[Moorf]

Just wondered if anyone had any figures, or references, regarding the cost benefits of building your own - I can't get my head round the fact that buying land, getting services to it and then building a home would end up cheaper than buying? :confused:

[Sam B]

I'm sure it isn't cheaper, as we are just starting to look into it and it will definitely be more expensive for us. But we will get the land we want and the house we want, so I suppose that's the advantage. Also think that if we then sold it, we may make money?

[incredible hulse]

We looked at building our own house. The ballpark figures for building costs given to us were from 1200-1800 dollars p/sqm. The higher figure was for top fittings and more expensive builders. This excluded landscaping, architecture, and services costs. To be honest with the high cost of land at the moment we struggled to make the figures work

[Questor]

Some friends of ours are building their own place just outside Paraparaumu in Nikau Valley, and they paid about 300k for the section, and about 450-500k for the house, so I don't think it is cheaper, but they needed a granny flat so probably wouldn't have been able to fins exactly what they were after

[incredible hulse]

Some friends of ours are building their own place just outside Paraparaumu in Nikau Valley, and they paid about 300k for the section, and about 450-500k for the house, so I don't think it is cheaper, but they needed a granny flat so probably wouldn't have been able to fins exactly what they were after
Small world Questor - thats where we were looking to build and came in with similar figures. Ended up buying there in the end ..

[Moorf]

So would it be safe to say that building probably costs about the same as buying a house, perhaps a little more, but you end up with the house and amenities you want, in a location you want. So there isn't really a cost benefit from building?

[Paul]

I would think its like anywhere in the world where the building cost is fairly easily "fixed" to your spec, it mainly comes down to finding the right section at the right cost. That is where you can make your money anywhere if you get the land cheap. Don't forget that can include buying an existing delapidated house on a nice section and getting a much bigger house rebuilt in its place
In areas where land supply is scarce then cost of land is generally the most expensive element

[The Hodges]

Hi Moorf

In my opinion, the land values in Auckland do make building your own home on a section expensive. I seem to remember, reading on this forum before, that the cost to build a house is $1,500 per sq m. and according to the cost book I have on my desk at the moment, the cost varies for Christchurch from $1,100 for a small single storey to $3,550 for a large executive home.

However, I've just found out that a Councils have a Developers Contribution, which can be 8-17% of the cost of the build, so it would be worthwhile checking on the local council's website for all the associated fees.

But as you say, you get a house to the spec that you want and to your own liking, but even so, the value of the finished product should be more that what it cost to build, including the land acquistion.

Let us know how you get on.

[Lupin]

I've just bought 4 acres for $110K and the house plus services look set to come in at about $220K. We'll be 10 mins from the sea in an idylic village...no way we could afford to buy there and this way we get to face the house how we want it etc.

[Moorf]

Ohhh, that sounds fab!! Pics please!! :clap

What would an equivalent house sell for nearby (an established one)?

[nippa&pippa]

Helen, saw this, thought of you!

http://www.leaders.co.nz/barrytown/

Is this any good to you??????:laugh

[Moorf]

Oh gawd, not sure I could live in a place called Barrytown! :laugh

Nice though, quite.. errr... woody! :D

[nippa&pippa]

More ideal for noah and his animals.... but nice view.....:yes

[victoria]

Love it and Want it. We're looking to buy land & build & just wonderful to see all the different aspects. I hope we'll be posting our own efforts in the future. Good luck
Vicky

[Lupin]

Pics in a post in the lounge from a couple of weeks back Moorf :)

The registered valuation said it was rather difficult to value because locally houses of the size we're building (120 sqm plus 50sqm of covered deck) on the size land we have (1.66 hectares) are few and far between. They tend to be either much larger or baches. She gave it a built value of $340K. I've seen a few slightly similar crop up since then on the edge of a nearby local town on the market for $290K - $410K.

I suspect it will be priceless :D

[Lupin]

PS: We're probably going with A1 kitset homes (http://www.a1homes.co.nz/) (full contract) as I like the standard for the price and have built a decent relationship with the guy locally, but nothing is confirmed yet as we are taking our time.

[nickydwuk]

PS: We're probably going with A1 kitset homes (http://www.a1homes.co.nz/) (full contract) as I like the standard for the price and have built a decent relationship with the guy locally, but nothing is confirmed yet as we are taking our time.

With the kitset homes do you have to find a builder locally to erect the building and plumbers & electricians to carry out the other work? I imagine this may increase the cost substabtially if costs for these trades in the UK are anything to go by.

[The Hodges]

You could always find a house and move it on to the plot (see http://www.brittons.co.nz/Services/Listings.html as a example what you can buy).

There's loads out there if you search google.co.nz and trademe.co.nz. Now that's what I call moving house!