Building a house and learning from the experience

Embarking on a building project is exciting, but can also be daunting, particularly if it is your first build and you have little experience of the construction industry.

One good option is a house company with a fixed price contract, which ensures your home is finished within your budget. You pretty much know what you are going to get before a hammer hits the first nail so, for many, it’s the perfect way to build a home with peace of mind.

However, if you choose to take a different approach, and design a home that uniquely suits your site and lifestyle, then the results can be enormously rewarding. Even if everything doesn’t go quite according to plan, there is something satisfying about seeing a building concept transform into bricks and mortar, reflecting your own input and vision.

But it is a choice that can be fraught with budget blow-outs, lengthy delays and maybe some design missteps.

Having recently finished a new build using the second approach, I can say with hand on heart that I am extremely happy with the result, despite it costing a little more than the budget and slightly taking longer than I had anticipated. But this doesn’t mean there aren’t things that I wish I’d known before I started or that I would have done differently given the chance.

I believe the real secret to avoiding costly mistakes is almost entirely down to choosing the right planner, architect and builder. My advice would be to shop local, even if the price is a tad higher – experienced local professionals wouldn’t still be in business if they weren’t reliable, and they have the advantage of being able to call in favours and fix problems before they turn into major issues. I was certainly happy with the choices I made in that regard. Do your research, check references and review previous projects to ensure their work aligns with your expectations.

Also, do not make the mistake of underestimating the time, money and frustration you will expend getting resource consent from Auckland Council. Perhaps the process may have been straightforward had we lived on a small section in a serviced suburb in Auckland, but we don’t. The site is rural and coastal, we collect our own water and dispose of our own wastewater, and there were heritage and environmental issues to consider. However, our plan was basically to replace one three-bedroomed house with a newer version. It felt like the council planners made it their mission to misunderstand the plans, make nonsensical demands and create as many hurdles as possible. I’m not sure how this part of the process could have been improved, but having an experienced planner fighting in our corner certainly helped.

A house is for all seasons, so make sure you know where the sun rises and sets in summer and winter, and factor that into the orientation of your house. Check also where the prevailing winds come from – and think about including an alternative space to retreat to when those winds blow.

Don’t be afraid to challenge your architect’s ideas. They aren’t going to live in the house, you are, and the design needs to work for you. I was adamant I wanted a hot water cupboard, despite being told the cisterns are so well insulated these days that a cupboard was unnecessary. I persevered and got a roomy hot water cupboard with shelves and hanging space, and haven’t stopped using it since moving in. I also did away with an elegant entrance way and used the space for a butler’s pantry and now wonder how I could have ever done without it. Having an architect who listened was invaluable.

Examine the plans forensically, room by room, imagining how each one will be used. Pay particular attention to the size, design and position of windows because they provide both airflow and light. Once building starts, plan changes can incur additional costs, cause delays and may require amended building permits, depending on the nature of the modifications. I was surprised to learn that even making very minor changes – such as moving a toilet from one side of the shower to the other – can require a variation with council. Council even had a say about the colour we could paint the exterior.
Your present stage in life will be a crucial factor in deciding on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and whether to build a one or two-storey house. But think about how long you plan to live in your new home and how to accommodate changing needs over time.

Ask your builder for a timeline of significant stages well in advance, particularly where your input will be needed. This will help you choose and order items with some hope of them turning up in time. For instance, we had to compromise on our bathroom tile choice because the flooring company needed around six months to deliver them, but we only had a month’s notice. Anything out-of-the ordinary will need to be organised early.

Energy efficiency and sustainability features such as solar panels can reduce long-term operating costs and minimise environmental impact, but they will add to the build cost. If you can’t afford them initially, at least factor them in so they can be installed later with minimal disruption.
Building a house requires time, effort and careful thought, but taking these considerations into account can help ensure the process runs smoothly and will result in a home you’ll love for years to come. Good luck!