build with us.

01

introduction and initial consultation.

Your journey with CM Builders starts with a friendly consultation to discuss your project vision, and share your goals and concerns. 

Whether your project is a renovation, extension or new home, we'll review your site, discuss logistics, and answer your building questions. 

Already have a design? Great — we can review it together. No plans yet? We’ll recommend an architect or designer who aligns with your budget, personality, and vision, drawing from our experience with some of Canterbury's leading architects and designers.

02

planning and design.

After the initial consultation, we’ll arrange a meeting with your chosen architect to define your key wants and needs. This collaborative session ensures the design reflects your vision while incorporating expert input on functionality, style, and layout.

From there, a concept plan is developed. This stage focuses on capturing the essentials for an initial builder review and provisional costing.

With a provisional budget established, all parties refine the design, adjusting layouts and adding details to prepare for the first detailed cost estimate.

The final stage involves obtaining detailed working drawings, including precise specifications, finishes, and a schedule of fixtures and appliances for accurate pricing. Once approved, plans are submitted to the council for building consent. 

03

pricing.

At this point we will discuss our different contract types, tailored to suit you and your project needs.

A clear understanding of project scope and costs is essential. Throughout the design process, we recommend reviewing the budget at key stages to prioritize spending, and maintain clarity for all parties.

Detailed, itemized estimates are crucial for securing financing, negotiating with subcontractors, and aligning everyone on the project scope. They also simplify managing changes or variations during the build.

Presenting them in a clear, organized format, our quotes are broken down by trade categories, with itemized scopes and clear inclusions/exclusions, ensuring transparency and confidence from start to finish.

04

building contract.

By this stage we would have had discussions regarding the type of contract that would suit you and your project. We would go through the pros and cons of a charge up basis vs fixed price.

Within this we would also outline contractor margins, material mark ups and our charge out rates for construction and change orders. We will provide draft information with the construction schedule, payment terms & variation process, defect periods, maintenance schedules and also builders and owners insurance requirements. We will then provide you with our disclosure statements which will outline all legal obligations.

With everything agreed & formalized we can move forward to a finalising the building contract.

Time to build. 

05

the build.

The exciting part.

You will deal with myself directly as the lead builder and project manager.  

All site progress will be reported to you at an agreed basis, all reports are electronic, time stamped and uploaded into our software for accurate and transparent monitoring.

We will be there for all design, engineer and council monitoring to give you clear reports as necessary. We ensure correct procedures are in place so all personnel on site are equipped with relevant and important site information and updates. 

We welcome walk throughs as progress takes place to showcase our tidy sites and quality workmanship

06

beyond.

On completion of your project, we can assist in processing all final compliance certificates on behalf, all digital copies of project documents, producer statements, maintenance schedules, as-built drawings, record or works and user manuals.

Our goal is to be the same team that drives the first peg into the ground and also the last. We always welcome a catch up and to stay in touch. Even after the project is finished, we are there for any questions, future needs or advice.