-Words Tess van Straaten Photography Lia Crowe

While most kids were playing outside on weekends and during school breaks, award-wining custom homebuilder Terry Johal was put to work on his dad乌鸦传媒檚 construction sites.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just in my blood,乌鸦传媒� says the founder of Terry Johal Developments. 乌鸦传媒淢y father was a prominent homebuilder and I started working alongside him, I think as early as age 12. So, all my weekends and some breaks were all spent on a construction site.乌鸦传媒�

At the time, the tween and teenage Terry didn乌鸦传媒檛 fully appreciate the amazing on-the-job training he was getting乌鸦传媒攐r what it would mean for his future.

乌鸦传媒淗onestly, at first, I didn乌鸦传媒檛 like it,乌鸦传媒� the 46-year-old says with a laugh. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檇 rather be hanging out with my friends or doing something else. But as an adult, I realized what a great life experience that was and the incredible work ethic it instilled in me.乌鸦传媒�

Terry decided to strike out on his own in 2001. In his mid-20s and newly married to his wife, Angela, he wanted to carve his own niche in the industry, so they started their own company.

乌鸦传媒淚 think I乌鸦传媒檝e always been a bit entrepreneurial, I have such an interest in business, and I was determined to be successful,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淛ust being married and thinking about our future together, it was the right path. It was definitely a little scary at first because we were so young, but I had such a great partner in Angela that we just did it all as a team and it all worked out.乌鸦传媒�

They realized early on that luxury, custom homes were what they had a special talent for building.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 just my jam, this is what I乌鸦传媒檓 good at, and it乌鸦传媒檚 just something that I love doing,乌鸦传媒� the father of two teenagers says. 乌鸦传媒淢y skill set and my niche revolve around servicing the needs of our clients and building these luxury homes that are of the utmost quality and the highest of standards.乌鸦传媒�

Terry quickly learned being an entrepreneur is a 24/7 job and he admits that for the first seven years of the business, there was very little balance in his life.

乌鸦传媒淭he world only revolved around the business and then we had a couple of kids and as my boys started growing up, I realized that there needs to be a family-first approach,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淭his is something that we really instill in our employees as well. Family needs come before anything. A balanced family/work life leads to longevity and success in business and life, and once that balance was in my life, everything just seemed to go smoother.乌鸦传媒�

Growing up with some great mentors on construction sites, Terry says the other big lesson he learned is that there乌鸦传媒檚 only one way to do something乌鸦传媒攁nd that乌鸦传媒檚 the right way.

乌鸦传媒淣ever compromise on quality,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e lived with that mantra the whole time we乌鸦传媒檝e been in business and it乌鸦传媒檚 really worked out.乌鸦传媒�

As a result, the small, bespoke company takes on just four to six projects at a time. Any more than this could compromise the high-end, personalized service they provide, Terry says.

乌鸦传媒淚 love the journey we go on with our clients, because we乌鸦传媒檙e with them every step of the way and I like to guide them through each step,乌鸦传媒� explains Terry. 乌鸦传媒淲hether they乌鸦传媒檙e choosing plumbing fixtures or flooring, I like to be there not only because it gives me knowledge of what乌鸦传媒檚 going on, but I乌鸦传媒檝e been through all this on so many projects that I like to give them my advice, the pros and cons on certain items, to help them.乌鸦传媒�

With more than 100 homes乌鸦传媒攆rom ultra-modern to traditional乌鸦传媒� under his belt, Terry doesn乌鸦传媒檛 have a favourite style. He says he loves all the different styles, but, as an experienced builder, he does have a very important piece of advice.

乌鸦传媒淥ne thing I stress in whatever we do, and I try to emphasize this with clients, is that we want it to have a timeless feel and look to it,乌鸦传媒� Terry says. 乌鸦传媒淵ou don乌鸦传媒檛 want to start doing a renovation in five or six years. A fad is just that.乌鸦传媒�

The industry乌鸦传媒檚 definitely faced its challenges and the biggest one right now is the high cost of construction, which Terry says has almost doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the increased development costs for land.

乌鸦传媒淟abour and material costs are at an all-time high and to be honest with you, the reality is they乌鸦传媒檙e most likely only going to keep increasing,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淭here are a lot of things like bureaucratic policies and red tape that only exasperate the issue, but I think our government is seeing that now and there have been some recent changes made to hopefully steer the ship in the right direction.乌鸦传媒�

Terry乌鸦传媒檚 helped create positive change in the industry as a former board member and president of the Victoria Residential Builders Association. Born and raised in Victoria, he says it was important for him to give back to an industry that has given him so much.

乌鸦传媒淚 advocated for housing affordability and regulatory reform, including mandatory continued education for licensed builders,乌鸦传媒� he explains. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 really proud of the fact that there was change made in the industry.乌鸦传媒�

Terry is also carrying on the tradition of dragging his 15-year-old son, Jagger, to building sites in the summer乌鸦传媒攁nd 13-year-old Terran could be next.

乌鸦传媒淚 love building, but as a parent, I乌鸦传媒檓 hoping they chart their own path and do something they love and are passionate about. And if that means continuing with the family business, great, but it乌鸦传媒檚 got to be something that they want.乌鸦传媒�

As Terry enjoys his success after two decades of hard work, his best parting advice is to 乌鸦传媒渟tay hungry.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淲ith success, you have security and you become very comfortable, but that can be a real detriment,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淵ou have to continue to push yourself to get the best out of yourself. Like they say, pressure makes diamonds.乌鸦传媒�

Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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