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New houses, extensions, granny flats and additions. Tell us about your project and up to 3 building contractors quote.
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How it works
Tell us about the job
A few questions about what you need and where you are. There's no account to create.
Get up to 3 quotes
Builders that work in your area contact you with a price.
Compare and choose
Weigh up price, timing and what's included. Accept the one that suits you, or none.
How a building project runs
A new home or a large addition goes through the same stages whoever builds it, and knowing them helps you judge quotes and timelines.
- Design and plans. An architectural professional designs the building and prepares plans. An engineer designs anything structural: foundations on difficult soils, concrete slabs, steel and roof structures.
- Approval. The plans are submitted to the municipality. Building must not start before they're approved.
- Foundations and slab. Excavation, foundations and the floor slab, inspected by the municipality and, where required, the engineer.
- Superstructure. Walls up to roof level, with lintels, windows and door frames.
- Roof. Trusses, covering and insulation.
- Services and finishes. Plumbing, electrics, plaster, ceilings, tiling, joinery and paint.
- Completion. Final inspections, certificates of compliance and the municipality's certificate of occupancy.
NHBRC: what it covers today
Under the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, 1998, every builder of a new home must be registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), and every new home must be enrolled with the NHBRC before construction starts, at least 15 days beforehand. Enrolment gives the home warranty cover against major structural defects. Banks generally won't finance a new home that isn't enrolled.
Today, that applies to new homes only. The Housing Consumer Protection Act, 2024, will extend the NHBRC's mandate to renovations, alterations and additions to existing homes, but as of October 2026 it hasn't come into force. Its regulations are still being drafted. Until the new Act starts, building an addition to an existing home doesn't need NHBRC enrolment.
Contracts and payments
Building contracts in South Africa are often based on the JBCC (Joint Building Contracts Committee) standard agreements, or the builder's own contract. Whatever you use, it should set out the scope, the price, how variations are priced and approved, the programme, and the payment schedule.
Payments should follow completed work, such as foundations, wall plate and roof, rather than running ahead of it. A retention, a percentage of each payment held back until the defects after completion have been fixed, protects you if the builder doesn't return to finish snags.
Certificates at the end
On completion you should receive an electrical certificate of compliance, any plumbing certificates your municipality requires, the roof engineer's sign-off, and glazing certificates where applicable. With these, the municipality can issue a certificate of occupancy, which is the legal confirmation that the building was built according to the approved plans. You'll need it to occupy the building legally, and it matters when you sell.
What new building work costs
AECOM's 2025/26 cost guide puts a standard private house at R9,850 per m² excluding VAT, about R11,300 with VAT. Builders' 2026 price guides range from around R6,500 per m² for an economic build to R25,000 for luxury. Ground-floor extensions typically cost R7,000 to R15,000 per m², so a 30 m² addition lands somewhere between R210,000 and R450,000.
- New house, economic specification
- R6,500–R9,100/m²
- New house, standard specification
- R9,800–R15,000/m²
- New house, luxury specification
- R16,350–R25,000/m²
- Ground-floor extension or addition
- R7,000–R15,000/m²
See the full new building work cost guideGet exact prices
Estimates only, last checked 28 October 2026. Get quotes for an accurate price for your job.
Before you hire: a new building work checklist
A building project is the largest home spend most people ever make. The checks below protect the investment before the first brick is laid.
Check NHBRC registration for new homes
Builders of new homes must be registered with the NHBRC, and the home must be enrolled before construction. Verify the builder's registration directly with the NHBRC.
Don't build without approved plans
Make sure plans are approved by the municipality before work starts. Unapproved building can lead to fines, demolition orders and problems when you sell.
Get quotes on the same plans and specification
Give every builder the same drawings and a specification of finishes, or the prices can't be compared.
Look at completed projects and talk to past clients
Visit a house the builder finished a year or two ago and ask the owners how the project went, especially about the final snags.
Tie payments to progress, with a retention
Pay for completed stages, not in advance, and hold a retention until defects have been fixed.
Ask who manages the subcontractors
Plumbers, electricians and roofers are often subcontracted. Ask who's responsible for their work, their certificates and their timing.
Agree how variations are priced
Changes during construction are where budgets run away. Agree in writing how variations are priced and approved before work starts.
Where these rules come from
- NHBRC enrolments and what they cover, AfriSam
- Question to the Minister of Human Settlements on the Housing Consumer Protection Act, Parliamentary Monitoring Group
- Section 14: certificates of occupancy, National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977
Before you request quotes
The questions people ask us most.
Is it really free?
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Will I be flooded with calls?
No. Your details go only to the providers quoting on your job, up to 3 of them.
Do I have to accept a quote?
No. Compare the quotes, ask questions, and accept one if it suits you. If none do, you don't have to go ahead.
Are the providers any good?
More than 200 registered service providers quote through our network. Compare quotes carefully, ask for references and photos of past work, and use the checklist on each service page before you hire.
How quickly will I hear back?
The builders who quote on your job contact you directly by phone or email.
What if I'm not happy with any of the quotes?
You don't have to accept any of them. If the prices are all higher than you expected, ask each provider what's driving the cost. The answers often show what the job really needs.
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We handle your personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and share it only with the providers quoting on your job, up to 3 of them. Our privacy policy explains what we collect and your rights.
New Building Work questions, answered
Do I need to enrol my new home with the NHBRC?
Yes. Every new home must be enrolled with the NHBRC before construction starts, at least 15 days beforehand, and the builder must be NHBRC-registered. Banks generally won't finance a new home that isn't enrolled.
Does an extension or addition need NHBRC enrolment?
Not under the current law, which covers new homes. The Housing Consumer Protection Act, 2024, will extend the NHBRC's role to renovations and additions, but as of October 2026 it hasn't come into force.
Do I need an architect?
You need plans drawn by a professional registered with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession for municipal approval. Many people use an architect or architectural technologist to design and oversee the project too.
What is a certificate of occupancy?
It's issued by the municipality, under section 14 of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, once a building is completed according to its approved plans. You need it to occupy the building legally.
What is a retention?
A percentage held back from each payment to the builder, released after completion once any defects have been fixed. It gives the builder a reason to come back and finish the snags.
How long does it take to build a house?
It depends on the size and complexity of the house, the weather, and how quickly plans are approved. Ask builders for a written programme showing each stage.
Should I get a fixed price or a cost-plus quote?
A fixed price on a detailed specification gives you budget certainty. Cost-plus contracts can suit uncertain work but put the risk of overruns on you. Whichever you choose, define the scope clearly.
Related services
- RenovationsHome renovations and alterations, from a single room to the whole house.
- RoofingRoof repairs, replacements and new roofs in tile, sheeting and slate.
- Boundary WallsPrecast concrete and brick boundary walls, built and plastered.
- Electrical WorkWiring, DB boards, fault finding and electrical certificates of compliance.
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