Auckland is a fast-growing region with many different construction companies to choose from. Whether you’re embarking on a renovation or planning to build from scratch, facing such a wide range of choices can quickly become intimidating.
How are you supposed to know which companies are legitimately experienced? What kind of budget should you expect? What are the red flags to look out for when hiring a company to bring your dream to life?
It doesn’t have to be daunting – you just need the right approach. This article breaks down our top ten tips for choosing the best construction company in Auckland. We’re covering everything from carefully defining your project’s scope to tapping into your gut instinct.
First thing first: it’s vital to define your project’s scope. If you’ve never encountered this term before, the ‘scope’ of your project is like a roadmap. It’s an essential project management tool and helps to keep budgets, timelines, and results on track.
Kick off your project’s scope by answering four questions:
Understanding these answers will allow you to effectively communicate these points to your chosen company. From there, they’ll go away and draw up a more formal scope of work for you to sign off on before work gets started.
If your project has a unique challenge that needs to be addressed, make sure to note it down and look for a specialist who can tackle it properly.
For example, if you’re tackling a home renovation for a home built prior to the 2000s, there’s a high chance you’ll encounter asbestos-containing materials. You’ll need to partner with a construction company that knows how to manage asbestos properly, or can connect you with asbestos removalists that can take care of the issue before work begins.
One of the most important pieces of information you can carry into your search is a rough idea of your budget. Knowing how much you’re willing to spend will make sure you don’t get caught unawares when the final bill comes due.
Outlining this budget during the quote stage with potential companies will also make sure they’re aware of your budget expectations. No unpleasant surprises and no out-of-scope work.
In Aotearoa, all builders who deal with the structure or weathertightness of residential buildings must be Licensed Building Practitioners. For large-scale renovations or new builds, it’s vital to make sure the construction company you’re partnering with is licensed to prevent any issues with your final results, obtaining consents, or any other part of the building process.
It also helps to make sure the companies you’re vetting are partners of SiteSafe, as this demonstrates a commitment to safe working practices on-site.
Nothing sets a great construction company in Auckland apart like experience! Search out companies that have a celebrated history of doing great work for their clients. Some of the best indicators that you’ve found an experienced team include:
Once you’ve found that gallery, take a closer look to see if this particular company has worked on projects similar to yours, aside from demonstrating their overall experience, this can be a great way to pick a company that can partner with and guide you through your own building process.
If they have plenty of experience working on construction projects similar to yours, that means they already know how to navigate any roadblocks that might come up. Better yet, they’ll probably know how to prevent those obstacles from coming up in the first place.
How a construction company interacts with their customers is really important. Construction is a pretty volatile industry, and there are a lot of things that can happen on-site that can derail a project. So, you want to make sure you’re partnering with a company that’s communicative, committed to delivering quality work, and takes safety seriously.
Testimonials are a great place to look for honest feedback from past clients, so you can get a sneak peek into whether a particular company meets these criteria before you reach out.
You’ve got your list, you’ve done all the research you can do, so what’s next? It’s time to actually connect with your shortlisted companies. The way a construction company approaches consulting on your project will tell you a lot about how they approach their work as a whole.
Look for clear lines of communication, a willingness to listen, and low self-orientation. You want a company focused on solving your problems and delivering great work, not someone who’s only focused on selling you more services that you might not need.
This is also a great time to ask any questions you might have, so you can be sure they’re right for the job!
This is a super important step because it can make or break your relationship with a potential company. Ask for a detailed quote. Most construction companies in Auckland offer a free quote as part of their consultation process, but many only provide a single number with no breakdown.
Asking for a detailed quote allows you to see what they’re really charging for, which can help with comparing your options or ensuring your budget aligns. If they’re not willing to give you a detailed quote at all, then that’s also pretty telling.
Finally, there’s a lot to be said for leading with your instincts. If you’ve done plenty of research and you’ve assembled a shortlist of potential construction companies in Auckland, gotten a quote, and you’re still trying to choose…your gut might be the one to point the way.
At the end of the day, putting in the work before selecting a construction company in Auckland is worth the time and effort. Exploring your options and finding the best one for your project will do wonders for your budget, timeline, and stress levels.
At Stehr Brothers, we value three things: quality, experience, and flexibility. Since our establishment back in 1986, we’ve been delivering excellent work at a competitive price to make sure our clients walk away with their dream results.
As a family-owned construction company in Auckland, we’re proud to bring our passion for design and construction to every single project. There’s nothing we can’t build!
Ready to get started? Reach out today to get to know our team, and let us know what you’re looking for as part of a free consultation.
POSTAL ADDRESS
PO Box 39038
Howick
Auckland 2145
New Zealand
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
149 Kimptons Road
Brookby, Auckland
