Ultimate Dream Home Design & Build Process
We recommend coming to see us before going down the traditional path of engaging directly with an architect.
We have seen plenty of clients come with plans already done and when they have been priced up it is too often over their budget as the traditional architect is either out of touch with up-to-date pricing or has been too focused on design that is not practical to build. We have a great Architectural Designer and with our experience with construction processes we can save a lot of time and disappointment by giving great practical advice.
Fill in our Dream Home Questionnaire
The first step is to fill in our Dream Home Questionnaire which will give us the relevant information to know where you are starting from and what is important to you.
Schedule and complete a 20-Minute Discovery Call with us
The second step is to book in and have a 20-minute phone call with us. After looking at your completed Dream Home Questionnaire we will have a good idea of where you’re at and will be able to solely focus on your requirements. If we think that we can work together, and you will be a good fit with us we can then arrange a time to come to your property and meet you.
60-Minute free site consultation
At this initial site visit we will go through our checklist to determine whether things like a Resource Consent, Geotech Report, Drainage Plan, Site Survey etc are required. We will also give advice around access requirements and whether we think your proposed design will be feasible and offer other options to consider.
Preliminary Building Agreement
Once a Project Brief and budget has been agreed upon, we will go away and collate all the perceived components required to take the project through to lodgement of Building Consent application. This will include Concept Drawings (maximum of two revisions), Working Drawings, Building Consent, and other things that may be required like Engineering, Geotech report, Resource Consent, Site Survey, Quantity Surveying etc. This stage will take about two weeks to complete. Once we have all these costings in, we should be able to give a firm price for these Preliminary Works and we will present you with the Preliminary Building Agreement.
Once the Preliminary Building Agreement is accepted, signed and you have paid the deposit we will give you a login to our BuilderTrend Project Management software. We will schedule all the required stages of the Preliminary Works so you will be fully informed and updated throughout the process and know when your input is required.
Design Phase
During this stage you will work with our Architectural Designer to confirm the size and layout, how many rooms, orientation for sun and views, wants verses needs and all the important things that are required to start to bring together the home of your dreams
Scope of Works and Product Selections
Next, we will need to confirm with you the full scope of works required to be priced. We will discuss things like electrical layout, interior finishes, floor coverings, kitchen and bathroom fittings, appliances, window dressings, driveway, pool, fences, decks, landscaping etc.
Once the Scope of Works and Product Selections have been agreed and Working Drawings have been finalised, we will start the pricing process and come back to you with a Fixed Full Contract Build Price. It will take approximately three weeks from completion of working drawings to come back to you with a fully detailed Proposal.
Full Contract Building Agreement
As Registered Master Builders we use the Master Builders Standard Contract Agreement applicable to the works e.g. if your project is a New Build, we use the Master Builders New Build Contract and if your project is for an Alteration and/or Extension, we use the Master Builders Alterations and Additions Contract.
At this stage we will also fill in the application for the 10-Year Master Build Guarantee and supply this to you to check over along with the building contract.
Once you are happy with the full scope of works included in the Contract, we will give an estimated project time-line with estimated completion date. When this is agreed it is time to sign the contract and pay the deposit so we can lock in our builders, subcontractors and material supplies.
The Build
Once the contract is all signed up and works scheduled we will start work on the agreed date and work through the construction process to bring together the home of your dreams. The build process will involve coordinating lots of different materials, contractors and building inspections. As you see the building coming together you may decide to make the odd change which we will work through with you and provide a variation to the contract to suit the adjusted works.
Handover
Once the final council inspection has the all clear we will go through our final checklist to make sure every box has been ticked. Once you are fully satisfied with your home we will hand you the keys to your brand new dream home.
Maintenance
To give you complete confidence after you building project we have covered you for structural faults, workmanship and materials. This means that we will come back and fix things for you. We have a 12-month maintenance period to sort out issues and we will supply you with all the required maintenance documentation and requirements relating to the up-keep of the specific building materials used for your build.
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Ultimate Dream Home From Own Plans Process
If you already have your plans done we can price a full-contract build from your own plans. In order for us to give a comprehensive detailed price it takes a considerable amount of time for us to prepare. To quote an average house or extension it involves site visits with our subcontractors and time getting our head around the details and takes about 40 hours of time, so we do charge for this. The cost will generally be somewhere between $750 to $2,000 to give a full comprehensive and detailed quote. This cost will be deducted from the contract price if you do go ahead and engage us to build the home.
Fill in our Dream Home Questionnaire
The first step is to fill in our Dream Home Questionnaire which will give us the relevant information to know where you are at with plans and consent, and what is important to you.
Schedule and complete a 20-Minute Discovery Call with us
The second step is to book in and have a 20-minute phone call with us. After looking at your completed Dream Home Questionnaire we will have a good idea of where you’re at in the process. We will then get you to email through your plans to us so we can have a good look. If we think that we can work together, and you will be a good fit with us we will get in touch with our Quantity Surveyor and come back to you with a cost to price your plans. The cost to price your plans and come back to you with a comprehensive detailed price schedule is usually between $1,000 and $4,000. This pricing cost will then be deducted from our contract price if you choose to engage us and go ahead with the contract.
Site Consultation for Pricing
Once the cost to price the job has been agreed and paid we will arrange a site visit with our subcontractors to go over and confirm the full scope of works to price. We will then meet you on site with our team to confirm all the details. This visit will usually be attended by our Project Manager, Drainlayer, Plumber, Electrician, Painter and any other specialty trades required.
Submission of Proposal
Next we will start the pricing process and come back to you with a Fixed Full Contract Comprehensive Build Price. It will take approximately three weeks from our site visit to come back to you with a fully detailed Proposal.
Full Contract Building Agreement
As Registered Master Builders we use the Master Builders Standard Contract Agreement applicable to the works e.g. if your project is a New Build, we use the Master Builders New Build Contract and if your project is for an Alteration and/or Extension, we use the Master Builders Alterations and Additions Contract.
At this stage we will also fill in the application for the 10-Year Master Build Guarantee and supply this to you to check over along with the building contract.
Once you are happy with the full scope of works included in the Contract, we will give an estimated project time-line with estimated completion date. When this is agreed it is time to sign the contract and pay the deposit so we can lock in our builders, subcontractors and material supplies.
The Build
Once the contract is all signed up and works scheduled we will start work on the agreed date and work through the construction process to bring together the home of your dreams. The build process will involve coordinating lots of different materials, contractors and building inspections. As you see the building coming together you may decide to make the odd change which we will work through with you and provide a variation to the contract to suit the adjusted works.
Handover
Once the final council inspection has the all clear we will go through our final checklist to make sure every box has been ticked. Once you are fully satisfied with your home we will hand you the keys to your brand new dream home.
Maintenance
To give you complete confidence after you building project we have covered you for structural faults, workmanship and materials. This means that we will come back and fix things for you. We have a 12-month maintenance period to sort out issues and we will supply you with all the required maintenance documentation and requirements relating to the up-keep of the specific building materials used for your build.