CB Design options

3 approaches to house design and building

The 3 usual ways of getting a house designed and built are:

1. Using a group housing company. These companies usually provide packages which can include some or all of the following:

• The section.
• Standard house designs (which can usually be adapted to your requirements – this may add additional cost).
• Finance.
• Project management and construction.

2. Going directly to a builder who can arrange the drawings according to your instructions. Some building companies offer a design and build service giving a fixed price for designing and building the house.

3. Custom-designing your home to your ideas using a registered architect, an architectural designer or an architectural draughtsperson. You then need to decide who is going to build and manage the building process. Architects, and sometimes other designers, offer this service.

Group housing companies

Group housing companies offer a range of standard designs. Some companies will let you change almost anything on the design. Others may not be so keen to alter their standard plans.

Some firms will take care of the entire building process from building consent and local planning compliance to landscaping.

One big advantage of this type of housing is that the price should be exact because you are buying a package (apart from any variations that you ask for after the fixed price has been agreed).

To find a group housing company go to these trade organisations:

• Building Industry Federation www.bifnz.co.nz.
• Registered Master Builders Federation www.masterbuilder.org.nz.
• New Zealand Certified Builders Association https://www.nzcb.nz.

Or search the web for individual company websites, or the Yellow Pages.

There are also companies whose business it is to sell house plans.

The advantage of using a stock plan is that it is likely to be tried and true and you can view it as a show home or a private home. However, the design won’t have been done specifically for your section, so choose the plan that will work best with the shape, size and contours of your section.

Using a group or kitset housing company will be cheaper than hiring an architect or other type of designer. However, you may not get the benefit of having a design that entirely meets your specific needs.

Design and build builders

Some builders offer a design service, either drawing the plans themselves or using an architect or designer that they work with to draw the plans.

Builders aren’t usually trained in house design but this option might work for you if you are very clear about the design and specifications. Ask to see examples of their work.

Certain design work must be done or supervised by a licensed building practitioner. There are two levels of design practice depending on the complexity of the project. To find out more go to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Building Performance website.