Get to know EasyBuild Northland

Building a new home is an exciting process but not something most of us do every day.

Like anything new, jumping into the unknown can be pretty nerve-wracking, so it’s important to get to know the team who’ll be taking care of your build. Clear communication, trust and an upfront approach set the foundations for a positive, stress-free, committed relationship with your building team.

Get to know Scott Hargood and Nicole Whitehead from EasyBuild Northland, and find out why EasyBuild Homes offers a smart solution to building new in the Northland region.

Tell us about yourselves

Both born and bred in Northland, Scott and Nicole offer a wealth of experience to make sure your experience building with EasyBuild Northland is a great one.

With more than 20 years in the construction industry, Scott has broad experience within the building industry both here in Aotearoa and overseas. Starting his own renovation business in Whangarei in 2015 led Scott to see a niche in the local market for quality, affordable new homes, and knew EasyBuild’s homes would offer a great solution for addressing Northland’s housing shortage. Thus, EasyBuild Northland was born.

Outside of work, Scott’s a keen fisherman and snowboarder and loves enjoying the outdoors with his young family.

Nicole’s background is as a healthcare professional in the natural health and wellness industry, a passion that was borne out of a desire to give people back hope in their health. Housing and health needs are intrinsically linked and there’s nothing Nicole loves more than giving people the opportunity to explore the possibilities they’ve dreamed of for their home and turning that into a reality for them.  

Growing up on a Northland farm, Nicole loves hard work and making things happen. She loves the outdoors and living in a tiny home for five years gave Nicole a renewed appreciation for the simpler things in life. 

Who makes up the EasyBuild Northland team?

Our tight-knit Northland based team is made up of Scott, Nicole and Marc, as well as our on-site teams. As a team, we share a passion for delivering the best possible results for our clients and building strong working relationships with our clients. You can expect to get to know our team pretty well during the course of your build!

What’s your favourite part of the build process?

Our favourite parts of the EasyBuild build process are the container arriving to site and opening the doors to see the components that make up a whole home packed inside. Closely followed by heading back out to site only a week or so later and seeing the home take shape so fast! You really start to feel a sense of home so quickly as the house takes shape.

There is no better feeling than visiting site with a client and seeing them feel at home in their new home for the first time, and knowing their vision has come to life, from what was previously a design on a screen or a piece of paper.

What do you see as a successful home build project?

Our number one measure of success is a happy client, and having our client actually get what they dreamed of – ie) expectations and reality aligning completely.

A successful home build project also requires a happy team, as we know a happy and engaged team will do great work so we work hard to make this happen.

What makes EasyBuild a great choice for building in Northland?

An EasyBuild home is an excellent choice for building in Northland because our homes are closed in so much sooner than most conventional builds, which means the house is dryer and much more protected from the elements – very important with Northland’s more tropical climate.

Our homes are also solid and robust which makes them a great option for some of the less stable ground you can experience in Northland.

Plus, if a site can be walked to, an EasyBuild home can be built there. This means we can access a lot more sites in Northland than other home providers by nature of easier accessibility.

What EasyBuild home designs are your clients choosing for their Northland builds, and why?

By far the most popular designs in Northland to date are our Carlton, Kuratau and Glenorchy designs, each for different reasons.

Our Carlton design has been really popular with clients looking to put infill housing on their land, or for multi-generational living on the same property. Overall, we’re finding a lot of interest in infill housing and secondary dwellings, and we have a wide range of designs suited to different sized sites to accommodate that.

EasyBuild’s Glenorchy design is a popular choice amongst our clients looking for a family home. With four bedrooms, two bathrooms and an extended living area, there is space for the whole family to relax.

Lastly, our Kuratau design has been popular among our customers looking to build rental accommodation locally, and a great option for farmworker accommodation. It features 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms which makes it a practical and very comfortable, warm and low maintenance home, which makes for happy landlords and happy tenants.

What motivates you to do a great job for your clients?

Wanting to do the right thing by people is our key motivator.

In a close-knit community like Northland, word of mouth is our best form of advertising, and we want to make sure all of our clients have a happy and positive experience, and that they get the home they dreamed of.

At EasyBuild Northland, we pride ourselves on our honesty and integrity, and endeavour to do the right thing every single time. This is a key driver in how we manage our jobs, and ensuring our clients get value for money. You can trust that we’ll be communicating with you every step of the way during your project and know that we want the best for you.

What’s your advice for anyone thinking about building new in Northland right now?

The cheapest time to build was yesterday, and the best time to build is now. There’s no time like the present, so if you’re thinking about building, just do it! The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be enjoying your comfortable new home.

We also can’t stress enough getting the right advice, and making sure you trust the people you’re building with, whether it’s us or someone else. It’s important you have someone who understands your dream, that you can trust to deliver your home.

Finally, read the fine print and always know what’s included/excluded from your contract. We price our jobs to be site specific, so you’re getting more accurate pricing, and this reduces the likelihood of nasty surprises down the track.

What do you think makes EasyBuild Northland stand out from other new home providers?

We have a strong and experienced team with so much integrity. We offer something different to everyone else: a quality product, speed of build and a personal touch. Plus, we’re all local, with a proven track record in the local community. What are you waiting for? Get started on your new home journey with EasyBuild Northland today.

Get in touch with Nicole, Scott and the EasyBuild Northland team today.

Are EasyBuild’s modular homes the future of housing in New Zealand?

EasyBuild modular home

A version of this article was originally published on newshub.co.nz.

Anyone who has seen Grand Designs knows that building a new home from scratch can be an expensive and time-consuming process. With so many variables, a lifelong dream can become a stressful, drawn-out experience.

But EasyBuild, a 100% New Zealand-owned and operated modular home builder, is here to prove that it doesn’t have to be that way.

The company builds standalone and multi-unit homes modular that can be constructed in half the time of a traditional build and at a lower cost, making it easier than ever for Kiwis to get into a quality, brand new home, or complete housing development and investment projects faster.

EasyBuild modular home

With more than 25 different designs to choose from, the company can pump out three houses a week from its factory in Upper Hutt. The components are then flat packed, put in a shipping container and sent to sites around the country, where their teams of trained, expert builders complete the homes on site.

EasyBuild Co-founder and Director Mike Fox describes the homes as being “the Ikea of the building industry” and says modular housing has the potential to play a major role in easing New Zealand’s housing crisis, especially given recent RMA changes and council regulations now allowing for greater housing density in urban areas.

“They can be built twice as fast as a conventional home, and they’re energy-efficient and affordable,” he says.

Fox says modular housing offers a much-needed alternative to our traditional way of construction, which focuses on building bespoke homes on site. “We need to be able to give the consumer a choice,” he says.

“You can buy a good-value house that is pre-consented and pre-designed. You can make some tweaks to it, you can get it quickly and you can save a bunch of money and time. Or you go for the traditional method where you wait a long time to get your house, you pay a lot more and it’s put together piecemeal on site.”

“The reason that we can do things affordably and quickly is because we are doing lots of the same thing. We use the same methodology all the time, which enables us to get economies of scale – and that is where the traditional industry falls down. We’re able to produce a high-quality product, in a highly efficient way, that doesn’t cost the earth.”

Fox says the construction method the company uses is similar to what exists in Scandinavia but has been adapted for local conditions and “turned into a New Zealand system”. Fox also points out they differ from other kit-set houses, where essentially you are just sold a “big pile of materials and you put it together”.

“We’ve prefabricated them to a high level in our factory, so that when the walls come out they have the windows and insulation pre- installed, and everything’s already pre-cut and ready to be assembled by our teams on-site.”

Another difference between EasyBuild and many other transportable home or prefabricated home providers, is that because the structure is put together on site and only a deposit paid in advance of the materials arriving on site, typically standard construction lending is available from financial institutions.

Modular housing also has environmental benefits, with total build waste reduced by up to two-thirds of that of a conventional build.

Once on site, a trained team will generally have the homes watertight within seven to ten days, with the construction period taking around 12-14 weeks in total. All house designs also have MultiProof approval from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, making the consenting process much quicker and easier than that of a conventional build, with Fox estimating it normally takes half the time to cut through the red tape and gain consent.

EasyBuild exterior

And because the houses range in size from one-bedroom, 38-square-metre homes to four-bedroom 176-square-metre homes, and there are standalone, duplex and multi-unit options, EasyBuild’s modular homes are suitable for all types of people and styles of living.

Fox says they are particularly popular with existing homeowners looking to unlock more value from their land by subdividing their property or building a minor dwelling to rent out to tenants or tourists. They’re also popular with clients who have multigenerational living requirements, and for larger scale development projects in medium density housing areas.

And while he is aware modular housing may not appeal to people who want a unique, bespoke house, Fox firmly believes that by giving people more choice as to what sort of home they can build, the concept can play a role in getting more Kiwis into warm, affordable housing sooner.

“We’re not all things to all people. We are about providing really robust, high-quality, energy-efficient, affordable homes that can be built quickly and will stand the test of time.”

Head to your local EasyBuild Show Home to discover the comfort and quality of an EasyBuild home for yourself, or contact your local EasyBuild team to start making your new home dreams a reality. 

Talk to your local EasyBuild team today 

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Is an EasyBuild home the affordable housing solution you’ve been looking for?

A version of this article was originally published on newshub.co.nz.

A lot of things may have previously come to mind when picturing a prefabricated home. In the past, it’s been considered a temporary housing solution, a glorified garage or an office out the back.

But one Kiwi company is changing all of that, with its Kiwi-designed and built quality modular homes, that may just be the future of housing in Aotearoa.

EasyBuild, a nationwide modular home building company, specialises in modular homes which can be built up to twice as fast on site as other new home options – at less cost and with no compromise on quality.

If you’ve suffered through the last damp winter in a drafty villa, or you’re stuck while looking for a first home option, these warm, dry and spacious home designs may just be the perfect solution.

EasyBuild co-founder Mike Fox certainly thinks so, and is willing to make the claim that an EasyBuild home offers “the best value on the market”.

“Often, if you want to buy cheap, you end up with no more than a lined-out garage,” he told Newshub. “[But] our homes have above average energy efficiency, they’re made producing very low waste, the construction is way more solid…”

“Every time people turn up to one of our show homes they always say ‘wow, I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as this’.

Modern and spacious kitchen and dining

“It’s the value for money aspect – there will always be something cheaper, but you’re not getting the same quality, warm, environmentally friendly home for your money.”

The numbers back up the claims. According to EasyBuild data, their homes are more than twice as airtight compared to conventional builds, with less than three air changes per hour, compared to 6-10 per hour in conventionally built new homes – all translating to more money in your pocket with lower bills for heating and cooling your home.

To make it even better, building waste is reduced by two thirds, and each build is extra weathertight with a rigid air barrier and ventilated cavity – all features you don’t commonly find in comparable homes.

If you’re unsure about how an EasyBuild home works, Newshub previously wrote about the ‘flatpack‘ designs. Basically, if you can walk to a section, one of the company’s modern, modular home designs can be built on it.

In what will be another huge surprise to anyone who’s ever built a home, the on-site building process only takes around 12-14 weeks from foundations being laid – meaning you’re saving time and money across the entire build, including rent and finance, labour costs and more.

So who’s the best fit for EasyBuild’s housing solution? Just about anyone it would seem -– their wide range of light and spacious designs means there’s something for everyone. But Fox says a major portion of their clientele is especially those looking for first homes, looking to downsize, or add secondary dwellings to their existing land.

If you don’t mind living a stone’s throw from mum and dad, Fox says they’re seeing a surge of first home buyers building on larger family sections after previously being locked out of the market because prices are too high.

“A really big thing we’re seeing is families using their assets if they’re on a large section, by subdividing and building another house on the back for their adult kids or parents to move in to,” he explained, noting that there’s been a big focus on solutions for multi-generational living in recent years.

“Or they’re also great for people wanting to downsize and move into a warmer, drier home. Baby boomers are a big portion of our market – especially people who are retiring – because they’re warm, low maintenance homes that stand the test of time.”

If it all sounds too good to be true, the EasyBuild team recommends you get along to one of their show homes or talk to your friendly local EasyBuild team to see for yourself – before getting out of your cold, damp home quick smart, and into something warm, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient – without breaking the bank.

Talk to your local EasyBuild team today 

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Unlocking Efficiency: Why your EasyBuild home can be consented up to twice as fast!

Here at EasyBuild, we’re always talking about how quickly our homes can be consented. In fact, a good majority of our homes are consented by councils in less than 10 working days, with no RFIs. Anyone with any experience in consenting new builds will know this is far from the norm!

This is all possible because each of our home designs has MBIE Multiple-Use Approval, more commonly known as MultiProof.

But what do we mean by all of this? How is a MultiProof Approval different from a Standard Building Consent? What’s the benefit to you? And why is it faster?

We’re here to talk you through the differences in consent types, and the benefits of building a home with MBIE MultiProof Approval.

What is a Standard Building Consent in NZ?

A standard building consent in New Zealand is the typical review process that a new home design will go through to be approved to be built on a section. It involves producing and submitting specific detailed plans, engineering documentation, specifications, site-specific information and other necessary documentation to the local Building Consent Authorities – your council.

The council reviews the consent application documents to ensure that all restricted building work complies with the NZ Building Code and other relevant regulations. This process focuses on the specific details of the proposed project, including its design, structural integrity, safety measures, and adherence to environmental standards. Councils aim to complete a standard building consent within 20 working days, however, requests for information (RFIs) and other factors can extend this timeframe by weeks or in some cases, months, delaying the start of your build significantly and increasing costs.

What is MBIE Multiple-Use Approval/MultiProof?

MBIE Multiple-Use Approval is given for pre-approved building designs and is beneficial for builders and companies who build standardised designs. It provides evidence to Building Consent Authorities (councils) that a design complies with the NZ Building code.

EasyBuild has MBIE MultiProof Approval for each of our individual designs.

MBIE’s pre-approval process involves the submission and review of comprehensive plans, including detailed drawings and engineering documentation, along with other documentation that demonstrates compliance with the NZ Building Code and regulations. Once a MultiProof Approval is granted, that design is added to the MultiProof Register, where councils are able to access the information they require.

When a building consent application includes a MultiProof Approval, the Building Consent Authorities must grant or refuse it within 10 working days instead of the usual 20 working days.

Any RFIs, (request for further information) raised while assessing the consent application should only be site-specific (such as service connections, foundations etc), and not related to the design of the home, unless the design has departed from the MultiProof.

A Building Consent Authority (Council) is there to confirm and establish:

  • the design, with any permitted variations, is the same as the design approved in the MultiProof
  • that the proposed site meets the conditions of the MultiProof
  • that the site-specific features of the design comply with the Building Code
  • the on-site inspections required
So how will building a home with MBIE MultiProof Approval help you?
It saves you time

The primary advantage of building a home with a MultiProof Approval is time. Time saved on both preparation of documents required for your home, and the significant reduction in time required for consenting, with a guaranteed council timeframe of 10 working days, if all information is supplied at the time of submitting your building consent application.

With pre-approved designs readily available in the Multiproof Register, council teams can skip the time-consuming review process for standard building consents. This leads to your project getting started in a matter of weeks after submitting your consent to council. Ultimately, your new home will get out of the ground more quickly, and you’ll move into your new home sooner.

It saves you money

The streamlined nature of MultiProof Approvals translates to cost savings. By avoiding the need to create individual plans and consent documents for similar home designs, money is saved on each home build through both the design and consenting phases.

Increased certainty

Because the design has already been approved, there’s less uncertainty regarding compliance with regulations. This leads to smoother interactions with councils throughout the consenting and inspection processes, and fewer surprises during the construction process.

Design flexibility

While the core design is pre-approved, there’s still room for flexibility within certain parameters. Site-specific considerations and minor floorplan design modifications can be made while staying within the bounds of the approved MultiProof designs, meaning your home can be truly yours.

At the end of the day, building a home with an MBIE MultiProof design, such as one of EasyBuild’s wide variety of home designs, helps to save you money and limit surprises and delays during the consent and building phases, while still offering you the ability to make your home unique to you and your family.

Best of all, MultiProof Approvals on our designs help us get you into your new home sooner, which paired with EasyBuild’s unique construction method, makes the entire build process from design to moving in, seriously fast!

Talk to your local EasyBuild team today to get started on your new home journey with EasyBuild, or visit your local show home to experience the quality and comfort of an EasyBuild home for yourself.

Get to know EasyBuild Manawatu-Whanganui

Building a new home is an exciting process but not something most of us do every day.

Like anything new, jumping into the unknown can be pretty nerve-wracking, so it’s important to get to know the team who’ll be taking care of your build. Clear communication, trust and an upfront approach set the foundations for a positive, stress-free, committed relationship with your building team.

Get to know Helmut Modlik, Regional Manager of EasyBuild Manawatu-Whanganui, and find out why EasyBuild Homes offers a smart solution to building new in the Manawatu and Whanganui regions.

Tell us about yourself

Hey there, I’m Helmut—a regular guy with a not-so-regular journey.

I kicked things off with a stint in the army fresh out of school, a time that taught me discipline and determination. Later, I took on the academic challenge at Victoria University, proving that I’m always up for learning something new. I’ve dabbled in a bit of everything, from selling motorcycles and mastering welding to serving in the Infantry for a good chunk of time. These experiences have made me adaptable and tough, ready to handle whatever life throws my way.

But what really gets me going is helping folks get ahead in life. Housing, I believe, is a big part of that equation. I genuinely believe that EasyBuild’s homes can be the fix for the housing and affordability issues that many Kiwis face today. I’m no superstar; just a regular guy on a mission to make housing more accessible and life a bit better for others.

What’s your favourite part of the build process?

My favourite part of the build process is the initial stages, where our unique construction system truly shines. I love the speed at which we can erect our homes and seeing the progress just weeks after starting. It’s amazing to arrive at the site and find what looks like a home already sitting there.

Witnessing this rapid transformation from a bare piece of land to a nearly complete structure is incredibly satisfying. It’s a testament to the efficiency and effectiveness of our approach, and it’s the moment that truly sets the tone for the rest of the project.

What makes EasyBuild a great choice for building in the Manawatu and Whanganui areas?

EasyBuild is the perfect choice for building in the Manawatu-Whanganui region due to our deep community roots and tailored approach. Being a part of the local fabric, we understand the unique needs of the region.

Our innovative construction system is particularly advantageous here – it’s designed to swiftly transform a piece of land into a near-complete home within weeks, a crucial feature considering the variable climate. Moreover, our commitment to affordability and sustainability aligns well with the values of the region. With EasyBuild, you’re not just building a house; you’re investing in a smart, future-ready home in the Manawatu-Whanganui area.

What EasyBuild home designs are your clients choosing for their Manawatu and Whanganui builds, and why?

Given the current financial climate, a substantial portion of our Manawatu and Whanganui clients are astute investors and landowners aiming to amplify property value through infill and rental housing.

Our 2 and 3-bedroom models, notably the Woodford, Wanaka, and Piha designs have proven to be the most popular among these clientele. These options offer a pragmatic and cost-efficient avenue to unlock existing property potential. With an emphasis on space optimisation, and tailored to the needs of investors and landowners, these designs capitalise on the demand for well-crafted, quality homes.

What’s your advice for anyone thinking about building new in the Manawatu and Whanganui?

Begin by aligning your vision with your budget and the current market realities. With the high interest rates and affordability challenges, opt for designs that offer efficient use of space without compromising on quality.

Next, tap into local expertise. Choose a company like EasyBuild that understands the unique demands of the region. Our homes are locally crafted to meet New Zealand’s tough climate conditions, ensuring durability and comfort.

Finally, factor in the construction speed. Swift building not only reduces costs but also gets you settled faster. Remember, building new is an investment. Make informed decisions that balance affordability, quality, and market demands for a future-ready home.

What do you think makes EasyBuild stand out from other new home providers?

What distinguishes EasyBuild from other new home providers is our deep local roots in the Manawatu and Whanganui region. Having spent most of my life here, I’ve got an intimate understanding of the area’s unique characteristics, needs, and challenges. This intrinsic connection allows us to tailor our solutions to perfectly fit the region’s demands.

Additionally, our construction approach is innovative and efficient. We have honed a system that prioritises speed without compromising on quality.

But it’s not just about construction—it’s about community. Our commitment to enhancing the region’s housing landscape extends beyond the physical structures. EasyBuild is a holistic solution, built on local insight, efficient processes, and a sincere dedication to improving lives in the Manawatu and Whanganui region.

Of course myself and the team are always here to support you on this journey, so don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Get in touch with Helmut and the EasyBuild Manawatu-Whanganui team today and get started on your new home journey with EasyBuild.

Get to know EasyBuild Bay of Plenty and Rotorua

Building a new home is an exciting process but not something most of us do every day.

Like anything new, jumping into the unknown can be pretty nerve-wracking, so it’s important to get to know the team who’ll be taking care of your build. Clear communication, trust and an upfront approach set the foundations for a positive, stress-free, committed relationship with your building team.

Get to know Pete Roden, Director of EasyBuild Bay of Plenty and Rotorua, and find out why EasyBuild Homes offers a smart solution to building new in the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua regions.

Pete Roden, Director, EasyBuild Bay of Plenty
Tell us about yourself

I started Adobe Construction in 1999 and have been a business owner in the residential construction industry in the Bay of Plenty since then.

I joined EasyBuild in 2017, and there were a few key drivers behind that. I was keen to add another string to our bow as a business to help differentiate us in the local market, and had a keen interest in modular housing as it is a much more carbon-footprint friendly way to build.

Outside of work, my wife Vanessa and I have three adult children. I’m also focused on supporting our local community and among other projects, built a couple of pump tracks for local youth – I love getting outdoors on my bike, and wanted more young people to have the opportunity to share this passion too, as well as keeping them active and enjoying time away from screens!

Who makes up the EasyBuild Bay of Plenty team?

We have a great team supporting us here in Papamoa, including Vanessa who looks after our operations, Arna who works on the admin side of our business and Scott our project manager.

On site we have Darren, who’s our EasyBuild knowledge box and has been working on our EasyBuild projects since we joined back in 2017.

Recently we’ve also taken on two apprentices who came to us from the Ōpōtiki community on a multi-home project we are working on with Whakatōhea Maōri Trust Board. It’s great to have them on board and to be training the next generation of builders.

What’s your favourite part of the build process?

What I love about every house is when the roof goes on. Once the roof is on, you have so much more control of your progress because the weather stops dictating so much of what you can do.

This is part of the reason I like EasyBuild homes so much, because you can get to this stage so much more quickly than conventional builds – and that is a pretty exciting thing.

What makes EasyBuild a great choice for building in the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua?

The durability and thermal efficiency of EasyBuild homes makes them a great choice in the Bay of Plenty, so when it’s hot, you’re able to effectively cool your home and it stays cool, and when it’s cold, you can heat your home and it stays warm.

Another factor is environmental friendliness. The percentage of waste both in the EasyBuild factory and on site is really, really low, so our clients can feel confident that they’re making a good choice for the environment as well as getting a quality new home. Our teams in the office and on-site are also focused on minimising waste as part of our everyday jobs.

What EasyBuild home designs are your clients choosing for their Bay of Plenty builds, and why?

EasyBuild’s Thames design is by far the most popular home design in our region. Our clients love it for its spacious living area and double bathrooms. We’re really finding our two-bathroom models are proving to be the most popular in recent times!

What motivates you to do a great job for your clients?

Client satisfaction and client relationships have probably always been one of my favourite things about the job. Seeing a happy client, who’s stoked with their new home is always something that’s been a powerful motivator for myself.

We’re currently working on a ten-home project in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and the very best thing about it is knowing that we’ll be providing quality, energy efficient homes to a group of people who will really benefit from them. The clients are SO excited, and I’m just blown away by them. Knowing how much this means to them makes me hugely motivated for our team to do the very best we can.

What do you think makes EasyBuild stand out from other new home providers?

What I love about EasyBuild’s homes is that we have a real focus on minimal waste, a real focus on thermal efficiency and a real focus on durability. Our clients can trust they are getting a really comfortable, robust and easily maintained home, and they’re going to get it quickly.

We’re putting less in the landfill compared to other homebuilders, by a mile. For the average conventionally built 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home, approximately 21m3 goes into the landfill. I challenge my team to have a maximum of 9m3 waste per house. It’s a big difference.

Our team has a long-standing history of successful projects and happy clients in the Bay of Plenty, so I encourage you to talk to us today about your new home projects, and let us help make your new home dreams a reality.

Get in touch with Pete and the EasyBuild Bay of Plenty team today and get started on your new home journey with EasyBuild.

Talk to your local Bay of Plenty team today 

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Getting your EasyBuild Home Finance Sorted

Kitchen and Living Space in an EasyBuild Home

Getting all your ducks in a row, including mortgage finance, are often some of the very first steps in building your new home. EasyBuild are here to support you through this with information on our homes, payment and build processes, to help support the information your lender needs.

Kitchen and Living Space in an EasyBuild Home

All too often we hear of people struggling to get finance on transportable homes because so much, if not all of the build occurs off-site. As a result, large deposits and payments are often required before your home makes it anywhere near your site.

But a real benefit of building with EasyBuild is that you are typically able to access standard construction lending for your home.

EasyBuild’s partial off-site prefabrication means much of the work occurs on-site

The great thing about EasyBuild homes is that while there’s a high degree of off-site prefabrication, the bulk of assembly and finishing occurs on site.

This means we don’t require large up-front deposits or payments and makes the risk you take on as new homeowner significantly lower than with traditional transportable homes that are built entirely off-site.

Our staged payment process means you have access to conventional construction loans

EasyBuild’s build projects follow a staged payment process just like conventional new-build homes. This means you pay a smaller up-front deposit and typically don’t pay any more for your house until the pre-built components of your home arrive on site or any foundation work has been completed.

Our customers make payments at the completion of defined stages in the build process such as foundation completion, house being framed up, closed in, lined, painted and so on. You may also have stages in your build contract relating to site specific work if required.

What all of this means is that you have access to the standard construction loans typically offered by banks in New Zealand. These loans usually have low deposit requirements and discounted interest rates for the duration of the build. All in all, you’re set up for success from the start!

Find out more

To find out more about building with EasyBuild, talk to us today, or contact your local EasyBuild team to get started.

Please note this article refers to homes built by a local EasyBuild team. EasyBuild homes built as a DIY build or by your own builder may be subject to different financing requirements from your lender. 

Finance for all homes will be dependent on your financial circumstances and the lending criteria set out by your financial institution. This article does not constitute financial advice. 

The EasyBuild Way

An EasyBuild home under construction

In a world where innovation and convenience go hand-in-hand, EasyBuild Homes’ modular homes are the future of housing in Aotearoa, and are available nationwide.

Getting Kiwis into quality, cost-effective homes, fast, is EasyBuild’s goal, and with our unique modular construction method, we can truly deliver on this promise.

Manufactured with a high-level of prefabrication in our Upper Hutt factory, EasyBuild’s partially constructed homes are delivered to site in a shipping container and completed on site. Completing the homes on site means that if you can walk there, we can build there – essentially we go where no transportable home can! Plus with our network of experienced EasyBuild teams across the country, you can trust that you’re in good hands.

An EasyBuild home under construction

EasyBuild’s unique modular construction method is based on a portal and panel system. Once the portal frame is in place, pre-finished panels with pre-installed windows and insulation are fixed between the portals, followed by ceiling sheets.
Our homes are enclosed and protected from the elements within as little as two weeks on site. If you’re familiar with construction in New Zealand, you’ll know this is a real feat!

Work then continues on both the inside and outside of the house concurrently, and the entire EasyBuild home can be completed in as little as 12 weeks, while our customers can rest assured that there’s no compromise on quality.

EasyBuild’s overall process is designed with speed and efficiency in mind, including MBIE MultiProof approval on all of our designs, which means building consent can be granted up to twice as fast. Gone are the days of lengthy construction projects and endless delays.

And what about the end result? Light-filled, quality, affordable homes in a range of family friendly designs, with raised ceilings, exposed rafters and unmatched energy efficiency, that are built for New Zealand’s unique conditions and designed to stand the test of time.

Talk to your local EasyBuild team today to get started on your new home journey with EasyBuild, or visit your local show home to experience the quality and comfort of an EasyBuild home for yourself.

‘The IKEA of the building industry’: Is an EasyBuild flatpack home the answer to your building woes?

This article was originally published on newshub.co.nz. 

You’ve probably heard of flatpack furniture, and potentially even built your own dresser or bedside table at home. But have you ever considered the possibility of a flatpack home?

Game-changing Kiwi company EasyBuild is dubbing itself the ‘IKEA of the local building industry’ and is tackling some of the country’s biggest housing challenges one home at a time.

Coromandel Show Home Exterior

With less warm, affordable housing around than ever before, it might just be the solution to a major problem.

“What we found when we set out to achieve and produce an affordable, robust home, was the marketplace had an overabundance of large expensive homes but the value end of the market was not being catered for,” says EasyBuild co-founder Mike Fox.

“Our homes are essentially like an IKEA of houses, flatpacked and delivered to site for easy and quick on-site building, by our skilled teams of builders around the country or as a DIY project.”

There’s a range of quality designs available, whether you’re looking to get into your first home or downsize to your last.

Here’s why an EasyBuild home might just tick all the flatpack boxes for your next build:

It’s the DIY job of your dreams (but don’t worry, you can have it built for you too!)

It sounds too good to be true to be able to buy and build an almost-readymade house – and sure, this isn’t going to be an afternoon job with a glass of wine to get you through.

But if you consider yourself somewhat competent on the tools, you’ll be able to tackle the build, with a DIY ‘house pack only’ option provided with every home.

Fox clarifies you must be “semi-skilled”, or at least have a friend or family member who is. But the high degree of partial prefabrication – including windows already installed – means it will only take a few months to get off the ground, so to speak.

Anyone who has watched a build be continually pushed out by weeks or months will know how rare that is.

If you’re more into watching The Block than participating, your local EasyBuild Preferred Builder will make the process smooth sailing for you.

They’re kinder to the planet…

Not only better for your stress levels, EasyBuild homes also have much less impact on the planet than a traditional build. Fox says they didn’t only want their building option to be affordable, but energy efficient and low waste too. Because the materials arrive ready-measured and cut, it makes the task a lot easier. In layman’s terms, he explained, when building a typical 140 sq m home, you’ll take around three skips to the dump to offload building waste.

“With ours, it’s half a skip – and we’re working to get that down.”

And easier on the wallet.

As any first-home buyer knows, affordable housing in Aotearoa is something of a pipe dream. If you’ve ever rocked up to a house auction and had the first bid blow way past your maximum budget, these homes are for you. With a small three bedroom home starting from around $225,000 + GST fully built, or around $117,000 + GST for the pack only, EasyBuild’s designs feature open plan kitchen, dining and living, spacious bedrooms and bathrooms and raised ceilings – everything you need to get yourself started.

“Our industry has not been good at explaining ‘buy as it is’ in terms of structure and layout,” Fox explains, revealing it’s when people want to make customisations to pre-existing builds that the costs really start to rise. “Don’t change the structure and you’re going to get a really good quality affordable home, quickly.”

The homes are also super energy-efficient and warm, so say ‘bye’ to shelling out hundreds trying to heat a decades-old Auckland villa.

The i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed

All EasyBuild designs have MultiProof approval from MBIE, meaning the consent process is faster, costs less, and you won’t be drowning in red tape. Fox says all you need to do is find the right site – something the team can help with as well.

“Ideally the flatter the land is, the better access it’s going to have – but because our houses come flat packed, if you can walk to the site you can build on it,” he explains.

“The hard work has been done in regards to the council – the solution is there, you’ve just got to order it.”

They have the ‘wow factor’

And if this all sounds like it’s going to be easy on the wallet, but you don’t want to live in a house with the personality of a cardboard box, Fox assures me their houses have the “wow” factor.

“They’re very different to the rest of the products on the market – especially those that resemble a sort of well-lined garage,” he laughs. “We really encourage people to visit our showhomes, we’re hearing so often ‘wow, I didn’t think it would be as nice as this’.”

He says you can jazz up your space with interior design and outdoor living to really make a special home that’s truly yours.

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Be careful what you wish for. The risks of a Trans-Tasman bubble for the construction industry.

Coromandel Show Home Exterior

Coromandel Show Home Exterior

In our Director Mike Fox’s latest Building Today article, he covers the risks of a Trans-Tasman bubble for the local construction industry. While the bubble may seem further away than ever, the reality is that when it eventually arrives, unintended consequences may surface, and as an industry we need to be prepared.

With all the talk of the much hoped-for but now less and less likely Trans-Tasman bubble and the benefits it would bring to the tourism sector and the economy in general, you’d think it could only be positive.

EasyBuild Director Mike Fox

However, when the eventual euphoria of getting easier access to Australia turns into reality and some of the unintended consequences surface, it might not be all beer and skittles. Especially for those in the construction sector.

Australia has long used New Zealand as a source of ready and trained workers for decades. With often higher wages, our youngest, best and brightest are easily lured away with some never returning home, despite the majority living with second class resident status in Australia.

They are in essence tax paying contributors to the Australian economy without the full gambit of social and safety net benefits available to other residents. That injustice is canvassed well elsewhere, and of course not the reason for this article.

Australia really benefits from the free training New Zealand provides and the skilled workers we export, and I suspect that following the lengthy Covid-19 border closures there will be pent-up demand for our workers especially in the construction sector.

Thus far, Australia has classed its construction workers and projects as essential workers in their Covid-19 response, with no shutdown of the industry, so companies have not had to weather the same economic shortfall our industry has had to endure.

The Australian government understands that increasing the number of new home builds transpires into increased employment and wellbeing of the future occupants. As a direct response to Covid-19 the Australian Government put in place a new home grant of $25k which is in addition to other grants available.

Depending on which state you reside in, qualifying clients have access to grants ranging from $35k to $60k which are solid incentives to build new, supporting their Government’s goal of incentivising the building of 100,000 homes over the next 12 months.

It sounds a bit like Kiwibuild but in this case is an actual financial plan to get money through the system to the very people who need it and can make it happen. This housing stimulus is in addition to the massive infrastructure projects and buildings that they are pushing ahead with to keep their industry and economy moving.

To complete this work, they are going to need many skilled workers and the easy picking for these is from New Zealand. This will be even more prevalent especially if our residential market is allowed to tank, wiping much needed skills out of the industry by either exporting our skilled people or pushing them into other types of work. History tells us that once someone leaves the industry, they are unfortunately unlikely to return as they find the boom bust cycles and tough working environments a turn off, especially when there may be more stable positions in other professions available to them. The crazy thing is that the demand for housing will not decrease, on the contrary housing demand will only increase as the diaspora of scattered kiwis escape the Covid-19 ravaged world for the safer shores of New Zealand. If we were smart, we would use the upcoming downturn to catch up on the affordable housing shortage by fully employing the surplus trades on projects that would start to fill the gaps. However, our track record in these scenarios isn’t good. By default the solution gets left to chance and subsequently the market doesn’t have good results. Poor legislation and our hands-off approach are the driving reasons behind such a disparity between what the market delivers – an oversupply of large houses on expensive small lots – and the chronic shortfall of affordable housing so desperately needed but not catered for.   New Zealand’s coalition government has taken a different approach to Australia, with ours doing a lot of talking about shovel ready infrastructure projects but placing very little focus on affordable housing.

Infrastructure projects sound great in theory but don’t deliver or preserve the jobs of valuable trades people. You need very few plumbers, electricians, painters, builders etc on a roading project. With the pinch point on employment for tradespeople coming later this year and early next year we are setting ourselves up for a potential exodus of trades across the Tasman as they follow the work and go to fill the burgeoning demand Australia has created. Their skills are readily transferable, and they won’t be alone on site as many work displaced kiwis will be there with them. This is not a new phenomenon as we lost droves of trades people in the mid to late 90’s when similar economic conditions prevailed. The result was a generation of skilled trades people lost and we’ve struggled to fill the gaps ever since. The last thing our industry and country needs in the months to come is a brain drain of our best or a repeat of the 90’s trades exodus.  What levers does the Government have to avoid the oncoming train wreck of skills losses? For a start, they should copy our Australian cousins and stimulate the residential construction market by making meaningful grants available. Another solution could be as simple as forgoing the GST on new builds.

PwC’s June 2020 Restoring New Zealand’s Construction Sector report details that for every dollar invested in construction, economic activity in excess of $2.50 is generated. Show me another industry that that can impact the economy as directly as that. Conversely when the residential market contracts, so does the economy. It’s in our nation’s best interests in more ways than one to ensure this economic activity continues.

The Government can also be pragmatic and break down the red tape that stops and delays so many projects. They are well aware of how difficult it is with the failed Kiwibuild skeleton forever rattling behind them.

They really need to reinvigorate the vision they had with Kiwibuild but take pragmatic advice from the industry on how to deliver and remove the roadblocks. Put the money into the hands of the ones who can make it happen.

As well as targeted incentive grants, funds should be directed to community housing providers and Iwi as they often have access to land but are short on funds to build. This retains skills within New Zealand and starts the journey to provide the housing we need.

Failure to grasp this and put a solution in place will put our industry and society back decades, as not only will we lose another generation of skilled tradespeople but the housing gap will just continue to slip further behind.

This article was originally published in the August 2020 issue of Building Today. 

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