residential sourcing

How Full Home Build Sourcing Works — And Why It Saves You More Than Money

If you’re building a new home — particularly a high-end residential project in Queenstown, Wanaka, Central Otago, or anywhere across New Zealand — you already know the numbers. Locally sourced fittings, fixtures, and furniture can eat through your budget fast. A single bathroom vanity that costs $4,000 from an NZ distributor might be $1,200 sourced directly from the same factory in Foshan.

But going direct comes with complexity. You’re dealing with multiple suppliers across different cities, different lead times, language barriers, compliance requirements, and biosecurity rules. Most owner-builders and designers try it once, get burned, and go back to paying the local markup.

That’s where Epic comes in. We’ve built a residential sourcing service specifically for NZ new builds — managing the entire procurement process from your selections list through to a single, consolidated delivery to your build site.

What We Source for Residential Builds

Furniture

Sofas, dining tables, bed frames, outdoor settings, custom joinery, shelving, and storage. Foshan and Dongguan factories produce everything from contemporary minimalist to bespoke designer pieces.

Tapware & Bathroomware

Basin mixers, shower sets, freestanding baths, toilet suites, vanity units. All checked against AS/NZS 3718 (WaterMark) and WELS water efficiency ratings before shipping.

Door & Window Hardware

Handles, hinges, locks, pulls, and architectural hardware in brass, black, chrome, or custom finishes. Matched to your design specification.

Lighting

Pendants, wall sconces, LED strip systems, outdoor fixtures, and custom fittings. Verified for NZ electrical compliance.

Stone & Tile

Marble, granite, engineered stone, porcelain tiles, and feature wall panels. Sourced from Yunfu (stone capital of China) and shipped with proper crating and edge protection.

Linens & Soft Furnishings

Bedding, cushions, drapes, blinds, and custom upholstery fabric. Vietnam is particularly strong for textiles and embroidery work.

Cabinetry & Joinery

Kitchen cabinetry, bathroom storage, wardrobes, and laundry joinery. Factory-finished and flat-packed for efficient shipping.

How It Works — 6 Steps

Discovery Call & Selections Review

You share your selections list, mood boards, architectural plans, or interior design specs. We review every item and identify which products are best sourced from China, Vietnam, or locally.

Supplier Matching & Quoting

Our on-the-ground team in Foshan, Guangzhou, and Ho Chi Minh City identifies verified factories for each product category. You receive a detailed quote with unit costs, MOQs, lead times, and landed cost estimates in NZD.

Sampling & Approval

Before committing to production, we arrange samples for key items — particularly tapware, stone, and furniture finishes. You approve each sample against your design spec.

Production & Quality Control

Once approved, production begins. Our QC team conducts in-factory inspections at key milestones — initial production, mid-production, and pre-shipment — to catch issues before they ship.

Consolidation & Shipping

Products from multiple factories are consolidated at our Foshan warehouse into a single container. We handle export documentation, MPI biosecurity requirements, customs clearance, and freight to your nearest NZ port.

Delivery to Site

Your consolidated shipment arrives at Port of Auckland, Tauranga, Christchurch, or Dunedin. We coordinate last-mile delivery to your build site, timed to your construction schedule.

What’s Included

Full Procurement Management: We manage every supplier, every PO, every sample, and every inspection across your entire build.

NZ Compliance Checking: AS/NZS tapware standards, MPI biosecurity for timber and wood products, electrical compliance for lighting, and Building Code alignment.

Consolidated Warehousing: Multiple factory outputs consolidated into one shipment from our Foshan warehouse.

Landed Cost Modelling: Full cost breakdown in NZD including product, freight, duty (where applicable), GST, and biosecurity fees.

Dedicated Project Coordinator: One point of contact who manages your entire build procurement from start to finish.

Who This Is For

Owner-builders planning a high-end new build and wanting to maximise their fit-out budget without compromising on quality

Architects and designers specifying products for residential clients who want the look without the local price tag

Interior designers furnishing complete homes — from kitchen joinery to bedroom linens — in a single sourcing engagement

Property developers doing multi-unit or spec builds who need consistent, cost-effective fittings across multiple properties

Renovation project managers undertaking full home renovations where wholesale replacement of fittings and furniture makes direct sourcing viable

NZ Compliance — Sorted

WaterMark Certification (AS/NZS 3718)

All tapware and plumbing products are verified against WaterMark requirements before shipping. Non-compliant products don’t leave the factory.

WELS Water Efficiency

We check shower heads, basin mixers, and toilet suites against NZ WELS ratings so your build meets water efficiency standards.

MPI Biosecurity

Timber furniture, wooden cabinetry, and any plant-based materials go through proper phytosanitary treatment and documentation before export.

Building Code Alignment

Fire ratings, structural specs, and safety data sheets are requested and reviewed for relevant products before production begins.

Duty-Free Building Materials

Many residential building materials can be imported into NZ duty-free under tariff concession code 310193C. We identify eligible products and ensure the concession is correctly applied at customs clearance.

How Epic Sourcing Helps

Our difference? We’re not a middleman clipping the ticket. We charge a flat project rate — not a percentage of your order value. That means our interests are aligned with yours: getting the best product at the best price, not inflating your invoice.

With teams on the ground in Auckland, Foshan, Guangzhou, and Ho Chi Minh City, we speak the language — literally. Our Mandarin and Vietnamese-speaking sourcing specialists have direct relationships with the factories producing your products. No trading companies in the middle. No mystery about where your fittings are actually made.

For residential builds, we manage the complexity so you don’t have to. One sourcing partner. One consolidated shipment. Every item checked, documented, and delivered to your site — ready to install.

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions to help you get the information you need.

What is included in the custom pricing for the Enterprise Package?

It includes all our services at an advanced level, with options for additional customization. Pricing depends on the scope and scale of your project.

Can I switch between packages if my needs change?