Blog
Building advice for Waikato homeowners
Honest, practical answers to the questions people ask before they build. Costs, land, house and land packages, timelines and how it all works.
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Showing 15 articles
Cost
Fixed price vs cost plus: choosing a building contract
How a fixed price building contract compares with cost plus in New Zealand, and how to pick the one that suits your build.
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Planning
Architect or design and build: which is right for your home?
Hire an architect and then a builder, or go with design and build? A fair look at both, and how to choose.
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Cost
Building cost per square metre in NZ, explained simply
How per square metre build rates work in New Zealand, what the public numbers cover, and how to use them without being caught out.
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Planning
Waikato building consent: a plain guide for new home owners
What a building consent is, which council issues it in the Waikato, who prepares the drawings and what happens during the build. General information to help you plan.
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Planning
How long does it take to build a house in NZ?
From first conversation to moving in. How long each stage of building a house in New Zealand usually takes, and what affects it.
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Cost
How much does it cost to build a house in NZ? A Waikato guide
Public figures on house build prices in NZ, what they include, and what moves the cost of a premium custom home in the Waikato.
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Planning
Building on a sloping section: what to know before you start
Site checks, foundations, retaining, drainage and design ideas for building on a sloping section in New Zealand.
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House and land
Turnkey homes in NZ: what turnkey really includes
Turnkey is meant to mean move-in ready. Here is what it usually covers in New Zealand, and the common gaps worth checking before you sign.
Read morePlanning
Single level or two storey: which suits your new home?
Single level or two storey? A plain comparison of space, views, cost, stairs and family life, with examples from homes we have built.
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House and land
Finding a section in the Waikato: what to check before you buy
A practical checklist for anyone looking at sections or bare land for sale in Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu and the wider Waikato.
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Planning
Building on a lifestyle block: a practical guide for the Waikato
Site choice, orientation, access, water, wastewater, power and shelter. The practical things to think about when building on a lifestyle block in the Waikato.
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House and land
House and land package or your own section: which suits you?
Are house and land packages worth it, or is it better to buy land and build? Here is how the two options compare in the Waikato.
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Trust
What being one of the Registered Master Builders means for you
The Master Builders badge is everywhere. Here is what membership tells you about a builder, how it differs from a licence, and what to ask anyway.
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The Master Builders guarantee, explained in plain English
What the Master Build 10-Year Guarantee is, what it covers in general terms, and why it is worth understanding before you choose a builder.
Read moreHouse and land
What is a house and land package, and how does it work?
What a house and land package actually is, what it usually covers, and the questions worth asking before you buy one in the Waikato.
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