Richard Fairbairn, owner and operator of Wanaka-based David Reid Homes (Central) Ltd, was thrilled to take out his company’s first national award in the Registered Master Builders 2009 House of the Year, in association with PlaceMakers.
“We’ve entered a home and won at a regional level every year since our first entry in 1995. This time we’ve hit the jackpot and taken out the national Outdoor Living Award,” Mr Fairbairn says.
The Outdoor Living Award is given to the home that best integrates its interior and outdoor living areas, and is a seamless expression of the home’s design and construction — an outcome the judges agreed the Central Otago home clearly portrayed.
Judges described the home as beautifully situated, and that it successfully blends in with the local architectural heritage.
“The outdoor living spaces are integrated beautifully with the home, and there’s a sense of comfort and warmth the minute you walk onto the property,” the judges said.
David Reid Homes’ (Central) unique selling point is that it not only offers building services, but has an in-house design team available to assist in the building process.
“We find that around 80% of our clients use our internal design team. It offers a holistic approach to the building process and helps to personalise their home,” Mr Fairbairn says.
“Our design team has helped us establish a real niche in the building industry, specialising in high-end architecturally-designed homes, while also catering for lower to mid-range clients.”
Building has always been a passion for Mr Fairbairn, who purchased David Reid Homes (Central) nine years ago, and who holds a Bachelor of Construction, along with a qualification as a quantity surveyor.
“I’ve got 20 years of experience in the building industry, so I have done a fair few projects. The great thing about this project was that the home owners actually came to us,” he says.
“It’s always a compliment when people approach you based on your reputation.”
Mr Fairbairn is forecasting a steady year in 2010, and has a number of projects under way, some from overseas clients.
“We have developed the infrastructure to build homes for people who are based overseas. One of the things we do is video the building process in order to keep them up to date — it’s a booming business.”
Mr Fairbairn believes that although winning an award is a great result, “you’re only as good as your last build”.
“News travels quickly in small areas such as Wanaka, so it’s important to always maintain a high standard. If you do a bad job everyone will know about it.
“On the flip side, word of mouth is one of our best marketing channels. When you win awards and achieve top results, people recognise it.”
