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 →
Before you hire
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.
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. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
-
1
Mike Greer Homes Nelson Branch
★ 4.8 66 reviews Top5 Score 1515★ 61 4★ 2 3★ 2 1★ 1Mike 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. Aftercare is handled by dedicated staff who follow up on warranty and supplier issues after move-in, and builds have landed on time and on budget across multiple reviewed projects.
location_on 2/201 Queen Street, Richmond
-
2
Stonewood Homes Nelson
★ 4.7 50 reviews Top5 Score 1455★ 43 4★ 4 2★ 2 1★ 1Stonewood 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. Trades and timelines are coordinated closely enough that several builds finished ahead of schedule, and handover includes personalised touches from the client services team.
location_on 4 Kidson Place, Stoke, Nelson
-
3
Craftworx Construction & Enjoinery Bespoke Interior
★ 4.9 38 reviews Top5 Score 1455★ 36 4★ 1 1★ 1Craftworx 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. Dirk's use of 3D visualisation during planning lets clients see and refine the design before any work begins, and multiple reviewers on large, multi-stage projects describe finishing on time and within estimate.
location_on 5A Rotherham Street, Annesbrook, Nelson
-
4
You Build
★ 5.0 26 reviews Top5 Score 1425★ 26You 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. On a 1940s house extension, new met old invisibly and the project landed on time and within budget, and a client building out of town was kept fully across progress throughout.
location_on 35 Trafalgar Street, The Wood, Nelson
-
5
Signature Homes Nelson & Tasman
★ 4.7 41 reviews Top5 Score 1415★ 34 4★ 5 1★ 2Signature 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. Multiple clients describe finishing ahead of schedule, and handover has involved several team members, including directors, meeting buyers at the completed home.
location_on 440 Lower Queen Street, Richmond
Before you hire a builder in Nelson
Drawn from 235 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does it typically cost to hire a builder in New Zealand? expand_more
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? expand_more
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? expand_more
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? expand_more
- –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 should you ask before hiring a builder? expand_more
- –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?
Also recommended builders in Nelson
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
-
6
Francis Builders
★ 5.0 19 reviews Top5 Score 1385★ 19Francis Builders works across deck construction, door installation, porch roofing, awnings, flashing, and shelving, with Max taking on both large builds and smaller residential jobs. Clients based overseas or working around busy schedules have flagged that quoted prices are honoured and worksites are kept tidy throughout the job.
-
7
Rogers Build
★ 5.0 19 reviews Top5 Score 1385★ 19Rogers Build covers deck construction, fencing, retaining walls, and full extensions and renovations, with Callum coordinating trades and keeping clients informed at every stage. Repeat clients across multiple projects cite mitre joints, screw lines, and board spacing as points where the finish consistently stands out from other quotes they received.
-
8
Welldesignz
★ 4.8 26 reviews Top5 Score 1385★ 25 1★ 1Welldesignz takes on bathroom renovations, kitchen rebuilds, extensions, and full-house reconfiguration work, with Nathan coordinating all trades and keeping clients informed on who is on site and what comes next throughout each project. Accurate upfront costings and realistic timeframes are a recurring feature, and Nathan has been known to have work redone on his own initiative when the finish does not meet his own standard.
location_on 6 Rotherham Street, Annesbrook, Nelson
-
9
Milestone Homes Nelson Bays
★ 4.9 18 reviews Top5 Score 1365★ 16 4★ 2Milestone Homes Nelson Bays takes clients through the full new-home build, from planning and design customisation through to handover, keeping first-time buyers and overseas investors equally informed at every stage. Named contacts including Holly, Antoinette, Fergus, and Adam are credited by multiple clients with explaining decisions clearly and responding promptly to questions and variation requests throughout the project.
location_on 2 Estuary Place, Richmond
-
10
Totalspan Steel Buildings
★ 4.9 18 reviews Top5 Score 1365★ 17 4★ 1Totalspan builds garages, carports, and sheds, with Andrew and Josh repeatedly credited for keeping clients informed from initial quote through to completion and accommodating minor design changes mid-build without friction. A warranty repair on a supplier product issue was resolved without question, and multiple clients describe the finished structure as more robust than comparable options they had looked at locally.
location_on 23 Stratford Street, Richmond
About this ranking
What the 10 builders listed above hold, at the 22 September 2026 check.
Across the 13 locations we assess builders in, the 130 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.9, and one-star reviews are 3.0% of their total.
How are the top builders in Nelson chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for builders in Nelson. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. 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. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for builders in Nelson. The usual reasons for missing out 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. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.