Interview: Landmark Homes Wanaka
With a number of quality subdivisions on offer in Wanaka, the ability to secure land and plan and build a home suited to ones needs is an option that many of my clients are looking to explore. A number of my clients have been dealing with Andy Lawrence and his team from Landmark Homes. They are locally based here in Wanaka and service Central Otago.
Feedback has been very good and upon further research I discovered that they are building for some very well known architects out of Dunedin. If you were looking for a quality build that is hassle free, especially if you are based out of town, it is well worth having a talk with the team.
I was fortunate to spend an hour with Andy, owner of Landmark Homes Wanaka, to get a better understanding of what makes him and his business tick. Enjoy…
How long have you been involved with Landmark Homes?
I wanted to build a house in Otago, did the research and Landmark came up top. I built a house and bought the franchise because I loved the concept, appreciated the Franchisee support and the team was just so great to deal with.
What type of work are you known for building?
We are known for high end homes, from the smaller holiday homes to the larger family homes. Recently we have seen a shift towards smaller more affordable homes in our surrounding areas and we have adjusted our ofeting so that we can still do a more affordable series for the first time home builder and still keep our Landmark quality.
What sized projects do you work with?
We normally start with a price point or budget. Not everyone wants a large home with rooms they don’t use. We have found that in our region we build bespoke to individual needs.
What has been your most rewarding building project to date?
Every home we build is unique and I have to say I never get tired of seeing the absolute joy and pride on a client’s face when we hand their keys over. To me that’s the reward.
Are there any significant changes or trends forthcoming in the building field that property owners and or prospective owners looking to build should know about?
Ever rising cost of materials is a huge factor when pricing.
Price point guides for building are common questions I get – as a comparable scale what would be a price guide for an entry level, mid-level, and higher end sqm cost buyers need to start planning to?
Being in Wanaka there is always a question of price point but, let’s say if you start with $2800m2 and work upwards from there you will be happy with the end result.
Like with everything in life, you really do get exactly what you pay for.
What advice would you give potential owners looking to build?
Lock in the deal if you are happy with the land and concepts and then we can amend and adjust from there. This gives everyone a good starting point.
Does Wanaka differ from other NZ regions for your line of work in terms of climatic conditions impacting your specifications? If so, how so?
Hugely so – we build for harsh climates. Views are also a factor as is low maintenance.
Best place to get coffee in Wanaka?
Edgewater Resort.
What is Wanaka’s best kept secret?
Edgewater Resort.
Best advice for people moving to Wanaka?
Take the plunge and buy instead of rent, you will be glad you did.
It’s 10am on a Sunday morning, where would we find you and what are you doing?
Walking the tracks with my wife and daughter.
Landmark Homes can be contacted on – 03 443 2012, andy.lawrence@landmarkhomes.co.nz 11 Clutha Place, Peninsula Bay, Wanaka