Planning and Designing
You may choose to buy a home from a reputable design and build ‘group home builder’. These are companies with pre-existing designs that you can buy off the shelf and have the advantage of being less expensive to purchase and with many features well thought through. Many can also custom design one for you, as well. Because they are built by companies building many such houses, they can often come with built-in bulk discounts on fittings, too. They can be an excellent choice when the goal is a well built standard home.
However, some people prefer to have an architect/designer prepare plans based on their specific needs and the specifics of the site. This is a more expensive path but means you end up with something tailor-made for you.
Those who can prepare a custom designed home are:
- A registered architect
- An architectural designer
- An architectural draughtsperson
While each offers a different degree of qualification, skill and expertise (and expense), there is often a degree of overlap between the three. Building designers at any level will also need to be licensed from November 2007.
Keep watching this page as we're liaising with the Institute of Architects and Architectural Designers NZ to bring you even better information.
Important Information: Make sure the person you employ has professional indemnity insurance that can ensure you are covered in case of professional negligence by the designer.
When putting together the design for your new home or addition, try to make the best use of space and the section; that the materials you select for building are in keeping with the look you’re after and are as good quality as you can afford and energy efficient. This is not really an area in which to save money, other elements can be updated later but cladding, flooring and joinery are not that easily changed out –. Remember, the more alternative your design, the fewer the people who will be attracted to it if you ever come to sell. On the other hand, building your home is also an exercise in self-expression, so don’t be afraid to go with your heart.
Start building files of looks and designs you like. Use magazines and websites and even photograph homes you like.
A Few Tips
- Unforeseen problems with the site are a major cause of cost overruns – be aware of where drains are, what the ground is like and what you need to do for the foundations.
- As a general rule, the simpler the plan, the less cost to build.
- Try to use materials that are pre-finished and don’t need further work.
- Use standard joinery in smart ways: using the biggest basic ranch slider you can mean you can install without additional bracing.
- Fashionable colours and materials are exciting but long term may impact on sale price.
- Future-proof – new technologies are coming that will run your home – how will you cater for them; also think about future additions or alterations and try to anticipate where possible.
- Research well and look for ideas to bring in from magazines, websites and friends. Take a measuring tape with you wherever you go – measure items you like (for instance, kitchen benches) to gauge whether you can use the same dimensions.
- Spraypaint for temporarily marking grass is available from hardware stores. Use it to mark out your new home and walk through the rooms. Check for space. If in doubt, go bigger (but remember that costs more)!
- Generally, additional bedrooms and bathrooms add to the functionality and value of your home – add them if you can afford them.
- Spend money on the things you touch a lot – door handles and taps, light switches, kitchen drawers, floors.