Ever thought about building a new house? That's how my parents built their ideal home back in the 1990s and they're still there 20 years on.
With an average of 47 different tradespeople working on one house from start to finish, managing a new build yourself - not to mention keeping a close eye on your build budget - can seem rather daunting! When you're time-poor but striving for the kiwi dream, working with a building company is the way to go: full control, minimal effort and no budget blow outs.
I talked to the team at NZ building company Golden Homes to research the ins and outs of building a new home and discovered a lot of good reasons to do it. Here are my top three:
1. Minimal maintenance
Repairs and replacements are a big expense for most homeowners. But with a newly built house, you can relax knowing you won't have to worry about fixing the roof or the deck any time soon.
You can also feel safe in the knowledge that a new home has been built user newer technology and more durable materials - such as steel framing vs. traditional timber framing. Steel frames reduce the risk of warping, shrinking or rotting, and thus of cracks in claddings or linings (also a plus in earthquake-prone areas!).
2. New homes are more efficient
Good news for your finances - living in a new home means you'll most likely get to save on running costs. With everything built to the latest standards and codes, expect those benefits to filter through in energy efficiency.
Building new is also good news for your health - we just put in R 2.9 ceiling insulation and can already tell the difference. Seriously, imagine coming home to double glazed windows and R 5.0 in the roof off the bat - no more putting up with cold or damp housing! Hand on heart, having lived in so much substandard housing and felt the physical effects, I can tell you that living in a healthy house is priceless.
3. It's done right the first time
It's rare to find your perfect house, and ripping up flooring, repainting and remodelling may be required to get what you want out of an existing house. Renovating can be a headache - not to mention expensive!
With a building company like Golden Homes, 99% of houses are built with customisation - whether you want to start with a blank canvas or make a few tweaks to one of their existing designs, it's easy to create your own masterpiece.