88 | Verve Plumbing Services CONTRACTING T T Kelly Deeks Keeping things comfortable and efficient Director Carlin Lepper says renovations, upgrades, and new builds are the company’s sweet spot. Verve Plumbing Services is building its business around the kind of plumbing work that keeps homes comfortable and efficient. Director Carlin Lepper says renovations, upgrades, and new builds are the company’s sweet spot, with work ranging from a replacement toilet or bathroom renovation to full house renovations and new home plumbing. A growing area is helping homeowners move away from gas, particularly as they consider solar and electricity. “We’re finding a lot of people are looking at how they can get off gas,” Carlin says. “We’ve done installations where we isolate and remove the gas fixtures and put in an electric hot water cylinder to work with their solar.” Rising gas line charges are part of the reason, while interest free green loans are also encouraging upgrades. Water filtration is another growing service, alongside drainage, septic systems, effluent beds, and stormwater retention tanks. Verve works on rural properties and subdivisions, as well as homes wanting tanks to supply gardens or the house. Carlin has 15 years in the plumbing trade and has run Verve since 2019. The business made it through the disruption of Covid without a major downturn, with the builders it worked with continuing to provide steady work. It has since grown, with a qualified tradesman joining the team this year and contractors available when needed. Carlin wants that growth to remain organic and healthy, while building a business that can eventually operate with less reliance on him being on the tools. “I’m 41 now, and I’m starting to think my body is going to be breaking down at some point,” he says. “I want to get someone in place to run this thing for me and be doing all the hands on stuff by the time I’m about 50.” Family is part of that thinking, with Carlin wanting to create more time for his young children as the business develops. For builders, Verve’s approach is based on communication, reliability, and quality. Carlin says clients want a plumber who turns up when needed, understands the job, and communicates clearly with both the builder and homeowner. The company works with builders including Building Lab, Smart Build Solutions, Cody MacDonald Builders, and Supreme Construction, and provides a tailored service. “We like to look after our customers,” Carlin says. “It’s not just showing up and doing the job. We like to give good advice on layout, do high quality work, and if we make a mistake, we fix it.” Verve’s Master Plumbers membership also gives the business support beyond the job site. Carlin values the trade discounts and fuel card benefits, but particularly the regular information on changing rules and legislation. “Master Plumbers are fighting for us in the background for better legislation and things like that,” he says. “They give us updates on new products that we would never have known about otherwise.”That industry connection is important in a trade facing a shortage of qualified plumbers. Carlin says employing and training apprentices is worthwhile, but comes with significant cost, while experienced PROUD TO SUPPORT Verve Plumbing Services (06) 769 6080 | kadam@vbw.co.nz markhams.co.nz Kirsten AdamDirector, CA Moore VBW is part of a global network of offices, providing accounting and advisory services, advising local, national and international clients in the public and private sectors. Building Excellence. From Foundations to Finish. From residential builds to large-scale commercial developments, no project is too big or small. With a decade of experience, we bring expertise and reliability to every project. T: 021 248 1905 E: supreme.jase@gmail.com ENQUIRE TODAY W: supremeconstruction.co.nz tradespeople are increasingly difficult to find. For Verve, the goal is not rapid expansion but a sustainable business built on long term relationships. “People like being able to call the plumber and still have me as the plumber on site.”
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