Renovation Contractor in Canterbury

For most markets 10% or less of the contract value is a reasonable deposit, sometimes up to 20-30% for jobs with heavy upfront material orders like custom cabinetry. Several countries cap deposits by law. Never pay a large share of the total before work starts, and never pay the full amount up front.

At minimum: full scope of works, itemized price, start and completion dates, payment schedule tied to milestones, who obtains permits, how variations are priced and approved in writing, warranty terms, and how disputes are handled. If a contractor resists putting these in writing, that is the answer to whether you should hire them.

Ask every contractor to break the quote into the same line items: demolition, structural, plumbing, electrical, walls and finishes, fixtures, and a stated allowance for materials you choose. Then compare line by line. A single lump-sum number cannot be compared and cannot be enforced when scope questions come up mid-project.

Manage trades yourself only if the job involves one or two trades and you can be on site regularly. Once a project needs sequencing (demolition, then rough plumbing and wiring, then walls, then finishes), a contractor typically saves more in avoided rework and delays than their 10-20% management margin costs.

A renovation contractor (general contractor or main builder) manages your whole project: pricing the job, scheduling and supervising trades like electricians and plumbers, ordering materials, arranging permits where needed, and being the single party responsible for quality and timeline. You pay one contract price instead of coordinating five separate trades yourself.

Builder rates typically run NZD 60-120 per hour, with qualified LBP builders at the upper half. Full renovations commonly price at NZD 2,000-4,500 per square metre depending on structural scope and finish level.

Work critical to a home's structure or weathertightness — foundations, framing, roofing, cladding — must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner, who files a Record of Work. Cosmetic renovation isn't restricted, but most whole-home projects include at least some RBW, so check the LBP register before hiring.