Looking

to build

Thinking About Building?

Welcome to The Long Way Home series: Looking to Build

This journey guide walks you through the full process of building a house in New Zealand — from defining your vision and finding land, to signing contracts, managing the build, and finally settling into your brand-new space.

Building a home is one of the most exciting (and demanding) ways to shape your future. It’s not just about choosing finishes — it’s about managing costs, timelines, consents, and builders, all while trying to stay true to your lifestyle goals. That’s why we’ve broken the process into eight clear phases, filled with practical insights and real-world benchmarks.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or considering a house-and-land package, this guide helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Phase 1: Define Your Vision & Budget
Clarify your lifestyle drivers, budget realistically using NZ-specific cost data, and explore where your build goals fit within your financial comfort zone.

Phase 2: Find Land or a House-and-Land Package
Understand zoning, soil class, and due diligence checks as you explore land across regions — or consider pre-matched house-and-land options.

Phase 3: Choose Your Build Partner
Compare builder models — from group housing to design-and-build or full architect partnerships — and learn how to ask the right questions before signing anything.

Phase 4: Concept & Design Development
Bring your home to life on paper. Work through concepts, estimates, and sustainability features before locking in a plan that suits your site, budget, and lifestyle.

Phase 5: Costing, Contracts & Consents
Refine your pricing, lock in key specifications, and submit complete plans to the council with fewer delays. Learn about PC sums, escalation clauses, and timelines.

Phase 6: Construction — Foundations to Lock-Up
Watch your home take shape. Know what to expect during each build stage and how to stay informed with project updates, site meetings, and variation tracking.

Phase 7: Interiors, Fixtures & Fit-Out
Manage decisions on kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, lighting, and colour. Know your walkthrough rights and how to keep things moving toward completion.

Phase 8: Handover & Settling In
Celebrate the finish line. Understand CCC requirements, warranty periods, and final handover tasks like insurance, valuations, and moving-in readiness.

Phase 7: Interiors, Fixtures & Fit-Out
Manage decisions on kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, lighting, and colour. Know your walkthrough rights and how to keep things moving toward completion.

Phase 8: Handover & Settling In
Celebrate the finish line. Understand CCC requirements, warranty periods, and final handover tasks like insurance, valuations, and moving-in readiness.

Want access to the full guide?

Create your free myTrends Property account to explore every phase of your journey. Plan, learn, save, and take action with full access to guides and tools tailored to Kiwi homeowners.

Want access to the full guide?

Create your free myTrends Property account to explore every phase of your journey. Plan, learn, save, and take action with full access to guides and tools tailored to Kiwi homeowners.

1. Join

Your personalised Trends Property journey starts here
Creating a free myTrends Property account is the first step toward turning inspiration into action, whether you’re renovating to stay, preparing your home for sale, getting ready to buy, or looking to build. As soon as you join, the platform begins to tailor your experience based on your goals, so everything you see is more relevant, timely, and aligned with your personal property journey.

Create a free myTrends Property account quickly and easily in seconds.
Answer a few quick questions to customise your experience, such as your property goals, project timeframe, and design interests.

Get tailored content and tools matched to your project goals, so your myTrends Account page, recommendations, and guides are always aligned with where you’re at.

2. Guides

Step-by-step advice at the right time, in the right order

Access Quick Guides, Mini Guides, and full-length Courses
Learn about property, renovation, design, and building
Understand what to ask and expect from trusted professionals

3. Notes

Capture ideas and inspiration in one central place

Add written notes or paste links and references
Organise notes into folders and highlight important ones
Pin key thoughts to the top for your team to see

4. Resources

Upload and store all your project files securely

Save brochures, quotes, PDFs, images, or spreadsheets
Share with your team to keep everyone aligned
Avoid multiple email versions with one source of truth

5. Team

Invite others to collaborate on your project

Add up to 9 collaborators (friends, family, pros)
Assign access levels: Partner or Collaborator
Share updates, ideas, and resources in one place

6. Save

Collect content that inspires you and keep it organised

Bookmark articles, videos, audio, case studies and portfolio.
Add your own notes and reflections to saved items
Revisit ideas and turn inspiration into action

7. Visualise

Build your own visual library of property ideas

Save images from any section of the site
Group images by custom folders like “Kitchen Ideas” or “Landscaping”
Revisit later and share with your team or design professional

Create your free myTrends Property account to explore every phase of your journey. Plan, learn, save, and take action with full access to guides and tools tailored to Kiwi homeowners.