Many people say there is nothing as stressful as building a new home. A builder who knows what he is doing, and can give you piece of mind can significantly reduce the stress. Placing your new dwelling in the hands of a professional is a huge decision. Are they the right person for you? For many of us our own home is the biggest financial decision we will ever make. It is important to get it right the first time. So if you are looking for someone to build a house, what should you look for? Here are some simple tips to get you started:

1. Are they a registered builder?
It may sound like an obvious question but it’s incredibly important to ask. There are so many issues surrounding New Zealand’s codes of compliance when building and you’ll need someone who is going to create your home to standard. (more…)

You’ve got an idea in your head and it’s taking shape. All you need now is a luxury home builder to help it become a reality. Someone who can take the ideas you have, and add their touches to create a home that reflects your personality, your interests and your desire to have a beautiful place to come home to. It’s essential you think about the right match for you when selecting one. You want to know they are going to be able to create what you want to a very high standard.

Their reputation will have often preceded them. If you’ve not heard of them before, it’s a good idea to ask them if you can view their portfolio, and take a look at some of the places they’ve created for clients. If possible ask if you can talk to previous clients to see what their experience was like. (more…)

In popular sitcom Seinfeld, George Costanza, eternally ashamed of his actual station, often resorts to pretending to be an architect to impress people. Albeit in his typically deceitful way, George actually unveils something prescient: having knowledge of buildings and design can be quite impressive in social settings. Buildings are a large part of our current shared landscape, and having something astute to say can be quite valuable. If you’re less inclined than he towards deception, architecture polls can help acclimate you.

Architecture polls aren’t the only way to glean information about buildings, but they are unique. While an encyclopaedia is useful for finding out who built it and when, and a press release or a guided tour can tell you what the building is used for, a poll can tell you something different: how people feel about it. This information can help you seem interesting, urbane and cultured — just ask George! (more…)

Buildings don’t spring up overnight. Creating a building is a long process: going from sketch, to blueprint, to foundation to finished product takes hours of intellectual and physical energy. It’s a highly volatile and collaborative process, and finishing is truly an accomplishment. Which is why it’s so terrible when you’re done and everybody hates it. Luckily, this ignoble sequence can be neatly avoided by perusing architecture surveys.

For writers, a bad paragraph or page is but a delete key away from being whisked out out of existence. For painters, a shoddy canvas can be chucked into a dumpster or given to an elderly relative with flagging sight. Wallpaper can be stripped, furniture rearranged, end tables replaced with the newest models. (more…)

One of the questions many people have with respect to homes is whether to build or buy. The answer to that question really depends on your situation and your priorities. If you need a place to live fast, and you’re willing to compromise on some features, then buying is probably your best bet. If, however, you have a vision in mind and nothing else will do, then you may want to build your dream home. This is the only way to ensure you’ll get everything you want. Here are five steps to follow if building your dream house is a project you want to undertake:

#1: Design your home – You don’t have to be an architect to do this. If you’re artistic, you can prepare a sketch of what you want your house to look like. Or, you can simply write down on a piece of paper what features you want your house to have. Be as specific as possible – consider everything from the size of the closets to the layout of the kitchen. (more…)