Building Your First Home? Save Money by Following These 8 Tips

October 31, 2024

If you have reached the moment in your housing journey when you are ready to build your first home, congratulations! This is a significant milestone, and it can be challenging to reach this point, so well done.

While there are many exciting moments ahead, there are still lots of decisions to be made and processes to work through. Understanding how to navigate these can put you in the best position when it comes to getting through the next phase of building your first home. There are lots of pitfalls, but also lots of great ways to save your money here and there that can really add up by the time you turn your key in the lock for the first time.

Read on as we explore some tips to help you save, including the importance of budgeting to get your deposit together, pinpointing the right location and how to select the right builder when you are building your first home.

1. Get Your Ducks in a Row

Nailing down the finance options that align best with your situation is a big part of building your first home. Smart budgeting is generally the best path towards getting the money together for a deposit, and this will mean making some sacrifices for a period of time in order to get where you want to go. Your bank and other lenders are able to provide you with financial advice about the best way to proceed, depending on your current circumstances.

When you are looking at building your own home, you will need to secure mortgage pre-approval before your builder can enter into a contract with you. Going into the mortgage pre-approval process with sound financial advice to propel you forward can save you money by moving you into the best position with a reputable lender.

2. Location Location

You may be able to save thousands of dollars by purchasing land for building your first home in a less desirable neighbourhood — or by choosing a spot that doesn’t have many amenities nearby. However, it is vital to choose the right location when you are building your first home.

Cheaper Doesn’t Always Translate to Savings

While you may find cheaper blocks of land in out-of-the-way places you need to think about the things that are going to affect your finances in the short, medium and long term. For instance, choosing to build at a location which is close to your job, schools, shopping precincts, and extended family is going to save you transport costs, time and hassle. While saving money on your purchase price might feel attractive up front, years of draining, expensive commutes do not translate to savings in the long run.

Ask for Expert Help

Engage a reputable realtor to ensure your choice is suitable for construction. Ask about established services and the soil conditions, look for even gradients that won’t require expensive engineering — and think about access. Choosing a plot of land online and buying it outright can be cheaper initially, but if you haven’t done your due diligence, you may be in for a nasty shock when it comes to the nitty-gritty of getting your foundation down.

3. Select a Reputable First Home Builder

There are many residential builders out there, and some of them are fantastic, but how do you know which one to choose? You need to be certain that you are connecting with builders in your area who are properly qualified, trustworthy and have the right type of experience for your build. You will be forming a relationship, so it’s important that you get along. It’s a good idea to connect with multiple builders in the early stages, and a good place to start when you are looking for experienced residential builders is to select your builder from the NZCB database.

Choose an NZCB Builder

All NZCB members hold a minimum trade qualification of New Zealand Certificate Level 4 in Carpentry, which other organisations don’t stipulate, and they are consistently trained around regulatory compliance. They also stay up to date on emerging trends in the industry with ongoing training.

There are a few questions you should have up your sleeve for your builder when you are building your first home; these include:

Can I choose a standard plan and have you modify it?
Do you include decks and patios in your total floor area estimate?
Do you use sustainable building practices?
Is there an after-build guarantee?

Selecting the right builder is paramount. You don’t want to be ripped off or messed around by unscrupulous traders—and they are out there.

Find NZCB builders here.

4. Future Proof with Energy Efficiency & Home Insulation

Saving money over the many years you are living in your home starts with the location and the right builder, and it incorporates your needs now and in the future. For instance, while you may have small children at home now, this won’t always be the case. So when you are thinking about layout, consider energy efficiencies that can flex with your changing needs.
You may all be living within close quarters, to begin with, so you might want the ability to close off certain parts of the house during the winter months to conserve power. But you may also want to consider your home insulation approach long term.

Ensuring that basements and garages are being fed warm air and are thoroughly insulated when you are building your first home will allow you to push out into these spaces as your children want more independence without additional outlays to remediate these rooms against the damp and cold.

5. Understand First Home Compliance

When you are building your first home you will need to comply with the regulations in your area for the type of dwelling you want to build. This can be quite complicated, but an NZCB builder will be able to guide you during this time—they can even take care of these submissions for you. Having an expert on your team can save you a lot of money by ensuring you have everything you need and nothing you don’t. Going forward without compliance can get you into trouble and cost you in penalties and work needing to be redone.

You will need these 6 items in your submission—and many more:

Proof of Ownership
Service Connection Application
Complete sets of drawings to scale
District Planning Documents
Resource Consents
Land Surveys

Read More: Get to the building process.

6. Seek out Great Communicators

When you are building your first home, there will be a lot of balls in the air, and it’s important that you choose a builder who is known for their great communication style. Projects usually have challenges that come up along the way; there may even be the need to alter or pivot from your original plan due to circumstances outside of your control. With the right builder on your team, you can be certain that you are kept in the loop every step of the way.

When you choose an NZCB builder, you will get a projected timeline and budget up front for your entire project and your builder will check in with you at agreed milestones — they won’t just make changes and add them to your final bill.

7. Avoid Budget Blowouts

Saving money can often come down to being aware of all your costs. Remember to chat with your builder about everything that is included in your detailed budget. Think about landscaping and other outdoor features like decks and fences, and take a look at this handy checklist for first-time homeowners to help you prepare financially for move in day:

Make sure your notice period at your current property and your move in date coincide. You don’t want to be stuck paying rent at your old address when you are moved into your own home.
Talk to your insurance provider. Make sure you will be covered for your move and from the moment you take possession of your home.
Book a moving company well in advance to take advantage of mid-week rates and advance booking specials.
Declutter your current property to keep moving costs down, sell unused items to defray moving costs.

8. Choose NZCB Builders for Peace of Mind

If you want to save money when you’re building your first home, the most important tip we can give you is to choose the right builder. Your builder can make the difference between an exciting, positive experience and a total nightmare—we’ve all heard the stories.

Get a Halo Guarantee

When you choose a builder from the NZCB database, you get the added benefit of a Halo 10-year residential guarantee. This comprehensive guarantee is available to all customers who work with one of our NZCB builders. This doesn’t just cover you for workmanship, it provides you with cover for defects arising from materials and work supplied by subcontractors and suppliers and alternative accommodation costs, should these be required during remediation.

Get in Touch

If you are building your first home, we can help. Contact the friendly team at NZCB today, and let’s get you started safely on your new home journey.

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12.1	Part G of the Schedule contemplates that the Parties will elect who is responsible for arranging the contract works insurance. If the Parties have not made that election or if their intention is unclear, then the Owner must arrange contract works insurance if the Building Work involves changes, alterations, renovations, restoration, repairs or maintenance to existing structures, and the Builder is responsible for arranging contract works insurance if the Building Work involves constructing an entirely new stand-alone structure. Irrespective of who arranges the contract works insurance, the excess on a contract works claim is payable by the Owner. Given that such insurance typically expires on Practical Completion, the Owner must ensure that the Building is insured from that point onwards.
12.2	The amount insured must be at least as much as the Original Contract Price, plus an allowance for Owner-supplied materials, expediting expenses, removal of debris, professional fees, increased costs during construction, increased costs during reconstruction, and materials in storage (off the Project site). Unless otherwise agreed, the allowances for these items shall be those shown in Part G of the Schedule, and if no allowance is made in that Part for any item then the allowance must be reasonable in the circumstances.
12.3	The Owner must arrange contract works insurance against loss or damage to the Owner’s existing structures made available by the Owner to enable the performance of the Building Work, or existing structures adjacent to the Building, and to the Owner’s contents. This insurance must be for the full replacement value, and for consequential loss arising from loss or damage to those structures and contents.
12.4	The Builder must arrange public liability insurance for loss or damage to any property, or illness, injury or death to any person, that arises from the performance of the Building Work.
12.5*	In the event of loss or damage to any part of the Building which is not caused by the Builder or any party for whom the Builder is responsible:
	a.	The Builder is not required to carry out any restoration work at the Builder’s own expense.
	b.	The Builder will restore all loss or damage to the Building and the restoration work will be treated as a Variation.
	c.	The restoration work will be paid for from the proceeds of the contract works insurance.
	d.	If the delay in confirming insurance cover after loss or damage to the Building has occurred is such that the Builder can no longer reasonably afford to maintain spare capacity to perform the Building Work when required, the Builder may suspend the Building Work as if clause 20.2 applied, and if the Builder has not cancelled the contract in the meantime, the Builder shall not be obliged to resume the Building Work until the Builder’s commitments reasonably allow for a resumption.
12.6	If this Contract is completed on-line, and either Party has selected the option to apply for a contract works policy marketed under the “REDi” brand, then an application for such a policy will be automatically generated from the information entered into the Schedule of this Contract.
12.7	The insurance broker responsible for arranging the REDi contract works policy and the underwriter(s) to whom the application is submitted together with their respective representatives or agents are authorised to obtain from, and disclose to, any other party any information they consider relevant to the assessment of the application for the policy.
12.8	For the purpose of section 12 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, the provisions in this Part 12 are intended to create obligations enforceable by the insurance broker and the underwriter(s) referred to in clause 12.7 and their respective representatives or agents, whether or not they are parties to this Building Contract.

4.1	This is a building contract in which the total price payable for the Building Work is not fixed, specified, or known at the time of entering into the Contract. Instead, the progress payments and the Final Contract Price are to be calculated by reference to the actual costs incurred by the Builder in carrying out the Building Work, plus a Margin for the Builder’s Off-site Overheads and profit. The Parties may have chosen to enter into this form of building contract for any number of reasons, including that it is too difficult for the Builder and/or the Owner to accurately predict the precise scope of the Building Work at the outset, or the Building Work involves innovative systems or materials the cost of which is largely unknown, or to avoid the administrative burden of having to recalculate a fixed contract price each time a component of the work changes, or simply because it is their preference to do so. While this inevitably involves some uncertainty as to what the Final Contract Price will eventually amount to, it has the advantage that at the conclusion of the Building Work the Owner will have become liable to pay no more and no less than the value of the Building Work and materials the Owner has actually received.
4.2	The progress payments and the Final Contract Price payable to the Builder shall therefore be calculated by reference to the hours of work expended by the Builder and the Builder’s employees and contractors in carrying out the Building Work, plus the materials and other direct costs incurred by the Builder in carrying out the Building Work, using the rates set out in Part F of the Schedule. Onto those amounts shall then be added the Margins for the Builder’s Off-site Overheads and profit, calculated by reference to the percentages shown in Part F of the Schedule.
4.3	The Builder shall be entitled to charge for and recover all costs that the Builder would not have incurred but for the Building Work, and that are reasonably necessary to carry out the Building Work to the standard required by this Contract, plus the relevant Builder’s Margins. Those costs include (without limitation):
	a.	The Builder’s own labour and labour performed by the Builder’s employees and contractors.
	b.	Products or services from subcontractors or specialist trades.
	c.	Professional advice such as architecture and engineering.
	d.	Building materials and consumables.
	e.	Hireage of tools, plant, equipment, appliances or vehicles.
4.4	The cost of labour shall be calculated using the labour rates set out in Part F of the Schedule, or where no rates have been specified in any particular case, at the prevailing market rates for the personnel in question. The labour rates set out in Part F of the Schedule apply to normal working hours and days, and in calculating working hours no deduction shall be made for work breaks that are reasonably necessary for the consumption of food or beverages or to ensure the continued health, safety, productivity and efficiency of the relevant personnel. Where in order to comply with the Builder’s obligations under this Contract it is reasonably necessary for the Builder and/or the Builder’s employees and subcontractors to carry out Building Work outside of normal working hours or on weekends or public holidays, and the Builder is required to pay penal or overtime rates as a result, those penal or overtime rates shall be included in the calculation of the cost of the Building Work.
4.5	All the costs of the Building Work apart from labour shall be calculated by reference to the invoice issued to the Builder for the relevant item, or if no invoice was issued, by reference to what the Builder actually paid. Where such costs cannot be separately identified or accurately ascertained through timesheets, invoices or otherwise, the cost of those items shall be calculated having regard to the prevailing market price for the relevant items.
4.6	The rates set out in Part F of the Schedule shall be adjusted for any increase in the rates charged by subcontractors that could not reasonably have been foreseen by the Builder at the time this Contract is signed by the Builder, and which would otherwise have the effect of eroding the Builder’s profit margin. The Builder must be able to substantiate the increase by reference to written evidence such as quotations, communications or invoices from the relevant subcontractor, clearly demonstrating the rates that were first advised to the Builder when Part F of the Schedule was completed, and the rates subsequently charged. The Builder shall whenever reasonably practicable, resist any rate increases and procure subcontracts on the basis of fixed rates that cannot be increased during the course of the Building Work.
4.7	If any of the subcontractor rates set out in Part F of the Schedule decrease for any reason (other than rebates or discounts provided to the Builder as a result of such factors as loyalty, volume of business, enticement to form a new or long term trading relationship, or membership of a trade association or cooperative company), the decreased rate(s) shall be used in the calculation of all progress payments and the Final Contract Price from the time that the decrease takes effect.
4.8	Either prior or subsequent to the Parties entering into this Contract, the Builder may have given or may give to the Owner or the Owner’s representative(s) an estimate, indication, projection, guess, intimation, prediction or similar communication (together referred to as an “estimate”) as to what the Final Contract Price or any component of it is likely to turn out to be. It is common for building owners to request an estimate and it is common for builders, in good faith and out of a desire to be helpful, to comply with that request, or indeed to offer an estimate unsolicited. The Parties acknowledge that even the most carefully calculated estimate can in hindsight prove to be grossly pessimistic or optimistic, and it is impossible for the Builder to accurately predict what the final outcome of the Project will be, given that so many factors are outside the Builder’s control.
4.9	The Parties have chosen this form of contract rather than a fixed price contract because they have agreed that the Final Contract Price will be determined by the hours of work and the materials and other direct costs that are ultimately involved, and the margin applied to those items. By definition, those hours and those costs cannot be known in advance. The Parties therefore expressly record that any such estimate that may have been or may be provided by the Builder – assuming the Builder used the term “estimate” or some reasonably equivalent expression – shall only represent the Builder’s best guess, based on the Builder’s experience and what the Builder knows about the Project itself to date. The Builder agrees to take reasonable care in calculating any estimate that may be given, and to keep the Owner regularly informed, by the provision of periodic invoices or otherwise, of the amount paid and payable to the Builder in respect of the Building Work at any given time.
4.10	A price estimate is fundamentally different from an undertaking, promise, commitment, statement, assurance, warranty or representation (together referred to as a “representation”) that the total contract price will amount to, or will not exceed, a stated or fixed sum. If the Builder has given such a representation, then that will bind the Builder in accordance with its terms. However the representation must be reasonably inferred from the wording used. For example if either of the Parties has, without full knowledge of the legal significance, mistakenly described an estimate as a “quote” or used some other wording that might suggest a representation that would be enforceable in law, then that will not constitute a representation if the Parties did not intend it to have that effect.

13.1	Part H of the Schedule contemplates that the Parties will elect who is responsible for arranging the contract works insurance. If the Parties have not made that election or if their intention is unclear, then the Owner must arrange contract works insurance if the Building Work involves changes, alterations, renovations, restoration, repairs or maintenance to existing structures, and the Builder is responsible for arranging contract works insurance if the Building Work involves constructing an entirely new stand-alone structure. Irrespective of who arranges the contract works insurance, the excess on a contract works claim is payable by the Owner. Given that such insurance typically expires on Practical Completion, the Owner must ensure that the Building is insured from that point onwards.
13.2	The amount insured must be at least as much as the Original Contract Price, plus an allowance for Owner-supplied materials, expediting expenses, removal of debris, professional fees, increased costs during construction, increased costs during reconstruction, and materials in storage (off the Project site). Unless otherwise agreed, the allowances for these items shall be those shown in Part H of the Schedule, and if no allowance is made in that Part for any item then the allowance must be reasonable in the circumstances.
13.3	The Owner must arrange contract works insurance against loss or damage to the Owner’s existing structures made available by the Owner to enable the performance of the Building Work, or existing structures adjacent to the Building, and to the Owner’s contents. This insurance must be for the full replacement value, and for consequential loss arising from loss or damage to those structures and contents.
13.4	The Builder must arrange public liability insurance for loss or damage to any property, or illness, injury or death to any person, that arises from the performance of the Building Work.
13.5	In the event of loss or damage to any part of the Building which is not caused by the Builder or any party for whom the Builder is responsible:
		a.	The Builder is not required to carry out any restoration work at the Builder’s own expense.
		b.	The Builder will restore all loss or damage to the Building and the restoration work will be treated as a Variation.
		c.	The restoration work will be paid for from the proceeds of the contract works insurance.
		d.	If the delay in confirming insurance cover after loss or damage to the Building has occurred is such that the Builder can no longer reasonably afford to maintain spare capacity to perform the Building Work when required, the Builder may suspend the Building Work as if clause 20.2 applied, and if the Builder has not cancelled the contract in the meantime, the Builder shall not be obliged to resume the Building Work until the Builder’s commitments reasonably allow for a resumption.
13.6	If this Contract is completed on-line, and either Party has selected the option to apply for a contract works policy marketed under the “REDi” brand, then an application for such a policy will be automatically generated from the information entered into the Schedule of this Contract.
13.7	The insurance broker responsible for arranging the REDi contract works policy and the underwriter(s) to whom the application is submitted together with their respective representatives or agents are authorised to obtain from, and disclose to, any other party any information they consider relevant to the assessment of the application for the policy.
13.8	For the purpose of section 12 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017, the provisions in this Part 13 are intended to create obligations enforceable by the insurance broker and the underwriter(s) referred to in clause 13.7 and their respective representatives or agents, whether or not they are parties to this Building Contract.

9.1	The Builder shall commence the Building Work within a reasonable time after:
	a.	the Contract has been signed by both parties; and
	b.	any deposit payable in accordance with clause 7.2 has been paid; and
	c.	any necessary Building Consent or resource consent or other requisite consents or licences or consent amendments have been issued.
9.2	Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Parties, the Owner shall obtain all project information memoranda, Building Consents, resource or other consents or licences, and consent amendments required for the Building Work.
9.3	The Owner shall promptly provide all information reasonably required by the Builder to enable the Builder to comply with the Builder’s obligations under this Contract, whether prior to the commencement of, during the performance of, or after the completion of the Building Work.
9.4	The expected completion date stated in Part B of the Schedule shall be automatically extended by a reasonable time where delays arise due to:
	a.	Variations;
	b.	Any strike, lockout, or other industrial action;
	c.	Loss or damage to the Building Work other than loss or damage caused by the Builder’s breach of its obligations under this Contract;
	d.	Flood, volcanic, or seismic events;
	e.	Inclement weather;
	f.	Failure to obtain consent or approval through no fault of the Builder;
	g.	Failure by the Owner to give timely directions;
	h.	Unforeseen physical conditions;
	i.	The Builder exercising its right to suspend the Building Work under this Contract;
	j.	Act, omission or default by the Owner or any person for whose acts or omissions the Owner is responsible;
	k.	A separate contractor’s act or omission;
	l.	Unavailability or shortage of materials;
	m.	Any other event which is beyond the reasonable control of the Builder and for which the Builder is not responsible.

7.1	The Builder is not obliged to commence the Building Work until any deposit payable in accordance with clause 7.2 has been paid.
7.2	The Deposit shall be paid by the Owner upon signing the Contract. The Deposit shall be held by the Builder and applied towards payment of the final invoice, or as provided by clause 20.9 or clause 21.4. The Deposit is therefore not to be treated as a progress payment. If the final invoice is less than the Deposit then the Builder shall pay the Owner the balance of the Deposit upon issuing the final invoice.
7.3	The Owner shall make progress payments to the Builder for Building Work completed and materials supplied, including any adjustments for Provisional Sums, cost fluctuations or Variations, up to the end of the applicable period or stage of work. The payments shall be made into a bank account provided by the Builder via internet banking or direct deposit, unless the parties agree on a different payment method.
7.4	Where the parties have agreed to progress payments at completion stages (Option A in Part E of the Schedule) the Builder may issue an invoice at any time after a relevant stage of completion is reached. If a completion stage cannot be reached due to matters beyond the Builder’s reasonable control, and one month has elapsed since the previous invoice, the Builder may invoice for the proportion of that completion stage that has been reached.
7.5	Where the parties have agreed to progress payments at the end of defined periods of time (Option B in Part E of the Schedule) the Builder may issue an invoice for the Building Work completed up to the end of each such period. Any invoice issued in advance of the end of the relevant period (other than a final invoice) shall be deemed to have been issued on the last working day of that period.
7.6	The Owner must pay the invoiced amount in full within 5 Working Days of the invoice being delivered or sent to the Owner or such other time as is stated in Part F of the Schedule. If the Owner does not consider that all or any part of the invoiced amount is payable, the Owner must, within 5 Working Days after the invoice was delivered or sent to the Owner:
	a.	reply in writing to the Builder stating the amount that the Owner considers payable (the undisputed amount), and
	b.	specifying the reasons why any part of the invoiced amount is disputed, and the method in which the disputed amount has been calculated; and
	c.	pay the undisputed amount.
7.7	If the Builder’s invoice is or is accompanied by a payment claim made under the CCA, then any payment schedule as defined in section 5 of that Act must be provided to the Builder within 5 Working Days of the payment claim being served on the Owner.
7.8	The Owner shall pay progress payments on the due dates, irrespective of when the Owner’s bank or financier is prepared to advance any monies required by the Owner in order to meet the Owner’s payment obligations under this Contract. It is the Owner’s responsibility to ensure that sufficient funds are available to comply with the Owner’s payment obligations under this Contract. The issue of a Code Compliance Certificate is not a prerequisite to Practical Completion or the Builder’s entitlement to payment of the final invoice.
7.9	The Owner may at any time request the Builder to provide a receipt or statement recording or evidencing the payments received from the Owner.
7.10	The Parties will comply with their obligations (if any) under Subpart 2A of the CCA (which requires certain retention monies to be held on trust or otherwise secured) to the extent that Subpart 2A applies to this Contract. The purpose of this provision is to ensure that an adjudicator appointed under the CCA or an arbitrator appointed under the Arbitration Act 1996 has jurisdiction to make a determination in respect of any such obligations, as if they were expressly incorporated into this Contract.

Building Your First Home? Save Money by Following These 8 Tips

1. Get Your Ducks in a Row

2. Location Location

Cheaper Doesn’t Always Translate to Savings

Ask for Expert Help

3. Select a Reputable First Home Builder

Choose an NZCB Builder

4. Future Proof with Energy Efficiency & Home Insulation

5. Understand First Home Compliance

6. Seek out Great Communicators

7. Avoid Budget Blowouts

8. Choose NZCB Builders for Peace of Mind

Get a Halo Guarantee

Get in Touch

Latest News

Resilience, regulations and revelations

What is a 10-year building guarantee?

How to choose the right builder

How to get a Building Apprenticeship

In the News: NZCB welcomes new proposals on H1 building regulations

In the News: Get in early to book your builder

Being a NZCB member is good for business.

Make a technical enquiry

Building Your First Home? Save Money by Following These 8 Tips

1. Get Your Ducks in a Row

2. Location Location

Cheaper Doesn’t Always Translate to Savings

Ask for Expert Help

3. Select a Reputable First Home Builder

Choose an NZCB Builder

4. Future Proof with Energy Efficiency & Home Insulation

5. Understand First Home Compliance

6. Seek out Great Communicators

7. Avoid Budget Blowouts

8. Choose NZCB Builders for Peace of Mind

Get a Halo Guarantee

Get in Touch

Latest News

Resilience, regulations and revelations

What is a 10-year building guarantee?

How to choose the right builder

How to get a Building Apprenticeship

In the News: NZCB welcomes new proposals on H1 building regulations

In the News: Get in early to book your builder

Being a NZCB member is good for business.

12 Insurance

4. Calculation of Progress Payments & Final Contract Price

13 Insurance

9. Commencement and Completion of Work

Make a technical enquiry

7 Invoices and payments

4 Calculation of Progress Payments & Final Contract Price

6. Invoices and Payments

8 Commencement and Completion of Work

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