When looking to progress your insurance claim, make sure that your insurer provides you with all the options.  This may include repairing or rebuilding your home; building a new home on another section; you buying an existing home elsewhere; or cash-settling your claim while you retain your damaged property. Some in

During recent months a number of people have come to me to gain an insight into the tendering process and how to go about validating the contractor provided to you by your insurance company. The first thing is to understand the procurement process. You have selected your designer, you have your plans and now you ne

Gaining consent for your homebuilding project can be a daunting and confusing process and ‘grey’ areas often emerge during this process. In any home building or construction project there are a number of obligations that fall to the various parties involved. As a homeowner, one of most critical obli

By Duncan Terris Many Christchurch residents now have a better idea of a way forward with their housing requirements since the first big Canterbury earthquake two years ago. Some will now repair and take the opportunity to upgrade their homes and others will have no choice but to buy elsewhere, build on their existin

By Alexis McStay Purchasing a house, especially for the first time, can be daunting. In post earthquake Canterbury, it is a potential minefield, but one that you can easily navigate with the right information and help from the experts. Never before has your lawyer been more valuable in helping to smooth the way in ins