Just days before moving into their brand new Generation Home, Henri Labuschagne and Zelda Botha returned from their honeymoon to a nightmare - their rental property was completely flooded. But what could have been a disaster became a testament to Generation Homes' exceptional customer care when the team allowed them to store all their belongings in their new garage a day ahead of schedule and even helped install appliances and move furniture.
This extraordinary support was the perfect ending to what had already been a remarkable building journey for the South African couple. After an exhausting search through over 400 existing properties across the North Shore, they had found their dream home solution with Generation Homes in Milldale.
The newly married South African couple had clear criteria for their ideal home: no stairs, minimal maintenance, no sloped section, and a double garage. Despite viewing hundreds of properties and driving around 70% of the North Shore, they found existing homes either didn't meet their needs or came with concerning issues like uneven floors and damaged walls.
Zelda works as an educator, and Henri had been living in his own apartment before they decided to build together. Their friend's recommendation of Generation Homes changed everything. They discovered they could get a brand new home with a 10-year guarantee for the same price as an older existing property.
Their journey led them to the Wainui show home at Milldale, where they immediately knew they'd found their perfect layout. Here is their story.
HENRI
We probably looked at about 400 existing houses, maybe more, and covered around 70 percent of the North Shore. We spent weeks driving around, and most of the time we didn’t even stop. Just from the outside, we could tell it wasn’t what we were looking for.
ZELDA
We had a clear checklist. So many homes just didn’t tick those boxes. And some had issues we didn’t want to deal with. You’d walk in and notice uneven floors or walls already damaged. It felt like such a risk. For the amount of money we were spending, we didn’t want to be fixing someone else’s problems.
ZELDA
A friend of ours had built through Generation Homes and invited us to a presentation. We saw that for the same price as a home already built, plus the 10-year guarantee on the build, we could get a new home. It's foolish not to do it! Then we get exactly what we want and we can change the plans and modify the house how we want to. We said 'now we're going to do research on other building companies'. But our friend had done a lot of homework in looking into different companies, and then he found Generation Homes. Because he did all the homework, we just went straight on his experience and recommendation, because we were so fed up with battling to get a place that suits our needs. One thing our friend recommended about Generation Homes is that there were no other hidden costs. What you see is what you get and that is what you're going to pay.
HENRI
We were planning on doing our own research into different building companies. Then, when we went and spoke to our friend, and we said, "We've seen what Generation Homes does. This is what we're planning on doing," he said, "Hey, I've done that already. Why do it double?" So we went by his recommendation and just went for Generation Homes.
The fact that we saw the prices of existing houses, and then you saw the price of the new one, and it was very similar. It would have been foolish not to do it! We visited the Wainui show home, and it had everything that was on our list except a double garage. But before we even said, 'yes', they drew up a set of plans and that had a double garage in it. It was like they read our minds as to what we wanted.
HENRI
Everything went smoothly, just like they said it would. When we signed the contract, they told us there were only three things we needed to do: pick our colours, check the electrical layout and choose tiles. That’s exactly how it happened. No surprises. It was honestly one of the easiest things we’ve done.
ZELDA
They stuck to their timelines and even finished two weeks early. They also worked with us when Henri’s apartment took longer to sell, which delayed our finance. They were professional, friendly and made us feel completely at ease. Any time we had a worry or issue, they had a solution.
ZELDA
We started with trust because of our friend’s experience, and that just grew as the build went on. They were clear and transparent from day one.
HENRI
They were always prepared, always professional. The documentation was thorough, and the pricing never changed. That gave us a lot of confidence.
ZELDA
It was very positive and rewarding. The whole house-building journey was enjoyable and stress-free. Normally, they say, building a house it’s one of the most difficult things. Generation Homes listened to our ideas and needs, making it like a walk in the park. They were so prompt with their dates and times, it was no problem for us to give notice on our rental.
HENRI
I think the one major thing for us, being South African, we talk Afrikaans most of the time, and it was good having Nadine and Norman assisting us as they also speak Afrikaans. When there were terms that we didn’t know in English, they were able to help. It was good having an experience where there were other South Africans we could talk to in our own language, especially when talking about the financial aspects.
HENRI
We started with the Wainui plan from the Milldale show home and made a few changes to suit our section and lifestyle. They helped us resize it so it would fit the property, and we swapped the kitchen and garage around.
ZELDA
The original plan had a single garage and an extra living room. We took out the second living area to create a double garage. We also moved some walls to make the bedrooms larger. In the bathroom, we took out the bath and relocated the laundry from the garage into the main bedroom ensuite. We joined the walk-in wardrobe and ensuite into one flowing space so you can step from the shower straight into the wardrobe.
ZELDA
We love the big bedroom, because the cupboard that we’ve built in is not only a dressing table, but also a space where the TV fits in. We can sit either here or in our spacious dining and living room area, and we can also sit on the decks. The kitchen is nice because you can stand in the kitchen and still watch the TV. When there’s a rugby match on, I can stand in the kitchen and still watch South Africa win. It’s warm and dry too, which is a huge step up from our rental.
HENRI
The double garage is also great and makes a huge difference because both cars are in the garage. When we were renting, my car was parked near the street. We also moved the house far back from the property line, making the driveway bigger, to allow a three-point turn.
ZELDA
Originally, we didn’t want to live here because it is so far from work. But when we were looking, Orewa and Milldale were the only areas with house and land packages we could afford. Now that we’re here, we love it. It’s quiet, the neighbourhood is tidy, and there are no houses right behind us. I love sitting on the deck and enjoying the open space.
HENRI
Auckland is growing in this direction, and that gave us confidence. There’s a new shopping centre going in just down the road, plus a retirement village already built. Everything we need will be close by.
HENRI
We were so excited to move in. Everything was packed and ready to go. But when we got back from our honeymoon, we opened the door to our rental, and there was water everywhere. All the boxes were drenched. It was exhausting. But that excitement never really left. We were still so ready to be in our new home.
ZELDA
It was such a relief to know we were in a warm, dry, brand-new house. No risk of old pipes bursting or anything going wrong. And having the garage space made everything easier. We could unpack at our own pace and keep the house tidy. It felt like a proper welcome. Best of all, it’s our home. Not a rental. We can do what we want, and that feeling is incredible.
ZELDA
Because Generation Homes made everything so straightforward, it was easy to start looking at upgrades. But I’ve got very expensive taste, so my advice is simple: stick to your budget. Don’t get caught up in wanting the flashiest tile or the fanciest tap. You’ll have other expenses after you move in. We still needed to buy things like loose rugs, a gate, and we want a shed too. So instead of blowing your budget on fixtures and finishes, think about what you’ll need once you’re living in the house.
If you see a tap, you love but it’s outside your budget, go with the standard option for now. You can always change it later. Prioritise the things that will make a difference to how you live in the space not just what looks good in the moment.
HENRI
Make sure that when you do get something, it’s something you need. Not just a nice-to-have. For example, we originally had bark in the garden, but it became a problem with neighbourhood cats. We had to replace it with stones that were a practical need, not just a want. It’s important to think ahead and be realistic about what you’re going to live with day-to-day.
ZELDA
Every month, you’ve got to make a repayment to the bank, and you need to know you can afford that long-term. It’s better to build a house that’s within your means and add features later than to stretch yourself too far and end up struggling. We made sure our home was functional and comfortable from day one and we can keep adding to it as we go.
