106 | Enjoying the challenge Comfortable Home has done several residential development projects at the rate of about one a year. DEVELOPMENT Comfortable Home T T Virginia Wright When the owner of Hamilton-based Comfortable Home Ltd, Jeff Jin, started working with Spiring Building in 2014, he knew exactly what he was doing and why. He wanted the security of having his own hands-on experience of building a house as he began what was to be the first of many developments. “I wanted to know how a project went from foundation to end and everything involved, which is what I learnt by doing my apprenticeship,” says Jeff. He started his first development in Hamilton in 2016 with an 800sqm section zoned high-residential, on which he built five apartments. Making the most of the opportunity he could see in the building industry, Jeff started a formal carpentry apprenticeship with Spiring, at the same time as he contracted them to build the apartments. As he explains: “I was the project manager running the build with Spiring Building doing a labour-only contract. So I was learning and running my own project at the same time as I was working for them.” That was also the start of a successful working relationship with J and J Architects, designers of the five apartments, which were finished and sold by the end of 2017. Since then, Comfortable Home has done several residential development projects at the rate of about one a year, with Jeff challenging himself every step of the way. “The first apartments were one-storey, so with the next ones we designed a total of six townhouses, in two lots of three with two storeys each. They were a mix of two and three bedrooms, and about 130 square metres. They were close to Waikato University, so they were built for the rental market,” he explains. By the time he had completed his next development, Jeff was being approached by clients hoping to work with him on their projects. He enjoys a challenge, and these days he still project manages for Spiring Building, while providing a one-stop-shop for clients looking to get a development underway. Once they have a section, he will work with them to come up with a concept they are happy with. He then calls on his well-established relationships with designers, engineers, other consultants, builders and subcontractors to turn that concept into a consented set of plans everyone agrees on, and finally a newly built set of apartments, such as was recently completed in Clarence Street. Whether he is doing them for himself or for clients, Comfortable Home developments tend to have deceptively classic exteriors with well-thought-out modern interiors, fully tiled bathrooms, well-appointed kitchens and open-plan living, and the nine, two-storey Clarence St apartments are no exception. Each measuring around 110sqm, seven of the nine are two-bedroom, with one at either end of the cleverly designed development having three bedrooms. They all have their own balcony opening off the spacious openplan living area, which is upstairs, with the bedrooms on the ground floor, each with a built-in wardrobe and its own ensuite. “It’s in the city centre and close to the hospital, so we think they’ll appeal to people working there, or professional couples,” says Jeff. Jeff thinks the apartments, with their monopitch roof complete with solar panels, contemporary white, grey and black exterior, and high-spec interiors complete with Bosch appliances and engineered stone bench tops, will appeal to anyone looking for some comfortable inner-city living, two minutes from the closest supermarket. They are already on the market and Comfortable Home is looking for its next challenge and opportunity to bring another well-thought-out development to Hamilton’s residential portfolio. We are dedicated to bringing your dream home to life with personalised service, attention to detail, and a passion for design. Residential | Renovation | Conceptual augustspatial.design 022 0940 838 | hello@augustspatial.design Make your visions a reality. Over 10 years crafting exceptional Waikato outdoor spaces. From landscape design to construction and maintenance, we bring your garden vision to life. Services: Landscape design, decks & fencing, paving, planting & lawns, irrigation & lighting, water features, pools. e: infoadmin@florahabitat.com p: 07 849 0669 , (021) 417 559 Flora Habitat
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