Where to start
A great building experience starts long before construction.
Building your own home should be exciting, not a process filled with uncertainty about costs, decisions or what happens next.
At Elevation Homes, we believe the key to a successful build is getting the important things right from the very beginning.
That means understanding your budget before getting carried away with design, working through the details before committing to construction, and making sure you have the right information to make confident decisions along the way.
You will work directly with Regan and Dayna throughout the process. We are personally invested in your project, from the first conversation through to handing over the keys.
We have developed our process around one simple goal: to deliver a home you love, with a clear understanding of what you are investing and what to expect at every stage.
Here is how we make that happen.
One
Let’s Get to Know Each Other
Every great project starts with a conversation.
We want to hear what you are looking to create, how you want to live, what matters most to you and the budget you are working towards.
Whether you already own a section, have plans underway or are starting with a blank canvas, we will talk through your ideas, answer your questions and help you understand your options.
It is also your opportunity to get to know Regan and Dayna, how we work and what you can expect from us.
The goal? To make sure we are the right fit for each other and that you feel confident about taking the next step.
Two
Making Sure It All Stacks Up
Before we put pen to paper, we want to understand exactly what we are working with. Every section is different, and the characteristics of your land can have a significant impact on what can be built and what it will cost.
We take the time to review the relevant property information, site conditions, council requirements and technical reports so we have a clear understanding of the opportunities and any potential challenges.
This means your home is designed around the realities of your section from the very beginning, rather than discovering costly surprises further down the track. It is about doing the groundwork properly, so we can make informed design decisions right from the start.
Three
Bringing Your Ideas to Life
Now that we have a thorough understanding of your section, it is time to start designing. Working alongside your architectural designer, we develop a concept that reflects the way you want to live, your priorities and your budget.
From the layout and orientation to the rooflines, cladding and overall look of your home, every element is considered with both design and practicality in mind. To begin this stage, an initial concept design deposit is required. This is tailored to the scope of your project and credited towards your 10% construction contract deposit when you proceed with us.
Once your concept is developed, we prepare a measured estimate and proposed specification schedule, giving you a meaningful indication of the anticipated construction costs. This is an important part of our process. Rather than waiting until your plans are fully developed to talk about costs, we bring design and budget together early.
You get to see what is possible, understand what it is likely to cost and make informed decisions before moving forward.
Four
Reviewing and Refining Your Design
With your concept design and measured estimate complete, we bring everything together and sit down with you to go through it in detail. We present your design, explain the proposed specifications and walk you through the estimated construction costs, so you have a clear understanding of what has been allowed for.
This is your opportunity to tell us what you love, what you might like to change and where you would prefer to invest your budget. Whether that means adjusting the layout, exploring different materials or refining particular features, we will help you understand how those decisions could affect the overall cost. If changes are needed, we work through these with you before progressing to the next stage.
The goal is to have a design you are genuinely excited about, with an estimated construction cost that aligns with your budget, before investing in detailed working drawings.
Five
From Plans to Price
With your concept design refined and your budget expectations aligned, it is time to turn those ideas into detailed plans and firm construction pricing.
Your architectural designer develops the working drawings, alongside any required external consultants’ reports. These form the foundation for accurate construction pricing and your building consent application. We then work closely with our suppliers and trades to obtain detailed pricing based on your completed plans and agreed specifications. This is where we move from a measured estimate to a fixed-price construction proposal.
Groundworks and council fees are included in your overall project budget but remain outside the fixed price, as ground conditions and council requirements can affect their final cost. We clearly explain these allowances so you understand your total anticipated investment. A deposit is required to begin this stage, which is credited towards your 10% construction contract deposit when you proceed with us.
The result? Detailed plans, clearly defined specifications and a construction price you can make confident decisions around.
Six
Confidence Before Commitment
By this stage, we have worked through your design, refined the details and established your construction price. Now it is time to bring everything together.
We prepare your Registered Master Builders building contract, clearly setting out the agreed scope of work, specifications, construction price, payment schedule and contract conditions.
Regan and Dayna will personally walk you through the contract, making sure you understand what is included, how payments work and what happens if you decide to make changes along the way.
Once you are ready to proceed, we sign the contract and a 10% deposit is due, less any eligible payments already made during the design and planning stages.
You can move forward knowing what you are building, what you are committing to financially and what to expect from us throughout construction.
Seven
The Final Details Before We Build
With your building contract signed, there are a few exciting decisions to make while we prepare for construction. We arrange your kitchen and interior design consultations, where you will work with our design specialists to bring together the colours, materials, finishes and finer details that make your home feel like yours.
At the same time, we coordinate your building consent application, liaise with council and manage any additional information required throughout the consent process.
We also set up your personal client portal, giving you one convenient place to access project information, follow progress, view photographs and stay up to date throughout your build.
Behind the scenes, we are coordinating trades, planning material orders and preparing your construction programme. We keep you informed throughout, so you know what decisions are needed, where things are at and what happens next.
All the details coming together, with the right people guiding you every step of the way.
Eight
Bringing Your Home to Life
This is where all the careful planning and attention to detail start to come together, and your new home begins to take shape. Our in-house building team gets to work, with Regan overseeing construction and ensuring the workmanship, programme and finer details are managed with care.
Throughout the build, you will receive fortnightly progress updates, keeping you informed about what has been happening on site and what is coming up next. Your client portal also gives you a convenient way to follow progress and view photographs as your home takes shape.
We arrange site visits by appointment, giving you the opportunity to see the progress firsthand and discuss important milestones with us.
As construction nears completion, we coordinate the final inspections, required documentation and a walkthrough of your finished home. And then comes one of our favourite moments. Handing over the keys. From the first day on site to the final walkthrough, you are dealing directly with the people responsible for delivering your home.
Nine
Our Commitment Does Not End at Handover
Handing over the keys is a pretty special moment, but it is not where our relationship ends. We check in with you at twelve weeks and again at one year to see how everything is settling in and address any items that may need attention.
As Registered Master Builders, we offer the protection of a Master Build 10-Year Guarantee on eligible projects, subject to its terms and conditions.
We take real pride in the homes we build and the relationships we develop along the way. We want you to love living in your home just as much as we loved building it.
“We found Dayna and Regan to be professional, efficient, friendly and easy to deal with. It was important to us to know how much the house would cost in the end. We had a fixed-price contract that was fully adhered to, and payments were made only after each quoted stage was completed. Overall, we are absolutely delighted with our new home. It is everything we could have hoped for and we are very thankful to Dayna and Regan for making it such an enjoyable experience.”
Liz and Murray – Whitianga View
It starts with a conversation.
Let’s bring your ideas to life, with experience, precision, and care.