The prefabrication blues
Prefabrication is the latest buzzword but home buyers can still face headaches, Chris Hutching writes.
Pre-fabricated homes are touted as more efficient and affordable but builders and buyers face the same quality control issues as any other type of construction.
Several building companies have set up PrefabNZ as an education advocacy group, which last week held a fully booked conference in Auckland called CoLab18.
But a buyer of a prefabricated Keith Hay Homes, Jennifer Westrupp in Taupo, was still awaiting remediation work ranging from extra seismic bracing, relocating kitchen cabinets and other shortcomings.
Westrupp said the seismic problem arose from confusion about whether the Taupo or Waikato councils had jurisdiction.
Instead of completion within a few months, it was 17 months later she and her family moved into their 110 square metre home, after unexpected accommodation costs and work to bring the property up to code.
The cost of the house was $218,000 on top of the $160,000 for the section. The Westrupps have yet to settle the last $10,000 payment after remedial work is completed.
The median prices for a New Zealand home nationally is more than $500,000 and about $850,000 in high demand areas such as Auckland. These homes include decks, fences and paths.
Managing director of Keith Hay Homes, David Hay, acknowledged faults, and said some regions were more affected because of the high demand for skilled workers.
But the company was working with affected customers to fix problems, and in some cases they received a financial credit.
The Kumar family of Pukekawa near Hamilton also claimed poor workmanship.
Hay said they moved in too soon, which created problems completing and remediating work.
Family spokesman Shelvin Kumar said delays in completion created accommodation problems for his parents. But Keith Hay Homes can charge penalties of $60 a day if owners move in too soon.
Keith Hay Homes is not a member of the Master Builder guarantee scheme. Hay said it subsidised the poor work of other builders and he stood by his reputation of 50 years in the business.
Above all, it was important for customers to read their contracts to appreciate their entitlements, Hay said.
Contracts stipulate the level of paint or wallpaper finish - ‘‘it depends what you pay for’’, Hay said.
Customers Nikki and Dave Hawkey of Christchurch cited poor communications, house out of level, wrong roofing profile and other faults. They were withholding $30,000.
Jayden and Kate Preece of Tai Tapu near Christchurch cited consenting hassles, poor installations of doors and windows, paint defects, gas line installation problems, and delayed completion.