We're a family business, with young kids, extended family under one roof and strong ties to a big Samoan family. So when we think about a home, we think about how many people need to fit in it, how it'll work in ten years' time, and whether it'll still be warm and dry long after the builder's gone.
If someone in our own family was building a new home here in the Bay, this is what we'd tell them.
1. Start with how you live, not what's on Pinterest
Before you look at a single plan, write down how your household actually works. Who gets up first? Where do the bags and shoes end up? Do you need room for parents to stay, now or down the track? Split your list into must-haves and nice-to-haves. It'll save you a lot of back and forth with your designer.
2. Get your section checked early
In Tauranga the ground under your house matters as much as the house itself. Sloping sections may need retaining and careful drainage. Some coastal and low-lying areas need geotechnical reports before you can design foundations. Finding this out early keeps it in your budget rather than as a nasty surprise.
3. Budget for the whole thing, not just the build
People often budget for the house and forget everything around it. Council consent fees, development contributions, connections, driveways, fencing, landscaping and window coverings all add up. Put a contingency on top. If you don't need it, great.
We won't move to a fixed price until your plans are properly developed, because that's when a fixed price actually means something.
4. Build for the Bay of Plenty climate
We get warm, humid summers and a lot of rain. Good insulation, quality joinery and proper ventilation make a real difference to how comfortable and healthy your home feels, and to your power bill. Within a few kilometres of the coast, ask about the right fixings and materials for salt air. Getting this right at the design stage costs far less than fixing it later.
5. Think ten years ahead
Kids grow up. Parents get older. Work changes. Can a study become a bedroom? Is there space to add on later? A little flexibility in the design goes a long way.
6. Don't skimp on storage
Every new homeowner we've spoken to wishes they'd planned more of it. Go room by room and think about where things will actually live.
7. Choose quality where it counts
You don't need the most expensive everything. But the parts you can't easily change later, like framing, cladding, roofing, waterproofing and joinery, are where quality pays off. Spend there, and save on finishes you can upgrade down the track.
8. Choose your builder carefully
Check their LBP licence, look at their local work and ask about guarantees. As NZCB members, we offer the Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee on eligible projects. We've written more about this in How to choose a builder in Tauranga.
9. Stay involved, and visit the site
It's your home, so be part of it. On our builds you'll have direct access to your site manager and agreed site walkthroughs, so you always know when your next update is coming. You're welcome to visit site with us there for safety. Seeing it come together is half the fun.
10. Enjoy the milestones
Slab down. Frame up. Roof on. Keys in hand. Take photos and celebrate each one. For us, watching an empty section turn into a home someone's proud of never gets old.
Thinking about building in Tauranga or the Bay of Plenty? Let's start with a site visit. We'll come out and give you an honest view of what your build will involve.
