Renovations in Freemans Bay, Auckland

Your Freemans Bay home, brought into the modern era — inner-city character, modern living.

Registered Master Builder · 10-Year Guarantee · $2M public liability insurance · House of the Year Gold 2025 · Villa, terrace, townhouse and apartment renovation specialists. Servicing Freemans Bay, Ponsonby, St Mary’s Bay, Auckland CBD, Grey Lynn.

Book a Free Consultation 30 minutes of friendly, expert advice. You leave with a clear next step. Prefer to start with numbers? Get an instant cost estimate →

Simon & Michelle’s bungalow kitchen, AVR portfolio

Renovating in Freemans Bay

Renovating in Freemans Bay means working with one of Auckland’s most gentrified inner-city suburbs.

Freemans Bay sits between Ponsonby and the CBD — a tight inner-city mix of Edwardian villas, Victorian terraces and cottages, mid-century townhouses, converted warehouses, and modern apartments. Close to the harbour edge, Victoria Park, and the city. The renovations that work here preserve original character where it exists, modernise compact inner-city layouts, and make the most of small sections. AVR is minutes away in Newmarket.

Ready to talk about your Freemans Bay renovation? Book a free 30-minute consultation →

Our Freemans Bay Services

We renovate Freemans Bay homes across three core services.

We renovate Freemans Bay homes across three core services: kitchens, bathrooms, and full home renovations or extensions. Each one is QS-priced before contract, built by our own team, and backed by the Master Builder 10-Year Guarantee.

Kitchen Renovations

Freemans Bay kitchens we build span heritage villa galleys reimagined as open-plan, terrace cottage rebuilds, modern townhouse kitchens, and apartment fit-outs. Custom design, council-signed-off, finishes that suit the home and the inner-city price band.

Kitchen renovations in Freemans Bay

Bathroom Renovations

Freemans Bay bathrooms range from heritage villa ensuites to compact townhouse and apartment master suites. Modern waterproofing, large-format tiling, frameless glass, council-signed-off, Master Builder Guarantee.

Bathroom renovations in Freemans Bay

Full Home & Extensions

Full Freemans Bay home transformations: heritage villa and terrace renovations, townhouse rebuilds, apartment fit-outs, rear extensions on tight inner-city sections. QS-priced end-to-end including engineering, consents, and heritage restoration.

Home extensions in Freemans Bay

Why Freemans Bay Chooses AVR

Freemans Bay homeowners choose AVR for inner-city renovations done right.

Four reasons Freemans Bay homeowners keep choosing us — and keep sending their friends.

200+ Auckland renovations completed since 2010

QS-led pricing — every cost upfront.

We price every Freemans Bay renovation through a 21-section QS scope before contract. What you sign is what you pay — every cost transparent and locked in from the start.

Master Builder 10-Year Guarantee.

Every AVR renovation is backed by the Registered Master Builders 10-Year Guarantee. Structural, weathertightness, workmanship — covered for a decade. Plus $2M public liability insurance.

We know Freemans Bay homes.

Edwardian villas, Victorian terraces and cottages, mid-century townhouses, modern apartments — Freemans Bay has it all packed into tight inner-city sections. We know the heritage detail worth saving, the structural quirks of 100-year-old terraces, and the engineering and acoustic requirements of apartment work.

Newmarket-based, one team start to finish.

Our office is at 110 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket — a 10-minute drive from Freemans Bay. Same-day site visits, weekly walk-throughs, one accountable team start to finish.

Backed by our Master Builder 10-Year Guarantee.

From our portfolio

Opening up a bungalow without losing the character: Simon & Michelle’s open-plan kitchen.

From our recent Auckland portfolio: Simon & Michelle bought a tired bungalow and wanted modern, open-plan living without losing the character. We delivered exactly that.

ServiceKitchen + Open-Plan

OutcomeBright open-plan living

StyleShaker-style

Simon & Michelle wanted to modernise their bungalow without erasing the character. We removed the load-bearing wall using a laminated engineered timber beam, opened the kitchen to the living and dining, and installed a bespoke shaker-style kitchen that matched the bungalow’s detail. The result: light, flow, and a kitchen designed for everyday life and entertaining — all without changing the home’s soul. Council consent, architect, and kitchen designer coordination handled end-to-end.

View this project → Full project gallery and client story on the project page. Talk to us about your Freemans Bay home.

What Auckland Homeowners Say

We’ve completed renovations across Freemans Bay and the wider Auckland area.

“Simon and Joanna of Add Value Renovations planned and completed our en-suite upgrade. We are entirely happy with the finished product and the service and care they provided. We especially appreciated the direct communication with Simon. He is a good man — honest, reliable, and easy to work with. The attention to detail and quality of the finish was outstanding.”

Jann SingerAuckland client · En-suite renovation · ★★★★★ Google Review

AlisonHer Birkenhead home alterations

Alison’s Birkenhead Home AlterationsWatch a real Add Value Renovations client share their story · 4.8 ★ across 34 Google reviews · Read all reviews →

Our 3-Step Process

Every AVR renovation in Freemans Bay follows the same three steps: free consultation, QS report, then build.

Free Consultation

We visit your Freemans Bay home for a 30-minute on-site consultation — relaxed and helpful. We look at the property, listen to what you want, and share an honest view on scope, rough cost band, and what’s possible.

QS Report

Our QS-led 21-section scope locks in your fixed price before any contract. You get a detailed breakdown of every element — structural, materials, trades, timeline — plus three hours of on-site consultation and unlimited phone support.

Renovation

We build. One project manager. Weekly written updates. Weekly site walk-throughs if you want them. Consent handled end-to-end. Delivered on time, on budget, guaranteed for 10 years under the Master Builder Guarantee.

Book a Free Consultation 30 minutes, free, friendly. You leave with a clear next step.

Renovation FAQs for Freemans Bay Homeowners

Below are the questions Freemans Bay homeowners ask us most often about renovating in this part of Auckland.

What does a renovation cost in Freemans Bay?

A typical Freemans Bay renovation runs $4,800–$9,500 per square metre in 2026, depending on whether you’re working with a heritage villa, terrace, townhouse, or apartment. Heritage villa work sits at the higher end; apartment fit-outs at the lower end. A standard kitchen and bathroom refresh runs $90,000–$180,000. AVR provides a fixed-price QS Report before any contract.

Are parts of Freemans Bay in a Special Character Area?

Yes — much of Freemans Bay sits inside Auckland Council’s Single House Zone with Special Character Area overlays, particularly the older heritage streets. Inside these overlays, exterior alterations visible from the street trigger resource consent. Apartment fit-outs usually don’t trigger SCA but may need body corporate approval. AVR runs a pre-application check before the QS Report.

How long does a renovation take in Freemans Bay?

Most Freemans Bay renovations take 8–22 weeks on site. A bathroom is 4–6 weeks, a kitchen 6–10 weeks, a full home renovation or extension 14–22 weeks. Add 4–8 weeks before that for design, QS pricing, and Auckland Council building consent.

Do I need consent to renovate my Freemans Bay home?

Most structural changes, plumbing relocations, kitchen/bathroom rebuilds, and any work touching the building envelope require Auckland Council building consent. Cosmetic-only renovations usually do not. AVR handles the consent application, drawings, and council liaison end-to-end.

Are Freemans Bay renovations covered by the Master Builder Guarantee?

Yes — every AVR renovation in Freemans Bay is backed by the Registered Master Builders 10-Year Guarantee, which covers structural defects, weathertightness, and workmanship. We’re also covered by $2 million public liability insurance and full LBP certification.

Can I live in my Freemans Bay home during the renovation?

For kitchen-only or bathroom-only renovations, yes — we set up a temporary kitchen or alternative bathroom and contain the work zone with dust barriers. For full home renovations or major extensions, most Freemans Bay homeowners choose to move out for 8–14 weeks. We’ll talk through both options at the consultation.

What style of homes does AVR renovate in Freemans Bay?

Freemans Bay is dominated by Edwardian villas, Victorian terraces and cottages, mid-century townhouses, and modern apartment buildings. AVR has renovated across the range — heritage villa restorations, terrace cottage rebuilds, and contemporary apartment fit-outs.

Who is the best renovation builder in Freemans Bay?

Add Value Renovations is a Newmarket-based Registered Master Builder who has completed renovations and extensions across Freemans Bay and central Auckland. AVR was awarded House of the Year Gold (2025), holds a 4.8-star Google rating across 34 reviews, prices every project through a QS-led 21-section scope before contract, and backs every renovation with the Master Builder 10-Year Guarantee plus $2M public liability insurance. Free 30-minute consultation: 09 393 5658.

Is the same team building my Freemans Bay home from start to finish?

Yes — AVR is a design-and-build company. One project manager, one contract, one accountable team across design, consent, build, and finish. No subcontracting the whole job to a third party. That’s why our Freemans Bay clients can ring Simon directly at any stage and get a straight answer.

What renovation gives the best ROI in Freemans Bay?

On a Freemans Bay home in 2026, the highest-ROI renovations are: (1) a heritage-respectful kitchen open-plan on a villa or terrace — returns 1.8–2.2× cost; (2) modernising apartment kitchens and bathrooms to premium standard — returns 1.5–1.8×; (3) adding a master ensuite within existing footprint — returns 1.4–1.7×. Inner-city Auckland rewards quality.

How does the renovation process actually work with AVR?

Three steps. (1) Free 30-minute on-site consultation — we visit your Freemans Bay home, listen to what you need, give a rough cost band. (2) QS Report ($500+GST) — our QS prices the full scope across 21 sections so you have a fixed price before any contract. (3) Build — one project manager, weekly updates, council consent handled, delivered on time and on budget under the Master Builder 10-Year Guarantee.

Also serving: Ponsonby · St Mary’s Bay · Herne Bay · Grey Lynn · all Auckland suburbs

About Add Value Renovations

Auckland’s renovation specialists, since 2010.

Newmarket-based, servicing homeowners across every Auckland suburb. Every project QS-priced and fixed before contract — delivered through our 21-section scoped process and one expert team that owns design, build, and finish.

09 393 5658 · 110 Carlton Gore Road, Newmarket

200+Auckland renovations completed since 2010

10yrMaster Builder Guarantee on every build

4.8★Across 34 Google reviews

2025House of the Year — Gold Award

Ready when you are

Let’s transform your Freemans Bay home — character preserved, inner-city living unlocked.

Book a free 30-minute consultation with Simon. Friendly, expert, and tailored to your Freemans Bay home — you leave with a clear view on scope, cost band, and the best path forward.

Book a Free Consultation

Or call Simon direct on 09 393 5658 · Prefer numbers first? Get an instant cost estimate →

What our customers say

Google Reviews

4.8 (34)

Review us on Google

Jann Singer

4 months ago

Simon and Joanna of Add Value Renovations planned and completed our en-suite upgrade. We are entirely happy with the finished product and the service and care they provided. We especially appreciated the direct communication with Simon. He is a good man — honest, reliable, and easy to work with. The attention to detail and quality of the finish was outstanding.

Posted on Google

Carl Anderson

We loved working with Simon and the team at Add Value Renovations. Add Value's project manager Tim, and interior designer Joanna, had excellent communication throughout the entire process. The quality of the workmanship was top-notch and they completed our bungalow renovation on time and on budget.

Rajeev Kishore

1 year ago

Simon working with you and your team was a truly positive experience. Your expertise, combined with your genuine care for our project, made the entire process smooth and stress-free. We're thrilled with the results and couldn't have asked for a better team to bring our vision to life.

Leah song

Just wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for the outstanding work you've done! A ext. renovation done by Add Value was truly a remarkable transformation. The kitchen and bathroom designs are not only aesthetically stunning but also highly functional. It's evident that a lot of thought and care went into every detail.

Alex Salkeld

2 years ago

Simon and his team recently took care of renovating the bedrooms of our house. We are very happy with the quality of work and the professionalism shown throughout the project. The team was punctual, tidy and communicated well at every stage.

Colin McLennan

Had the pleasure of using Simon and his team on a garage conversion project. Simon made the planning and building process easy and his team were professional in their approach. It was a project that was on time and budget. Have no problem recommending Add Value Renovations for your next project.

Jo Nicoud-Garden

I worked with Simon at Add Value Renovations on a full home renovation and the experience was fantastic from start to finish. The communication was clear, the timeline was realistic, and the quality of the work speaks for itself. Highly recommended.

K Noronha

We have used the services of Add Value Renovations twice over three years, once for bathroom renovations and more recently for our kitchen and deck. The quality of work has always been excellent and any issues that arose were dealt with promptly and professionally.

Your Freemans Bay home, brought into the modern era — inner-city character, modern living.

Renovating in Freemans Bay means working with one of Auckland’s most gentrified inner-city suburbs.