Recently there has been a boom in the construction of subdivision home units in Christchurch, and it has become the preferred form of housing for many. The original reason for the increase in these units is that it formed part of post-earthquake recovery. Subdivision homes comprising 53% of the new homes approved for construction this year are attached apartments, townhouses and terraced housing. Let’s look at the benefits of opting for new subdivisions in Christchurch.
Perfect For Those Who Live Alone
Let’s face it, a large group of the population lives alone and prefer a smaller space. Hence a new subdivision style home is the preferred option. Even for single home occupants, subdivisions provide a built-in community and safety in numbers. Overall, it’s also cheaper to purchase a subdivision home than a traditional home. So even families have started to prefer this home-style over a free-standing one.
Amenities Are Readily Available
Older suburbs are quickly outgrowing their surroundings, especially with quality schooling, shops and parks around. New subdivision housing is constructed to give people better access to better facilities and amenities. Having amenities such as good schools, daycare facilities and maintained parks can change many people’s lives for the better.
Selling Your Subdivision = Substantial Capital Gains
If you plan to sell your subdivision home in the future and use a reputable building company to construct it, you’ll most likely make much profit on the sale. Most subdivision style houses gain popularity as they grow, meaning their value will also rise over the years.
Built With The Best Technology
New subdivisions are mostly made using the most unique and latest building technology, such as innovative storage and open plan layouts. This building style also cuts down the maintenance required, which frees up more time for simply enjoying your home. New subdivisions are well known for their warm atmosphere and sustainable style of living.
Pete’s Construction: Experts In New Subdivision Housing In Christchurch
If you’re ready to downscale or upgrade your lifestyle and move into new subdivisions in Christchurch, make sure to contact Pete’s Construction for expert, affordable services. We provide special discounts that change every season. Contact us here to make an appointment or to receive a non-obligatory quote.
Do you feel like you’ve found the ideal home for you and your family? Well, before you hand over your hard-earned cash, you may want to get a building report to ensure that everything is in order.
As professional builders in Chch, we have inspected many homes and have found various issues that potential buyers knew nothing about. So we really understand the functionality of getting a building report before purchasing a home.
Buying a home or commercial building is a huge investment. While it may look good to a potential buyer, there could be many unseen issues lurking about that only a professional builder will be able to identify. Getting a building report could save you a lot of time and money. While major problems are identified, more subtle potential problems such as moisture damage, leaks etc., are also looked at.
What’s Included in a Building Report
A comprehensive building report should include a review of the following:
Flooring
Subfloors
Tiling
Electrical system
Plumbing system
Overall structure
Bathroom and kitchen fixtures
Driveways and outdoor paving
Decks and patios
Water and septic tanks
Insects and pests
Spouting and drainpipes
Roof and ceiling
Water heaters and gas
Retaining walls and fences
Visible insulation
Foundations
When do I Need to Get a Building Report?
If you plan to buy a building at an auction, you’ll need to get the report before the auction takes place as making a purchase at an auction is seen as ‘unconditional’, and getting a building report after the auction won’t do you any good.
When making an offer at a home outside of an auction, ensure that you make it clear that your offer is conditional on a builders report and that the offer may not be valid or may be lowered after receiving a report from a professional builder.
If the conditional offer is accepted, you should get a building report done ASAP.
Are you looking for builders in Chch to conduct a building report in Christchurch for the property that you’re interested in? Get ahold of the team at Pete’s Construction today, and we can talk you through our building inspection services.
Planning on building or renovating your dream home? Excitement levels will be high, but you might also feel daunted with decisions from choosing land or an existing building and a thousand other things before moving in. Get the first and biggest decision out the way with our helpful guide on building versus renovation. Call our master house builders in Christchurch with any questions you have.
The Foundational Questions
A building process can take anything from months to years, subject to the scope, quality of preparation, complexity, decision speed, and work type. Here are some questions to help with preparation:
Where exactly in Christchurch do you want your house builder to break ground or renovate?
What size and general layout is needed?
Do you want a single or double-storey?
Have you calculated your budget?
What are your non-negotiables and nice-to-haves?
How Much Does Building A House Cost In Christchurch?
The industry cost averages for house building range from $2500 per square metre (basic) to $3500 (mid) to anything over $3500 (high-end). With average house sizes currently at 156 square metres, the average totals are $468,000 to $546,000, excluding land, site preparation, planning, and council fees.
Renovations have a much higher hassle factor for builders; therefore, these can be more expensive. Your builder can advise you on the best way to contain your budget.
Your final price will vary subject to size, style, complexity and chosen finishes.
The L-Word: Location
Your lifestyle and finances strongly influence location, so you need to choose between a new suburb or an established area. The LURP (Land Use Recovery Plan) has opened loads of new opportunities.
When choosing an existing property, remember that site preparation might unearth surprises and anomalies but, the advantage is that you will know which amenities, cafes and schools are available.
If you are renovating your existing property, you get to keep a beloved home and suburb with amenities you are comfortable with but in a brand-new dream home.
Buying new land makes your dream home more accessible, and you are part of founding a new community. The new or planned shopping centres, schools, hospitals, bike routes, etc., can all be integrated with significantly more eco-friendly factors.
Once you have researched and chosen your best option, the next phase is the fun design phase. Enjoy!
To get the best advice on which approach to take, talk to our expert team and be confident with your final decision.
There is a wide range of different housing styles that exist in New Zealand. Some are easy to categorise as they have similar designs, features, and/or elements. This particularly applies to older houses.
More modern houses are harder to define. Over the last 30 or so years, new build homes in Christchurch and elsewhere in the country often mix various styles together. Probably the only definable category that works for most of these houses is contemporary, although there is little in the way of design uniformity.
Some of the modern styles you will see in whole or in part include:
Weatherboard houses built on small sections with a modest design.
Open plan houses that are larger and have features like attached garages and rumpus rooms.
Modern architectural designs that feature the latest construction materials, lots of glass, and clean lines.
Architectural designs that push boundaries, and where the goal is to create a unique home that makes a statement.
Mediterranean-style homes that borrow features from Europe.
Contemporary two-storey homes with modern cladding, garages, and pitched roofs.
Common older housing styles include:
The villa – popular from the late 1800s to the 1910s, villas were typically built from timber and have attractive, pre-war designs.
The bungalow – bungalows largely took over from the villa. They are less ornate than villas and are usually found in the suburbs.
Art deco – popular in the 1930s and 1940s, art deco houses have a unique design that often features flat roofs, curved walls, variable layers, and ornate internal wall finishes.
State house – plain but robust and solid cottages with tiled roofs, timber joinery, and brick or weatherboard exterior finishes.
Best Housing Styles in NZ
Older style properties like villas and early 1900s bungalows are popular, but it’s important to be aware of the maintenance and renovation costs that are involved when you own one of these houses.
In terms of modern styles, all modern houses must adhere to the same building and energy efficiency standards. So, it all comes down to taste and how you will use the house. Experienced house builders in Christchurch will be able to help you make the right choice for your requirements.
Going the DIY route to complete your home renovation on a budget is a choice that many New Zealanders make every year. It can be the right choice, but it can also go disastrously wrong where the costs spiral out of control.
So, how do you successfully complete a DIY home renovation on a budget? Our tips will help ensure your project runs smoothly and stays within budget.
DIY Home Renovations Tips
Create a List of Must-Haves and Nice-to-Haves
The first of our DIY home renovation tips is to make a list of must-have elements for your project. You should then create a list of nice-to-haves. It’s important to be strict with this list, as the nice-to-haves should be the first thing to cut when you move to the next stage – budgeting.
Budget Accurately
Don’t budget with the hope of negotiating a discount, finding a lower price, or working out a less costly approach. It’s nice if these things happen, but you have to assume they won’t. So, be honest and budget accurately.
Account for Unplanned Costs
All residential builders in Christchurch will tell you that most renovation projects encounter unplanned costs. So, you need to budget for them. Planning your budget too close to the maximum amount you have to spend will leave you no wiggle room when you need it.
Plan Meticulously
By taking on the planning and project management of your renovation, you can save money. However, you must plan thoroughly and then regularly review it.
Choose a Builder with a Good Track Record
You are likely to need a builder for your project, even though you are trying to do as much yourself as possible. The best advice when hiring builders in Christchurch is to choose a company with a good reputation and track record.
Avoid Costly Mistakes
Some parts of your renovation project will be more expensive than others to correct if they go wrong. Therefore, it helps to take extra care to avoid the costliest mistakes. They include:
Taking incorrect measurements
Moving plumbing
Relaying tiles
By avoiding mistakes like these, you will save time and money.
