Additional Project Costs
Footprint Homes believe in being transparent from the very beginning.
The reality is, every site is different. While pricing the home itself is relatively straight forward, additional costs can vary significantly depending on your land, council requirements, site access, and available services.
Some properties are simple and require very little extra work, while others may involve substantial site preparation, engineering, infrastructure, or council-related costs.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a home can simply be placed on a property with only minimal additional expenses. In reality, every project needs to be assessed on a site-by-site basis.
To help avoid unexpected costs, below is a guide to some of the additional expenses that may apply to your project.
Please note: These costs are generally paid directly by the client to third-party providers such as councils, engineers, consultants, contractors, and service providers. Pricing can vary considerably depending on your location, site conditions, and council requirements, and many of these services are outside of Footprint Homes’ control.
Footprint Homes has an extensive network of trusted industry professionals and can help connect and coordinate these services on your behalf. All third-party costs are charged directly by the provider to the client, with Footprint Homes not charging any mark-up or additional fees on these services, helping keep the process transparent and as cost-effective as possible for our clients.
OUR GOAL is to help clients understand the full picture upfront, so you can make informed decisions, avoid unexpected costs later in the process, and determine early on whether the overall project is realistically within your budget.
Even though it may be small, if you want to do it legally and properly, these are some of the important things to consider.
Don’t worry, we can help guide you through the process, explain what may or may not be required for your site, and assist with obtaining overall indicative project pricing.
Please note: Based on previous projects, additional site works, council-related costs, and third-party services can commonly range from approximately $25,000 to $50,000+, depending on the property, location, access, services, council development contributions, and overall project requirements.
That’s why we recommend obtaining our FREE site-specific estimate early in the process, so you have a clearer understanding of the likely overall project budget — not just the home price alone.
Some clients purchasing flatpacks or ex-yard homes often choose to manage their own onsite works and council-related requirements independently, with Footprint Homes’ obligation limited to the supply of flatpack materials or delivery of the completed ex-yard compliant home to site.
OR: If there is no toilet or bathroom included and up to 30sqm, this can change the council requirements entirely, and the building may instead fall under a different category such as a sleepout, which can have a different set of rules and requirements.
Concept Plans & Preliminary Design
Initial concept drawings or feasibility sketches may be required before moving forward with pricing, council discussions, or site planning.
Builder Site Visit
A builder or consultant may need to inspect your property to assess:
- Site access
- Ground conditions
- Services
- Excavation requirements
- Crane or transport access
- Build complexity
PIM Application (Project Information Memorandum)
Some councils recommend or require a PIM application to identify:
- Zoning rules
- Building overlays
- Flooding or hazard areas
- Development contributions
- Service requirements
Consent Fees (If Required)
Depending on your project, you may still require:
- Building consent
- Resource consent
- Engineering approvals
- Inspections
- CCC fees
Even where exemptions apply, council conditions and Building Code requirements must still be met.
Survey Plans
Surveyors may be required to confirm:
- Boundary positions
- Building locations
- Setbacks
- Easements
- Height restrictions
Geotechnical (Soil Testing)
A geotechnical report is most always required to determine:
- Soil conditions
- Foundation requirements
- Slope stability
- Ground bearing capacity
Foundations
Foundation costs vary significantly depending on:
- Site slope
- Ground conditions
- Wind zones
- Access
- Build type
Stormwater Requirements
Councils may require stormwater management solutions such as:
- Soak pits
- Retention tanks
- Attenuation systems
- Drainage upgrades
Sewerage & Wastewater
Costs can vary depending on whether your site connects to:
- Town sewer systems
- Septic systems
- Treatment plants
- Greywater systems
- Off Grid Waterless Toilets
Water Tanks & Water Supply
Rural or off-grid properties may require:
- Water tanks
- Water pumps
- Filtration systems
- Fire fighting water storage
Off-Grid Solar & Power Systems
If your site does not have easy access to mains power, you may require an off-grid or hybrid solar power system.
Costs can vary depending on:
- Power usage requirements
- Battery storage capacity
- Generator backup systems
- Site location
- Installation requirements
Some clients also choose solar systems for greater independence or to reduce long-term power costs, even when mains power is available.
Transport Costs (for ex-yard builds) or Additional Onsite Build Costs
- Pricing shown online for fully constructed homes are based on ex-yard build costs. If the home is transported to your site, transport and craneage costs will apply depending on location and access.
- If the home is built onsite instead, additional onsite building-related costs may apply, including items such as scaffolding, builder travel/accommodation, site access requirements, temporary facilities, and other site-specific construction expenses.