline.
Your primary consideration must be your selection of the construction team you are going to work with, as the success of your project will hinge largely on their qualifications, skills, experience, processes and capabilities. Putting a foot wrong here can spell disaster, so be sure to choose wisely.
Here, we have put together a few things to think about ahead of your residential new build project. Read on to get some insider knowledge that could save you time, money and headaches as you begin your journey towards moving in to your new home.
Building Consent Authority’s (BCAs) are generally district and local councils. Around the country, there are varying processes applied to obtaining Building Consents (BCs), but as a basic approach, you must be able to demonstrate to your BCA that your proposed residential new build is going to meet the standards of the 2004 Building Act, the Building Code and the 1991 Resource Management Act. The Building Act includes standards for safety, health, and well-being, and in New Zealand, buildings should be constructed in ways that promote sustainable development. You must also show that your plan for your new build includes viable fire escape routes.
A good quality Building Consent can help you avoid delays and is also likely to help you minimise costs. At the very least, your BC must include your plans and relevant specifications, the project information memorandum (PIM) if you have had one issued, the name of your Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) and a list of the specified systems required. You must pay your fees when you submit the signed and completed form and it will help your applications go smoothly if all your documents are searchable, bookmarked, don’t contain hyperlinks and have signatures firmly attached to PDFs. If you have a good residential new build team on board, you will be able to relax and let them take care of most of this. Building Consent forms are usually lodged after you have signed off on detailed working drawings that cover every internal and external space and you have formal preliminary pricing worked out.
A reputable, well-organised construction team with a proven track record will be able to relay crystal-clear processes around your plans and pricing. Here is an example of a step-by-step process that provides some clarity as to the expectations you should have when you discuss these matters with your construction company.
The first pricing for your project should be available in a clear format once an initial concept and floor plan have been drawn up. This provisional costing will require your residential new build construction team to review the concept plans alongside putting together a budget for each trade required. This could entail liaising with 20-30 trades, and you must have an experienced builder if you want to be certain that your initial pricing estimate is as close to accurate as possible.
During this same period your architect will create an initial specification budget, which should cover items including flooring, fittings, fixtures, benchtops, appliances and kitchen components that will be bought in or supplied by the design team. This is where you will discover what items on your design wishlist are going to be feasible within your budget.
After the provisional pricing and specification budgets have been looked at, the detailed draft working drawings will be created. Your builder will review these, the structural plans by the engineer, and all the sub-trade requirements. They will liaise with all relevant parties, provide feedback on the detailed draft plans and then move forward to preliminary pricing—this will set the tone for the final stage, contract pricing.
Once the Building Consent stamped plans have been issued, the builder will review all tasks, plans and details and cross-reference this information with structural plans. This is a complex process and in order to accurately capture costs, your builder will need to be on the ball in order to provide a clear and transparent price that accounts for every last available detail. Your contract pricing will also include decisions around margins, change order variation rates, delays and extensions of time as well as payment terms.
As you can see, your residential new build process has a lot of moving parts and the key to ensuring a smooth ride largely lies with your choice of builder. Look for a team of experienced building professionals who can demonstrate past success with a portfolio of work that aligns with the type of new home build you are considering. Also, ask about NZCB membership, as this is a great way to be certain that your construction team are qualified and they have a robust reputation that has already been vetted by a formal body with high standards.
At QBS Construction, we can work for you on a design-and-build basis and take care of your new build from concept to completion. Alternatively, we can come on board on a contract basis—the key here is that we are available in whichever capacity suits you best. We are experienced and qualified, and we have streamlined processes and a new build project management approach that is designed for enhanced peace of mind.
If you are ready to take a big step forward with a team you can trust, get in touch now.
