Six Steps to building a house in New Zealand

When it comes to building a house in New Zealand, it can seem like there’s so much to think about it’s tricky to know where to start. Where do you begin if you want a custom home design? What kind of time frame can you expect? How long does it take to build a house in NZ, anyway? What exactly is involved in the process? These are all important questions, and the beginning stages can often feel overwhelming.

That’s why, with years of expertise behind us, we’ve pulled together a ‘Steps to Building a House’ checklist, so you can start laying a solid foundation for your dream home. The most important part of the process is the planning, so it’s important to know what to expect before diving into the fun parts.

So, what are the steps to building your own home?

Step 1: Choose a site

The first step to building a house in NZ is choosing the site, and it’s not always as simple as picking the first place you come across. There can be a few different factors to consider when making this decision, including location, climate, accessibility, and its orientation to the sun. It’s also important to consider how the neighbouring surroundings could affect your house, for example, the possibility of tall buildings going up around you, loud highways close by, soil quality, or big trees that might block your light.

The size of your site may also affect your design plans. A small space may mean you have limited design options, where a bigger site may require additional materials, whether that’s a longer driveway or additional budget for cables and plumbing if the house is further away from the road. The slant of the land could also affect costs depending on how much earth needs to be moved, as can natural hazard potentials such as flooding or earthquakes. 

With several important factors influencing the viability of your site, it might be an idea to speak to a professional or a builder you can trust if you’re unsure what to look for when it comes to choosing a site.

Step 2: Secure finance for your build

The next step is to create a budget for your home design and build, then secure finance for your build. If you’re new to home-building, it’s a good idea to speak to a professional at the start of this process to plan for and avoid any unexpected costs popping up along the way and get a better understanding of all the costs involved.

Setting a realistic budget at the start of the process means you can avoid any future disappointments or difficult situations if unforeseen problems do arise. It will also help you set realistic expectations around design decisions, and ensures you can see the project through without unexpected debt.

When it comes time to secure finance for your home, it’s important to find mortgage brokers you can trust to make the process as simple and smooth as possible. We can make several recommendations in the Otago area, including Shane Crawford at Mike Pero, and The Mortgage Girls. 

Step 3: Finalise your house plans (including consent)

Finally, it’s time to finalise your house plans and get your dream designs down on paper. An exciting stage in the process, finalising your plans is also an extremely important step to get right from the start. An architect or draftsman will be a key part of this process, and can create or help finalise your design as well as organising the relevant council consents and applications for you.

At this point of the process, it’s also important to consider how practical your designs are, as well as visually pleasing. For example, architects can help you maximise energy efficiency in your home, or minimise environmental impact. The design decisions you choose now will dictate how well your home will be set up for many years to come, so it’s important to consider the wider ramifications of your design in these early stages.

It’s important to ensure you’re happy with your decisions when finalising your designs, as it can be extremely difficult and costly to change your mind once building has begun. When considering your design, nailing down your ‘needs’, ‘wants’, and ‘nice-to-haves’ ensures you prioritise what’s most important to you, meaning you can be confident in your choices when it comes time to sign-off on your design.

For a trusted, Otago-based architect or draftsman, we recommend McCoy Wixon Architects or Rudolf Plucinsky, a skilled architectural draftsman. 

Step 4: Find the right builder for the job

Once your plans have been finalised and you’re happy with the design, it’s time to find the right craftsmen for the job. As the ones that will be bringing your dream designs to life, it’s important to find experienced home builders you can trust. Ask around your neighbourhood to see if others have experience with the company you’re looking at, or ask for testimonials from previous clients.

It’s also important to check that they are a NZ Certified Builder or Registered Master Builder, as this requires certain quality criteria to be met in areas such as building experience, trade and professional qualifications, on-site management experience and workmanship. You could also ask to see examples of their previous work if they have built homes of similar styles or designs. 

Your builders will need to provide a Building Checklist, Disclosure Statement, Legal Contract for any work over $30k, and a Record of Work and Maintenance Schedule at the end of the project. Find out more about what your builders will need to provide here.

Step 5: Project management of the building stages

Now that you’ve decided on your chosen builders, it’s time to begin the building process and get your home construction underway. Project Managers are the backbone of the building site and ensure the whole operation runs smoothly. Project Management includes keeping construction plans on track, ensuring each stage of the process is carried out at a high level, and managing the amount of time it takes to build your home.

With your plans in place and the builders ready, it’s an exciting time watching your new home getting built from the ground up. There are several stages involved in the building of your new home - there’s clearing or moving the earth as needed, laying the foundations and plumbing, framing the house and setting the structure, installing all the windows and doors, fixing the external and internal cladding, fitting out the interior lighting fixtures, and so on.

The build can be quite the process, so it’s important that each stage is completed at the highest quality to avoid costly mistakes in the early stages that can affect the end result or delay completion. A good project manager is key to ensuring the whole process runs smoothly, without any surprise hiccups or expenses.

Step 6: Move in!

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for. Your dream house is ready, and so are you. The lights are fitted, the carpets laid, and the bathroom taps from your favourite home magazine have been successfully installed. Phew.
Once you’ve completed a final inspection with the builders or site manager, it’s time for you to pick up your keys and get the moving truck ready - but before you do, make sure you’ve got insurance for your new home, as all the responsibility lies with you once the keys are in your hand. Your builders will need to provide you with all the insurance and maintenance information on materials and products used in the project, which will help you ensure your home is protected for years to come.

Although it can seem like a lot to consider and a long road from design to completion, building a new house is also an exciting venture and should be enjoyed. A house built on bespoke designs and quality craftsmanship will ensure you’re nothing less than ecstatic with your new home, and will be for years to come. We’re here to help you enjoy every part of the process, and ensure a smooth, high-quality build right from the start.

For more information on the necessary steps in building a house, timeline expectations, custom home designs or any other home-building queries you might have, we’re always more than happy to help. Or, if you’re ready to start the exciting process of building your new home and would like to discuss your project or ideas with us, drop us a line and let us walk you through the next steps towards building your dream home.