Hi, We are looking to build in Prestons Park Christchurch

Have you had any reviews on GJ Gardner North Canterbury?? Or Horncastle??

Hey there. Don’t have any experience with Horncastle or GJ Gardner (although there are some reviews further up this chain I think on GJ Gardner). Two friends built with Orange – one was pleased (private build) other was not (insurance rebuild). Think that the finish on both was good though. Have built twice with Peter Ray. Absolutely fabulous. Really nice people and one of the few companies that actually tell you about any extras up front and bend over backwards to sort out anything. Can thoroughly recommend them. Also have a look at Paul McStay – also very good. Good luck! 🙂

Hi Sally. Thanks for the info. We are down to 4 now. Gj Gardner is out as the consultant didn’t know what she was talking about, so didn’t get a good impression there. Others have been good with positive feedback and helpful. Plan ideas have been quick to be drawn up, so will be getting prices over next week and then make our decision. Consultant for Peter Ray has been very good and knowledgeable so is probably our front runner at this stage. Cheers Adrian

Hi Adrian, We’re also in the same position. Have been impressed with Peter Ray’s team and the process looks good too. We’re down to Peter Ray, Today Homes and Horncastle with a possibility of Compass Homes and Online Design and Build. Today Homes and Peter Ray certainly seem to be good price wise, as well as having a good finish on their show homes. TH want you to pay to get it drawn up and priced though, while PR will do the whole pricing stage for free. Horncastle have been great to talk to, but we haven’t had the responses we’d expect when trying to find out how to get some pricing. Maxim looks good, but we don’t have the budget to work with them. Have heard good things about Paul McStay as well, but as we haven’t seen a show home, it’s harder to judge what they’d be like. Cheers John

Hi John Thanks for your info. Keep posting here with your progress as I will. Linda at Online design and build has been very good and prompt and you get the feeling she is dedicated to you plan. It is nice that they are the owners and so you you know who you will be dealing with through the whole process. James at Orange has also been good but a little less prompt, however the ideas and plans he has drawn up have been good. Lastly Erin at Peter Ray homes is very good and is making a plan and pricing at the moment, she is knowledgeable and easy to work with. As I said before the GJ Gardner consultant doesn’t have the knowledge and seems annoyed when we have come up with changes and ideas for what will be our home. Mike Greer were initially good, however when the initial design was a bit expensive, we asked for some changes to reduce costs but haven’t heard back from them in 2 weeks+ ( I think we may be too small a fish). Cheers Adrian

Hi Adrian and John We are looking at building with Peter Ray in Preston Park. We have been impressed so far with their showhomes and some positive reviews but recently some comments about the project management side of it are concerning. Did you end up using them? And if so, how did they perform?