For Sentinel Homes’ newest franchise owner, Ethan Moser, life is all about balance - whether it’s managing two distinct regions or keeping up with his energetic twin boys. Based in Taupō, Ethan brings a hands-on approach and a safe pair of hands to the local building scene.
We caught up with him to talk about his vision for growing Sentinel Homes across both regions, his commitment to working locally, and what drives him to deliver homes that he and his team can truly be proud of.
For Ethan, managing a variety of situations and staying calm under pressure is something he’s pretty used to. Having delivered numerous high-end, multi-million-dollar architectural homes, and with a decade of experience in the Navy, he’s had plenty of practice leading diverse teams and navigating complex, high-stakes projects. “We can make a plan and a build schedule, but there are hundreds of different things that can affect or influence that,” Ethan explains. “So it's about how we manage it, how we deal with things, and how we can rebound or adjust to get back on plan. I'm used to a plan not going to plan!”
This experience has proven especially valuable recently, as Ethan has not only taken on the challenge of owning Sentinel’s Taupō and Rotorua franchise, but is also a devoted dad to twin boys who turn two at the end of the year. “It just means that I have to work efficiently and be flexible,” he says. “Some days I'll get up at four in the morning and work until 7am, then be a dad when the boys wake up. I try to balance it as best I can and make sure I keep everyone happy.”
One of the things that most excited Ethan about taking on the Sentinel Homes Taupō and Rotorua franchise was the opportunity to deliver a diverse range of high-quality, unique homes for two very different audiences, each with their own set of aspirations and needs. “In Taupō, a lot of people are selling up from Auckland or Wellington and are coming over wanting to build a lifestyle home, something that takes advantage of the lake views and relaxed pace,” Ethan explains. “Whereas in Rotorua, it’s more entry-level builds for young families who are looking to put down roots and create a space that’s truly theirs. Obviously I have a young family at the moment, so being able to build a new home for another young family, that’s pretty cool - but being able to deliver the dream home for someone moving down is pretty special too.”
Living in Taupō, Ethan knows a thing or two about what locals want from a building partner, and that understanding aligns perfectly with how he approaches his projects. “People down here, they’re straight shooters. They don't want the sales pitch, they want a genuine conversation about what's actually possible and the details of it. I'm all about removing the smoke and mirrors and just saying, look, let's talk about actual build costs and what we can do.”
That transparent, down-to-earth approach also happens to be one of the things that first drew Ethan to Sentinel Homes. “I didn't feel like they were trying to sell me anything, I genuinely felt I could trust these people and that they were there to help me,” he says. “So that trust I got when I first talked to Sentinel, I'm really trying to lean into that as what I'm delivering to the people here.”
There are plenty of exciting plans in the pipeline for the Taupō and Rotorua franchise, from growing the team to more new builds planned across both regions. However, what Ethan finds most satisfying is seeing his clients get the home they’re after in a way that works for their budget and their site. “The most rewarding part is working with people to design the house that they really want,” he says. “There are a lot of different standard floor plans out there that you can look at on plenty of different websites, but there’s literally no such thing as standard when it comes to land and house design. Every site has its own quirks from how a house sits, which way it faces to make the most of the sun and views. The really exciting thing is when we can make a client’s idea work perfectly for their section. It’s a tailor-made solution, designed to fit both them and the land they have.”
When asked about what he hopes to achieve with the new franchise, Ethan’s vision is clear and considered. “I've thought about this a bit actually. My number one goal, rather than being the biggest player, is to be the most trusted,” he explains. “I want people down here to know and trust Sentinel Homes Taupō and Rotorua, and when they see one of our homes going up, to think, ‘okay, that’s exciting. Those guys do great work.’”
Looking to build your new home in Taupō or Rotorua? Get in touch with Ethan and the Sentinel Homes Taupō and Rotorua team to start your building journey today.
Let’s get together for a free, no-pressure meeting with one of our team, at your place or ours.
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