When Geoff and Gaylynn Travis made the decision to embrace retirement, they realised quickly that they would need to downsize from their lifestyle block but didn’t want to move into the city. They were also getting past the point where they could fix up an older home or deal with maintenance issues. They wanted to enjoy their retirement peacefully; that meant at least an acre of land, and it meant a brand-new home.

Their local real estate agent knew of a farm the next community over, in Waikite Valley that had begun to subdivide off a few sections. This piece of land perfectly matched their criteria—manageable size, a picturesque rural setting, and proximity to Rotorua, only a 30-minute drive away. Although the land offered room for a vegetable garden and a small orchard, it lacked a home. They envisioned a two-bedroom home with a spacious kitchen and a large master bedroom with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. They wanted a built-in computer area and an undercover deck to span the entire length of their home, so they could enjoy their rural view.

The home had to be brand new, and they needed someone to take care of the entire project for them. Most importantly, the project had to be stress-free. Enter, Exeter Homes.

Exeter Homes collaborated with Geoff and Gaylynn to design a custom home, now known as the Patricia, named after Geoff’s sister. Exeter Homes took care of the entire project and within four months’ time a brand-new home was delivered to their site. Opting for a transportable home allowed the couple to reside on-site in their converted bus during construction, enabling them to sell their existing property and fund the new home without involving a bank. They spent six months in their bus, moving into their new home just before winter without enduring the chaos of a construction site.

The process was completely stress-free, and they highly recommend working with Exeter Homes.

Exeter Homes are a Rotorua-based construction company specialising in transportable homes.

They provide a wide range of pre-designed homes and are thrilled to collaborate with clients to design affordable, quality custom-designed homes. Exeter Homes are committed to quality construction that surpasses industry standards; they offer homes built to endure the test of time and provide a 10-year Master Builders Guarantee. If you ask them nicely, they may even take you out to visit Geoff and Gaylynn’s place…it is a rural lifestyle dream.