Building quality counts

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 404, 17 September 1991, Page 12

Building quality counts

Advice from the 1 master j builder's J federation ' In the world of property investment, the three golden rules are: location, location, location. However, another very important factor is quality.

Buildings are meant to last and that means using quality materials, built by a qualified builder. For most of us the acquisition of a new home or the additions and alterations to that home represent what is probably our . single largest investment that we possess so who in

their right mind would willingly or knowingly elect to use inferior quality products or substandard workmanship that may detract from the value of one's investment. Certainly, price is always a very important factor in any purchasing decision and the majority of us have a price limit that we can afford. Usually, what we have to decide is the trade off: do we want more at a lower quality or do we want less at a higher quality. Invariably, real estate agents will tell you that a well constructed home in a good location, built of good reliable materials, represents a much better investment than a poorly constructed home of lesser, or cheaper, materials. Accordingly, when one is thinking of building or making additions or alterations it is essential to always appreciate that there will always be a cheaper price. One must be wary of the unbelievably low price as this surely indicates the cowboy

builder. One could normally expect a range of quotes to be pretty much

around the same figure. It does not always pay to pick the lowest quote.

"A mountain cabin set in a rugged King Country landscape" is how this Ohakune residence was described in a recent architectural award presentation. Many Ohakune residents would question their town being described as 'rugged', but few would argue that the house deserves special attention. The house, designed by Wellington architect Alan Minty, has won one of eight national awards. The house is designed as a comfortable weekend retreat for a couple who like to entertain with views of the 'rugged landscape' from every window, contrasting with the soft interior setting. The timber used is macrocarpa milled on site.