Selling house changed builder’s life

Ranvir Nahal had won a gold Tommie and a silver Georgie years before he became a full-time builder. He was building houses on the side while working at the mill in Vernon when a hockey player knocked on the door of the house he had built for himself.

He won the Gold Tommie in 2006 and continued to work in the Riverside mill until 2009 when the fateful knock came.

“He liked the uniqueness of the house and made me an offer,” Nahal said.

“I remember sitting in my living room and thinking how many years it would take me (at the mill) to make this kind of money.”

He took the offer and a week later, told the mill he was finished.

Nahal earned seven Silver Tommies at last week’s silver gala event. That means he can compete for Gold Tommies in those categories, and is also up for two Grand Tommies.

His passion for building was sparked in high school when he saw his dad, Tara, who also worked at the mill, designing a house he planned to build.

“He had a ruler, paper and a pencil and I took an interest in it. I thought, ‘Wow! You can start by doing something in your living room and one day you will be sitting in that house, in that space.’ That’s what got me into it. I found architecture to be magic.”

When Nahal finished high school, his father convinced him to build his own home, and helped him learn the skills needed to turn an idea into a finished house.

“He explained to me that it was possible,” Nahal said, wonder still in his voice.

“At a young age, you’re still trying to figure out how a mortgage works. It was a big undertaking. I think he knew if I did it once, I would get into it.”

But Nahal had been so passionate about building that he and a friend would meander through unfinished houses and try to figure out where the different rooms would be, and what they would do if it were their homes.

He sold the first home, and since he got a good price for it, bought another lot and started another house.

“I jumped right back into it, learning from what I would do differently from the previous house.”

He sold it, built another and sold it.

“That’s where the practice came from. Since then, we’ve done very well, worked for a number of developments and did project management for other companies.”

Sunterra won two silver Tommies two years ago, but the company, which has grown in the last six years, hit a rough spot when Nahal re-structured it. But he created a whole new team and the seven silvers are a testament to how well they work together.

“There are a few categories where we are competing against ourselves.”

If he knew he could only win one gold, his choice would be for show home under $550,000.

“I’m happy to win in any category, but winning the show home under $550,000 was a proud moment. I took a gamble in building a small, modern home and that was the show home for Sunterra.

“It led to at least 10 builds. We were able to replicate it over and over, but keep the uniqueness of each home so none felt like it was the same house.”

The seven Tommies are the silver topping on a great year, and the future will be equally bright. He worked on some great projects and just formed a new company with a friend to build multi-family projects.

They broke ground on its first project of 11 units last week.

In the past, Sunterra has built 10-12 single-family homes a year, plus two or three renovations, but with the new company, Nahal plans to also do several family multi-family projects a year.

But no matter whether it’s a small reno or a big, multi-family

Awards

Excellence in Show Home $500K and Under

Excellence in Residential Renovations $100 - 250K

Excellence in Residential Renovations $250K - $400K

Excellence in Kitchen Renovations $65K & Under

Excellence in Single Family Detached Home $350K - $500K (x2)

Residential Renovator of the Year

Single Family Home Builder of the Year Large Volume (11 Homes or More) project, Nahal takes great pride in deciphering what the client wants and turning it into their homes.

“I love being able to hear someone talk about what they want, but they don't know exactly what it is and trust me when I say I know what you want, let me take it from here.”

And his favourite of the 70 or so houses he has built?

“The next one — because every house is so different.”