Many clients have never built before and Tanisha and Hamish were among those. We worked alongside this lovely couple to build their dream home. Here they offer some of their experiences during their journey.
When did you secure your site?
We bought our site in July 2017 (788sqm north facing site on the corner of Tay Street and Campbell Road in Mount Maunganui). It was never our intention to build. Originally we were on the lookout to buy a bigger house on a bigger section in the Mount. However everything that we looked at required extensive renovations. Then this property came up and we jumped at the location and the large corner sight on Tay Street. It required demolishing the existing house and rebuilding from scratch.
Is there anything challenging about the site?
There was a 1950’s two storey concrete house on the site that we lived in for a few months to get a feel for the property. The house then got demolished. The site was actually great for builders to access (unlike many in the Mount) as it was a large corner site. After some moderate earthworks it was good to go.
Was it your first time building?
Yes, this was our first time building and we really enjoyed the whole build experience. Calley Homes made the whole experience seamless and stress free. The moment we met Johnny, his professionalism and promptness to get back to us won us over. They promised us an 8 month build and delivered, we were in before Christmas 2018.
Who is living in the home?
Tanisha, Hamish, our two boys Charlie (3.5 years) and Jordy (8 months), and Miso the cat live here. Tanisha (Accountant) is a stay at home mum for now and Hamish works from home for his Data Analytics Business.
What was your vision for your new home?
We wanted a great family home, something that would work well for young kids and as they grow older. A home to entertain in, which optimizes the sun and views of the Mount. We had certain requirements, such as boat parking, 5 bedrooms, two lounges, large outdoor space. Black board and batten appealed to us, with an L shaped style home.
Where did you draw inspiration from?
We visited a lot of houses, and scoured Archipro, Pinterest and Home Magazines for ideas. We were both on the same page with the style of house we liked so that made things easier.
What did you think of the build experience overall?
It was a fun and interesting experience. Lots of decisions to be made but we loved it.
What during the build did you struggle with (if anything)?
Probably just the 3 moves we had to make once we sold our house, moved into the old house on the site before it got demolished, then into a rental property at Welcome Bay while the house got built and then finally back into our dream home! 2018 was a busy year for us with a new baby and a house build.
What is your favourite feature in your new home?
The high raked ceiling in the living room. It just adds a bit of wow factor to this room. We spend the majority of our time here as the open plan kitchen and living area flow out to the deck, indoor courtyard and grass. The large windows and sliding doors are great, as are the window seat, bagged brick feature wall and gas fireplace. We left the established Pohutukawa tree on the site as this is not only great to look at but adds privacy and shelter.
What advice would you give to anyone thinking of building?
Do your homework. Get everything priced up. You get out what you put in.
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