2009-04-09

DID YOU KNOW - 10 Yr CUTOFF

WEATHERTIGHT CLAIMS:
Be mindful that ONLY home built or altered in the last 10 years are eligible for compensation through the Weathertight Home Resolution Service. This means that many homes built in 1999 will become INELIGIBLE, and those built in 2000 will become ineligible during the next year.

It is important to inspect your property for weathertight problems prior to exclusion date transpires.

This is particularly important if your property was built with monlithic cladding, has untreated framing without a cavity system, has no eaves,has parapets, balconies or is a complex design.

If you have a home which maybe subject to weathertight issues, take action NOW.

Phone us at Independent Project Management Services and we can advise your best coarse of action.

Kind Regards

Wayne Pittams
Director

2009-03-05

The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

Despite all the doom and gloom in the media, in reality, we are going through very positive times. With interest rates now below 6% and forecasts for a further drop to below 5%, loans for building or renovation work haven’t been as viable for many years.

You would have heard that the construction industry has slowed.
What does this mean?
There isn’t a better time to cost out projects in the competitive market place. The winner in all this is you, the client, who will enjoy competitive construction rates and better rates on borrowing. With real estate market prices returning to realistic levels, it has become more viable to purchase, develop and/or renovate without over capitalizing.

Independent Project Management Services Limited, manage projects from inception to completion. Part of this process is to assess viability of these options.

For those unfortunate enough to have leaking buildings, we can assess the condition of a building. Once again there is no better time to carry out repairs. Despite all the fine weather, the fungi growth will continue and with winter coming on, now is a good time to carry out remedial works prior to the July/August wet seasons.

In summary it is a great time to move forward and achieve your goals. Sensible budgeting can only result in a positive result as the markets improve. Take advantage of the current economic climate with a positive attitude and move forward to maximize your potential financial security for the future.

Wayne Pittams
Director
Independent Project Management Services Ltd

2008-10-22

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Even those not directly affected by the leaky homes problem are aware of the distress these homes can cause and the complications surrounding them.

It's a combination of factors that will cause a building to become leaky; the types of materials used, the construction design and the workmanship.
And it's not just new homes that are at risk. Thorough maintenance is crucial for ongoing weathertightness, because once water is inside it can quite simply rot the framing of the house. And so the problems begin.
Independent Project Management Services is an independent, project management company that specialises in leaky homes. While leaky homes can be repaired, it's not a cheap process and it's not to be undertaken wihout expert advice. Wrong decisions can see good money thrown after bad.
Because IPMS is independent, it's staff can ensure their clients get the right advice and assistance and work closely with the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service and the Department of Building and Housing each step of the way.
The first thing to do if you suspect your home is leaky is to get it seen by an expert. With their special non-destructive moisture meters, they can 'see' inside the walls and determine exactly if, or where any problems lie. From there the repairs must be made of course and a suitable plan implemented to ensure weathertightness in the future. Accurate documentation of these steps will prove invaluable when it comes time to sell the home.
The worst thing anyone can do is put off the inevitable.
Putting your head in the sand simply won't help. The only way forward is to confront it.

2008-06-05

LEAKY BUILDINGS

The following is an extract from the NZ Herald dated Monday 12 May 2008:
" Leaky building victims in multi-unit residential complexes could get quicker justice under a proposed law change to go before the Cabinet today.
Building Minister Shane Jones wants to modernise body corporate laws which govern housing estates and appartment blocks.

Victims were often frustrated in the repair process because a few owners could oppose them and time was not on the side of those in rotting homes, he said.

His proposed Unit Titles Bill is an overhaul of the laws passed 30 years ago to govern multiple ownership, but is yet to have it's first reading.

Mr Jones said the Unit Titles Act 1972 was out of touch with modern developments and the new law would scrap the need for unanimous body coporate decisions.

Instead, decisions would be based on 75 per cent agreement by voters at a body corporate meeting.

The new law will also aim to scrap "holdouts", meaning those who do not vote will not be able to stop the process.

The current rules have led to bitter rows and sometimes legal action among leaky home owners.

Body corporate would be required to establish long-term maintenance plans to protect the development's value, enabling unit owners to pay a regular amount for maintenance.

Body corporate disputes would be handled through mediation or adjudication in the Tenancy Tribunal rather than soley through the courts, which would make resolution faster and cheaper.

Disclosure requirements would be introduced for buyers, unit owners and the body corporate, so they can make informed choices.
Mr. Jones said: " Developers will be required to provide information on the construction, systems and infrastructure of buildings to the body corporate.
" A purchaser will be entitled to a list of information they can view on request such as body corporate rules, audited accounts and maintenance plans."

2008-05-07

PITTAMS TEAM EXCELLS IN RALLY

The 2008 Tauranga Rally has been a successful outing for the Wayne Pittams rally team this weekend with Wayne and co driver David Heerdegen finishing the event in second, behind 2 time New Zealand rally champion Richard Mason. Wayne set out dominantly setting the fastest time on the first
stage, but with 3 spins in the following stages and struggling with car setup and the conditions on stage 5 Wayne found himself running seconds behind Mason for the rest of the day.
Wayne said:
“We are pleased with this result but we struggled with the tight slippery stage 5 conditions, The modern diff and gearbox
technology in the late model Subaru’s and Mitsubishi’s is far superior to what we are running when it comes to those conditions”.
Wayne would like to thank Dave and his team from Dtech Motorsport for the endless hours spent rebuilding and tuning the engine and the following sponsors:
* Dtech Motorsport
* Independent Project Management,
* Shane Snowden Air Conditioning (Fujitsu)
* Shayne Eaton BP
* Summit Tyre Shop
* Mount Wheel Alignment
* our support crew of Jeff, Mike, Mark (Scobie), Emile, Jenneane and Rachel, completing an awesome team to achieve this result.
The Teams next event is the Hamilton Rally based in Waitomo on the 28th June.
We look forward to a great result and thank you for your ongoing support.
The Subaru will be on display at Bay Subaru Cameron rd this Thursday & Friday so please go and have a look.
1. R Mason / D Scott Subaru WRX 1h 11m 11s
2. W Pittams / D Heerdegen 1h 12m 23s
3. S Cox / D Turner 1h 12m 25s
4. B Ayling / M Read 1h 13. 54s
Tauranga Rally 2008

2008-03-06

CHANGES TO BUILDING CODE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROVISIONS

From October 2007, tougher standards apply for the thermal performance of every home built in the South Island and North Island Central Plateau. In most instances, this will mean the use of window double-glazing and more insulation in walls and roof. By October 2008, all new homes thoughout New Zealand will need to meet these new requirements. The new rules also apply to most buildings with a floor area less than 300sqm and all major extentions.

From 31 October 2007, tougher minimum standards also apply for lighting in commercial and other large buildings.
Getting a building consent to install solar water heating will be easier with the publication of a solar water heating Acceptable Solution G12/AS2.

CHANGES TO BUILDING CODE CLAUSE H1 ( ENERGY EFFICIENCY)

Changes to the Building Code announced in May will see:

* Better insulation for new homes ( typically including double-glazing) resulting in about 30 per cent less energy needed to achieve comfortable indoor air temperatures.

* Improved efficiency of lighting in new and refitted commercial buildings and certain other large buildings which will reduce the average power consumption of lighting installations by around 33 percent.

* Easier approval of solar water heating systems across New Zealand through a new Acceptable Solution, which specifies the necessary features that a solar water heating system should have to comply with the Builing Code.

2007-08-28

SUBDIVIDING YOUR PROPERTY

If you are considering sub dividing your property, ensure that you do your homework thoroughly. You will firstly have to ascertain whether a subdivision is permitted and whether it is feasible.

The subdivision process is lengthy and involved. The following steps are an overview of the process:

* Obtaining a resource consent from your local council.
* Preparing a survey plan.
* The sealing of your plan by your local council.
* Lodging the subdivision plan with Land Information New Zealand.
* The approval of the plan by LINZ.
* Lodging the new titles with the Land Titles Office at LINZ.

It is also important that you comply with the District Plan which will reveal:
* The zoning that applies to your land.
* Whether subdividing is a "prohibited activity" under the plan and if not, then what type of activity it is.
* What conditions apply.
* What discretion the council can exercise.
* Specific restrictions on subdividing.

FORMAT OF SUBDIVISION.
* Fee Simple/Freehold. Gives full ownership of the land and everything on it.
* Leasehold. Ownership through a lease from the owner of the freehold. Usually for continually renewable terms at a "ground rent".
* Cross Lease. A technical way of subdividing from the time councils would allow several houses on a single property, but not allow the section to be divided into smaller parts. All owners share ownership of the freehold ( not any defined part of it). The combined owners then lease, (the cross lease) on similar terms to each of the individual owners the right to occupy their particular house, and any of the guard area if it exists.
* Unit Title. A particular form of subdivision to allow for individual ownership of parts of a property. Sometimes used for small house developments, but really more applicable to multi-storey developments.

COST
There is no set cost for subdivision. The cost will vary depending on the specifics of the subdivision. An average cost for a 2 lot subdivision could be in the region of
$35 000.00.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Investigate whether you will have to pay:
* Income tax on the profits from selling the land.
* GST on the profits.

CONCLUSION
If the above procedures sound a bit daunting or if you just don't have the time, the solution is simple:

CONTACT INDEPENDENT PROJECT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

2007-06-21

UNDERSTANDING TERMINOLOGY

There is often confusion in understanding the meaning of INCLUDED SUMS, PC SUMS, PROVISIONAL SUM and CONTINGENCY SUMS.

INCLUDED SUMS: This is just an informal name for a specified (in the contract documents) amount of money that must be included in the construction price, usually to cover as-yet unspecified items. Some of the confusion arises because PC, provisional and contingency sums are all included sums.

PC SUM: A PC (prime cost) sum covers the supply cost only of specific items that may not yet have been chosen. For example, there might be a PC sum for supply of carpet @ $50/ sq mtr. When the time comes to buy the carpet it may only cost $48/sq mtr, so the contract price will be adjusted down by $2/sq mtr.

PROVISIONAL SUM: A provisional sum is an amount that has been included for work not defined enough to be priced. When the work is defined and priced, the contractor will have the opportunity to add a margin and the adjustment will be issued as a variation to the contract.

CONTINGENCY SUM: A contingency sum is an amount of money that is included in the contract to cover the unexpepcted - like having to dig deeper foundations. It is the money that pays for unforseen variations to the contract. If nothing unexpected turns up, the contingency sum is not spent and will be deducted from the contract sum by means of a variation.

2007-06-17

IPMS launch website

Hi there and welcome to our website.

Building, renovating, subdividing or developing can be an expensive and stressful process.

The team at IPMS can make this process easier and more cost effective for you by offering a range of project management services tailored to your specific requirements.