It typically takes 12 months for a normal design and build home to be complete:

• 3-6 months for design / pricing / contract / engineering / building consent

• 6 months for construction

• Smaller jobs could be between 5-6 months

• Larger jobs could be between 7-10 months

Costs vary depending on your chosen specifications:

• Entry-Level Homes: $2,700 – $3,000/m²
  Includes 2.4m stud, brick or linea cladding, standard interior finishes, flat sites, landscaping, driveways, and fencing.

• Mid to High Specification Homes: $3,000 – $3,500/m²
  Higher studs (2.55–3m), some architectural features, upgraded claddings, ducted aircon, decking, coloured concrete, and landscaping.

• High-End / Architectural Homes: $4,000 – $6,000+/m²
  Architectural features, structural steel for large open areas, underfloor heating, fully ducted aircon, high-end claddings and joinery, designer kitchens, and landscaped/sloped sites.

(Prices are indicative and depend on site, design, and specification choices.)

Read our blog to find out more.

Turn Key or Masterbuild Contract with progressive payments  (this could link off to a blog?)

• Turn Key = 10% deposit held with your lawyer and 100% paid in the end, after completion of your new home.

  This method typically costs a little more because the builder needs to buy the land to cover interest costs and rates during the design and build process, however, it means the purchaser doesn't need to pay a mortgage and rent at the same time.

• A fixed-cost masterbuild contract is where the client buys the land and enters a masterbuild contract with Nixon Homes for the build only. The payments for design and build are based on progressive and approximately 18 payments from deposit to completion.

Surburban

Typically only earthworks is a variable cost and all other items are fixed price. Since new subdivisions within the city have stricter requirements, there are far fewer risks for unexpected costs for building. The developer installs the services before the land can be sold (water, electricity, wastewater and stormwater) and are all at the boundaries edge.

Most earthworks and foundation requirements are much less in new subdivisions. 

Lifestyle 

A lifestyle build will have a few extra variable costs including:

• Earthworks 

• Piling (if needed)

• Drainage (incl WW and W tanks)

• Electrical mains cable 

Typically no (or little) ground improvement has been made on lifestyle blocks before building. This means more costs required by the land owner when building

Often earthworks digouts can be much deeper and unexpected ground conditions are found on site by engineers which require more digging. Councils or electrical services companies can also charge for new connections. 

Most of these risks can be fixed or reduced by doing a thorough design and engineering process.

Whether you’re looking to build your first home, an architectural design & build or a smaller home we are here to make it happen.

We’re a small, family run business and pride ourselves on providing personal experiences for our clients, building quality homes that are well-managed, hassle-free, and cost effective.

Let‘s look at each stage you will go through when you build with Nixon Homes.

Learn more about the Nixon process here.

Absolutely. While we have a range of plans from previous projects, you’re more than welcome to bring your own ideas or existing plans. We’ll work with our architect to adapt them to your site and ensure the design fits your vision perfectly.

We know our clients are busy, so we keep communication clear and efficient. While we won’t flood your inbox with constant updates, you’ll have full access to our build portal app, a simple way to check progress photos, track the schedule, and stay connected with your project whenever it suits you.

During construction, we do require your presence at three key site meetings. These cover the major milestones: window joinery, kitchen and electrical walkthroughs, and an exterior meeting to confirm details such as concrete, fencing, decking, and landscaping. These sessions ensure every decision aligns with your vision and avoids costly changes later.