112 | Duo forge tight team Over the last seven years they’ve established strong relationships with a core group of sub-contractors they know they can rely on. Downright Construction T T Virginia Wright BUILDING Dan Hawke-Mills and Dillon O’Leary had been apprentices together for 12 months some years previously so, when they met again in 2016 on a job six months after Dan had set up his business Downright Construction, Dillon was happy to join forces with him. “We had the same sort of ambition and drive I think, I knew Dj (Dillon) was a great carpenter with a high standard of work, and he had literally just gone out on his own so hadn’t spent a lot on branding and clothing and that sort of thing so he closed that up and came on board as a 50% business partner,” explains Dan. After some trial and error over the years Dan and Dillon have settled into roles that make the most of their respective strengths. While he still picks up the tool belt when projects require him to, Dan is primarily the first face that clients see as he looks after pricing & procurement, project management and client relationships. Dillon runs the on site management, ensuring things run smoothly, working hands on with the team and leading by example to build a strong team culture. That team can be as big as 12 including Dan and Dillon but is currently six, reflecting what’s happening in the construction industry as a whole. Over the last seven years they’ve established strong relationships with a core group of sub-contractors they know they can rely on, particularly if there is an unexpected issue. One thing they all have in common is efficient communication which saves everyone a good deal of time and energy. Together with transparency Dan and Dillon believe it’s taking responsibility, with open and honest communication across the board, that underpins a successful project whether it’s a complex renovation or an architectural new build, and their projects are a fairly even split between the two. They enjoy the problem-solving on site that comes with complex renovations but new builds have their own appeal. “You’re not trying to match into someone’s work that was done 35 or 40 years ago where everything is out of level and out of plumb. “We especially enjoy the new builds with challenging architectural details or great features or facades or whatever it might be that’s out of the ordinary,” explains Dan. A new build they did in Takapuna which they called the Cedar Palace fit the bill perfectly. “Everything was cedar from the shiplap cladding on the outside through to a really cool waterfall cedar feature on the inside that basically wrapped along the ceilings and down one of the walls with a concealed door in the wall that lead to the master wing of the home.” With the team scattered across Auckland’s North Shore and Northwest suburbs and most with young families they’re mindful of travel times, but they’ve worked as far afield as Remuera to the south and Whangaparoa Peninsula to the north. If there’s a projectv that’s really exciting they’re happy to consider it regardless. Also mindful of the current cost of living crisis and its effects on families they’re trialing a concept used by other industries to help get them through their own quieter time as Dan explains. “We’re offering a cash-back deal on any renovation, extension or new build. The client will get 1% back as soon as the contract’s signed.” So, for example if you have a $1,000,000 new build and are looking for an experienced team who believe in achieving a quality finish on time at a fair price, you could pocket $10,000 by signing up Downright Construction to do the job. PAINTING & DECORATING SERVING THE WIDER AUCKLAND REGION Proudly Supporting Downright Construction 021 062 5311 miles@kempt.co.nz www.kempt.co.nz Professional, Reliable Auckland Electricians 022 653 3667 daniel@imate.co.nz www.imate.co.nz ● FOR YOUR HOME ● COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL ● EMERGENCY LIGHTING ● ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS CONNECT WITH OUR SOCIALS TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU!
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