Conclusion
Since mid-October 2013 I have been in Tauranga, and since early November, when my container arrived, I have been living in my new house. So what is the conclusion I have drawn from this experience of “building by remote control”?
First, it was an interesting one.
Second, I would not recommend to this to anybody unless they have a trusted person who has the same ideas regarding standards and quality as they, the customer, do.
Third, the main conclusion is that it all depends on individual people. People make or break it.
My conclusion is: the house has been finished to my expected standards, which are not German but New Zealand standards. However, one has to accept that this is a different country with a different climate, different building regulations and an entirely different concept of housing. I must point out though that the path was a very thorny one.
It would not have worked out without the keen eye, the high level of supervision and persistence in pointing out shortcomings of Bernard, my project overseer, who made sure that all sorts of hiccups or stuff-ups were rectified. The result is good. The process was a shambles. It could have gone much smoother, had the project management on the part of the building company been more professional.
It would have certainly gone a lot better, had not Bruce Matthews, the salesperson of the building company G.J. Gardner, left the company even before building work started. I cannot praise his customer focus and helpfulness high enough. Once he left, things went downhill.
So what would my advice be to somebody who has no trusted person to be their eyes and ears?
- Decide where you want to live.
- Rent for a certain time – half a year or one year.
- Ask around what other people’s experiences with builders were.
- Only then decide who you want to build with.
Those who can read between the lines will know how to take this.
Tauranga, The Lakes, 20.11.2013
First, it was an interesting one.
Second, I would not recommend to this to anybody unless they have a trusted person who has the same ideas regarding standards and quality as they, the customer, do.
Third, the main conclusion is that it all depends on individual people. People make or break it.
My conclusion is: the house has been finished to my expected standards, which are not German but New Zealand standards. However, one has to accept that this is a different country with a different climate, different building regulations and an entirely different concept of housing. I must point out though that the path was a very thorny one.
It would not have worked out without the keen eye, the high level of supervision and persistence in pointing out shortcomings of Bernard, my project overseer, who made sure that all sorts of hiccups or stuff-ups were rectified. The result is good. The process was a shambles. It could have gone much smoother, had the project management on the part of the building company been more professional.
It would have certainly gone a lot better, had not Bruce Matthews, the salesperson of the building company G.J. Gardner, left the company even before building work started. I cannot praise his customer focus and helpfulness high enough. Once he left, things went downhill.
So what would my advice be to somebody who has no trusted person to be their eyes and ears?
- Decide where you want to live.
- Rent for a certain time – half a year or one year.
- Ask around what other people’s experiences with builders were.
- Only then decide who you want to build with.
Those who can read between the lines will know how to take this.
Tauranga, The Lakes, 20.11.2013