Who we are
Simon
design - problem solving - costs - saving money
project management
I have always loved a good deal. My friends call me Del Boy Trotter after Derek in the old TV program Only Fools and Horses because I’ve always been after a deal. This began with bikes as a kid, buying them, fixing them up and selling them on. Then I moved on to cars and through that built up my original business Te Rapa Panel Beaters. I grew that from working in my mate’s shed to owning my own purpose built workshop. This set me up to move on to bigger and better deals in the property market.
I’ve also always loved house design, I used to think I might become an architect, so our move to working solely in the property market feels good to me. I reckon I have an eye for good design and I especially like coming up with something signature in each house, so all of the houses we’ve done have a talking point. I’m really into coming up with ideas and designs that solve problems in a budget friendly way. I’m your go-to person for knowing the numbers and the people to cost out and get your job done.
Tess
design - budget - spreadsheets - staging
I have always loved houses. When my friends were covering their walls with celebrity pin ups, I was plastering mine with clippings from house magazines. I took a detour for a while though and spent some years as a drama teacher and then mum at home with our children and doing the accounts for Simon’s business. When opportunity came to dabble in the renovation of our first older property, I knew I’d come home. We have not looked back, continuing with many other projects.
My strengths are in the interior design area of our work. I see a house and automatically spring with ideas of how to improve it’s layout and style. I believe I am really gifted at the layout side of making living areas and especially kitchens more functional and stylish. I also love making sure the style of interior design matches the house, I don’t just go in and make a place completely modern, I go for its own specific charm. I get a buzz out of making my plans come to life (well Simon does a lot towards that part) and especially love dressing a property ready for sale. I took my love a step further a couple of years ago and completed my Interior Design Diploma.
I'm also the one who looks after the spreadsheets and payments.