Thirty years of building. Forty-nine industry awards. Countless concrete pours, hundreds of timber frames erected and many happy clients across the Bay of Plenty.
If we take a step back in time to 1996 when it all started, Mike and Kathy were officially transforming Mike Bell Builder into Belco Homes Ltd. What was going on at building sites in 1996? Corded tools and hammers were the norm, as well as single-glazed windows and low spec insulation. Claddings were commonly fixed straight to the framing (no cavity battens in sight)! Plans were either hand-drawn or just starting to cross over into early CAD programs. The only way of communication was via landlines and faxes, and if you wanted to talk to somebody on site you had to drive out to see them in person. Oh how things have changed!
One thing that hasn't changed over time, though, is Belco's commitment to the craft. Quality craftsmanship has always been top priority, a value instilled in every apprentice and carpenter who works on their homes. Combined with transparency and genuine client relationships, these core values remain the driving force behind Belco Homes. It is this commitment that brings clients back time and again, and it is reflected in the many industry awards won over the years. Navigating a business is never easy, particularly in construction, so reaching a 30-year milestone is something they can be incredibly proud of.
Belco Homes is also proud of having been Registered Master Builders for over three decades! Mike and Kerry in turn giving back to the trade with 15 years of combined service on the local RMB committee, including Mike's vice presidency for 9 years, and presidency for 1 term (3 years), and Mike continues to share his decades of expertise, more recently judging for the RMB House of the Year competition.
We caught up with Mike, Kathy and Kerry to look back at three decades of building in the Bay, how the industry has transformed, and what's next.
Why did you decide to become a builder in the first place Mike?
I left school at 15 (well actually school let me know it might be timely haha) and my dad (who was a builder too), managed to get me an apprenticeship with Todd & Pollock. I was always a very hands-on person, very practical. Growing up I really enjoyed helping dad out on building sites or when he was doing renos etc on our family home, so I was excited to give building a crack.
What can you remember about first starting the company and what was your vision?
In the early days I was contracting to a couple of local builders, John Brittler and Patrick van Loghem, in a labour-only capacity. Having done my apprenticeship in commercial I learned a lot and really enjoyed this time, and when Kathy and I married in 1995, with Kathy having prior experience with accounting, we were keen to take the next steps, start our own company and do our own projects. Our vision has always been to build beautiful, quality homes, tailored to our clients, and ultimately give them heaps of joy and the lifestyle they're looking for.
Mike and Kathy, what's it like working as a husband and wife team in a business together?
It can't have been too bad, 31 years on and we're still married! It's been great to have flexibility with family and to be able to work around the kids. With me (Kathy) working in the office, and Mike out there working on the builds, we cover different aspects of the business and bring different strengths, so in general it's worked really well.
How has the building industry changed over the years?
Like for most industries there's been a huge shift in the level of compliance and paperwork over time, back in the day house plans were only a few pages! Housing styles have changed over time as they do, and homes on average tend to be much larger than they used to be. Products have come and gone and changed over time, particularly notable with the leaky homes issues and weatherproofing and cladding systems, so of course we've worked hard to keep up to date and ensure best practices along the way. There's also been a massive rise in group builders into the industry.
What do you accredit to the success of your business?
Always having a big focus on quality and not cutting any corners, plus of course our staff and working with quality tradespeople, we've had a great team around us. Communication, trust and relationships are really important, and we have always worked really hard to be open, honest and fair. Being able to weather the financial ups and downs over time, plus our clients knowing we're always at the end of the phone when they need us.
What are the highlights that come to mind from the last 30 years?
It has always been a real highlight and a privilege to hand over a new home! We have been really lucky too that across the journey of a build we've built some really great friendships, and it's been so rewarding to see their enjoyment of their home over time and how it's worked for them. Seeing apprentices come out the other side of their apprenticeship as qualified builders is hugely satisfying. The House of the Year awards, particularly in 2023 where we scooped all 3 Regional Supreme Awards in one night and came away with 11 awards in total, that was right up there! Particularly as we had all our team with us on the night. And at the end of the day I (Mike) still get heaps of joy out of building and going to work every day. Turning up on site in the mornings and catching up with the guys is something I still get a huge kick out of.
What were the difficult parts?
Economic downturns are always challenging, but you've got to take the ups with the downs and plan ahead. Time. Time is always too short! We are always busy and there never seems to be enough time. Our clients are generally fantastic to work with, but occasionally there's niggly bits to navigate, all part of being in business, and we focus on working it through and achieving a great result for them.
How did Kerry come to join the company?
Kerry originally started his apprenticeship with us when he was 17, and after completing his apprenticeship with us moved to Australia to spread his wings and explore the industry further, including starting his own building company. On moving back to NZ with his young family he linked up with us again, and was keen to take on more responsibility and ownership in the business, and we were ready to expand. So that worked out well, he gave me (Mike) the back up and support I needed as well as taking on some of the work load and we were able to grow the company.
Kerry, what has it been like working for Belco and what have been your highlights?
What I love about working with Belco is the focus on bespoke architectural projects. It's incredibly rewarding to look back at some of the Bay's most iconic homes and know I had a hand in bringing them to life. The scale and complexity of these builds keep things interesting. No two projects are the same, and I really enjoy the challenge when things evolve along the way.
For me, it's really the people that make the job. I value being part of a family business, and I've built some amazing relationships here, working alongside owners, our team, and subbies, as well as other builders in the industry.
What really sets Belco apart from other builders is the high quality. Maintaining such exceptionally high standards throughout every single phase of the build process is rare, and it's something I'm proud to be part of.
What are Belco's plans for the future?
Really just continuing what we started, more great relationships, more architectural builds, more beautiful homes on the landscape. I've (Mike) really enjoyed the past couple of years doing judging for the House of the Year Competition and am keen to do more going forward. We feel so privileged to be building for our local community, and while we still love going to work, we will keep showing up and getting a thrill from handing over to our wonderful clients.
Here's to the next 30 years. If you are thinking about a new home or a renovation in Tauranga or the wider Bay of Plenty, we would love to hear about it. Get in touch with the team.
