112 | Chris Romero Building T T Sue Russell Chris on ‘the cusp of a busy year’ Chris says his most comfortable fit for his workload would be three or four large jobs or new builds at a time. BUILDING Invercargill-based builder Chris Romero says while pockets of land are opening up for developers and homeowners, he feels more could be done by council staff to promote better time frames in obtaining the necessary consents. “While council at an official level are somewhat pro-development, the reality for many builders and developers is that some of council’s systems and processes don’t seem to reflect that. Sometimes it feels like you have to jump through a lot of hoops, which has real-world consequences for people in terms of costs, delays and lost opportunities,” Chris says. He should know, given historically the bread and butter of the company has been in the spec house sector – buying sections, building homes and on-selling them. Chris Romero Building Ltd started back in 2014, with Chris operating as a sole trader before being joined shortly after by the first employee who, Chris says, he’s happy to see is still very much an important part of the company. “Now there are nine of us on site, including three apprentices. We’ve developed a number of homes in and around Invercargill, often on subdivided back sections, making use of the large sections that many Invercargill properties traditionally had in days gone by.” Back-section townhouses, often in the 130sqm to 160sqm range, are a popular option, enabling first-home buyers to get into the property market. The company also undertakes all forms of renovations, extensions, and outdoor projects such as decks, fences and the like. “We basically take on any building project and can manage a number of larger and smaller projects concurrently. For us, it works well when we have a good mix of project types such as kitchens and bathrooms, right through to new builds and renovations, as the smaller projects can easily be fitted in around larger projects.” Looking back on 2024, Chris says the year got off to a solid start, though he noticed things became quieter in the second half of the year. He says he is quietly optimistic about what 2025 has to bring. “When we came back from the Christmas break, we had three large renovations and a new build yet to complete, but looking forward, we can see that we are on the cusp of a busy year. Things are picking up and people are beginning to move.” With the size and experience of the team he has on board, Chris says his most comfortable fit for his workload would be three or four large jobs or new builds at a time. The three apprentices are all doing well and at various stages in completing their qualifications, and Chris says he is happy with the size and quality of the team that he has. “Because we cover off such a wide range of projects, working with us becomes a really fertile learning opportunity for our apprentices. Renovations are a great training ground for young builders as they can often throw unforeseen curveballs and require you to be able to overcome challenges that you won’t typically face doing standard new builds. This is where the experienced tradesmen have a vital teaching role, teaching the younger guys to problem solve, which is a very important skill.” Chris says the bulk of their work is in and around Invercargill, though they also work further afield depending on the nature of the project. “We are a crew of guys with young families, and so we typically don’t take on work that would require us to be staying away.” Very much looking forward to what 2025 has to bring, Chris says he enjoys operating a business in Southland, a region that offers a great work-life balance and a strong community. Mapei Aquadefence Waterproofing System Mapei Licensed Applicator nigel@futurekitchens.co.nz futurekitchens.co.nz PH 03 216 0061 PRESTON PRE-CUT LTD MANUFACTURERS OF ROOF TRUSSES AND WALL FRAMES Ph: 03 218 3647 • Brent Cell: 0274 15 1963 30 Mersey St, Invercargill • Email: prestonprecuts@xtra.co.nz • Prenail Frames • Roof Trusses • Loose Timber NZO SG • Claw Beams • Laminated and LVL Timbers Suppliers of: Proud to support Chris Romero Building
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=