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High Performance Design & Build

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The Homeowners Guide to creating an Energy Efficient or Passive Home.

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Design & Build

We can cater for both clients who require a full design-build service, and those who have already commissioned a designer of their own.

The key to both is the development of a strong relationship between client, designer and building team.

Key Inclusions:

  • Access to our team’s knowledge and expertise throughout the process.
  • An independent estimate of concepts providing confidence to proceed.
  • Full fixed price proposal of final plans.
  • Assistance with selections and access to secure online job management portal providing certainty around costs and timeframes.
  • Full Project Management.
  • All our designs consider all five passive house principles.
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DESIGN & BUILD

What Option Are You?

An initial meeting nuts out a lot!

We want to understand your needs. This includes your ideas, priorities, and budget.

You want reassurance that we can deliver what you need. This includes specific expertise, quality assurance, trust, and professionalism.

This meeting clarifies which option will meet your unique needs and allows us to gather the key information to progress to the next phase, whatever avenue you decide.

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The Key

Our Design & Build Process

Our design build process provides clear direction for every party for every stage, alongside tangible outcomes.

PHASE 01.

Connecting With The Right Designer

Through our previous discussions and meeting(s) we have established your needs and priorities.

We introduce suitable designers who would meet those needs and accompany you to that initial meeting.
We find this collaborative approach of homeowner, designer and builder produces the best outcomes.

By now, we have confirmed what level of energy efficiency and performance is required.

A preliminary contract is presented incorporating the designer’s proposal and our costs to price the plans. This clearly identifies our obligations and inclusions.

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PHASE 02.

Concepts & Estimate Of Concepts

Concepts are completed by your chosen designer with input from our team.

Depending on your designer this stage may include preliminary sketches prior to concepts, house siting & aspect options, and any other items requested and specifically described in the scope of the design proposal.

No engineering work or detailed selections have been completed at this time.

We complete a preliminary estimate from your concepts with the aim of providing you confidence to proceed to the next stage.

Thermal modelling of your design is completed, and potential modifications discussed.

Concepts must be approved before moving to phase 3.

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PHASE 03.

Working Drawings & Fixed Price Proposal

The designer completes full working drawings and acquires the engineering necessary for your design on your unique site.

At the same time, we work with you to select the remaining items needed to complete your home that are not specified in your plans, such as joinery, plumbing hardware, flooring, tiling and window detail.

The result is your contract inclusions reflect your unique choices, specifications and quotes meaning more accurate costings. It also reduces delays to the build process.

Once the plans and inclusions have been confirmed we complete a detailed and comprehensive fixed price proposal. We choose to use an independent Quantity Surveyor and request job specific quotes to provide peace of mind.

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PHASE 04.

Preparing To Build

Once the proposal has been accepted, we prepare your building contract for signing and request your deposit. We also submit for building consent and a build start date is agreed.

Our contracts are industry approved New Zealand Certified Builders Contracts, and we provide a 10-year workmanship guarantee for further peace of mind.

A build schedule is completed. Our experienced Project Manager oversees the construction of your home, and your exclusive Site Foreman leads the team charged with constructing your home.

You can keep up to date with communications, schedules, variations & approvals at any time on your online job portal. We also supply our ‘Client Expectations’ booklet, which details each stage of the build and answers common questions.

Don’t forget, we complete an air tightness test at pre line and completion stage.

Upon Completion of your build, we jointly undertake a final quality control inspection. We also explain our after-build management process and present to you the keys for your new home.

Handover is a celebratory affair!

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Build Only Process

Already chosen your designer but would like to work with us?

If you have already contracted a designer, our role is to support the design process in a more advisory role. We are responsible for providing an estimate of concepts, assisting with selections, and completing a fixed build cost to take to contract.

The process is the same as the Design & Build except your designer will be accountable for the design work, including engineering, thermal modelling, and building consent.

We still recommend a close relationship between homeowner, designer, and builder throughout to ensure continuity, a greater understanding of the desired outcomes & priorities, and to offer our specialist advice on construction methods and costs.

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Featured Design & Build Projects

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Cashmere

Non-Energy Modelled built to Passive House Principles

Strowan

Certified Passive House

Cust

SIPs Energy Modelled High Performance Home

Successful Designer Partnerships

FAQS

Do you have plans or house & land packages?

House Plans:
We have several home plans available.

Our collection of high-performance plans provides a fixed price with some options to upgrade. These homes are all energy modelled and incorporate passive house principles.

We also have an inspiration range which has guide prices only.

House & Land Packages:
We have relationships with several developers of subdivisions in North Canterbury and occasionally further afield. We can put one of our plan ranges on your choice of available sections and provide a price for you to consider.

These relationships are constantly updating so please contact us to find out what is available at the time.

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What is your m2 rate?

Design & Build Option:
The cost per square metre for a high-performing home can vary greatly due to the wide range of materials and construction quality. Each home is unique, even those with the same floor area, as the shape, structure, and material usage can differ significantly. For example, kitchens and bathrooms are more expensive than living rooms and bedrooms. While more bedrooms and living areas can lower the average m² rate, they increase the overall cost due to a larger floor area. Energy-efficient homes, however, aim to eliminate unused spaces, which can raise the m² rate but potentially lower the total cost due to a reduced floor area.

For a design and build project, we work within your budget, focusing on your specific needs and priorities. Through detailed discussions, we can advise on your budget and what you can achieve, ensuring the best value for your investment.

While rough price guides are available, effective communication with your builder and designer is essential. Understanding your priorities and budget helps achieve the best outcome for your investment.

High Performance Plan Range:
Our high-performance plan range provides you with a fixed price for a specific design and its inclusions.

What choice of designers do you have?

We collaborate with several designers offering a range of styles, practice sizes, and budgets. All our designers are experienced in the nuances of high-performance homes and prioritise a team-first approach. This ensures that homeowners, designers, and builders work closely together from the start.

Once we understand your aspirations, requirements, and constraints, we can suggest designer options that best suit your needs.

What are your design costs?

Our design costs vary depending on the designer, project requirements, and the size and complexity of the project. Generally, a draughtsman will be the least expensive, followed by an architectural designer, and then a certified architect. Larger practices may involve multiple people working on your design, while others work alone. Additionally, some practices include thorough analyses of environmental and climatic factors, depending on the site and the scope requested.

Once we sit down and understand your needs, constraints, build location and design budget, we will be able to suggest designers to suit, we will meet with them and request a detailed fee proposal from them before any commitments are made.

I already have plans, can you price them?

Yes, we can price your existing plans for a nominal fee. This fee covers the use of an independent quantity surveyor (QS), who provides detailed pricing by extensively communicating with suppliers and subcontractors. This ensures transparency, reduces hidden costs, and increases pricing accuracy.

Often, plans lack specific details, so we ask clients to make selections beforehand to provide accurate quotes, avoiding generic allowances. Although this process is involved, the benefits of accurate project costings and preparation far outweigh the nominal fee.

Even at the concept stage, we offer a ‘Concept Estimate’ to gauge feasibility before proceeding to detailed drawings and engineering. This estimate helps you decide whether to proceed with the plan or tweak the design, ensuring a smoother transition to working drawings. At Chatterton Homes, we engage an independent QS for this stage and present the estimate to help you guide your designer or request necessary changes.

How long does the design process take?

Once we understand your scope and your site, and we have discussed potential designers, we will be able to give you a much better idea of the design process time.

The design time can be affected by:

  • Your site
  • Your scope – one design or versions of a design, size, style etc
  • Your scope – architectural or conventional
  • Any plans or layouts you already have
  • Consideration of different aspects/locations on site
  • Groundworks, foundation requirements
  • Your designer – size, commitments, scope
  • Any modelling, verification, certification
  • Number of design changes, amendments

We also complete two sets of pricing during this process (concept estimate & full fixed price investment).

A simple design job can be completed within 6-8 months if motivated. More complex architectural jobs can take over a year or more.

Note: The plan range reduces this time as the design stage only requires a site plan to be completed by the design team (fitting the desired plan on your section).

How do you manage our build budget & avoid overspend?

There are a several ways we manage this:

  • A fixed price contract.
  • We try to fix as many items pre contract as possible. Many items are not drawn on plans, so we work with you to choose your selections, include quotes or agreed allowances so there are no surprises, and the inclusions reflect your preferences.
  • A transparent variation process. Plus, any variations must be approved by the Homeowner.
  • Together – up front selections, a Project Manager, and a job management system reduces the risk of delays and overruns.

When can you start building?

Right at the start of the design process we will discuss with you your timelines and requirements. We work on a build slot system so we can better plan the management of our projects and provide realistic timelines to our clients.

How long will the build take?

Once we understand your scope, your site and start the design process, we will be able to give you a much better idea of the build time. We understand the importance of this question as many clients are renting or bridging finance during the build.

I have never built before, where do I start?

If you have land and are wanting to take the next step in planning your new home there are two key things that should be top of your list of considerations.

1. Identify Needs vs. Wants (aka Priorities):
– Needs: Determine essentials based on family size, such as the number of bedrooms and living spaces. Consider an office if you work from home. Prioritise a healthy or energy-efficient home, especially if family members have health issues, are elderly, or young, or if you are tired of cold, damp conditions or high power bills.
– Wants: Think about your dream features, like a butler’s pantry, a wall of windows, large skylights, a rumpus room, or a large balcony. Decide which are non-negotiable and which you can compromise on if necessary.

2. Understand Constraints:
– Budget: Establish a clear budget to avoid overspending.
– Site Limitations: Consider the size, shape, slope, and foundation of your plot. Check for any covenants or resource consent issues that might affect your build.

This approach provides goals and boundaries for the design team. This will help save time, money, and avoid confusion, ensuring informed decisions and a smoother home-building journey.

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