TrickyBuilds guidance · Checked 22 October 2026 · About TrickyBuilds
Collect the information you already have
Bring the address, available title or survey information, existing plans and any council or specialist reports. Mark documents that are old, incomplete or supplied by someone else. Share only material you have permission to provide. Having a document does not mean it describes the current property accurately.
Understand access
Consider delivery vehicles, excavation equipment, storage, parking and how people will safely get to the house during work. Photograph the driveway and narrow approaches from a safe position. Note shared access and neighbours who may be affected. Access can change both the construction method and cost.
Ask about ground, levels and water
Slopes, retaining walls, existing fill and surface water deserve early attention. Record what you notice after rain without entering unsafe areas. A builder’s first look does not replace geotechnical, surveying or engineering advice. Ask which investigations are needed and who will commission them.
Locate services and boundaries
Identify known water, wastewater, stormwater, electricity and communication connections. Do not assume an existing fence is the legal boundary or that underground services follow a straight line. Confirm the information needed before design or excavation. Service upgrades and new connections may be separate costs.
Test the proposal, not just the footprint
Discuss daylight, privacy, entrances, storage, outdoor use and how the building relates to neighbours. For a tiny home or sleepout, include its intended use, transport, foundations and services. The site and complete proposal determine the approval pathway; a small building is not automatically exempt.
Use the right local information
Check the current requirements with Auckland Council and the relevant design professionals. Planning controls, building requirements, easements and covenants are different questions. Keep a list of unresolved matters and avoid committing to a building-only purchase before understanding the site work and permissions it needs.
Useful official resources
General planning guidance. Confirm the scope, technical advice and current requirements for your own property.