Born and bred in Whangarei, Ric Butturini wants to make the next generation proud. Passionate, hands-on and good with numbers, he went straight into building after school and gave it his all. Now with his own successful business, he’s coming under the Sentinel banner, bringing the brand to Whangarei for the first time.
“I’m highly competitive and always 100% committed to what I’m doing. If I set my mind to something, I won’t stop until I get it done,” says Ric.
In his fourth year of getting his qualifications, he became a finalist for regional apprentice of the year. With that ticked off, he went to London to work on high-profile jobs as a foreman and site supervisor, including a project for English royalty – the Beckhams.
“With a focus on much larger scale builds, I was able to finesse my skills, bring them to a higher quality and build up my resume,” he explains.
Now, Ric’s excited to bring all this experience to his hometown with the new Sentinel Homes Whangarei.
When he came home in 2017, Ric was keen to make his mark on the building industry. He started Ricardo Butturini Ltd Licensed Carpenters/Builders, and his company has since worked on many high-spec builds and renovations.
“I love standing back and looking at what we’ve accomplished. The job comes with a lot of satisfaction, but at the end of the day, it’s a happy client who reminds me why I love what I do – and why I want to keep pushing.”
When the opportunity came up to join Sentinel Homes Whangarei, Ric knew they could support his ambition the right way.
“Our core systems and beliefs all crossed over. The change was a no-brainer.”
With his small company, Ric was keen to keep growing in a way that would benefit his clients.
“I wanted to make the building process easier for my clients – better project management, pricing and communication. That was all possible with the Sentinel Homes Group.”
Since joining Sentinel Homes in February, Ric has been busy getting the systems in place so he can operate at a higher level.
“With the help of Sentinel Homes software and support, I’m excited to offer our clients more. Project managing will be easier, pricing will be better, and the app means our clients can stay up to date.”
Ric’s time in London working on celebrity and high-end builds has pushed his standards to new heights. In twenty years, Ric wants people to look at his builds and say, “These guys were onto something.” And thanks to his unique experience, he understands how to pull it off.
That’s why he’s happy to bring big ideas to life and work on out-of-the-box designs. He knows customisation makes a higher quality build that suits the client’s lifestyle, taste and site.
“It allows for character. Those are the kind of builds that become timeless. Instead of cookie-cutter developments that all look the same, my clients get something that stands out – for the right reasons.”
Ric says his desire to leave the world a better place drives him to go the extra mile for his clients.
“Honesty is my policy for clients. I’ve seen what hiding the details can do in the construction industry — it ends up costing everyone. I always want to be backed by credibility, problem-solving alongside my clients.”
At home, Ric has built the dream too. He’s loving being a new dad to Winnie (20 months), with his partner of ten years, Meghan and, of course, his best pal Mosley, the dog.
“Getting to watch all of Winnie’s milestones is awesome – I’m absolutely chuffed.”
Ric may have big dreams for the future of Sentinel Homes Whangarei, but he knows that he’s rich in the things that matter most – love, laughter and making memories with his family.
“I’m definitely living the good life right now, and I want to create spaces for others to live the good life too.”
Ready to build something great in Whangarei? Get in touch with Sentinel Homes today.
Let’s get together for a free, no-pressure meeting with one of our team, at your place or ours.
We can't wait to hear your ideas!
