So you want to build a house, where do you start?

This must be a hard question to ponder for someone who isn't in the industry as there are a lot of options for how to go about the process. Whilst one blog post isn't enough to explain everything, I'll go over some basics to learn prior to starting your process.

Every new build in New Zealand that isn't "exempt" works requires a building consent. A building consent is a process which essentially shows the council that your build is compliant with the New Zealand building code.

Most new builds require a resource consent. A resource consent illustrates how your build will effect the environment and what controls are in place to mitigate these effects.

Anyone can draw a set of house plans. I've even had a go when dreaming about my own dream home. However, only L.B.P. draftsman, Chartered Professional Engineers and Architects have enough qualification to submit plans directly to council for building consent. Confused? Me too a little. Lets explain this a little further.

I'll start with the most used method of starting your home build journey; Architect. An architect can help design the house, creating custom plans tailored to your needs and preferences while considering site conditions and building regulations. Your architect if qualified can draw plans which can go straight to council. Your architect is creative so not only are they technically skilled in designing a house which complies with the building code, but they can also translate your ideas into a beautiful house design.

An L.B.P. draftsman, whilst not as creative as an architect, can draw a plan which demonstrates compliance with the NZ building code. If you have an idea for exactly how you want your house to look, feel and function. A good method for starting the building journey would be to engage the services of a draftsman to translate that vision onto paper.

An engineer is for the technical problems. If there is a feature of your proposed build which isn't a standard detail. This is where an engineer is best. They can crunch the numbers to make the dreams of you and your architect structurally sound. They can provide this data to the council with your plans to demonstrate that they comply with the requirements of the NZ building code.

Maybe you're not to fussed about being able to customise your house, you have a piece of land and you're keen for a new build. This is where you can go down the route of buying a set of plans. This will remove the process of sitting down and making lots of design decisions with your architect. In theory, saving you time and money.

These plans aren't site specific, your site could be urban or rural - in which case you'll need to meet the zoning rules, you'll need a water meter connection or a water tank , you'll need a drainage plan, you'll need to connect to the city's sewer or you'll need to install a septic tank. To get all these ducks in a row you'll still need to enlist the services of a draftsman to get these features designed and proposed to council so you can get that building consent stamp and start building your new home.

If all of this sounds like a lot of confusion and a lot of work, that's because it is. There are lots of professionals who do this everyday so you don't need to tackle all these steps alone. You can get in touch with a licensed and qualified builder early on in the process and they can guide you along the way. You can even contract out the responsibility of consents, council and planning to your builder who can make the whole process a far less stressful operation.