Any Owner Builders Out There?

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Nealieb

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#274437 22-Aug-2020 11:03

Hi Folks,

I'm embarking on an owner builder project of a new build in central Auckland. I've had previous experience project managing multiple large renovations but I've never built myself before and I've never had to source materials before.

I'm currently working with a draftsman on design plans. However the big thrust of this project is to try and build new in Auckland for less than is currently being acheived. To this end, the design needs to be clever enough to take into account the standard size of materials like external cladding, GIB, carpet etc. I want to achieve minimal wasteage.

I've started looking into sourcing some materials offshore - namely America.

I have some questions:

1. Are there any other owner builders out there who've been through this process and have some pearls to share?

2. Has anyone had experience with house design that is built around materials rather than just design preferences?

3. Has anyone had experience importing building materials into NZ and ensuring they meet the building code and could comment on that process?

Thanks in advance.

networkn

Networkn
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#2547566 22-Aug-2020 11:33

I can't help you with the questions you've asked, but it's a pretty ambitious project to undertake as a first-timer if you don't have any experience in it. Have you considering working alongside a builder to get some experience? It won't be as cheap, for sure, but could save you from having to "learn the hard way".

There are a lot of complexities in building a home, not to mention the extra complications from importing and arranging certifying of materials yourself.

I don't want to be discouraging per se, just trying to give you something else to think about to help ensure your project is a success.

Also, with COVID happening right now, I would make extremely generous allowances for both delivery timeframes and currency fluctuations. There is an Election coming in the USA this year on top, depending on the result, currency rates could wildly move.

Nealieb

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2547573 22-Aug-2020 12:08

Thanks for that. Yes, given it sounds like a bad episode of Grand Designs (and could well turn out to be!). I have two experienced builders in the family and the three of us will be physically working on site + of course other subcontractors as required. So I wont be toiling away unsupervised. Will still be a steep learning curve no doubt.

Point taken re November elections. We wont be ready to actually place material orders etc until the new year so hopefully we'll have a better lay of the land by then.

Thanks again.

Bung

6479 posts

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#2547582 22-Aug-2020 12:55

If your relatives are builders is there any chance of piggy backing your orders onto an existing trade account? The whole system seems weighted towards mark ups at every step. I've heard of one builder who had a supplier offering 2 invoices one for payment and the other for the client that didn't show the discount.

billgates

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#2547624 22-Aug-2020 13:11

We just finished our build couple of weeks ago and moved in last week. We did a labour only contact with the builder and project managed bulk of the build and supplied our own materials. Anything we got via the builder there was a set margin on it but they project managed and times that part and we figured before we even started like laying the concrete pad, excavation and plumbing to be managed by them due to how critical the timing is suppose to be. Rest we did ourselves and imported a whole bunch of stuff ourselves. Timing is critical and luckily we had all the time available to us and we procured 90% of the materials when the bulls started and these were items required towards end of build.

Luckily we recieved all these items before COVID-19 was a thing in November last year. Our build did get delayed by 4 months due to COVID-19 via the mandatory Level 4 lockdown where no work was allowed and only one trade could come onto site during Level 3.

Word of warning, materials cost has gone up across the board due to COVID-19 as demand has been high with lots of WFH owners doing renovations and new builds still continuing and due to also disruption of materials coming from overseas as manufacturing facilities might still be closed or restricted.

We imported all our fittings excluding LED dowinlights from overseas including bathtub and basins that we sea freighted from a factory in China that Plumbline NZ buy from and saved $6k on these alone. Happy to provide links if you want them.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Delphinus

611 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2547732 22-Aug-2020 17:08

I've just about finished a 90sqm garage I designed and built myself. Everything from concrete foundations to wall framing and roofing did myself, just got trusses made to order.

Definitely make sure you get a good trade account somewhere. And get quotes from multiple suppliers because prices can wildly vary for exactly the same thing.

I guess things like windows would be something that is worth designing the house to fit off-the-shelf imported windows would be a good place to start. Locally made windows are stupid money. Great project, I wish you all the best! Take your time and do things right and its very satisfying.

itxtme

2102 posts

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#2547898 22-Aug-2020 22:39

billgates:
We imported all our fittings excluding LED dowinlights from overseas including bathtub and basins that we sea freighted from a factory in China that Plumbline NZ buy from and saved $6k on these alone. Happy to provide links if you want them.

I have been looking to import some larger home items from China. What was shipping like, I ask in terms of organising, cost and gotchas? Did you shipping take up a portion of a container or did you end up with a whole one?

billgates

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#2547921 23-Aug-2020 07:34

itxtme:

I have been looking to import some larger home items from China. What was shipping like, I ask in terms of organising, cost and gotchas? Did you shipping take up a portion of a container or did you end up with a whole one?

Sea freight took around 20 days to arrive from China to Auckland port. We paid NZ$220 for around 500KG which was loaded onto a portion of a container. I got the bathtub and basin factory to organise it locally with their freight company they use to ship to NZ already with. Once it reached Auckland port, we paid just under $250 for port fees and then GST + custom broker fees was on top. Paid $90 then to pickup 500KG odd of goods from Auckland port to bring on a truck to Hamilton delivered to our old home where we stored it all in the garage. The factory forgot to include the drain pipes etc for basins and bathtub and they promptly air frighted those via EMS and it reached me within 5 working days. Totally worth it and no stress. It is incredibly easy. You just need time and do your research that you are dealing with a professional company who regularly ship to NZ or Australia.

Do whatever you want to do man.