A fresh start in Cass Bay: Jim the Builder
Should you renovate or rebuild? That was the tough decision facing this Cass Bay homeowner.
When the owners of this Cass Bay property began considering a major renovation, they initially hoped to transform the home they already had. But after looking closely at the options, Jim the Builder helped them reach a different conclusion: starting again would deliver a better result for their budget and their future.
“The clients approached us. They’d been looking at renovations to their house, major ones, so we went through the whole cost-benefit analysis,” says Andrew Clark, manager of Jim the Builder.
“We presented some options to them, and then they decided they wanted to look at a new build.”
The existing home was around 40 years old and had undergone several alterations over the years. Renovating it would have meant compromises, as well as the uncertainty and potential costs that can come with working around an older structure.
“Sometimes it’s better to start with a clean slate,” Andrew says. “Which means we could position the house better for the sun, better for the view.”
The new two-storey home was designed specifically for the homeowners’ next chapter, after their children had grown up and moved out. It includes a generous master suite, two further bedrooms and a dedicated office, giving space to work from home while creating a more comfortable, future-focused living environment. With its elevated Cass Bay setting, maximising the harbour views was a priority. The design also incorporates indoor-outdoor living and a focus on energy efficiency.
The project was delivered as a complete design-and-build, turnkey solution, with Jim the Builder managing everything from the initial demolition and construction through to kitchens, bathrooms, tiling and joinery.
“The client wanted the whole house designed, built, and done as a turnkey project,” Andrew says. “We can offer that one-stop-shop service.”
The hillside site brought its own challenges, but it was a setting well suited to the team’s experience. “We specialise in hillside work, so we know how to tackle the hurdles that come with steeper sites,” says Andrew.
From demolition to move-in day, the entire project took just 10 months, transforming an outdated home into a purpose-designed retreat. To discuss your renovate-or-rebuild decisions with Jim the Builder, call 03 974 1290, email andrew@jtb.net.nz, or visit the website at jimthebuilder.co.nz.
