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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are the answers to the questions we are asked most often. Have a question we haven’t answered?

ASK US A QUESTION

What sort of guarantees do you offer?
What sort of guarantees do you offer?
Ohlson & Whitelaw Builders offer all our clients the 10 year Master Build Services Guarantees.

There are three Guarantee products to choose from:

  1. 10 Year Premium Guarantee:
    • Loss of Deposit up to 5% of the contract price to a maximum of $25,000.
    • Or, Non-Completion up to 10% of the contract price to a maximum of $40,000.
    • Workmanship and Material Defects cover for two years after completion of the project.
    • Structural Defects cover until the end of the 10 year cover period.
    • Rot and Fungal Decay for homes that score 12 or under on the E2 Risk Matrix.
    • Cost 0.7% of contract value, to a maximum of $3,500. Total cover capped at $500,000, including GST.
  2. 10 Year Classic Guarantee:
    • Workmanship and Material Defects cover for two years after completion of the project.
    • Structural Defects cover until the end of the 10 year cover period.
    • Rot and Fungal Decay for homes that score 12 or under on the E2 Risk Matrix.
    • Cost 0.55% of contract value, to a maximum of $2,750.Total cover capped at $500,000, including GST.
    • This guarantee takes effect upon practical completion of the home.
  3. 10 Year Standard Guarantee:
    • Optional Loss of Deposit up to 5% of the contract price, to a maximum of $15,000.
    • Or, Optional Non Completion up to 10% of the contract price to a maximum of $30,000.
    • Workmanship and Material Defects cover for two years after completion of the project, to a maximum of $100,000.
    • Structural Defects cover until the end of the 10 year cover period, to a maximum of $100,000.
    • A standard fixed price of $900, for cover excluding Loss of Deposit and Non-Completion, or $1,200, including those options.
What is a licenced Building Practitioner and are you one?
To become a Licensed Building Practitioner, a licence must be granted by the Department of Building and Housing. On the Department of Building and Housing website, consumers can search a public register of all licensed builders to find one who is competent. Keeping up-to-date with such things as changes in the building code, building materials, and design technologies is a requirement for all license holders who wish to maintain their skills and knowledge.We at Ohlson & Whitelaw are Licenced Building Practitioners.
What is a Registered Master Builder?
Members of the New Zealand Registered Master Builders Association have met strict guidelines and have passed intense business scrutiny.
Where can I find more information about the Master Builder Federation?
Visit www.masterbuilder.org.nz or call Master Build Services for free on 0800 269 119.
What are the benefits of choosing a Registered Master Builder?
You can be certain that your builder has qualified and experienced tradesmen on-site and has both the experience and the management skills to complete the work. There is also a special guarantee offered on work completed by Registered Master Builders.
What is the Registered Master Builder Guarantee?

As Registered Master Builders we provide a 10 Year Master Build Guarantee on all our residential work, which you can read about on their website.

How do I know you are a Registered Master Builder?
To confirm our Registered Master Builder status, contact the Registered Master Builders’ Federation on 0800 269 119 or [email protected]
How does a builder qualify as a Registered Master Builder?
The Registered Master Builder membership criteria are very strict:
Building experience
Trade and professional qualifications
On-site management experience
Workmanship – to ensure the quality of our work and that our clients are satisfied, previous clients have been contacted
Financial responsibility – their bank, accountant, and building materials supplier have all provided written references.
How do I get started?
Visit our contact page to get in touch and we can arrange a meeting
We already have plans, can you quote on these?
If your plans meet building consent standards, we can provide a firm quote. If not, we can give you an estimate. We can help you with the completion of your plans and can advise you on where cost savings can be made.
We have not decided yet on extra details, including our bathroom and kitchen. Can you help?
Yes, we can provide an estimate before we provide a firm quote once you hire us.
Can you give us a square metre rate or an estimate for our project?
Because every project is unique, it’s hard for us to provide a rate. Once we see your plans, we can see if they’re similar to any of our previous projects. If they are, we can provide an estimate.
How do we work out our budget when building a home?

There are a lot of factors to consider here, such as the sloping of the section, size and style you’re looking for and building materials. We can give a better estimate once we have more details.

Do you build outside the Coromandel?
We have built several homes in the Franklin area. Projects outside the Coromandel are considered on a case-by-case basis.