Relevant service evidence
The business publicly describes granny-flat, minor-dwelling or closely relevant work.
Find a builder
Find a Granny Flat Builder in Your Area
Compare the right build method, learn what a complete quote should contain, and create a property brief that can be matched with relevant site-built, transportable or modular specialists serving your area.
The guided brief asks about your location, preferred build type, size, budget and timeframe. We then check whether a relevant provider is available for the project.
Free property enquiry No obligation Controlled provider matching
Property-led
The address, terrain and access shape the search from the beginning.
Relevant specialists
Match by territory, project type and the services the business provides.
Privacy controlled
Customer identity and contact details are not published in provider discovery.
Your options
Different properties need different kinds of builders
You do not need to know the perfect construction method before enquiring. Tell us what you prefer—or choose open to options—and let the property information guide the conversation.
| Build approach | Often suits | Check before choosing | Ask the quote to show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site-built | Custom layouts, sloping sections, constrained access or a design closely tied to the property. | Site experience, supervision, weather programme and how design changes are controlled. | Foundations, earthworks, drainage, utilities, professional fees and finishing scope. |
| Transportable | Accessible sites where much of the dwelling can be completed away from the property. | Road route, width and height restrictions, crane position, overhead services and final placement. | Transport, pilot vehicles, craneage, foundations, service connections and site reinstatement. |
| Modular or prefab | Owners who prefer repeatable systems, defined selections and more off-site construction. | Exactly what is factory-complete, what happens on site and whether modules suit the access. | Module price, assembly, freight, foundations, connections and all on-site completion work. |
| Design and build | Owners wanting one provider to coordinate design, consultants, approvals and construction. | Who holds each contract, when price certainty occurs and whether design work is refundable. | Design stages, consultant allowances, council charges, build scope and variation process. |
Our qualification standard
What a provider match means—and what it does not
A match means we found evidence that a business provides a relevant service and covers the project area. It is a starting point for your checks, not a guarantee or paid ranking.
Locality evidence
Its public information indicates service in the lead territory or locality.
Traceable contact
A business contact and its public source are recorded for controlled review.
Eligibility checks
Suppression, consent, service match and contact status are checked before any campaign step.
Granny Flat Quotes does not certify workmanship, financial stability, licensing or insurance. Homeowners must independently verify the contracting business, the people carrying out restricted work, references, insurance and contract terms before proceeding.
How matching works
From an idea to a useful builder conversation
Step 01
Check the property
Search the address and review the preliminary property, council and planning context available to us.
Step 02
Describe the project
Choose the size, bedrooms, intended use, build method, budget, finance position and preferred timeframe.
Step 03
Connect with a specialist
Where a suitable provider is available, your permission-backed brief can be matched with a business serving the area.
A better first brief
Give builders enough information to give you a useful answer
Generic “How much?” enquiries force every conversation back to the beginning. A complete brief helps a specialist understand the opportunity before discussing a site visit or quote.
- Property address and council
- Terrain and physical access
- Approximate dwelling size
- Bedrooms and intended use
- Preferred build method
- Budget and finance position
- Project timeframe
- Preferred contact method
When comparing builders
Compare scope—not just the headline price
A strong proposal clearly explains assumptions, inclusions, exclusions and the steps required before a final fixed price is possible.
- Relevant minor-dwelling experience
- Who handles design and engineering
- Foundations and site works included
- Service connections included
- GST and professional fees shown
- Delivery or craneage where applicable
- Clear payment stages and warranty
- What could cause the price to change
Builder due diligence
Ten questions worth asking before you sign
Ask each provider the same questions. Clear, written answers make proposals much easier to compare and expose gaps before they become expensive variations.
Builder-selection guide reviewed: 4 September 2026
- 01Who will contract with me, and how long has that entity been trading?
- 02Who will supervise restricted building work, and can I check their LBP details?
- 03Which similar minor dwellings have you completed, and may I contact recent clients?
- 04What site investigation is required before the price can be relied on?
- 05Which design, engineering, survey, consent and council costs are included?
- 06What foundation, earthworks, drainage and utility assumptions have you made?
- 07Which fixtures and finishes are fixed selections, allowances or provisional sums?
- 08What is excluded, and what events can change the contract price or completion date?
- 09What insurance applies during construction, and what warranties are provided?
- 10What deposit, progress payments, variation approvals and defect process will apply?
Quote comparison
Turn three different quotes into one fair comparison
Put each proposal into the same buckets. A lower building price can stop being cheaper once missing site work, connections, professional services and delivery are added.
Read the New Zealand cost guideDwelling
Structure, cladding, roofing, joinery, interiors and stated specification
Site
Demolition, excavation, retaining, foundations, drainage and reinstatement
Services
Power, water, wastewater, stormwater, data and distance assumptions
Professional
Design, engineering, survey, planning, reports and council charges
Delivery
Freight, permits, pilot vehicles, craneage and module assembly
Risk
Allowances, provisional sums, exclusions, contingency and variation rules
Warning signs
Pause when important details stay vague
A price without a site basis
The proposal does not state what it assumes about ground, slope, access or service distances.
Large unexplained allowances
Important work is hidden inside provisional sums with no quantity, rate or realistic basis.
Pressure to pay quickly
You are pushed toward a large deposit before scope, company identity and contract terms are clear.
Licensing answers are unclear
Nobody will identify who will supervise or carry out restricted building work.
No comparable references
The provider cannot show relevant completed work or let you speak with recent clients.
Verbal promises only
Inclusions, changes, timing or warranties are discussed but not put into the written agreement.
Independent checks
Verify the people and business yourself
Search the LBP public registerCheck the licensing class and current status of the person responsible for restricted building work.Search the Companies RegisterConfirm the legal entity, registration status and company details before signing a contract or paying a deposit.Read official contract guidanceUse Building Performance guidance to understand written contracts, disclosure information and homeowner protections.
Regional builder guides
Start a local search in your region
These guides explain regional site conditions, planning context and cost factors. Provider availability is checked for each genuine enquiry; a regional page is not a promise that a provider is already available in every district.
WaikatoHamilton / WaikatoHamilton City CouncilAucklandAucklandAuckland CouncilCanterburyChristchurch / CanterburyChristchurch City CouncilBay of PlentyTauranga / Bay of PlentyTauranga City CouncilWellingtonWellington / Hutt ValleyWellington City CouncilNorthlandWhangārei / NorthlandWhangārei District Council
What we promise
Useful information without pretending every section is build-ready
- No automatic feasibility promises. Preliminary property information is a starting point, not professional approval.
- No invented ratings or awards. Provider relevance is based on service and locality evidence, not made-up rankings.
- No obligation to proceed. You remain free to evaluate any provider, advice or quotation yourself.
Property and planning information is preliminary only. Eligibility depends on current planning rules, site conditions, servicing, design and professional assessment.
Common questions
- How does Granny Flat Quotes choose a builder?
- We use the property location, project requirements, preferred build method and service area to identify a relevant specialist. Availability and suitability still need to be confirmed for each enquiry.
- Will my enquiry be sent to lots of builders?
- No. Your customer details remain private while suitable providers are identified. The service is designed around a controlled match rather than broadcasting personal details to a large list.
- Can I compare site-built and transportable options?
- Yes. Select site-built, transportable, modular or open to options in the property assessment. Site access and your preferred design will help shape which specialists are relevant.
- Does a property check guarantee I can build?
- No. It provides useful preliminary information for the conversation. Final feasibility, design, approvals and pricing require assessment by appropriately qualified professionals.
- Does it cost to request a builder match?
- There is no charge to submit your property and project brief, and no obligation to proceed with a provider or quote.
- Should I use a Licensed Building Practitioner?
- Restricted building work must be carried out or supervised by appropriately licensed people. Check the individual who will supervise or perform that work on the public LBP register, and confirm who is responsible for each part of your project.
- How many granny-flat quotes should I compare?
- There is no magic number. Two or three properly scoped proposals are normally more useful than many headline estimates. Give each provider the same brief and compare inclusions, assumptions, exclusions and capability—not price alone.
Find builders for your granny-flat project
Start with the property address and tell us what you want to build. The assessment takes only a few minutes.