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The Perfect Time for Development

A developer is always considering when's the right time to start a project that will yield healthy returns and encounter minimal risk. And it is a complex environment that does experience fluctuations. Economic conditions play a critical role in the state of property development and the success of projects. Currently, New Zealand finds itself in the midst of a significant phase of growth. The economic landscape shows it's trending towards being and increasingly beneficial space for developers, m...

Don't Forget the Extras

There are many fundamentals to consider when proceeding with the design process of property development and a few features that would fall under optional considerations. But although optional, they are attractive features that directly contribute to living enhancement, meet new and growing market demands, increase funder appeal, and the final build helps develop modern urban spaces. It's necessary as a developer to recognise the needs of the individuals, couples, and families who will buy new ho...

The Art of Reducing Development Costs

For a property developer, cutting down costs is critical to keep the project feasible and maintain a healthy profit margin. Cutting costs, however, should not equate to cutting corners that can result in critical errors that can delay of halt the project, or end up with a low-quality final build. But how can we keep costs down and he quality of the development high? In order to achieve this, developers must focus on several key areas and do due diligence before starting. To read more of our...

The Importance of Soundproofing

Things are rapidly changing on the housing front in New Zealand with a higher intensification of residential developments across larger cities to accommodate our quickly growing population. This is especially to become more apparent as planning rules are set to be revisited that will allow for greater housing intensification with less restriction. Apartments and townhouses are popping up all over the place, with property developers aiming to make the most of the space under land use rules. While...

The Vital Thermal Performance In Building Design

New Zealand is fast approaching its hottest months of the year with summer just around the corner. During these times of the year where there are more temperature fluctuations and greater extremes, we truly begin to notice the thermal efficiency - unfortunately, rather inefficiency - of our homes. Whether it is the biting cold of winter or the humid discomfort of summer, the way in which a home is built can greatly impact our living comfort. While there are methods to cool our homes during the h...

The Importance Of Building Life Cycle Assessment

Building life cycle assessment is a methodology that is used to measure the environmental impact and energy consumption of a building throughout its entire lifespan, typically across 50 years. The whole use of the building is taken into account for a more realistic portrayal of overall environmental impact, shifting focus away from only looking at carbon emissions produced during the material manufacturing phase. Conducting building life cycle assessments allows us to identify which phases of th...

The Beauty of Inclusive, Universal Design

The property development industry in New Zealand is continually changing and has been steering towards creating high quality residential homes that are driven by principles of inclusivity. The goal of inclusive design, interchangeably known as universal design, is to create spaces that accomodate a diverse range of needs across all people. New Zealand has a very diverse population whose needs are not entirely met by typical housing development standards. Developers would be contributing a great ...

The Skills You Need To Be A Success

Property development is a sizable commitment of money, time, and patience - a venture that results in considerable returns when each phase of the project is completed properly. A developers fundamental objective is to seek out and secure favourable land opportunities, develop the land and maximise its potential, lastly complete the project and turn a profit - either by selling the units or becoming the landlord and renting them. In order to be successful in this field, an entrepreneurial mindset...

The Benefits of an Open Book Approach

Streamlining the project management process to simplify and de-risk the process for all involved is the ideal outcome for any developer in the construction space. To optimise the construction timeline and to ensure the process is transparent and using good-faith practices, industry professionals are turning to a progressive approach of open book, at cost and no added margins project management. This system offers several benefits to streamline the project, providing investors with greater contro...

Tips On Creating Eco-Friendly Buildings

As sustainability becomes a focal point in New Zealand’s construction industry, modern construction systems have taken the spotlight, transforming the way we build our communities and elevating our building standards. Eco-friendly construction systems have emerged in response to irresponsible, short-term construction solutions, by placing priority on the environmental impact of the build and overall sustainability of the development. Among these innovative systems, Insulated Concrete Formwork ...

Build-To-Rent Options

Due to the nation's housing shortage, build-to-rent developments are growing in popularity across New Zealand. Build-to-rent includes multiple residential units, where the whole development is owned by the investor rather than just one unit. Build-to-rent possibilities are offering a housing solution that will benefit tenants and property investors as more people struggle to secure affordable housing.A careful eye must be on construction methods when considering build-to-rent developments. Build...

Finding a Way to Future-Proof Our Homes

New Zealand is vulnerable to natural disasters - specifically earthquakes, tropical storms and floods. Because the country is susceptible to environmental damage, newly constructed homes need to be built to endure disasters and to protect their inhabitants. Choosing the right construction system is crucial for resistance against earthquakes and cyclones. Ultimately, a well designed and well constructed building can save lives and reduce damage. Among the many systems available, insulated co...

Contractual Relationships

At Shorcom, we operate through a relational contract, open book system. A relational contract prioritises good faith procedures, aligns goals, eliminates conflict and establishes mutual benefits.Traditional contractual agreements typically include very restrictive terms that can stifle communication between parties and lead to conflict as each side seeks to maximise their own benefits, sometimes at the expense of the contracting party. There are several reasons why a relational contract is ...

Finding the Root of Leaky Homes Issue in NZ

In our recently published article with NZ Property Investor magazine, February 2023 edition, we explore different building materials, their weathertightness performance, and how these contribute to the leaky homes issue that persists in New Zealand. When discussing weathertightness, cladding, joinery, and wall junctions garner a lot of attention, but how effective are construction systems?Our article goes into detail comparing building materials such as treated and untreated timber, steel, and c...

How to Optimise a Site's Potential

Shorcom write monthly columns for the New Zealand Property Investor magazine - our most recent column in the January 2023 edition details what you need to know in order to optimise your site's potential, to have a greater return on your investment. This includes understanding your land, assessing the site zone, checking underground services, knowing how the district plan places different parameters on your land that you must design to, and more!If you are looking into property development but d...

Everlasting homes, thanks to Insulated Concrete Formwork

New Zealand news and information website Stuff have recently published a Shorcom article that describes the world-leading construction method of Insulated Concrete Formwork. Our CEO Anthony was quoted in this article saying: "Building quality and integrity is paramount to achieving performance and longevity – I believe that every new house should be good for at least 100 years. At the moment many of them simply aren't going to be." This is the foundation of why we choose to build from ICF over...