Consistently winning regional and national awards provides Urbo Homes with credibility and its clients with greater confidence.
Business co-owner Martin Dobbe says the addition of another two Registered Master Builder gold awards and a regional category win in 2011 add to Urbo's record of six Gold Reserve titles - among the top 100 homes in New Zealand - and the top New Zealand home in 2006 and 2007.
"The fact that we have consistently won these awards gives the clients the peace of mind and confidence that they will get quality advice and a high standard of construction when working with Urbo Homes."
Urbo won the New Homes under $250,000 category and received gold awards in this section of the Registered Master Builders Rotorua, Whakatane and Tauranga regional awards and also picked up gold in the New Homes $600,000-$1 million section.
Gold awards put construction companies through to the national competition.
Martin says the awards also act as a benchmark for the firm to compare their work to other top New Zealand builders.
"This reassures us that we are doing things right, and that we are delivering a product that is consistently above the industry standard."
Having completed his building apprenticeship in Rotorua, Martin has worked around New Zealand and in the United Kingdom and United States.
He set up a building franchise in the Rotorua and Taupo region before teaming up with Urbo co-owner Jeremy Maling.
"We saw the opportunity to create a locally-owned design and build company."
And the pair have developed and adapted the company to keep it busy, even when building consent numbers were down.
The recession has had a significant impact on the industry and Registered Master Builders Federation chief executive Warwick Quinn predicts new house consents for 2011 could be 25 per cent down on last year.
"It is important businesses make changes and are flexible. At Urbo Homes we have a good amount of upcoming work, because we made changes to the services we offered."
Business has traditionally been focused on architectural new homes, but has expanded to include construction of new homes of a lower value, alteration and renovation work and light commercial projects.
Martin's determination to create lower-value homes, without compromising on quality, paid off with the company's win in the under $250,000 category, while still attaining gold status in the $650,000 to $1 million section.
But he says the key to success is the people he deals with. "Our customers are all different and have different needs, so we enjoy working with them to deliver a home they are very proud of and can share with friends and family for many years to come."
Martin says the many regulatory and technology changes in the building sector are the greatest challenge.
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Contact business editor Julie Taylor on (07) 348 6199 ext 57015 or at business@dailypost.co.nz