Updated:
27.9.2024
T
here’s nothing like waking up to a gorgeous garden.
That’s now the case for Chris and Rochelle, Auckland homeowners who made good use of their time throughout lockdown doing prep work for their garden redesign.
It included plenty of digging and pulling-up, but there was one job left on their garden-scaping list that was a little too big to undertake themselves.
Original space with pavers and brick edging
The Problem
The new design of the garden patch featured a structural garden bed which required a retaining wall, something that Rochelle says was too much for their skillset.
“We knew we needed someone to do the last part of the job,” says Rochelle.
The garden edging had previously been lined with bricks, but Rochelle was looking for a timber look.
With an open mind and a flexible approach, she was hoping to bring the design to life by making the most of the existing area.
Choosing a Tradie
Ten tradies chased Rochelle’s garden revamp job, and three were granted contact. But Rochelle says choosing the tradie for the job was easy based on a great impression made by one tradie in particular who came out to quote their job.
“He was so good – we really liked him. He listened to us and gave good suggestions based on that,” says Rochelle.
The Job
There were two parts to the job:
- 1
Build a timber retaining wall to house a citrus tree in a U-shape garden bed
- 2
Prep and fill pebble pathways for the surrounding area
The garden area measures approximately 15 square metres, and with labour and materials all up, the job totalled just under $6700.
Timber retaining wall
The Result
“There’s nothing left for us to do – it’s spotlessly tidy,” says Rochelle.
The space also features a feijoa tree and some veggies, but Rochelle says once Spring arrives, she’s looking to add some tomatoes, lettuce, passionfruit and more herbs.
Before vs After
Advice For Other Homeowners
“It helps if you’re specific with what you want,” says Rochelle.
“And it’s better if you have a price point in mind because it changes what they can offer.”
Before vs After
Thoughts on The Tradie
“We liked the people we were dealing with,” says Rochelle.
“They weren’t the cheapest or the most expensive, but they got back to us quickly and their communication was really good.”
Rochelle says their tradie was easy to work with, kept to their timeline and gave them clearly documented information which she appreciated.
Before vs After
Thoughts on Builderscrack
“My daughter told me about it, and I thought the name was rather hilarious,” laughs Rochelle.
“She had used it and said how simple it was – and I was amazed at how quickly we got a response.”
Rochelle mentioned how the automated alerts helped the process along, and the reviews and photos on tradies profile helped with their decision in choosing the right tradie for the job.
“We had initially approached someone outside of Builderscrack, and you almost feel indebted to them – but Builderscrack is upfront, and everyone knows other quotes are being submitted,” says Rochelle.
