Dream home turns into a nightmare as family out $1 million

A New Zealand woman named Christina Ehret hired a construction company, Selah Homes, to build her dream home in 2018. The family has spent nearly $1 million out of their pocket. But, her home is still incomplete and has many problems, some of which are dangerous.

Christina Ehret, from Whangaparoa, north of Auckland, said that the construction company she hired went into liquidation, leaving their house unfinished and unsafe.

The 60-year-old woman began the project in 2018, expecting it to be completed in a few months. However, the home remains incomplete even after the lapse of five years. The structure is left riddled with defects and lacks a Code Compliance Certificate.

The family moved into the half-built house in 2020 to save money. However, it soon discovered numerous severe construction issues.

Selah Homes was hired to build the two-storey, four-bedroom house. By 2019, the land had been cleared, but construction progress was slow. Ehret's husband, Brett, a plumber, noticed significant delays. Despite repeated assurances from Selah Homes, the August 2019 completion date passed with little progress.

"We actually sent them a picture ... and said, 'This is getting dangerous — you can't even get through to go to different rooms'," Ehret said. Problems included draughty gaps under doors, a leaking roof, water dripping through a light fixture, and even a live wire in the attic. Ehret added, "You shouldn't be able to look under the bathroom door and see the person sitting on the toilet."

A Master Build guarantee provided some protection, covering structural defects and workmanship. After Selah Homes went into liquidation in March 2024, Master Builders stepped in to finish the job. Despite ongoing construction as of May, Ehret hopes the ordeal will soon end.