Behind the scenes

It’s been more than 10 years since I’ve been with Nic & Wes Builders. It has been a learning journey throughout. For one, it has been learning as much as I can about the industry. Specialising in the marketing department has given me a unique position to see things in two perspectives – from the company’s standpoint and more importantly through the eyes of the client as well. Much similar to a client, I have asked questions to understand and learn more about the company and industry. Being able to see both sides of the coin, I wanted to share my perspective on a couple of things for the final issue of 2021. A reflective piece to say the least, but I hope it will give you the reader a possible perspective on the role of a builder and the importance of picking the right builder.

Enquiries play a huge part in information gathering and it was through a series of similar questions asked that I came up with this analogy.

Movie award shows piqued my interest growing up. The Oscars is the crème de la crème of awards that producers, directors, writers and actors in the movie industry aspire for.

So, when a movie is created the writers/producers essentially create the basis for the movie’s storyline. The director takes the work that has been conceptualised and charted out, and sees how to make it tangible. Then the actors take cue from the writers/producers and director to bring it all together by essentially taking a paper dream and recreating it through the artform of acting.

When you think of film awards, who gets the most accolades or prestige? The writers, producers, directors or the actors? Most of you would probably answer actors. And that is because they have taken lines of writing and brought it to life. Without a good group of actors, who understand how to deliver the story and emotions, the movie walks a fine line between being a hit or a miss.

So, if you have read this far you must be wondering, what does the movie business have to do with home building?

Now let’s replace those roles – the writer/producer who lays out the map is now the role of the architect. The director who takes the map and sees how to make it feasible is the role of the engineer. The actors who execute and materialise the movie is the role of the builder. But how is it that in the home build industry, the builder is seen as the role with the least importance when they are the group that actually takes a paper dream and turns it into reality?

The home that you live or are going to live in looks aesthetically pleasant and/or functional because of the architect, structurally safe because of the engineer and materially liveable because of the builder and yet, that importance is not translated when deciding on a builder. Instead, budget takes precedence. But think about it, without putting a high priority in picking the right builder, all you would have paid for is a paper dream.

The reality is that out of the 3 major roles, the builder is the weakest link. Contractors and builders are not as highly valued but that is why identifying a good contractor/builder is all the more crucial. So that you are not left with an abandoned home at the end of the day because there were not enough funds to complete the job.

In no way am I saying that the role of the builder should take full precedence over the others. In fact, what I’m saying is that the value and importance placed when selecting a reliable architect and engineer should be just the same when selecting a builder. And the reality is, it goes beyond these 3 major roles, the effectiveness also stems from working with a network of reliable suppliers and sub-contractors as well.

Much like an Oscar winning movie, without each role represented, a movie will never materialise. Without each role playing its part to the fullest, a movie may never make it to the nomination list let alone win.

It is the same when selecting the team that will turn your idea into a liveable reality. If there is anything I’ve learnt observing the business throughout the years is that every home built is a collaborative effort both internally as well as externally. A home build is a highly complex maze with intricacies that differ from project to project. Without a stable and experienced team that values solution finding over finger pointing, a home build walks that fine line of being more miss than hit.

Taking it a step further, roping in the right sub-contractors and suppliers is one that can only happen by working with them over a course of various projects and that is where a true design & build procurement has the potential to elevate the perspective of this role. A design & build procurement acts as a mothership of sorts that brings the right people for the job which in turn maximizes the potential of an effective home build.

With the founders Brian and Jude witnessing this first-hand in their pioneer years of their home build journey, they aimed to plug those holes for fellow homeowners through the design & build route with Nic & Wes Builders. Working with an exclusive team of professionals, suppliers and craftsmen, Nic & Wes Builders has formulated the golden triangle built on the foundation of trust and mutual respect working toward the same goal. It is that very essence that has been the pinnacle of it’s long-standing success. I have seen first-hand companies and professionals working hand-in-hand alongside the Nic & Wes team to ensure that every Nic & Wes project is completed to the best of their abilities.

As a lay-person on the outside, group dynamics between various parties is the last thing that comes to mind when embarking on a home build journey, but personally spending years being on the inside it has taught me how important the saying, “team work makes the dream work” holds true.

Nic & Wes is not an arena for power play but a platform for collaboration. A family-run business that has successfully spread that culture with its strategic partners to materialise your idea of home into a reality that you can live in.