If you are thinking of buying some land to build your own home on then there are several things you need to know. The construction of all buildings is covered under the Building Act 2004 which ensures that all buildings are constructed in a safe manner and are healthy to live in. There may also be restrictions in place on the land you are buying. This means that you could purchase the land with the hope of building a residential property only to find that construction is not allowed in the area, or there are limits to the size of home you can build. It is wise to check with the local authorities prior to the purchase of land to ensure you are not making a costly mistake. New Zealand is very proud of its countryside and green areas and some of these are protected from development.

Before construction can begin working with an architect to draw up the plans for the home. These must be submitted to the local council as they will require Resource Management Consent and also Building Consent. This can be a time consuming process as there is a lot of paperwork involved. Once consent is given you may go ahead and build your home. Each local council has its own planning office and it is a good idea to contact your local office to check their procedures for applying for planning permission, as this can vary slightly across the country. The time taken to approve a planning application can also vary nationwide.

If you are struggling with the planning of your home then you can employ the services of an architect who can draw up plans to your specifications. Alternatively there are many construction companies who have their own designs already that you may find more appealing. If you opt for this route then it is still possible to make alterations to enable you to put your own personal stamp on the home.

Approaching a building company in the first instance may also save you time on finding a plot of land. Often, particularly if they are building a complex of homes then the builders may already own a plot of land that the house can be built on. You may also be able to strike up a deal on the property which can save you some money too. This is one way of ensuring that all planning permissions are in place prior to the construction of the home and that the land is cleared for building residential property as it is the responsibility of the building company to get these prior to starting to build. However, if you do not want to live on a complex with other residential homes you can enlist the services of an estate agent to help you find the ideal plot of land for your needs.

The architect you employ should be registered with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board. Builders should also be registered with the Registered Master Builders Federation of New Zealand. It is for your own peace of mind that you should employ registered professionals as you can be sure that they are qualified and experienced for the work that you want them to do.

The costs to build a house are usually calculated per square metre and vary depending on the location of the land to be built on. The prices you will be quoted should also include Goods and Services Tax (GST). Hoes being built in the Auckland region are the most expensive per square metre and for a small house then the estimated cost will be around $1,698.00 per square metre. This means if the size of your home is 150 metres square then you would expect to pay around $254.700 ($1.698 * 150 metres square) for a standard home. If however your plans include a custom design then you can expect to pay around 20% above these costs depending on the complexity of the build.

Useful Resources

New Zealand Registered Architects Board
PO Box 11106
Manners Street
Wellington
Tel: + 64 4 471 1336
Email: info @nzrab.org.nz
www.nzrab.org.nz

Registered Master Builders Federation of NZ Inc
PO Box 1796
Level 6
234 Wakefield Street
Wellington
Tel: (4) 385 8999
Email: mbfinfo@masterbuilder.org.nz
www.masterbuilder.org.nz