New online building guide delivers inspiration

Thursday, 17 September 2015, 11:22 am
Press Release: Scope Media

New online building guide delivers inspiration for Kiwi homebuilders

An innovative Queenstown company is helping Kiwis achieve the dream of building their own home with a new ‘all-in-one’ online resource and directory.

Build me. is the brainchild of Queenstowner Hana Deavoll, who created the website to demystify the process of designing, building and renovating.

“I was frustrated by the lack of an all-in-one resource for home building in New Zealand,” Deavoll says. “I wanted somewhere that showcased inspirational New Zealand home building projects, but also provided resources and contacts for people who want to build their own home.”

Build me. provides information on all aspects of building and renovating. Users have free access to information on building codes, regulations, building guides, the do’s and don’ts of building, and coming soon - cost calculators. The website also features a national directory of professional contractors and building products.

Deavoll says home building shouldn’t be a daunting experience. “Build me. is about getting knowledge from the experts to people who are about to embark on building their own home.

“Like anything, if you break it down into small parts, it seems a lot less daunting. There’s a whole load of resources on the Build me. website that will help people whatever stage of the build process they’re at,” she adds.

“Building your own home is a big step and it can be very confusing. There are so many decisions to make: What builder should I use? How can I finance it? What level of insulation do I need? What types of cladding can I choose from? Build me. helps in the decision-making process by providing easy to understand articles on all aspects of the build process, as well as contacts for professional building industry companies and products.”

Deavoll is most excited about the NZ Homes profile features that will provide inspiration for Kiwis about to embark on their own building journey.

“This is not just about high-end, out-of-reach projects. We feature projects where people have created their very own dream home, at any place in the scale. If someone is feeling hesitant about building, then it’s reassuring to read about those who have successfully done it themselves,” she says.

Build me. is entering the market at a busy time for building and construction in New Zealand.

“There’s a lot of activity out there at the moment, so it’s about putting quality contractors and home builders in touch,” Deavoll says.

“It’s pretty clear that a lot of professional contractors are busy at the moment and don’t have time for promoting their business. The Build me. team has solid digital marketing expertise and we’ll use that to get some great results for businesses who list on the directory, including exposure over social media.”

With most research being done online these days, Build me. is helping businesses that aren’t actively marketing online to achieve a strong presence. Build me. is also a platform for professional businesses to showcase projects.

The Build me. website is being developed by Queenstown web company Xebidy, while the branding and graphic design has been created by local artist Laura Shallcrass, working for Ella Mac Design.

Along with her husband, who runs a construction company, Deavoll is a veteran of many build projects herself. She has first-hand experience of the building process – from obtaining bank finance, choosing a section, through to design and build. Build me. is a way of sharing this information on building, as well as providing inspiration and contacts.

“The reason some people have poor building experiences is due to lack of knowledge or communication with contractors. This, in turn, can put others off building by hearing about bad experiences. Build me. has a mission to inspire people to want to build their own home, and to make sure that their experience is positive,” Deavoll adds.

“Building a home may be the biggest project you take on in your life, so it’s important to get exactly what you want. And I think that’s achievable if you understand the process.”

ENDS

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