By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Being a bit picky comes at a price, as Rotorua couple Steve and Sandy Elmiger have discovered.
They've been forced to wait nearly a year for their builder to start work on their single-storey home in the new Baxendale subdivision on Rotorua's Pukehangi
Rd.
Demand for their builder Scott Morrow is so high he is unable to start work until October. If all goes well, they will move into their new four-bedroom home in January.
The couple resigned themselves to the lengthy delay early in the building process.
"We got who we wanted so we were prepared to wait," said Mr Elmiger.
They started planning their dream home after buying their 700sq m section in December 2003.
It took them seven months to decide on their floor plan, which they sent to a draughtsman to draw up. He took a month to finish their plans due to the level of work piling up on his desk and last December they contracted their builder after being impressed with his professional approach.
"He only builds one house at a time ... He's a bit of a perfectionist," said Mr Elmiger.
"He told us he had two or three other houses to do ahead of us but we were happy to wait."
The Elmigers, who have already sold their home, are living with family until their new house is built.
Mr Elmiger has taken on the role of project manager and isn't anticipating any problems with other tradespeople, having already signed on an electrician and plumber.
"It's helps to have a couple of mates in the trade," he admitted.
Other Rotorua residents are familiar with the time it takes to build a house.
Naomi and Steven Brake recently moved into their new home in Ngongotaha. Their builder told them it would take four months to finish the job but problems with securing bricklayers meant it took seven months.
Mrs Brake has since learned from friends that bricklayers are in such demand many are working weekends and accepting extra jobs from people who are paying cash.
