Judges assess house-award contender (+video)

Urbo Homes manager and company director Martin Dobbe at a Rotorua house being judged in the Registered Masters Builders 2015 House of the Year competition. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Rotorua building company is in the running for the Registered Masters Builders 2015 House of the Year competition.

A three-bedroom house by Urbo Homes was being assessed by judges yesterday with Tony Pexton of TP Builders and Roy Wilson of Warren and Mahoney Architects spending 45 minutes at the property, which cannot be identified.

"Most of it is about the workmanship, that's the biggest part of it," Mr Pexton said. "We also look at design and functionality, both the inside and outside and that lines are straight."

The competition will see 350 homes judged from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island before regional event winners are announced in July and August.

"This is the benchmark for any good builder to aspire to - gold, silver and bronze," Mr Wilson said.

"To get any of those, they are doing an exceptional job."

Urbo Homes manager and company director Martin Dobbe said it took about six months from planning to building the house.

"The judges hold their cards pretty close to their chests, you don't get feedback on the day," Mr Dobbe said.

"But this house has a really good flow. It captures the sunlight, a lot of that is through the design. I think the workmanship stands out, we have a good team of local guys working for us," he said.

Being a part of the competition isn't new for Urbo Homes, having received numerous accolades in the past, most recently the Gold Reserve Master Build Award in 2014. They have also been the national winner in 2007 and 2006.

"It's really all about helping our reputation, we use [these awards] to show people what we do and our work," he said.

"People come up to us and ask, 'what makes you guys different?' and we have these awards to back up our workmanship and product."

The Bay of Plenty regional awards will be on August 15 at Wairakei Resort in Taupo.