124 | Transforming lives Transform Construction is a small, hands-on team of five. Transform Construction T T Sue Russell ZB Homes Helping more into home ownership T T Virginia Wright BUILDING Tauranga residential building company Transform Construction has been recognised at the Bay of Plenty/Central Plateau Master Builders House of the Year Awards, taking home a Silver Award for a striking Ohauiti residence aptly named State of Flow. Founder Braedon Buxton, who established the business in 2016, says the project was a highlight for his team. “With a wonderful outdoor area, a massive fireplace and cooking fire, I loved how the house just flowed, capturing the sun. The build went smoothly overall, but right at the start we discovered part of the site had been used as an old dump. We had to dig down and clear it out, then it rained for a month straight,” he says. At 308m², the home was designed with entertaining and family living at its core. An open-plan layout connects the kitchen, dining and living areas, with sliders opening to a gabled, timber-lined outdoor room complete with its own kitchen, fireplace and sound system. Three bedrooms and a family bathroom lead to the main suite, where his-and-hers wardrobes and an ensuite add a touch of luxZB Homes has recently celebrated 20 successful years of building new homes, offering Design & Build and House & Land packages throughout the Waikato. If what’s happening with them is any indicator, then New Zealanders are starting to feel more optimistic about the economy, although it’s still a very different market to what it was four years ago. General Manager Kirsten Chisholm has been with ZB Homes for 10 years and has seen some significant shifts in what people are looking for. “Whereas 10 years ago ZB Homes were typically building four-bedroom houses with a double garage, in the last five years especially, people have been looking for something smaller with price point a top priority. “We listened to the market and started building smaller houses on smaller sections to make it more affordable for people. Typically, most of our offerings are anywhere from $800,000 to about $1 million whereas before it was more like $900,000 to $1.4million.” Whether in Abergeldie Estate or any of ZB Homes’ other smaller subdivisions they offer standalone, townhouses, and duplex homes on low maintenance, flat sections with a built-in community while staying within easy reach of town. Three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes with a single car garage are proving ury. Even practical spaces—like a well-placed laundry and pantry—were carefully considered to make life easier. Transform Construction is a small, hands-on team of five. While Braedon focuses on project management and client communication, he still enjoys being part of the builds. Although the award-winning home showcases their new build expertise, Braedon says much of the company’s current work is renovations. “Building new is expensive, and many people prefer to modernise their existing homes. Renovations are really rewarding for the difference they make.” Working across the Bay, from Omokoroa to Te Puke and beyond, Braedon partners with a trusted group of designers and has a pool of builders he contracts when demand rises. Looking ahead to 2026, he says he feels positive. At the heart of Transform Construction’s reputation is communication. “Especially with renovations, things can change. We always provide a clear estimate and aim to work within budget, but sometimes issues arise. Keeping clients updated makes all the difference.” Braedon says a critical element to the company’s success has been a forward-thinking problem solving approach. popular, with the latest 147 sqm showhome at Abergeldie Estate in Cambridge generating committed enquiries since it opened 3 few months ago. It’s an ideal size for people downsizing from the family home or retiring off farms and not ready for a retirement village. The smaller homes also appeal to young families and professional couples happy with an easy-care section which still has room for a garden and a tool shed if they want one. ZB Homes offers a custom design & build service, as well as turn-key homes to sell once completed. Until a few months ago several of these completed homes hadn’t moved as quickly as usual. “But in the last three months we’ve sold eight in Cambridge: four townhouses within weeks of each other, and three stand-alone houses in Te Awamutu in the last month. We had a 2-bedroom duplex in Kihikihi that we’d been advertising off plans, but as they neared completion both sold within a few days of each other,” says Kirsten. Purchasing a completed home or at least halfway through the build is the new norm. Until a few years ago people were buying off the plans and, while it’s easing, Kirsten thinks the tightening of mortgage pre-approvals from lasting a year to now usually only 3 months, meant people didn’t want to put a deposit down too early and risk having to reapply for their mortgage. Keeping homes available for purchase well 0274 692 357 info@transformconstruction.co.nz www.transformconstruction.co.nz High quality building projects in the Bay of Plenty Transform your dreams into reality TURNER PAINTING CONTRACTORS 027 273 4868 paul@turnerpainting.co.nz TURNER PAINTING CONTRACTORS Proudly supporting Transform Construction QUALITY WORKMANSHIP GUARANTEED • Residential • Commercial • Interior/Exterior • Paper Hangers • Plasterboards Stoppers ∙ NEW ROOFS ∙ REROOFS ∙ GUTTERS ∙ CHILLER PANEL ∙ EDGE PROTECTION Proudly supporting ZB Homes 027 251 0369 jlroofing@outlook.co.nz JL Contracting
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