Looking to build a new home in Christchurch or the Canterbury region and want to learn more about choosing the right builder, how to pick your section and which suburbs are the best to build in, and relevant post-quake build information? Take a look below for insider tips and industry advice on building your new home in Christchurch.
Changes To The Way We Build Here – Post Quake
One of today’s biggest challenges when building in Christchurch is the obvious changes to the ground that we now build on. Liquefaction, subsidence and unstable hillsides, to name just a few, have become important factors when preparing to build or renovate. But there are other changes that have only served to make the industry safer and more resilient.
- Categorised Land Zoning. Christchurch land is now categorised under the Land Zoning system, which involves applying T1, T2 or T3 to sections for the purpose of identifying repairable housing areas and liquefaction-related land damage. For more information on these Technical Category classifications, see here.
- Stricter Regulatory Requirements. Stringent post-quake rebuild regulations and requirements have been put in place to future-proof buildings, not only in the Christchurch and Canterbury region but for the whole of New Zealand. There has been an increased focus on strict adherence to The NZ Building Code, which has resulted in a shift towards increased accountability and consequences associated with building materials, meeting budgets and targeted delivery timeframes.
- Standardised Geotech Reports. As part of the Building Consent process, it is a requirement of local council that a Geotechnical Report or Soil Report be provided when developing land to be built upon. This helps to establish the land stability and foundation requirements.
Choosing The Right Builder In Canterbury
When building in Christchurch or the wider Canterbury region, you are going to need to choose an experienced builder. When you are investing such a large amount of money and building in a post-quake environment, choosing the right building company is an important consideration. See below for a quick checklist for choosing a good builder, or read more on how to choose the right builder here.
Checklist For Choosing A Good Builder
- Experience. Choosing a local builder who is experienced in building houses in Canterbury is a must. More experienced construction companies can spot issues before they become a problem and take action to avoid possible complications. They are also more likely to come up with workable solutions to problems backed by local knowledge.
- Registration And Licenses. Having the right registration and licensing requirements means that the company has proven skills and certification in their industry.
- Pricing. A good motto here is ‘If it seems too good to be true, it probably is’. You should choose a builder that meets your criteria, looking out for builders who charge hidden fees and inflate their prices midway through the build. Always check quotes thoroughly and choose a builder with fair rates and a good reputation.
- Customer Reviews. Always ask your builder for references and look for feedback online. Also, get in touch with some of their past clients and ask about their experiences. If you hear mostly positive comments, then you should feel safer about choosing that contractor. If the feedback is negative in general, then you know it’s safer to look at another construction company to build your home.
Choosing A Section In Christchurch
Choosing your builder in Canterbury is a tough decision, but once you’ve got one sorted, it’s time to start planning the next step. When you decide to build a brand-new home, choosing the right section is one of the first and most important decisions you will make, especially when attempting to avoid the areas in Christchurch that are prone to liquefaction or subsidence.
5 Top Tips For Choosing The Best Section
- Sunshine Matters! When weighing your options on which site to choose, try to visualise what it would be like during various times of the day and the year. It could help if you ask yourself: Will my new home get sufficient sunlight in the winter? Will it get sunlight at my preferred waking hour in the morning?
- Geotechnical Classification Counts. There are some important characteristics to watch out for when you’re choosing your section in Christchurch. These include softness and silt ground material, and whether the area could be prone to erosion, floods or earthquakes.
- Zoning Is Important. If your goal is to build property in a residential area that’s zoned for other uses, you’ll have to get permission from the council. This can sometimes be a costly and time-consuming process.
- Check The Surrounding Neighbourhood. The type of neighbourhood you’re moving into is a factor that needs some consideration. Test out traffic levels at different times of day, particularly around peak traffic times. How far away are the shops? The school? And although this may sound a bit over the top, checking out the neighbours is time well spent.
- Investigate Your Hazards. It’s also a good idea to contact your local or regional council. They can verify any potential hazards that the section could be prone to. Doing this research is worth the effort, rather than finding out too late.
The Insider Christchurch Suburb Breakdown
Looking for the best place to build your new home in Christchurch? Need to know some insider details on what went down and where? Take a look at our quick summary below.
Many parts of lower-lying river-side areas like Avonside, Bexley, Dalington, Avondale and Burwood have become less desirable to build upon due to the need for significant land remediation. The existing housing in these areas are subject to an increased focus on foundational integrity and strict Geotech requirements and flooding issues.
Hilltop suburbs in the Port Hills like Mount Pleasant, Redcliffs and Cashmere Hills have always faced their own set of challenging circumstances, including steep hillsides, subsidence and restricted access which all naturally add to the difficulty (and cost) of the build process. However, the resulting custom-designed, often split-level homes and other innovative designs for sloped properties have emerged only stronger and better!
Coastal suburbs like Ferrymead, Sumner, Lyttleton and New Brighton although having suffered greatly throughout the earthquakes with liquefaction being a major issue, have shown resilience and strength with increasing rebuild and renovation activity within their borders.
The City Centre redevelopment, as laid out by the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan, has led to repurposing central city space into specific precincts housing different industry sectors. The return of businesses to central city locations has driven the need for increased inner city living options. The “East Frame” has seen a boom in more compact central city housing options like apartments and townhouses.
Outlying suburbs like Halswell, Hornby and out towards the Christchurch International Airport have experienced a growth surge over the past ten years. Christchurch construction companies have completed many new construction projects, both commercial and residential in these areas, with many still underway.
Further afield in the Selwyn district to the South West of Christchurch City, an explosion of new home builds is occurring in Rolleston, West Melton, Prebbleton and Lincoln. With available land seen as more “stable”, it is snapped up hastily for all types of new home builds. Population growth in Selwyn is expected to double if not triple, over the coming years.
To the North across the Waimakariri River, Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, and the relatively new settlement of Pegasus are also experiencing growth, with new developments and subdivisions providing the necessary land for substantial increases in new home builds.
Building A New Home Versus Buying An Existing Property In Christchurch
Buying an existing home or building a new home in Christchurch is the big question on many people’s minds in Canterbury. Whether you choose to buy or build, there are always going to be advantages and disadvantages. Educating yourself on the facts is an important step in the decision-making process.
Advantages Of Building A New Home In Christchurch
- Personal Choice. Choice is by far the biggest advantage here. Building new allows you to design everything to your exact liking; choosing materials, colours and specifications to suit your budget and personal wish list. You may also be pleasantly surprised by the affordability of many house and land packages in Christchurch in comparison to Auckland or Wellington.
- Avoidance Of Earthquake Complications. A factor to consider which is fairly unique to Christchurch is that many buyers are hesitant to purchase homes with hidden, existing or ongoing earthquake repair disputes and disagreements in progress. These buildings often have issues around insurance, along with other complications when it comes to their sale and purchase.
- Straight Forward Insurance. Speaking of insurance, this is also another important thing to investigate prior to buying a home in Christchurch. Insurance requirements and conditions have become much more stringent since the quakes, and it pays to look into this before making any purchase decisions on each individual property.
Benefits Of Buying An Existing New Home
- Convenience. Depending on what you’re looking for, convenience and cost are usually the big benefits here. Lots of people find the process of shopping around fun. It gives you the chance to get a clear idea of what it would be like to live in a house, because you get to see it in a “lived-in” state.
- Quick And Easy. If you are short on time, then buying a house is definitely the fastest method. It’s common for most house hunters to be able to move in after about 1-3 months.
- Potential To Renovate. While not a blank slate, renovating a property can be very rewarding, especially where you can add value to the property for future sale.
Build or buy, you can’t go wrong if you do the research and choose the right builder and building company. At JAR Builders, we have a team of Christchurch-based builders that can help you make the right choices, whether you are building from scratch or renovating. We’re an honest, reputable building company, and we give you realistic estimates and practical advice. See here for more information on “Building A New House In Christchurch” or if you are looking to build or renovate in the Canterbury area, then get in touch with JAR Builders today.
