Comfort and protection

One of the most significant financial investments property owners can make is renovating their home. With luck, and a buoyant property market, owners can increase their capital while reaping the benefits of more space and an updated decor.

Unless a renovation is completed to exacting standards, however, some may find their investment doesn't pay off in the long term. Shoddy workmanship and the use of inferior materials can lead to financial loss over time a risk not worth taking, says Derek Baxter, CEO of the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand (CBANZ). "We were set up as an association because we believe it is the consumer's right to know a builder is appropriately trained and has the skills and ethics to do a good job."

Certified carpenters and builders undertake rigorous training to become trade qualified. Those skills help them establish good working relationships with clients and their architects, regulatory authorities and industry suppliers, says Baxter.

For more information, contact the CBANZ Inc, PO Box 13405, Tauranga, phone 0800 Certified (0800 237 843). Website: www.certified.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas