NEW HOME BUILD WITH GJ GARDNER HOMES - Jason and Bronwyn Ellis, Bell Block, New Plymouth

It was back in 2009 that we started thinking about building our first home.  Bronwyn was pregnant with our youngest child so we wanted to get moving, but didn’t really know where to start.

We looked at some sections and a couple of group builders but at that stage only Cheryl and Rocky at GJ Gardner had a showhome where we could actually see their work.  We quickly struck up a great rapport with our GJ’s consultant who went above and beyond our expectations through the build – even to the point of coming to see us at home for meetings while the baby was young.

Before we knew it our house was sold and we were renting and building in Bell Block.  What could have been stressful, just wasn’t.  As first home builders we had great guidance from GJs.

Our budget was very strict so being able to even build a home was exciting.  In fact the deal itself was reason to build full stop.

But we ended up with so much more than we expected to have.  With a few tweaks to a standard plan we got 4 bedrooms, open plan living and 3 car garaging, plus we were able to upgrade our appliances.  We also needed to make provision for Bronwyn’s beauty therapy business so that she could be connected to the house but far enough away to be professional.  So GJs installed plumbing and windows into the third bay of the garage which we then converted it to a clinic 2 years later. 

The building process, which took place over winter, was very smooth.  We felt totally involved as clients and were kept in the loop by the consultant.  There was no feeling of stress as GJs is very organised, just growing excitement.  One day we got the call to say the house would be ready 2-3 weeks early – a big surprise and an awesome moment.  This meant a lot to us as a time overrun would have been a stretch.  Instead we saved money by moving out of our rental early.

We have been in house five years now.  It has certainly stood up to the rigours of family life with a dog and two kids.

We had built such a good relationship with the Sheryl and Rocky’s team that I kept in touch well after we moved into the house.  I was working in a completely different industry and we sponsored a property award where I ran into Sheryl.  We got talking and before long I was working in the business as a sales consultant helping people achieve for their families exactly what I had done for my own.

A final word from Jason:

Cheryl and Rocky really delivered on their promises to us.  If building my own home with GJs had been a rubbish experience I wouldn’t be working for them as a sales consultant today