Building Cost Update: moving past COVID, interest rates and looking to build cost stability
Now that the memory of COVID is fading, interest rates appear to have peaked and construction costs have stabilised, many people are looking to re-visit their design and build plans. The most oft-asked question is ‘where are building costs at now’?In short: we foresee pricing stability for the next 6 to 12 months. While some […]
FOLLOW OUR BUILD (Part 4) – Mission Bay
Clients: Lara and Terence Stevens-PriorProject: 4-bedroom house, with pool, in Mission Bay In this series, we take a fly-on-the-wall look at the progressive stages of a Box™ build We’re out of the mud and doing a rain-dance. That’s how Dan Heyworth, co-founder of Box™, sums up the current status quo at this project. He means […]
The Great Outdoors
How to Landscape like a Boss Garden design is so much more than just ‘doing the garden’ – in your new home, it’s a fundamental aspect of the architecture. Integrating landscaping with the design of the indoor spaces will guarantee you get the best from your site (large or small) and enhance your lifestyle and […]
Cost Anatomy of a New House
House build costs seem to have been on everybody’s lips since we lived in caves. We take a look under the hood of one of Box’s recent projects to see where the costs lie in terms of materials, trades, council, design, consultants and even profit! We often talk about a transparent approach when it comes […]
What’s the difference between a franchise builder, Box™ and an architect?
A Frequently Asked Question we get is ‘what is the difference between an Architect, Box, House Company and the other design build options’ available.
How to get the Best Value from your New Home Build
‘Value engineering’ and its less pretentious twin ‘value analysis’ is not what most customers sign up for. We never hear people say ‘Ooh, I can’t wait to get to the value analysis stage of our project!’. It is often associated with stripping out design features, which is why designers and customers will run a mile. […]
What does it cost to build a quality home?
The Cost Conundrum As we say all the time, “all projects go really well until the budget gets in the way”. The proverbial money pit of house building is not one you want to fall into, so now, more than ever before, we are spending time to estimate and re-estimate the cost to build a […]
What To Expect When You’re Building New
If you’ve never built before, it can be a daunting commitment. If you want the experience to be a positive one, here are some questions to ask upfront before you choose to enter the design and build relationship with a new build house company like Box™. 1. At a high level, how does your overall […]
The lowdown on construction drawdowns
Building a home is an exciting challenge, and financing it doesn’t have to be daunting. Together with Kiwibank, we’ve compiled this no-jargon beginner’s guide to construction loans. For many people, building their own home is at the top of their wish-list. They dream of a place that will express their style and embrace their lifestyle. […]
The Money and The Box
Mortgage adviser John Schumacher of Loan Market in Kingsland shares his insights into what to think about when applying for, and signing up to, a home loan on a design-and-build project. The quality of the company you are dealing with is vitally important to the bank. Are they reputable, not a fly-by-nighter? Banks like to […]
