Is Your Home Ready to Grow With You?
New Zealand families are changing — and so are their homes. Whether you're welcoming ageing parents, watching your kids outgrow their bedrooms, or simply craving more breathing room, extending your home is one of the smartest investments you can make right now.
Multi-generational living is having a moment
More Kiwi families than ever are choosing to live together across generations — and it's not just about saving money. Shared childcare, closer family bonds, and looking after elderly parents without uprooting them from their community are all driving the trend.
The good news? New legislation passed in early 2026 now allows standalone dwellings up to 70m² to be built without a full building consent, as long as a licensed building professional oversees the work and your council is notified. That's a significant shift that makes adding a separate dwelling faster and more affordable than before.
Standalone granny flat
A fully self-contained unit in your backyard — its own kitchen, bathroom, and living space. Maximum privacy for everyone.
Upstairs / downstairs unit
Two distinct living areas under one roof, sharing a wall but not a front door. Great for connected independence.
Attached minor dwelling
Connected to the main home but with its own entrance and facilities — looks integrated from the street.
More space for growing families
Not every extension needs to be a whole new dwelling. Sometimes what a family needs is simply more room — an extra bedroom for a new arrival, a second lounge where teenagers can actually relax, or a dedicated study that isn't the kitchen table.
A well-designed home extension can add one or two bedrooms and a separate living area without dramatically changing your home's footprint. Extending out the back or adding a second storey are both proven approaches that Total Home Solutions regularly delivers for Bay of Plenty families.
Extra bedrooms
Room for a new baby, a returning adult child, or a guest suite — without anyone feeling squeezed.
Separate lounge
Give different generations — or just different moods — their own space to unwind. It changes how a home feels.
Second storey addition
Double your living space without losing a metre of section. One of the best value-per-m² moves available.
Worth knowing: According to the 2026 Kiwi Home Improvement Report, the average renovation spend this year sits around $27,000 — but home extensions and multi-generational builds typically sit higher. The payoff is real though: flexible floor plans with multiple living areas consistently rank as a top feature buyers look for when purchasing in New Zealand.
Plan it right from the start
The biggest mistake families make is designing an extension around today's needs only. A bedroom added now might need to become a studio unit in ten years. Thinking about plumbing placement, separate entries, and acoustic separation at the design stage costs very little — changing it later costs a lot.
Total Home Solutions works through all of this with you before a single nail goes in. We'll help you figure out whether a standalone dwelling, an attached unit, or a straight home extension is the right fit for your family, your section, and your budget.
Ready to talk about what's possible for your home?