Best Builders in Nelson

We assessed 48 builders in Nelson and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 321 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 22 September 2026. How we rank

Top 5 Builders in Nelson

The top 5 builders in Nelson are #1 Mike Greer Homes, #2 Stonewood Homes Nelson, #3 Craftworx, #4 You Build, and #5 Signature Homes Nelson, ranked by Top5 Score.

  1. 1 Mike Greer Homes Nelson Branch ★ 4.8 · 66 reviews · Score 151
  2. 2 Stonewood Homes Nelson ★ 4.7 · 50 reviews · Score 145
  3. 3 Craftworx Construction & Enjoinery Bespoke Interior ★ 4.9 · 38 reviews · Score 145
  4. 4 You Build ★ 5.0 · 26 reviews · Score 142
  5. 5 Signature Homes Nelson & Tasman ★ 4.7 · 41 reviews · Score 141
  • 1

    Mike Greer Homes Nelson Branch

    ★ 4.8 66 reviews Score 151
    5★ 61 4★ 2 3★ 2 1★ 1

    Mike Greer Homes coordinates the full design-and-build process, from initial concept through to handover, with weekly project manager updates including photos keeping clients across progress throughout the build.

    2/201 Queen Street, Richmond

    Call 03 544 7873 Map Is this your business?
  • 2

    Stonewood Homes Nelson

    ★ 4.7 50 reviews Score 145
    5★ 43 4★ 4 2★ 2 1★ 1

    Stonewood Homes Nelson gets first-home buyers through a full new build, from design consultation to handover, with a structured process that multiple owner-occupiers describe as stress-free and completed within agreed budgets.

    4 Kidson Place, Stoke, Nelson

    Call 03 541 0640 Map Is this your business?
  • 3

    Craftworx Construction & Enjoinery Bespoke Interior

    ★ 4.9 38 reviews Score 145
    5★ 36 4★ 1 1★ 1

    Craftworx takes on complex renovation work across structural alterations, bathroom and kitchen rebuilds, cladding, roofing, and deck construction, coordinating all trades under a single point of contact so clients deal with one team throughout.

    5A Rotherham Street, Annesbrook, Nelson

    Call 021 262 3792 Map Is this your business?
  • 4

    You Build

    ★ 5.0 26 reviews Score 142
    5★ 26

    You Build takes on new homes, extensions, and renovations, with Matt and Janine working alongside clients from early planning through to completion rather than handing off once work begins.

    35 Trafalgar Street, The Wood, Nelson

    Call 03 548 6833 Map Is this your business?
  • 5

    Signature Homes Nelson & Tasman

    ★ 4.7 41 reviews Score 141
    5★ 34 4★ 5 1★ 2

    Signature Homes Nelson takes first-home buyers through the full new-build process, from initial design and colour selection through to handover, with weekly progress updates and named contacts at every stage.

    440 Lower Queen Street, Richmond

    Call 03 541 0317 Map Is this your business?
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Before you hire a builder in Nelson

Whether you want a new home built, a renovation or an extension, a good builder will give you a detailed quote, stick to a timeline, and communicate clearly when things change. Get at least three quotes, check their Licensed Building Practitioner number on the MBIE register, and ask for references from completed jobs similar to yours.

The questions below are drawn from 235 customer reviews collected for this page.

What does it typically cost to hire a builder in New Zealand?

Standard new builds in New Zealand cost between $2,500 and $4,500 per square metre in 2024 and 2025. High-spec or architecturally designed homes can push past $5,000 per square metre, while basic builds in provincial areas like Nelson may come in closer to $2,000 to $2,500 per square metre.

Renovations and extensions vary more widely, since existing structure conditions, consent complexity, and materials all affect the final number. Those costs cover construction only and exclude land, consent fees, foundation variations, and site preparation, which can add tens of thousands to your total.

How do I know if a builder is properly licensed for the work I need?

Restricted building work (RBW) in New Zealand must be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP), as required under the Building Act 2004. RBW covers structural and weathertight elements including foundations, framing, roofing, and cladding, so most significant residential work falls under this requirement.

You can verify any builder's current licence status through the free public register on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) website before signing anything. Once RBW is complete, your LBP must provide a Record of Work certificate submitted to your local council, so ask for this as part of any contract.

What should a building contract cover before work starts?

A contract should set out the full scope of work in writing, including a clear variation process that specifies how changes are priced and approved before work proceeds, since cost surprises mid-build are a recurring source of dispute. Payment schedules tied to completed milestones rather than upfront lump sums protect you if progress stalls. The contract should name who holds consent responsibility, identify which subcontractors will be used, and set out a timeline with the process for addressing defects after handover, including how long the builder remains responsible for fixing issues.

What are the warning signs of a builder you shouldn't hire?
  • –No LBP licence number provided upfront, or reluctance to share it for verification on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) register
  • –Requests for a large upfront deposit before any materials are ordered or consents are lodged
  • –Vague or verbal-only scope of work with no written contract or itemised quote
  • –Communication that drops off during the build, with no regular progress updates or site visit access
  • –Slow or dismissive responses to defect lists after handover, including blaming the homeowner for build faults
  • –Poor subcontractor coordination, resulting in trades arriving out of sequence or finishing work that then has to be redone

What 2,911 NZ builder reviews complain about most

What should you ask before hiring a builder?
  • –Are you a Licensed Building Practitioner, and what is your LBP licence number so I can check it on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) register?
  • –Who will be my day-to-day contact during the build, and how often will I receive progress updates?
  • –How are variations to scope or cost handled, and will each change be confirmed in writing before work proceeds?
  • –Which subcontractors will you use, and are you responsible for managing and warranting their work?
  • –What is your process when unexpected issues arise on site, and how have you handled problems on previous builds?
  • –Can you provide references from clients on recent comparable projects, and can I see a sample contract before committing?

More rankings

Related services in Nelson 4 links
Builders elsewhere in New Zealand 4 links
More home improvement rankings in Nelson 12 links

About this ranking

What the 10 builders listed above hold, at the 22 September 2026 check.

66
reviews held by the #1 ranked business
41
reviews held by the #5 ranked business
4.7
lowest rating among the 10 listed
1.9%
of their 321 reviews are one-star
How are the top builders in Nelson chosen?

We build this page from Google Maps results for builders in Nelson. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record, using the same published method on every page. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. See how we rank for how rankings are made and who is left out. On specialist pages like this one, a business's reviews count in proportion to how many of them are about builders, so a business mostly reviewed for other work cannot win on review volume alone. See the words we look for.

Are you a builder in Nelson?

No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying your listing is free: it adds a small trust bonus (+3 points) to your score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing, and gives you a dashboard showing how your score is made up. A paid subscription adds a website link, a profile page and your ranking history. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.

Not listed? The usual reasons are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Check where you rank first, and if you think we missed you, get in touch.

How far is each one from you?

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