96 | Versatile Homes & Buildings - Cromwell T T Aimee Wilson Making an impact in residential sector The company’s ‘Advantage’ homes, ranging from 30-100sqm, are hugely popular, and are ideal secondary dwellings for those wanting extra income. “If you need something quick and fast, for example, if you are building a big home it’s a great way to have a temporary home, compared to paying rent.” BUILDING Versatile Homes, which began its journey back in 1976, might be a trusted garage builder across the country, but its residential activity has been making an impression in recent years as well. Cromwell led the way in 2000, when the franchise started constructing residential homes. Chris Westlake purchased the franchise in 2023, and has already seen many changes throughout Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago, as the range of housing typologies becomes more available. The Cromwell team now has 11 staff, a mixture of builders, sales and administrative roles. The company’s ‘Advantage’ homes, ranging from 30-100sqm, are hugely popular, and are ideal secondary dwellings for those wanting extra income or accommodating other family members. In the last few years, Versatile Homes also introduced portable homes to the market in a range of contemporary designs, and is one of the few companies able to completely set up homes on-site, ready for clients to move in. “It’s such a saturated market,” Chris explains, and he urges anybody looking at temporary or mobile homes to read the fine print first before committing. “They don’t necessarily come with a building consent,” he says, so people need to do their homework. Versatile specialises in houses and garages in all sizes – their portable homes start at just 8sqm and go up to 42sqm, with six contemporary designs available. “If you need something quick and fast, for example, if you are building a big home it’s a great way to have a temporary home, compared to paying rent,” says Chris. There are lots of options, such as being able to use a caravan plug for power, and with the rising cost of land across the district, sometimes having something smaller suits people better. “People are realising that having a four-bedroom house that’s 240 square metres is not a big thing anymore.” Chris reckons people are getting out and about more as well, and not spending as much time at home, so that was another reason why building bigger wasn’t necessarily the only way to live well. Versatile Homes caters for every sector of the market, and still has plenty to offer in the executive range, along with demand for it. “We have a good spread of clients after large homes and ones at the other end of the market,” he says. “Cromwell’s busier than ever, but there are still a lot of people out there hurting. The market has not rebounded yet.” He says there will always be a lot of work in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago in the construction industry, and the district hasn’t been as affected by the recession in recent times. But in another six months, the industry could be completely different again, he says. Meanwhile, new district plan rules are coming into effect, as well as government regulations around extra dwellings on sections. Chris says while this will make the consent process much easier, there is still the question of who is accountable for the work. “In principle, it sounds right, but how are we going to regulate the market?” Versatile Homes has built eight show homes since starting in Central Otago in 2000, and there are plans on the horizon for another in Cromwell. Chris isn’t giving too much away, but says it would be completed in mid-2026. When people think about home builders in Cromwell, Versatile Homes often springs to mind. They have earned their place in the industry, and they will keep going strong for hopefully another 48 years yet. Earthwool – the perfect eco-friendly solution Living House South Island specialises in the supply and installation of eco-friendly, non toxic and energy e cient Earthwool® glasswool insulation. Earthwool® glasswool is a German product manufactured by Knauf Insulation, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of insulation products and solutions. Living House is now the largest installer of the Knauf product in New Zealand. enquiries to sales@livinghouse.co.nz | Ph: 0800 434 600 | Mobile: 027 655 3064 | www.livinghouse.co.nz Cromwell Warehouse 13 Hughes Cres | Christchurch Warehouse 11F Sheffield Cres
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