We recently completed a project in Parnell where that flexibility became particularly important, with one of the homeowners needing to spend around six months overseas during a key stage of the build For Dan and Mel, the owners, that meant trusting our team to keep things moving while making sure Dan still felt connected to what was happening back home.
In Dan’s own words:
“Just as we were getting into the real heavy stuff for the build, I had to disappear off to Barcelona and was away for about 6 months... with the great relationship that we’d built up with the team here, particularly Jesse... anything that came up, Jesse would be on the phone and sending photos and videos. I still felt really connected with what was going on.”
It’s a good example of how we like to run projects. Some clients want to be across every detail. Others are happy for us to take the lead. And sometimes work or life means they simply cannot be on site very often at all. The important thing is that the project can keep moving properly either way.
A big part of that comes down to the structure behind each build. Our projects have dedicated project managers overseeing the bigger picture, alongside site foremen managing the day-to-day work on site. That means there is always someone responsible for what is happening next, what decisions need to be made, and how the different trades, suppliers and details all fit together.
It also means the homeowner does not have to be the one holding everything together. For the Parnell project, Jesse kept Dan involved from the other side of the world through regular calls, photos and videos, while the team continued managing what was happening on site. Dan was not physically there, but he was never left wondering what was going on.
We have had similar situations with other clients building in Auckland while living overseas. On a St Heliers build, the client was based in the UAE and was only able to visit the site once during construction, and their partner didn’t even see the build until it was completed. That takes a pretty high level of trust from the client, and it only works when the team on the ground has the systems, experience and communication in place to keep everything moving properly without them there.
We currently also have builds underway for clients based in Singapore and Europe as well, so managing projects with homeowners overseas has become second nature to our team.
That is where robust systems and good people matter. Clear planning, experienced project management and strong site leadership give us the ability to take ownership of a project without needing constant input from the homeowner.
This has always been a big part of how NZ Builders works. Building or renovating a home is a significant project, and clients should not feel like they have to chase for updates or wonder what is happening next. Whether you are visiting site every week or living on the other side of the world, our job is to keep you informed, deal with issues as they come up and make the process as straightforward as possible.
The end result matters, but so does the experience of getting there. And that is ultimately what we are aiming for. A great finished home, but also a process that feels well managed from start to finish.
If you’re thinking about building or renovating in New Zealand but you’re based overseas, get in touch. We can talk you through how we manage projects remotely and what being involved from afar can actually look like.
