Crafting Homes with Excellence since 1993
When it comes to building your custom home you absolutely deserve to be heard, taken seriously, and receive exceptional value for your investment! At Tomlins, we prioritise quality in every aspect: construction, materials, service and communication ensuring a smooth experience built on trust.
We know that building a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. That’s why we work closely with you: listening, advising, and delivering results you can be proud of for years to come. Get started today!
Our Process
There are 5 main steps to our process
Meeting
We sit down together in our Invercargill office or at your location and have a catch up about your land, ideas, and budget to work out the best way forward.
House Plans
We arrange for some architectural draft plans and concepts to be created based on both yours and our ideas, we then go through them with you settling on the best plan.
Decisions
By this stage we have got to know you, your vision and project well enough that we put together some options on finishes to see what you think (kitchen taps, light fittings...).
Signing & Starting
Once you are happy with all of the decisions, the plans and all the boxes are ticked, you can then sign the contract and we can begin work. (given all the correct consent has been approved).
Move in / enjoy
Pack your toothbrush, car, moving vans (or organise a moving company), its time to move in and enjoy your high quality brand new home built by Tomlins.
How long does it take to build a new home?
The timeline for building a new home typically ranges from 6 to 12 months, depending on factors such as design complexity, site conditions, and consent processes. This duration includes stages like planning, design, obtaining consents, and the actual construction phase.
How much does it cost to build a house in Southland or Otago?
Building costs vary widely based on location, design, materials, and site conditions. On average, expect to pay between NZD $2,000 to $4,000 per square metre. Custom designs, premium materials, and challenging sites can increase this cost. Getting us involved as early as possible can help us create more accurate quotes.
What is a fixed-price contract?
A fixed-price contract sets a predetermined cost for your build, providing clarity on expenses. However, it may include Provisional Sums (PS) or Prime Cost (PC) sums for items not fully specified at the contract stage, such as certain fixtures or site works. It’s essential to review these allowances, as selecting higher-end options later can lead to additional costs.
What guarantees are included with a new build?
Everything we build we stand by, as a general rule (depending on the issue) we will guarantee our work for 10 years. (Naturally we wont cover electrical appliances like ovens and similar items, however they will come with their own warranties.)
We stand by our work so much that Paul himself has been known to make a visit to fix the odd door hinge on a house that was built 20 years ago, all in good faith.
Why choose Tomlins as your home builders?
Locally Owned and Operated
Tomlins Building Ltd is proudly Southland owned and operated, with deep roots in the region’s building industry. Originally founded as Trevor Tomlins Building Ltd in the early 1990s, the company was taken over by long-time team member Paul Tomlin in 2017 after two decades of hands-on experience. With a local team of skilled builders and apprentices, we’re committed to supporting our community and growing the next generation of tradespeople.
Building services across Invercargill / Southland & Central Otago
Custom Home Builds / New Builds
We have been based in Invercargill for over 30 years and cover the entire Southland and Central Otago area. Every home we build is crafted by skilled builders who take real pride in what they do. With a tight-knit team of qualified local tradesmen and apprentices, we bring consistency, integrity, and high attention to detail to every custom home build.