There are a number of hazards associated with building your new home which, if not carefully managed, could cause serious injury or worse, to those that encounter them. Stonewood Homes has a legal obligation to ensure that those hazards are identified and controlled.

During the construction of your new home a fence will be erected and secured around your site to ensure that only suitably qualified and authorised persons can access the site, and subsequently to ensure any hazards are contained within it.

Although we understand that it is your property, legally we are required to control the building site while your home is under construction. We still want you to be able to access the site and view the progress and we have some processes that will make it easier for you to do this.

Prior to handover, a Notice of Inspection will be completed by your local council confirming that your home has reached the Code Compliance Stage. Under the Building Act 2004, territorial authorities have up to 20 working days to issue the Code of Compliance Certificate—although this doesn’t prevent you from moving in earlier. If you’re drawing down mortgage funds, your Project Supervisor can provide you with the Notice of Inspection. If you take possession before the certificate is issued, you’ll need to sign an Agreement under Section 364V(2) of the Building Act, which your Project Supervisor will provide.

A Provisional Sum is an allowance in your contract for work or services where the scope is known but the exact cost can’t be determined upfront.

• Examples: excavation, drainage, retaining walls, rock removal.
• How it works: We include an estimated amount in the contract. When the work is completed, the cost is reconciled to the actual expense — which may be higher or lower than the allowance.

What is a Prime Cost (PC) Sum?

A PC Sum is an allowance in your building contract for materials or items where the exact product or price hasn’t been chosen at the time of signing.

• Examples: kitchens, bathroom fittings, tiles, tapware.
• How it works: Once you’ve made your final selections and the actual price is confirmed, the allowance is adjusted. If your choices cost less, you’ll receive a credit. If they cost more, you’ll pay the difference.

Yes. Stonewood Homes offers access to Stamford Insurance, an independent third-party provider, but it does come at an additional cost. Their policies are designed specifically for new builds and protect homeowners after they move in.

Typical cover includes:

• Structural defects – protection for up to 10 years against major issues with the home’s structure.
• Non-structural defects – protection for up to 2 years against poor workmanship or design defects.
• Additional benefits – such as cover for alternative accommodation costs, depending on the policy selected.

During construction, Builders Risk Insurance covers the property, but this expires at handover. From that day, you become responsible for arranging your own comprehensive home and contents insurance. If you choose to take out Stamford Insurance, it will provide added protection for design and structural issues beyond your standard home insurance.

For more information, visit: Stamford Insurance

Builders Risk Insurance covers the property during construction and expires at handover. From that point, you’re responsible for insuring the home and its contents. It’s advisable to arrange comprehensive insurance in advance, effective

Stonewood Homes carries contract works and public liability insurance for the duration of construction. Once the build is handed over, that insurance lapses, and you must arrange your own private home insurance. It’s important to have this in place early enough to avoid any coverage gaps.

From signing the Building Agreement and paying the deposit to completion, expect a timeframe of approximately 44–47 weeks, depending on the home’s size and complexity. Here’s a breakdown of the typical timeline after confirming design, signing the agreement, and paying your deposit:

• Up to 5 working days: handover meeting with your Client Liaison Officer

• Up to 6 weeks: processing and administration for Building Consent Application (time may extend if changes are made)

• 6–10 weeks: council issues Building Consent

• Slab pour to practical completion: around 4 weeks for slab pour, plus 22–26 weeks construction

• Up to 4 weeks: for council to issue Code Compliance Certificate

• Add up to 4 extra weeks if the process overlaps with Christmas

Note these are guidelines and subject to change due to circumstances outside Stonewood’s control. The MYBUILD™ platform provides real-time project updates once work has begun. A final handover date is only confirmed after the interior paint stage is completed.