Katy RosserBinge-watching shows like “100 Day Dream Home” has convinced a lot of us that building a house is as easy as pie. One minute, you’re picking out paint swatches; the next, you’re popping champagne in your brand-new kitchen.
In reality, there are a dozen real-life home-building fails. Everyone seems to have a saga about budget blowouts, disappearing contractors, or the infamous “it’ll be done by Friday” promise.
That’s got us at Auckland Magazine thinking: surely there are legit home builders out there. So we went looking—read reviews, compared portfolios, and even spoke to real clients.
The result? A list of the best home builders who are known for quality craftsmanship, sticking to timelines, and making the process feel (almost) as smooth as it looks on TV.
How much does it cost to build a home in Auckland?
It costs at least 2,000 NZD per square meter to build a home in Auckland. This is just an estimate, and the final price will still depend on the extent of the project, builders’ expertise, and more.
1. Ashcroft Homes
Address: 35 Karaka Street, Eden Terrace
Contact Details:+6493775885
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday – 8:30 AM to 5 PM
Ashcroft Homes stood out for their clear timelines and strong guarantees. Their guaranteed 23-week completion time means top-tier homes are built fast, great for buyers eager to move in sooner.
Their warranty package is impressive and shows Ashcroft really stands behind their work. It includes a 10-year weather-tightness guarantee, a 12-year structural warranty, a 10-year Master Build Guarantee, and a 12-month maintenance guarantee.
Another big plus is their free site evaluation report. With so much design inspiration online, it’s easy to overlook your land’s actual potential. We think the report helps ground your expectations in reality and also improves whatever vision you have.
Ashcroft’s smart, affordable designs make the most of smaller sections, so you get the most out of your investment.
We also appreciate the free virtual tours of their home designs. They make it easy to visualize your future home from anywhere, whether you’re local or planning from afar.
Their in-house Planning and Subdivision team is also awesome. They handle everything from resource consents to subdivision works, which takes a lot of stress out of the process.
However, some customers have reported slow response times, with calls sometimes taking up to three days to be returned.
The quality of the end product exceeded our expectations
”As first-time developers, we discovered Ashcroft Homes by attending one of their seminars. Embarking on a development project entails numerous challenges and risks, but we are delighted to share that our experience with Ashcroft Homes has been really positive. Throughout each stage of the project, from Resource Consent to construction to subdivision, we could sense the team’s genuine passion for their work. The quality of the end product exceeded our expectations, and the team’s consistent support and communication kept us well-informed and helped us tackle on-site challenges effectively. Despite facing inevitable hurdles typical of any development, Ashcroft’s handling of these challenges was impressive. We recommend Ashcroft Homes to anyone considering a development project. Their dedication and expertise made them an invaluable partner in bringing our vision to life.”
–John Trenwith, Google Reviews
They maintained their high level of professionalism
“Working with Ashcroft Homes has been a real pleasure from start to finish! We are wrapped with the finished product, our new homes look very smart! Ashcroft’s entire team are very knowledgeable, and they maintained their high level of professionalism throughout the entire journey, which made it run smoothly. We would like to thank Phil, Mitchel, Deepa, Laurie, and Chris Marshall for all their hard work! We were impressed with their excellent communication; the whole team were responsive to our calls and they were very good at achieving desirable results. We will be sure to recommend Ashcroft Homes to all going forward and we absolutely look forward to working with them again, hopefully sometime soon!”
–Sasha Peters, Google Reviews
2. Alpha 1 Builders Ltd
Address: 45 Monaghan Avenue, Mount Albert
Contact Details:+6498468110
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Saturday – 8 AM to 3 PM
Alpha 1 Builders Ltd’s well-defined, eight-step process really stood out to us. We found it an ideal approach for homeowners who value structure, transparency, and clear communication for any home-building project.
From your very first conversation about your vision and onsite design meetings to plan development and council approvals, every step is mapped out. Their awesome custom-built scheduling program keeps you in the loop at every stage.
We especially love how they partner up with different architectural firms so you’re not locked into a single design approach—you get more creative freedom. Plus, all their work is backed by their 10-year Master Build guarantee.
Other clients we spoke to appreciated how reliable their construction workers are when it comes to prioritizing safety on-site. Plus, the crew is respectful throughout the entire building process.
But there have been occasional reports of minor finishing details being overlooked—things like paint touch-ups or uneven trim in less noticeable areas.
The team was courteous and respectful on site
“Paul and his team were called in at short notice to undertake the repair and restoration of the exterior of our 100-year-old weatherboard bungalow in Mt Albert at the recommendation of our painters. We were really impressed with Paul’s communication at the outset of the project and with the ongoing communication from the team on site. Alpha1 are not just builders but craftsmen who took pride in their work and made many clever suggestions about how to fix and restore parts of the house in keeping with its character. The team was courteous and respectful on site, which makes a big difference when your family home has become a construction site. We would be happy to recommend Alpha 1 Builders to family and friends.“
–Joanna Beresford, Google Reviews
The quality of workmanship is exceptional
“We couldn’t recommend Alpha One more. From consultation through to completion we were always well informed and kept in the loop. Our renovation took place in our living area and we remained in our house- tricky when builders turn up early and you have three kids! However I could not fault the guys, they were so great at working around us and patient with the inquisitive kids The quality of workmanship is exceptional and we are so very happy. Thanks so much to the whole team.”
–Stef Moore, Google Reviews
3. Best Nest Building Company
Address: 658 Great North Road
Contact Details:+6421440777
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday – 7:30 AM to 5 PM
We found Best Nest Building Company’s guarantees and pricing make it easy to trust the process from start to finish.
What we love most is their “Keys to Confidence” Guarantee. We’re impressed by their 200-point quality checklist, which gets signed off at every milestone.
When it comes to pricing, we like how Best Nest gets individual quotes from their specialist trades and suppliers, then separates the labor costs. This way, people always know exactly where their money is going.
We also find their building process refreshingly straightforward. Buyers get to share their ideas and set a budget that suits them before moving through the design process, making things easy for them from the construction process to move-in day.
Another feature many appreciate is the online project management system. Having their own login means they can check updates and track progress whenever they want, which helps many buyers feel involved and informed.
The only downside we’ve noticed is their strict no-phones-on-site policy. While it’s great for safety, it can make it hard to reach the crew if you’re not there in person.
Their workmanship is of high standard
“We have worked with Best Nest regularly over the last 2 years. Luke and team have always been a pleasure to deal with and their workmanship is of high standard. If you are looking for a trustworthy builder for your next home renovation I can’t recommend them enough.”
–John Pujol, Google Reviews
Have found them great to deal with
“I have worked with Luke Jone from Best Nest Building on multiple projects and have found them great to deal with. His communication and friendly manner have made the difficult process of construction easier. I’m sure there will be more projects involving Best Nest in the future.“
–Jonathan Holmes, Google Reviews
4. Harper Homes Ltd
Contact Details:+642041368225
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Harper Homes Ltd is well worth a call for anyone dreaming of a brand new family home or looking to breathe new life into an older space—these guys have experience with it all.
One thing we especially loved was scrolling through their gallery. Their minimalistic shots give you a real sense of their process, showing everything from home builds in progress and workers on-site to beautifully finished, furnished rooms.
Harper Homes is also a safe bet for re-clads, particularly if you have an older weatherboard or plaster home that needs a facelift.
They take care of all the tricky details, from weatherproofing to council sign-off, so you don’t have to worry about the technicalities.
Former clients love that the extensions and alterations they do are functional while blending in with what they envision for their homes.
However, some people have had issues during renovations, with unexpected structural issues popping issues, which lead to extra costs and a longer project timeline.
They guided us through the entire process
“A little while ago I hired Harper Homes to build our dream home and the experience was seamless. The team was professional, knowledgeable and always available to answer any questions we had. They guided us through the entire process and made sure that we were satisfied with every aspect of the build. The quality of their work was outstanding and the end result was exactly what we envisioned. We would highly recommend Harper Homes to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy building company. Thank you for making our dream home a reality!”
–Ashley Short, Google Reviews
The quality of work was very good
“We have had Harper homes work for us a few times now, the quality of work was very good, Carl and his team were very respectful and friendly, couldn’t recommend them enough. Always on time and very hard working.”
–Josh Mckean, Google Reviews
5. Eden Builders Ltd
Address: 1B Mars Avenue, Sandringham
Contact Details: +64274371975
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday – 7 AM to 5 PM
Eden Builders is perfect for homeowners who want an awesome pergola, fencing, deck, or a stunning bathroom. They’re true specialists in these areas, and the level of detail they put into their work is impressive.
From the finished projects we’ve seen, their decks always enhance the look and feel of the home, adding real value and easily blending with the existing style.
When it comes to bathrooms, several homeowners appreciate how Eden Builders handles everything—from design and planning right through to the final build.
They use only top-quality materials, and their plumbers and tilers are real pros. We like that their designs aren’t just beautiful—they’re smart, making the most of every inch of space. It’s obvious they think carefully about both form and function.
One thing to keep in mind, though: Eden Builders don’t take on new house builds. If you’re looking for a company to handle a whole-home new build, look elsewhere.
Excellent for all parts of our renovation
“Simon and Matt were absolutely amazing builders to work with. Professional, friendly, always on time, and made the whole process super easy and stress free. They are experts in their work, and have excellent sub-trades as well. The completed work is at a very high standard. They were excellent for all parts of our renovation, including streamlining and managing the process, and offering thoughtful and expert solutions to a number of unexpected hurdles that arose. We were also really happy with their attention to detail, and care of our home. Highly recommend Eden Builders.”
–Sarah Knowles, Google Reviews
The team were great at working together and offering solutions
“Simon and his team worked on the whole renovation of my house. I work full-time and felt very comfortable with him project managing my build while I was at work. Simon has strong communication and orgnaisation skills and kept me informed and up to date daily. The team were great at working together and offering solutions as well as coordinated all other tradies around the time frame to complete my renovation. Would recommend Simon to anyone looking for a builder. Very, very happy with how our beautiful house has turned out.”
–Jackie Archipow, Google Reviews
