Meet Todd Wakerley

COASTGUARD VOLUNTEER, FAMILY MAN AND INCOMING GM AT SENTINEL HOMES BOP

At first glance, Todd Wakerley’s career trajectory has been all about building and making. He started as a fitter and turner, then went into business with his brothers building motor homes.

“Then I bought a Bobcat and went to play in the dirt for a while,’ he laughs.

Management roles followed, in truck assembly and bus refurbishment.

Look again, and you’ll see that Todd is actually driven, not just by making things, but by helping people. He’s on duty one week in four as a Coastguard volunteer and spent three years as his church’s youth pastor.

“I love getting to know people’s stories and sharing my life with them. Sometimes you’ve got to be a bit vulnerable to get them to open up.”

That focus on connecting with and helping people is what made him such good fit as Sentinel Homes BOP’s new General Manager. 

SIX YEARS ON THE TOOLS

Todd has been working in the business since 2015. He’s been onsite as the company’s project manager, working with clients to make sure every box is ticked, and seeing our team go home safe every day.

“I love working with people. That was the best part of the project management role, I got to hang out with my mates all day.”

Taking over from co-owner and current General Manger, Tony O’Brien, Todd will bring that on-the-ground experience to the role. He has some big ideas for how he can deliver more to the business and to his clients.

“I love what Tony has done with the business, and I’m looking forward to add to that. I can do the things I know will grow the business,” he explains.

“I like taking on the responsibility – it’s worth not sleeping for,” he laughs.

BUSY GIVING BACK

For Todd, it seems that not sleeping is the only way he can fit everything in. His church and faith are a huge part of his life and his Coastguard volunteer work also keeps him busy. The way Tony has been running the company means Todd can respond to coastguard calls when he needs to, even if he’s at work.

“If I get a call, I can generally attend – that’s part of Tony’s gift to the community, my time so I can go and do that”.

If there’s ever time left over, Todd also loves speedway, fishing and working on his project car – a 1965 MK 1 Cortina station wagon.

But fundamentally, for Todd it’s all about family.

FAMILY WILL ALWAYS COME FIRST

One thing that won’t change with Todd at the helm is the family-first culture at Sentinel Home’s BOP.

“I have two kids with a life altering illness and Tony’s always said, ‘You can disappear with your kids when you need to’. That is how I want to continue, even with my subbies. It works on that trust.”

Strengthening families is a thread that runs throughout everything Sentinel Homes does, not just in the Bay of Plenty. We’re long-time, proud supporters of Parenting Place – an organisation that Todd already had a connection to.

“My wife was a toolbox facilitator for Parenting Place. It’s all about strengthening family, which is so important.”

NEW CHALLENGES AS GM

While Todd says he’ll miss the busyness and interaction of being on a build site, he’s excited about this new challenge – and a new way of helping people, whether that’s his team or his clients.

“I really enjoy building relationships and supporting people to grow,” he says. For my clients, we’re literally putting hammer and nail to what is dreamt on a piece of paper. This is major life expense for them and we want to get it right. Seeing that come together and a happy client at the end is our goal.”

About the author

Sentinel Homes are a master builder of homes in New Zealand. We are known for our end-to-end project management, 10-year guarantee, future-ready industry best practices, and client satisfaction. Visit our website to explore ideas to build the perfect home.

Rugged Beauty Built to Order in Akatarawa

STEPHANIE AND CAMPBELL SHARE THEIR HOME-BUILD STORY

Perched on an outcrop overlooking the Akatarawa Valley is Stephanie and Campbell’s dream home, built by the team at Sentinel Homes Wellington and Kapiti.

Their journey began after Stephanie’s mum passed away just a year after moving into her new build – it was a wake-up call to seize the day.

“She’d spent all that time wanting it. We thought, ‘Let’s just bite the bullet and do things now, while we’re young enough to enjoy it!’”

They had no intention to build, but when they started looking at homes in the area, they couldn’t find anything that suited them perfectly – and they were floored by the prices. Then they happened upon what would become their section – an extremely windy spot, but with enough beauty to make it worthwhile.

“That was it,” says Stephanie. “You look at the valley and over to Upper Hutt. You can hear the river running. It’s magic. We fell in love and had to make it happen.”

Sentinel Homes a no-brainer

After working with a draftsperson to sketch out their perfect home, they set out to find the perfect builder. Sentinel Homes was on their shortlist – and quickly made it to the top.

“We went out to tender and the difference in experience was incredible. From Sentinel we received a folder with a 30-40-page quote. We were lucky if we had three pages from the other build companies,” says Stephanie.

“Based on Sentinel’s quote, we could see that the cheaper companies just hadn’t included some items, so we’d be up for future costs.

“Sentinel was the only build company that came to our section, too. It was a no-brainer.”

Finessing the plans

With their builder on board, Stephanie and Campbell had help tweaking their plans to better fit their budget, while still keeping the integrity of their vision. For example, instead of an outdoor room with a louvred roof, Managing Director Hayden Rau suggested shifting the position of the lounge.

“And thank goodness we did! That outdoor room would have been so impractical in this environment.”

Streamlined project management

With four beloved dogs in the family, the couple needed the landscaping completed alongside the build, so it was safe for them all to move in.

That, she says, posed some challenges, but the Sentinel Homes NZ team’s oversight kept things ticking along.

“Hayden has been fantastic throughout the journey,” says Stephanie.

Little details on how the job was managed made the process even more special. The couple was on site a lot during the build, but in the last couple of weeks, the team asked Stephanie and Campbell to stay away.

“They wanted us to get the wow factor. I can’t express how beautiful it was. We came through with it all finished and the whole team was here to celebrate. We couldn’t believe how blessed we were.”

Some sticky moments

Of course, no build is without its challenges, but 2020 threw a few more than ordinary. There were days that the work had to stop because of high winds, and of course, the COVID-19 lockdown meant everything ground to a halt for four weeks.

Perhaps even more unexpected was the very large swarm of bees that kept the team off-site for a period. With the help of a beekeeper, they cleared the buzzers out and got back to work.

No cookie-cutter home

With a new build, the couple knew they’d be able to have everything on their detailed wish list. Sentinel Homes rolled with the couple’s requests, staying flexible with changes as they went.

“It’s great knowing you don’t have that cookie-cutter home,” says Stephanie. “Sentinel worked with us and our interior designers too, and allowed us to up-spec when we wanted.”

A SHOWSTOPPER WITH PHENOMENAL QUALITY

The couple expected to have to keep a close eye on finishing and build quality, but quickly saw they had nothing to worry about. Every element was crafted with serious attention to detail – and it shows in the final build, says Stephanie.

“The quality of the finish is phenomenal – we’ve got a really solid home. We had built in an extreme wind zone, and it’s really holding up. It’s definitely a showstopper.”

If you’d like to speak with one of the team at Sentinel Homes Wellington/Kapati about building your new home get in touch today.

Is your land build-ready?

Get a free, expert opinion of your site

When it comes to building or subdividing, it’s often what’s underground that can cause the most hassle. From pipes in the wrong place or unstable ground to protected trees or deceptively steep slopes, understanding the unique constraints of your build site can set your project up for success. It means you can tweak designs or build techniques, seek additional approvals or expert support so you have a better chance of sticking to timelines and budgets.

That’s why we offer free site checks. Even if you’re only looking at buying a section, we’ll come out and offer a free appraisal of the land. This will give you an idea of how the site could be used, let you spot potential issues and get a ballpark price for making the ground build-ready.

‍FREE SITE CHECK SERVICE – THE PROCESS

Pre-inspection checks

Before we head to the site, we’ll make sure the paperwork is in order. That means checking your property with the local council, so we know about any potential issues or constraints before we arrive. If you’re subdividing, we’ll check the address with our planners – that way we know exactly how the site can be used under existing planning rules.

On-site meeting and inspection

Next, one of our team meets you on the piece of land, and starts by understanding what you’re hoping to achieve and the sort of budget you have in mind. We’ll then assess how suitable the land will be, based on your top line goals. What you need from the land if you’re planning a multi-story, multi-dwelling complex will be significantly different from a modest family home’s requirements.

These are the sorts of things we’ll check while we’re there:

·         The slope of your site

 

·         Anything that needs to be removed like existing dwellings, sheds or trees

 

·         Services that need moving, adding or removing

 

·         The site’s positioning and the right spot for your home to catch the best of the sun and view, while sheltering from the wind.

 

·         We’ll ask you about any resource consents, land covenants or other design constraints on the land

Design ideas and solutions

Because you’re talking to an expert home builder, you may be offered extra advice or ideas for how you could work around constraints on your site while still delivering on your goals.

Ballparks and next steps

After our meeting, we’ll use the information we gathered to send you some ballpark pricing. You’ll also get a document with more information about us and the next steps in your journey towards building that dream home.

Know your ground

When you’re planning to build, your first step is to make sure your land is fit for purpose. That means checks with the local council, an on-site inspection and a design that makes the most of the land’s features. Knowing about any constraints, existing buildings or trees, land covenants and underground services means you can plan your build to suit and avoid hassle and delay. You’ll also have a better idea about your costs if you decide to go ahead.

Found where you want to build? Call Sentinel Homes now for a free site check.

Sarah And Andrew’s‘Jackpot of A House

 

HOW SENTINEL HOMES LIVED UP TO THE MCTAGGARTS’ HIGH STANDARDS

 

Sarah and Andrew McTaggart had very clear ideas about what they wanted from their new home build. It had to make the most of their stunning Akatarawa section and support their varied interests and lifestyle pursuits. Perhaps most importantly, the build itself needed to be extremely high quality – the couple own a high precision manufacturing company and they know quality when they see it.

 “We were going to settle for nothing but the best,” says Andrew.

 They got a fair way down the track with another volume-build company, but an early morning phone call with Hayden Rau from Sentinel Homes Wellington/Kapiti changed all that.

 “From the get-go, Sentinel was great to deal with. Both Sarah and I work in sales so reading people is one of our strengths. It was very clear Hayden and his team were straight shooters and not looking to get one over on us,” explains Andrew.

 DESIGNED FOR MUSIC AND ENTERTAINING

 While Sentinel Homes brought all the same reassurance and transparency of a large build company they also offered the design flexibility that the McTaggarts required. Sarah, a singer, needed a ‘toy room’where she could store her gear and have band practices. This was designed into the floor plan, away from the living areas. The keen entertainers also had a specific idea of how their living spaces should flow, with a built-in bar that flows on to the outdoor area.

 “It was more than important that we designed and built the home of our dreams – this is to be our forever house,” says Andrew. “We wanted a home that was going to be pretty special and great for entertaining. We wanted a bit of us to shine through.”

 The couple achieved that with amazing details peppered throughout the home. Their large shower features slides on either end, LED strips welcome people at the front door and polished concrete flooring flows out on to Kwila decking.

 BUILD QUALITY AT ANOTHER LEVEL

 When Andrew says the couple are exacting, he wasn’t joking. From the framing down to the last light switch, Andrew and Sarah’s eagle eyes missed nothing – but they were blown away by the standard. He thinks they hit the jackpot as far as quality is concerned.

 “I actually can't fault it and that is saying something,” enthuses Andrew. “The house is just amazing. A builder friend of mine walked into the house and said, ‘Dude, I simply can't fault this house. You have a fantastic home, well done.’”

 STREAMLINED BUILD PROCESS

 Andrew says the Sentinel team went out of their way to keep lines of communication open, put the McTaggarts first and tackled everything with a can-do attitude.

 “Sentinel was always looking to support us and build us the house we wanted. It’s all about trust, support and quality – pretty cool attributes that this company has.”

 Andrew says he knew there would be some challenges along the way, but hadn’t expected the Sentinel team to work so hard to overcome them.

 “You won't build a 315-square-meter custom home and not have issues, but it was all about dealing with and resolving the challenges. Sentinel did an amazing job of this. Hayden was tops at calming Sarah and me down when we were stressing. He took us through the process, always kept his promises and went over and above to meet our needs.”

 SATISFYING THIS ‘FUSSY BUGGER’

A self-proclaimed ‘fussy bugger’, Andrew is over the moon at the results and thinks everyone should be building with Sentinel.

 “What a house we have – we are stoked. We know the standard of product they produce and that we would be treated fairly and not get ripped off, clearly a big one for everyone.”

Two Homes, One Happy Family

HOW SENTINEL HOMES WAIKATO HELPED THREE GENERATIONS BUILD THEIR FOREVER HOME

Nicole and Kurt’s journey to building their “forever home” was a bit unusual. They weren’t thinking of moving, let alone building, until Nicole’s parents came to stay while they hunted for their next property.

 The arrangement worked perfectly. Having Grandma and Grandpa downstairs made family life so much easier for Nicole and Kurt, who both work full-time and have two busy kids aged five and two. Nicole’s parents also enjoyed having more incidental contact with their grandkids. The two households hatched a plan to pool their resources and find a home that would suit them long-term.

 

TIME TO BUILD, NOT BUY

Waikato’s exploding property market had other ideas. As Nicole says, there didn’t seem to be anything they liked within their budget.

 “We were looking at paying 900K for something we’d still need to do work on,”she says.

 Building seemed like a smart idea – for not too much extra, the family would get exactly what they wanted.

 

SENTINEL HOMES A NO-BRAINER

Nicole says they did their research, but working with Sentinel Homes was a no-brainer.

 “They just stuck out as being better quality,” she explains. “We also loved the look of Sentinel Homes’ pre-designed plans and found one that was perfect for us. They all had the modern look we liked and with their reputation, Sentinel looked really appealing.”

 That first impression was confirmed when they got in touch with Nate Alley, Managing Director of Sentinel Homes Waikato.

 “He’s a friend of a friend, and my friend spoke highly of Nate. He’s a really good guy and you can tell he wants what’s best for you even if that makes things harder for him.”

 

TRANSPARENCY AND FIXED PRICES GAVE REASSURANCE

Nate’s enthusiasm and Sentinel Homes’ systems and processes helped make the planning and building phases far simpler than Nicole expected.

 “It was very daunting at first, but having those fixed prices with everything all written out was very reassuring,”she explains.

 Nate guided the couple through every stage, from preliminary pricing to arranging geo-tech and stormwater reports for their new Ohaupo Road property. His no-surprises policy meant that the family ended up coming in under budget by $6000 in the usually tricky groundworks phase.

 “He was upfront about everything. He put in a good PC sum, so we didn’t get 50K worth of surprises coming up. He wanted to make sure we’d allowed for everything.”

 

FLEXIBILITY AND CUSTOMISATION

The home seemed ready-made for the two households, with two entirely separate dwellings. Sentinel Homes’flexibility meant both households could decorate and spec their spaces as they wished.

 “We have very different styles,” laughs Nicole. “We left each other to it – the interior design is very different in both homes and Sentinel were accommodating to anything we wanted.”

 The two dwellings, one with four bedrooms and the other with two, are separated by a firewall, so one can be rented as a self-contained flat in the future.

 In the larger home, Nicole and Kurt added raked ceilings, upgraded fixtures and a media room, but the base design was already close to perfect.

 “There’s a seven-metre sliding door, which was part of their design. It goes out to the view – we can just step out into the countryside. We’re very stoked with that. Their normal specs are already so good – the upgrades were more to suit our style.”

 

A SNAG-FREE BUILD

When COVID-19 meant that a shipment of flooring was unexpectedly delayed, Nate fell back on Sentinel’s strong supplier relationships to find replacements – and covered the difference in cost. It meant the family can move in before Christmas – two months earlier than expected. When asked, they can’t even remember any snags in the building process.

 “If there were little things, it was never an issue. They would always ring to let us know and then they’d get it done,” says Nicole.

 She puts that excellent track record down to good communication and updates throughout, with a foundation of personal attention.

 “When we first started building, we were introduced to the whole team – they’re not too big that you’re just an address. Everyone knew us and we feel like we’ve built friendships,” she says.

 

BUILD WITH SENTINEL

While Nicole started the process with trepidation, she’s now enthusiastic about building – especially if it’s with Sentinel.

 “It’s a good way to go. In this market, houses are going for crazy prices, but you can build what you actually what for not too much extra, and to do it with Sentinel is great. They actually care. They want you to have a good experience.”

If you’re considering buying the home to suit you, get in touch with Sentinel Homes on 0800 456 321 for a free, no-pressure meeting.

9-Gong Glory In The House Of The Year Awards 2020

 What a year 2020 has been, with huge ups and downs across the board. For Sentinel Homes, it has been a productive year with our franchisees busier than ever. Some of those homes have been recognised at the Registered Master Builder House of the Year 2020 awards – showing it’s not just quantity, but quality.

Sentinel Homes Waikato and the Auckland North/West have raked in Regional Category Winners and Gold Awards in their respective regions. What an achievement in a year of lockdowns where work had to cease – a true testament to the effort and commitment from these teams.

THE AUCKLANDERS HAD A CRACKER OF A YEAR

Maree van de Water heads up the Auckland North/West team, and what a year they have had, with noteworthy achievements adding strength and value to their brand. Their awards from House of the Year include two regional category wins, two golds, a silver, and a bronze.

Maree says that their successes in 2020 have come from many things across the business. These include building partnerships and trustworthy relationships between clients, designers and the builder.

 “We partner with our clients for a long time. We’re on a journey together, and working as a team is what produces those exceptional outcomes,” she says.

For the first time, the homes were pitted against the big budgets in the New Home category. Even so, they still managed to take out the top positions of regional category winner and gold awards.

Maree says that as volume builders, they work under a lot more restrictions and these awards prove that volume builders can create homes with beautiful, bespoke designs.

 "These homes have some seriously cool, bespoke design features. It’s about understanding how to work with materials to make it look ‘wow’ without blowing the budget,” she says.

One of the team's stand-out home design features from the award-winning homes is a two-way fireplace that separates the dining from the living room. Magnificent skylights brighten up a hallway that would otherwise be a second-thought –details that caught the judges’ eyes.

Maree is set on making 2021 an even bigger year for her team and can’t wait to partner with more clients in the new year.

 THE MIGHTY WAIKATO TACKLES DESIGN CHALLENGES LIKE A CHAMP

Managing Director of Sentinel Homes Waikato Nate Alley and his team have taken out two gold awards and regional category winner.

 A Matamata home won a gold and the regional category gong. Made from Rockcote and cedar in a generous 287sqm, the home includes a cedar fireplace, tall vertical windows, entertainer’s kitchen with scullery and a bonus workshop in the garage. A large outdoor area adds more value to the entertaining space, a real score for a New Zealand summer.

 The second gold was awarded to a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home. With a valet-style driveway, Linea weatherboards and black brick, the home stands out for all the right reasons. A large open-plan living space with an indoor fireplace is expanded by a Kwila deck, delivering ample entertaining space year-round. A butler’s pantry with sink and an ensuite bathroom with a free-standing tub add those extra layers of luxury.

 

A YEAR FOR REFLECTION AND THANKS

The awards collected by these two Sentinel Homes teams make this year something to look back on. Despite being dominated by a global pandemic, and economic uncertainty, they still delivered exceptional homes and have left their clients with smiles for years to come.

 

Meet Hayden Rau: Business owner/speed freak

During the working week, Hayden Rau of Sentinel Homes Wellington and Kapiti can be seeing tootling around in his branded car. But underneath all that polite driving and professional polish? He’s a card-carrying petrol-head.

Since 2010, Hayden and his good friend Mike have been tackling the corners and straights of the Targa NZ –a road race series.

While Hayden and his wife Kylie have always loved cars, it wasn’t until Mike bought a race-worthy car that Hayden really started to drive his passion forward. He and Mike spent a few incredible years driving in the Targa Tour, designed for hobbyists, or as Hayden describes them, “gentlemen racers.”‍

From the Targa website: The Targa Tour was created to allow people to drive their road registered cars through closed roads, in a safe, structured environment and in a manner and speed not allowed on the open road.‍

“It’s the thrill of it. I’ve always been into speed. I like skiing for the same reason – although I’m not all that good at it!”

MUSCLE CAR MUSTANG

Hayden’ s current race car is all grunty power with a 4.6 litre V8, Quad Cam 32 valve, going from 0-100 kph in 5.9 seconds. It does the standing ¼ mile in 13.99 seconds at 163 kilometres per hour.

It’s been lowered on adjustable Tokico shocks and springs with Prothane bushes, and rolls on semi-slick race tires with modified/tightened Limited slip differential. A Momo detachable steering wheel, adjustable Panhard rod rear-end and a 5-speed manual transmission with heavy-duty race clutch keeps things on track.

With all those performance tweaks it’s good to know that it’s also equipped with a RaceFX roll cage, Racetech RH4000 race seats and Racetech 6-point harnesses. Wilwood 2-piece, 6-piston front brakes with braided brake lines and brake ducting/cooling, and Cobra rear brakes let Hayden glide around corners.

The muscle car also has no traction control or electronic aids, but it’s that‘old-school’rawness that makes Hayden love driving it so much.

“It’s a bit of a challenge. You’re going pretty quickly on winding roads, and it’s so big and heavy, it’s not the easiest thing to drive. You’ve got to know what you’re doing to get the best out of it,”he explains.

It’s not just the car that’s spec’d out – Mike and Hayden also need full racing suits, complete with fire-proof underwear.

“It’s not that cool in summer. You’re wearing a three-layer race suit, balaclava, helmet, boots, the whole lot. So it can get pretty warm.”

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT RACING

Hayden’s persistence and obvious business and organisational skills didn’t go unnoticed by the Targa organisers. It wasn’t long before he leaped from competitor to volunteer in different areas of each event.

“We hung around and they gave us a job,” laugh Hayden. “We’ve been a mid-point car, which helps marshal people and make sure the driving’s up to scratch.”

Later, the Targa team brought Hayden and Mike on as the Zero or double Zero car, which drives ahead of competitors to make sure the road is clear.

“We go through flat out – you have to do it in a competition car, with all the same safety gear and equipment, going up to 200 kilometres an hour. So, you have to be on your game. The first rule of being a Zero car is: don’t crash.”

Recently, the team stepped in last minute as the tour leader, which sets the pace for the tour participents.

“My car is equipped to do all the different roles, so we can help out where they need us,”says Hayden.“We go wherever Targa need us.”

Despite all the volunteering hours Hayden contributes to the events, he says that the gratitude actually flows the other way.

“We’re so appreciative of the opportunity that Targa NZ have given us to participate. It’s such a great series – more people should be involved in it.”

A FAMILY SPORT

While it’s always Hayden in the driver’s seat, he wouldn’t be surprised if one or both of his sons got into racing too. Charlie, his youngest at fourteen, comes along on track racing days kitted up in his own race gear, and brushes off the heart-stopping speed as ‘pretty cool’.

“If they want to get into it, I’ll teach them how to drive properly – but it’ll be in their own car, not mine!”says Hayden.

That family feeling extends through to Hayden’s work – Kylie is the co-owner of their Sentinel franchise, and heavily involved in its day-to-day operations.

TAKING SENTINEL ON THE ROAD

Hayden’s Mustang is proudly branded in Sentinel logos–combining his two passions.

After building a few spec houses for themselves, Hayden and Kylie knew that construction was the next big stage of their life.

“We’ve had Sentinel Homes Wellington & Kapiti for about four years and employ eight staff,”

They wanted to join the Sentinel Homes family because they knew it would mean they could offer better, more consistent service and outcomes. The values of the group really appealed to Hayden too – he could see this was a bunch of businesspeople who wanted to work together to do what’s best for customers.

“If I’ve got an issue, I’ll ring one of the others and talk about it. It’s good to bounce questions around – you just wouldn’t get that from a stand-alone. We can also lean on Stu and Guy’s experience – they’ve been in this industry for a long time.”

Thinking of building in the Wellington or Kapiti region? Give Hayden a call – if you’re lucky, he might even give you a ride in the Mustang.