TIZUS

Hi

Just wondered if anyone has any first hand experience of buying a section in NZ and building their own house. One suggestion we have had is to buy the section and get a company to part build and us to finish it off ( husband is a carpenter!) and hints and tips would be great.

Thanks Tori

southerner

Tori,
My dad has built 2 homes in the Nelson area, and he won't have the specialist skills that your hubby has (although he is fairly handy all the same).

Both times, he got professionals to do the concrete base, and the roof framing and tiling. He did all the rest of the timber framing, lining etc himself. Plumber + electrician were additional.

The first time he laboured for a builder who was on site until it was weather proof , but second time he did much more himself.

There have been a few threads recently on NZ housebuilding, although main emphasis has been on kit homes.

Regards

B

southerner

Key to homebuilding in NZ is to understand the building regs. Its important to get a good relationship going with the building inspector.

Not everyone in NZ uses an architect, it is an important decision to make. Personally I would use an architect for anything of higher than average value.

TIZUS

Thanks for the replies, Ian is going to ask around at work as well. I think this is the way we will go even if it does mean renting for a little (!!) longer. Doing some research yesterday seems to be the cheaper answer too. Just a bit daunting!! I can see Ian saying "lets live in a caravan untill its built....." And three years later we will still be there!!

Will keep you posted, How are things going with you guys

Tori

southerner

We're waiting to exchange on house sale, and then we just need Penny's residency paperwork back and we can get going.

Its stressful trying to pencil in moving dates. Other parties in our chain can't understand that we need 2 weeks notice, and they think they can take their time about exchanging contracts and then have a short completion period. Ahhhhh!!!!

It'll work out, somehow.

Three or four days in Nelson sounds very tempting right now.

B