This house was built for the project manager of the company, so naturally the contractors would pull out all the stops and do their best work? Well, if this is the builders producing their best work for their project manager, I'd hate to see what the average customer of this company is receiving in regards to build quality. I unfortunately believe this is a symptom and the problem is the size of this company, with a small local builder a client gets a craftsman who relies on their reputation to insure they have a pipeline of work. If one customer is upset at the result of their build, there is a ripple effect where the word of mouth advertising slows and the builder looses out on a future pipeline of work. For this reason, a small local building company is in most cases will be doing everything in their power to ensure each build meets a high level of finishing. The company who built my family member's house isn't so reliant on this word of mouth, they have a massive marketing budget with TV ads, plus their a franchise so you can drive around in any New Zealand city for 20 minutes and find a branch that you can walk into and request an appointment. The people who own a company care deeply about the quality of work their business produces, and with a small building business like Coldicutt Blackman the directors of the company are on the tools everyday on site so no rough workmanship falls through the cracks. With a large building company, the people who are working in the business are so far removed from the people who cares deeply about the quality of work. I couldn't take too many photos as I didn't want to alert my family member to there being a problem but these highlight a little bit of what I'm referring to in this article.

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.

Let’s face it—starting a building project can feel like juggling flaming torches. It’s exciting, sure, but one wrong move and things can spiral fast. Luckily, we’ve seen it all (and fixed it all), so we’re here to share some wisdom. If you want your dream build to go smoothly, keep these common mistakes at bay: 1. Skipping the Homework Building isn’t just about bricks and beams—it’s about preparation. Before you start, research your builder, understand your budget, and know what’s realistic. Skipping this step is like baking a cake without checking the recipe: you’ll end up with a hot mess. Remember, your builder deals with this stuff everyday, if you have concerns or questions just ask. Pro Tip:  Check the L.P.B website to see if your builder has a current and valid license. Ask your builder for references, check reviews, and make sure you’re on the same page about your vision. 2. Chasing Unicorn Budgets We get it. You’re trying to save money, but budgeting too low is a classic pitfall. A $50,000 budget isn’t going to build you a mansion (sorry!). Cutting corners upfront often leads to bigger, more expensive problems later. An easy example of this is; you're building a deck, to add on to your renovation, you want to save as much as possible because you changed your window sizes and locations twice throughout the building process which blew out the budget due to the expenses in reframing and minor variations. Pine seems like the best option for the decking boards due to the cost. But the hidden cost in this is with a pine deck, you're going to be replacing the boards in 10 years. Versus if you go with a hardwood, which comes at a slightly higher initial cos, however, you'll be able to enjoy that deck for 20 years prior to even considering relaying. Pro Tip:  Set a realistic budget with a little wiggle room for unexpected costs—because trust us, there will be unexpected costs. 3. Neglecting the Design Phase Rushing through design decisions is like choosing a tattoo on a whim. You might regret it when it’s permanent. Take the time to plan layouts, finishes, and features that suit your lifestyle, not just the trends. This gives you a build that you're not just going to enjoy short term. There are lots of little design decisions to be made along the way, which might feel overwhelming. However, please don't rush these or pass the responsibility onto someone else, because you're the one that has to live with the consequences of those design decisions for years to come. Pro Tip:  Work with a designer or architect who understands how you live. Love to cook? Focus on the kitchen. Hate mowing lawns? Skip the giant backyard. 4. Changing Your Mind (Over and Over Again) Indecision is the silent killer of timelines and budgets. Once you’ve approved the plans, stick to them. Changing your mind midway is like hitting a reset button, and it’ll cost you—both time and money. Pro Tip:  If you’re prone to second-guessing, spend extra time in the planning phase. It’s cheaper to make changes on paper than on-site. Ask for samples of materials and profiles your deciding between, this will help you to see the physical products instead of deciding everything through a computer screen. Final Thoughts Building your dream home or project is a journey, and like any journey, there will be bumps along the way. But avoiding these common mistakes can make the ride a whole lot smoother. Choose the right team, plan thoroughly, and keep communication open. Before you know it, you’ll be standing in your finished space, wondering why you ever worried at all.