Full Project Management
Caption: Alvin waiting to speak at the NZCB conference
Hiring an experienced project manager is crucial to the success of a building project involving your treasured family home, especially when the scope of works involves an extension or renovation. Completing an extension or renovation project successfully is significantly more challenging than a new build where you start from scratch and challenges are minimal. Experience and planning are paramount in achieving excellent outcomes. Your family home is likely to be out of square or level; the extension needs to tie into your property without highlighting the existing defects. If your builder and/or project manager lacks experience, problems will not be solved correctly, mistakes will often occur and the high-quality building project that you were expecting is likely to be put into jeopardy. Alvin, CHE's Company Director and principal project manager, has overseen 146 successful extensions and renovations. With this much experience, it is very rare that he encounters a problem that he does not have a systemised, successful solution for. This is an ideal trait for a project manager and one to watch for when you are looking for someone to help you make your dream home a reality. |
Certified Builders
Due to the complexities of an extension project, most builders will only give an estimate or ball park figure. When we first started out in 2003, we operated like this too. However, we often found that our clients expected the estimated figure to be the final figure. This was consistently lead to confusion and disappointment for both parties. Nowadays when we conduct a site visit, we bring along everybody who we feel will make a significant contribution to your project. We do this for two main reasons; the first is that our handpicked tradesmen are specialists in what they do. They are able to give us an accurate description of their proposed works as well as a fixed price, which is not going to change throughout the course of your project. Secondly, having subcontractors on site before the job begins gives them the opportunity to spot any previous defects or work components that will need repairing or upgrading through the course of your project. Subcontractors will either make us aware of these issues or price the works accordingly before making you pay for a job that they may not be able to complete. The extensive site visits that we conduct mean that we can guarantee that the investment figure in your Action Plan will not change unless something unforeseen crops up or you change your mind. |
Quality Assurance
One of the most interesting phases of the project, and quite likely the most important, will be the stage where you ask a builder to put together a quote based on the dreams you have designed. There are many different methods of quoting a project, from a verbal quote to the more traditional two-page written quote. Both of the aforementioned methods provide a lot of room for errors and variations, especially when only one person comes to your home for a site visit. This is why here at Certified Home Extensions we do neither. Instead, we provide our clients with a 19-page Action Plan that includes everything from the type of Gib going on your walls, to the handles on your doors. Instead of saying, "hey, I thought that was included", we guarantee that you will be impressed at the depth of details provided. Having an Action Plan that is tailored to your project also means the fixed price investment figure the breakdown is based on, will remain constant unless something unforeseen occurs during construction or you choose to make a variation that requires additional cost. |
Fixed Price Process
A fixed price final agreement such as the one that Certified Home Extensions offers, is the only way to ensure complete peace of mind about the final invoice that you will receive at the end of your building project. Under the agreement that we offer, your fixed investment figure will not change, unless you request a variation or an unforeseen situation arises during the course of construction, e.g, rocks are discovered whilst excavating. If there are cost overruns, we will not invoice you for any additional amounts, removing all risk from you and passing it on to us, the project managers. This is in complete contrast to a Cost Plus contract where you carry all of the risk, due to the fact that you have essentially signed a blank cheque. The low total investment figure that you were offered in order to win the job will not be the final figure. This is because these contracts have no contingency factored into the overall investment figure, so when things go wrong as they inevitably will, your costs will increase to make up for the profit margins which your contractor is losing. Although we may not be the lowest overall investment figure presented to you at the construction of your tendering, we will be the lowest at the end of a project, and we are definitely the company who you can feel the most certainity about signing an agreement with. |
Reputable Architectural Designers
One of the most underestimated dimensions of any project is the value that a reputable architectural designer can add to the vision you have for your home. It is easy to get out the Yellow Pages and ring the first person. However, this person is very unfamiliar to you, your family and your lifestyle. This approach hardly ever works well. You are not a priority to these professionals due to their bust businesses. Our team has established strong relationships with five architectural designers. Whenever you are ready, we can work with you and we guarantee that the people we recommend are ideally suited for your project. They will be able to come up with plans for your dream home in a speedy and stress free manner. Throughout your journey with our designer, we will manage the process of going from concept drawings to council consent and make sure that you always remain a priority. Having our team help you through concepts to construction means that we can hand the keys over to you approximately six weeks sooner than if you had chosen somebody else to draw the plans. |
Keeping You Informed
Constant and consistent communication is crucial to providing you an easy experience from design to construction. Our team will update you once a week regardless of the stage we are at. We will always keep you in the loop, whether we are drawing up concept plans or hanging doors in your new extension. This means that we will never leave you wondering about the status of your project, as well as weekly emailed reports throughout construction. You will have 24/7 access to your project schedule on our project management software. We put a high emphasis on trust and communication right from the initial phases of your project. Architectural designers, tradespeople, engineers and council members always speak a different language and it is important that you feel comfortable approaching our team with any questions that you might have. It as our job to translate for you, making you completely comfortable from the before to the after photo of your home. |
Make your DreaM Home Reality with Certified Home Extensions
We have completed over 176 unique projects each one with special needs and requirements. For this reason, we have developed our 7 Steps to Success. It allows us to get as much information from you as possible before providing you with our expert advice, recommendations and proposed solutions.
1. FIRST CONVERSATION
Your extension journey usually begins when you make the decision to give us a call on 09 236 6944.
During our first phone call we’ll ask you a few questions so that we gain the most accurate understanding possible of how we can help you best.
Once we have finished & become fast friends, we’ll schedule a time for one of our team to come out and see you so that we can complete the picture as to what your completed extension dream will look like.
During our first phone call we’ll ask you a few questions so that we gain the most accurate understanding possible of how we can help you best.
Once we have finished & become fast friends, we’ll schedule a time for one of our team to come out and see you so that we can complete the picture as to what your completed extension dream will look like.
2. START UP SESSION
Once we have touched base for the first time (see Step One) we will usually schedule a time for one of our team to come out to your home and meet with you and any other decision making parties that may be involved with your project.
Our main purposes during this session is to leave with the full understanding of your reasons for choosing to extend or renovate, the financial resources you have available, the timeline that you would like to meet and the picture you have in your head of what your completed dream for your home will look like.
We encourage you to have on hand any ideas, house plans, section information, pinterest boards or any other relevant information that will be helpful for us when we are seeking to help you make the dream that you have for your home a reality. Remember any question is a good question so never be afraid to ask during these sessions!
Our main purposes during this session is to leave with the full understanding of your reasons for choosing to extend or renovate, the financial resources you have available, the timeline that you would like to meet and the picture you have in your head of what your completed dream for your home will look like.
We encourage you to have on hand any ideas, house plans, section information, pinterest boards or any other relevant information that will be helpful for us when we are seeking to help you make the dream that you have for your home a reality. Remember any question is a good question so never be afraid to ask during these sessions!
3. DESIGN YOUR DREAM
(If you have plans already skip ahead to Step 5)
Once we have met onsite for the first time, we’ll arrange for you to meet with one of our personally chosen architectural designers who will be ideally suited to your project.
Their extensive experience (all of our designers have been drawing plans for 10+ years) will enable them to add to or improve any ideas that we have come up with together – that is if we haven’t found the perfect solution already while getting a feel for exactly what you want to achieve from your building project.
Within 2-3 days of this session we’ll send you an investment proposal for how much the designer believes the design stage of your dream will cost and once you are happy they will be able to start drawing!
With their extensive architectural experience, they will further add on to any ideas previously discussed and more and will be able to quickly identify challenges on site that council may pick us up on. By identifying these challenges early we can better prepare ourselves later down the track during council consents stage.
Once we have met onsite for the first time, we’ll arrange for you to meet with one of our personally chosen architectural designers who will be ideally suited to your project.
Their extensive experience (all of our designers have been drawing plans for 10+ years) will enable them to add to or improve any ideas that we have come up with together – that is if we haven’t found the perfect solution already while getting a feel for exactly what you want to achieve from your building project.
Within 2-3 days of this session we’ll send you an investment proposal for how much the designer believes the design stage of your dream will cost and once you are happy they will be able to start drawing!
With their extensive architectural experience, they will further add on to any ideas previously discussed and more and will be able to quickly identify challenges on site that council may pick us up on. By identifying these challenges early we can better prepare ourselves later down the track during council consents stage.
4. COORDINATING DRAWINGS AND CONSENTS
We pride ourselves on the way that we coordinate the process of getting from concepts to building consent from our clients, believing that bar any unforeseen complications we can have you ready to start construction approx six weeks faster then any other company.
The team at CHE does this through constant communication; with you so that you always know what is happening and with the designer + council to make sure that you remain a priority and that things happen as fast as possible.
Dealing with council especially can often be quite challenging and that’s the real bonus of dealing with a company like us, we spend our day working for you making sure that your dream for your home is made a reality as smoothly and with as little stress as possible!
The team at CHE does this through constant communication; with you so that you always know what is happening and with the designer + council to make sure that you remain a priority and that things happen as fast as possible.
Dealing with council especially can often be quite challenging and that’s the real bonus of dealing with a company like us, we spend our day working for you making sure that your dream for your home is made a reality as smoothly and with as little stress as possible!
5. PLAN OF ACTION
Within 10 days of us submitting for Building Consent we will schedule a site visit with all of our important subcontractors e.g. builder, plumber, electrician etc. We feel that it is in the best interests of all parties to get the specialists to site to give us a price so to speak as they can sometimes make us aware of potential problems or issues, reducing the risk of any unforeseen surprises and giving you complete clarity before you start paying our guys to do a job that for some reason may be more difficult than expected for them to complete.
Once they have submitted their prices to us, we will compile them into a 13 page Action Plan. This Action Plan is tailored to your project and will give you a full understanding of what has and has not been taken into consideration e.g. we may exclude electrical work because you have your own electrician that you would like to use. Alvin will personally present this plan to you and go through every detail, the last thing that we want you to be saying is “Hey, I thought that was included.”
Once they have submitted their prices to us, we will compile them into a 13 page Action Plan. This Action Plan is tailored to your project and will give you a full understanding of what has and has not been taken into consideration e.g. we may exclude electrical work because you have your own electrician that you would like to use. Alvin will personally present this plan to you and go through every detail, the last thing that we want you to be saying is “Hey, I thought that was included.”
6. YOUR DREAM HOME IS MADE REALITY!
Hooray! Once you are happy and have signed off on your Action Plan we can usually begin construction within 4-6 weeks, depending on the availability of the builder.
During construction, Alvin will organize weekly meetings and send weekly reports to ensure we keep you updated every step of the way.
If you have a question, would like an additional meeting or require clarification at any time give us a call. We will be happy to arrange whatever necessary.
During construction, Alvin will organize weekly meetings and send weekly reports to ensure we keep you updated every step of the way.
If you have a question, would like an additional meeting or require clarification at any time give us a call. We will be happy to arrange whatever necessary.
7. LIVE YOUR DREAM
The end of our journey together draws nigh!
At this stage your extension dream has been made reality, final payments have been made and you are living happily ever after!
You will also receive:
Of course our journey together will never really be over, we pride ourselves on providing the ultimate level of service even when your building project has been completed If something should come up throughout the course of you living in your dream then feel free to give us a call and we will be more then happy to help.
At this stage your extension dream has been made reality, final payments have been made and you are living happily ever after!
You will also receive:
- Commercial Cleaning of your Home
- Signed Off Code of Compliance Certificate
- A Bottle of Champers and a Gift Basket to celebrate
Of course our journey together will never really be over, we pride ourselves on providing the ultimate level of service even when your building project has been completed If something should come up throughout the course of you living in your dream then feel free to give us a call and we will be more then happy to help.
NEXT STEPS
Congratulations, you've decided to extend your family home or build a new one! It's the beginning of a very exciting journey, but the first step can often feel a bit daunting, which is where we come in.
The first stage in our process is for one of our team to come and see you for a Start-Up Session. During this session we will do a tour of your home while listening to your requirements, we could then maybe go through some alternatives, or just offer you an expert opinion on some areas. Our ultimate goal is to stop any fear or uncertainty you might be feeling and start-up excitement and creativity – essential ingredients to any building project. During our time together we’ll go over;
By the time we have finished talking, you will have a good understanding of every stage of the process, of the likely cost of your project and when we can begin. You will be ready to start making your dream home a reality! There is no obligation to build with us after the meeting with Emily or Alvin. You won't be tied into any contracts at this stage. So, simply fill in the form below or if you would like to skip the paperwork, feel free to give us a call anytime on 09 233 3113 and one of our team will be happy to assist. |
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