Paul Caddick
Managing Director
Design Builders – Canterbury
Paul Caddick is a Managing Director at Design Builders Canterbury, working alongside his wife Kaye and son Alex. A trained builder and a business owner for the past 30 years, Paul is dedicated to making the build process enjoyable and rewarding for clients.
What led you to the building industry and your role with Design Builders Canterbury?
This role was a natural progression for me. From being part of a family business of tradespeople, to training as a builder when an opportunity presented itself, I have had my own businesses for the past 30 years. So, when the opportunity came along for a partnership with Design Builders NZ here in Canterbury, it felt like the perfect fit.
What does your role involve?
My role is varied! Building consists of many parts: project management, estimating, problem solving, logistics, knowledge of products, managing employees and contractors. Over the years I’ve developed good working relationships with my reliable tradespeople and suppliers.
What is your approach to working with clients?
Listening is very important. I like to give people the time to adequately express what they are wanting to do – I think taking time with this phase is essential for the experience to be enjoyable and successful. The practicalities of building, being able to explain processes or options of design … often we need a couple of meetings to uncover the most important elements that our clients want to include in their home. For some people it’s a walk-in pantry, for others it may be a luxurious en suite bathroom.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Lots of phone calls, visits to site, liaising with customers, contractors and – especially important at the moment! – talking to suppliers. In the current market, it’s essential to have flexibility and the ability to reschedule build timelines due to supply issues and staff shortages.
Where should people start if they’re thinking about building?
Start by driving around subdivisions, looking for houses that you’re attracted to. Talk to friends or family that have built, look in magazines and online for ideas of style. Decide whether you want to be involved in the design or have someone else design for you. And, of course, it is very important to know what your budget will be and the size of the build.
What do you love about the Canterbury region?
I like the climate here; hot in summer and also beautiful and sunny in winter after a hard frost. I love seeing the city’s new attractions, the new convention centre, the bars, the facilities for our children. We are surrounded by world-class wineries, as well as being located in the centre of the South Island, only 5 hours from Abel Tasman’s beaches, ski fields and alpine lakes down south, or the wild West Coast.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Creating a plan from an idea and building a dream home, working with people that are likeminded and want the building experience to be fun and as stress-free as possible. I like finding solutions so that our clients can have that feature they really want in their dream home.
What are your hidden talents?
To be able to visualise room sizes and spaces from a plan. Also, the ability to recognise quality products, and I am always willing to listen to other tradespeople’s advice and expertise.
What attracted you to Design Builders?
It really appealed that the designs are one-off – each one is individually designed for that client. It is a home built around you.
The longevity of this company is also a positive, along with awards they’ve won for workmanship and design. They have in-house designers and a supportive services team, enabling us to provide full service for our clients, in a timely manner.
Being part of a larger team with partners that are always willing to share their knowledge, from the running of their businesses through to new products that they may have used.
Finally, Design Builders celebrates 30 years in business this year. What are your thoughts on being in business for so long?
Being in business for that long proves that they are financially sound and well managed. They have grown their business and become successful through outstanding designs and builds. The building industry traditionally has cycles of highs and lows, so for a building company to have navigated this successfully says a lot about their management and their build quality.
Want to know more about Design Builders Canterbury?
Enjoy a free, no-obligation chat with Kaye
Find out about our whole exciting process, from start to finish. Understand the architect’s role, work out your budget, look through our portfolio, pick up great tips and ideas, and ask questions. If you’re thinking about building, it’s the perfect first step.
Call Kaye Caddick at Design Builders Canterbury today on 027 622 0077 or send her an email.
