15 minute read
Money Ma ers - Barry Hockey
by Focus
focus_contributor.
MONEY
MATTERS
with BARRY HOCKEY
ACCOUNTANTS
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CLIENTS, FAMILY & FRIENDS.
We would like to wish all our clients, family & friends a happy New Year & hopefully 2022 will see us get back to business as usual.
The festive season has gone quickly, and I hope it treated you well. It is now time to refl ect on the year that has gone and focus on your plans for the New Year. I fi nd that many people think about their fi nancial situation over the holiday period and how they can do things differently or improve their situation in the year ahead.
As we slowly emerge from COVID, many business owners and employees are considering a change of direction or career change, so it is timely to consider selling a business or starting a new career.
Accounting is more than numbers
There is a story behind every business and how they operate. Quite often business owners get caught up in the numbers without considering the “big picture”. It can be quite stressful in running a business day to day, which can sometimes lead to adverse health effects on families. Just remember there is always help at hand and I urge all business owners to talk to a professional if you are experiencing fi nancial diffi culties. Remember a problem shared is a problem spared.
Are you thinking of selling your business? Best Practice for Preparing your Business for Sale.
If you are thinking of selling your business, you need to be “Buyer Ready”.
Essential that 3 years’ fi nancials are
available in a consistent format: All relevant business & fi nancial information is up to date. Have current fi nancial statements (balance sheet, profi t & loss statements) going back at least 2 or 3 years. Business Valuation: either from a licensed business valuer or from your account based on business appropriate valuation methods. Policies & Procedures: Manuals should be current which demonstrates good management.
All relevant Staff: The lifeblood of every business. Staff contracts & wage rates need to be current business & and compliant. fi nancial Customer database: A valuable asset and information is up to include analysis of specifi c market trends. date. Have current Engage your Accountant: You can avoid fi nancial statements unnecessary legal risks, cost & stress by (balance sheet, profi t engaging your accountant and lawyer. & loss statements) Business advisors can add value and are going back at least 2 a better option than warranty/insurance or 3 years. claims or litigation. Don’t rely on friends, “mates”, agents or other non-qualifi ed third parties for advice. They do not act for you, do not owe you any fi duciary duty and are not qualifi ed (or insured) to give you proper legal advice. At Barry Hockey Accountants, we have a dedicated team to assist you. Our fi rm is big enough to get the job done and small enough to care. Personal service and attention to detail is our business.
PROPERTY GUIDE
TOSCAN
HOMES
TOSCAN
HOMES
2021 WAS A YEAR OF STUNNING BUILDS AND MAJOR AWARDS FOR THE TOSCAN HOMES TEAM
It’s been a trying year for local businesses, but The Toscan Team has risen to the top, taking out several major Housing Industry Association awards for 2021.
Toscan Homes are the proud winners of the HIA Northern NSW Custom Built Home of the Year, up to a million dollars. This luxury, custom-built family home at Sapphire Beach then went on to sweep all categories, being crowned the overall HIA North NSW Custom
Built Home of 2021. Created to take full advantage of the stunning Pacific Ocean vista, this home wowed the judges with its elevated lap pool, modern design and bespoke finishes.
Not content with this handful of awards, the Toscan team has also taken out the HIA’s North NSW Townhouse Development of the year, with its breathtaking, three-storey villa complex in Boronia Street, Sawtell. Now considered a local landmark, this easily recognisable blue and white build evokes comparisons with luxurious new homes in the Hamptons. Featuring an internal elevator, plunge pool and boasting spectacular ocean views, this custom build well and truly bowled the judges over. Taking in three expansive levels of luxury, the villas feature bi-fold doors and windows that create a seamless transition between the outdoors and in. Judges also noted the attention to detail and craftsmanship used in the build, including hand-made tiles from Mullumbimby that adorn the kitchens and bathrooms. “In light of the challenges of construction throughout COVID, 2021 has been an amazing year for our team,” Toscan Homes director, Rob McClennon explains. “We have finished and commenced some amazing projects this year and last and were pretty chuffed for our clients and team to win a number of categories.”
If you’re looking to build your dream home, develop an investment block, or even build a commercial premises – if you want it done right, go with the expert team from Toscan Homes. Toscan Homes is locally owned and run and has been building for more than 34 years. Directors Todd Mackay, Rob McClennon
We have always been strong believers in using local trades and suppliers as much as we can as we consider this to be important in the continual growth and development of the building industry on the Mid North Coast. We couldn’t create such amazing homes without them
& Malcolm Singleton have a wealth of local building industry experience between them and have been working at the helm of Toscan Homes for 12 years, bringing many dream builds to life.
Director Todd Mackay began his building career as an apprentice with Grazz Toscan back in 1995. From there he moved to overseeing commercial high-rise builds in Sydney and across NSW, before returning to Coffs Harbour and taking over Toscan Homes with his brother-inlaw, Rob McClennon.
Construction Manager Mal is passionate about the building industry and has an incredible eye for detail. He also loves having the opportunity to sit down with clients and help with design concepts to help see his client’s dreams come to fruition. Malcom did the hard yards as a building apprentice, at the age of 14, and has since amassed a wealth of building experience both here and overseas. Mal learnt the trade from his father, Roger Singleton, a well know master craftsman/ builder in the Coffs local area. Roger was also a multiple HIA award winner for many homes he built on the Coffs Coast and took out the prestige Willoughby Council Heritage Award for a Sydney build. Toscan Homes consists of a team of dedicated individuals and countless subcontractors. Todd is the contract manager, Mal is the construction manager, and Rob predominantly does sales, council and design. Cherie is our office and purchasing manager, Diana looks after accounts, Emma is in administration and Livio Toscan undertakes all the estimating and quoting duties. Will McClennon is our apprentice carpenter and is moving into his last year in 2022. Will is studying to be a builder like his uncle Todd and great grandfather.
Toscan Homes proudly uses more than 200 suppliers and subcontractors from the local
When you buy or build a Toscan Home, you’re ge ing a solid investment,” explains Rob. “We work with the area’s top building area, all of which employ local people. professionals, “We have always been strong believers in Architects and using local trades and suppliers as much as Building Designers. we can as we consider this to be important in the continual growth and development of the building industry on the Mid North Coast. We couldn’t create such amazing homes without them,” says Rob. “They have the energy and passion that’s synonymous with the Toscan Homes brand.” This local industry support gives Toscan Homes the edge over other builders and is why the team is perpetually awarded for their efforts. Toscan Homes is not a franchise and its relationships with the local community are extremely important. Locals supporting locals is how they like it. “When you buy or build a Toscan Home, you’re getting a solid investment,” explains Rob.
“We work with the area’s top building professionals, Architects and Building Designers. When you build with us your building with the owners, not sales staff, therefore we take great pride and ownership into every build we do and we like to deal face to face on a personal level, get to know our clients and their families. They are our best referral. We have access to the newest and most innovative materials to ensure our homes are at the forefront of the industry.”
Flick through the local For Sale adverts and you’ll often see Toscan Homes mentioned as a selling point. This is because the team are renowned for their quality builds that stay ahead of industry trends and are built to last.
Staying on top of trends is a core specialty of Toscan Homes and they use the best local experts to create their custom-designed plans.
“Toscan Homes has been in the local building business for more than 30 years and only use the best, to ensure our clients get the very best on their budget,” Todd explains. The team at Toscan Homes works with local Architects and building engineers to find cost effective ways to get the best use out of your site. The team are also experts at difficult builds and sloping sites. “Every client and project varies,” explains Mal, “and so does the process taking your dreams to reality. We often are also working in conjunction with the client and their Architect and/or draftsman. Most of our projects are custom designed from scratch with us working off plans provided by the owner or Architect/draftsman, but we also do in-house design and drafting for those starting from scratch. Every block is different, we like to incorporate design excellence which creates energy efficient homes and therefore we concentrate on light, access, and cross-flow ventilation, to name a few.”
Each client has a different design brief and budget so the Toscan team carefully listen and incorporate their ideas into plans. They also have a large number of in-house design
plans collated from more than 30 years of construction. There’s plenty of options when clients sit down with the Toscan team to design their dream home.
“We love this ability we have to sit with our clients and design and create their dream home,” explains Rob. “From the outset clients know exactly what they are getting and it is exciting to go from these initial ideas, to seeing the build progress, until we hand over of a beautifully crafted home.”
The Toscan Homes team also love a challenge, which is why they are considered one of the best sloping site builders on the north coast.
“Every site has its challenges, but you just have to use smart design to get around them,” explains Todd. “There are numerous points to consider when building on sloping sites, with access to the site, yard space and how you’ll use the land all coming into play.”
Todd sees building a custom designed home as an exciting journey.
“I love working with clients and seeing the project from start to finish,” explains Todd. “It’s always satisfying to see something go from a plan to completion, and we put in that extra mile to ensure that the quality and detail follows the vision of our clients. The ability to adapt and build so many different styles of homes with our clients enables us to be always at the front of our ever-changing industry”.
Toscan Homes is a big believer in using local products where possible and employs more than 100 sub-contractors from the local area. They are also keen supporters of local sporting teams and individuals. Over the years Toscan Homes has supported many different clubs and sporting groups, most recently sponsoring local rugby league. As a local business they are always on the lookout for opportunities to support groups and organisations.
With such an incredible finish to the year, you’d expect the team would be ready to down tools, but these high achievers are just getting started. Slabs are already down for a number of big builds in Sawtell, Bonville, Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga, with expansion down to Macksville in the south and Grafton in the north likely. The Toscan team is looking forward to 2022 being another successful year for construction on the Coffs Coast.
How can we get in touch?
Shop 13, Sartos Centre, 9 GDT Seccombe Close, Coffs Harbour PO Box 733, Coffs Harbour, 2450 (02) 6652 2444 toscanhomes.com.au admin@toscanhomes.com.au toscanhomescoffs toscanh2450
KEEP DOING THE THINGS THAT ENRICH YOUR LIFE
SAWTELL HOME
CARE
It’s proven that people achieve be er health and wellbeing outcomes living at home. Carers who support loved ones, family or friends to stay in their home are vitally important and make these outcomes possible.
However, it’s equally important that carers are supported to look after their own wellbeing.
Something as simple as a little bit of respite so there’s time for the small everyday things that others often take for granted can give carers some space to do something that’s important to them. Respite can often be combined with enjoyable, meaningful activities for the care recipient as well, meaning everyone wins.
Affording the opportunity to continue doing the things that make you feel fulfi lled and give your life meaning, whatever that is for you, is what Sawtell Home Care is all about. If you’re wondering what it’s like to go through this process, just ask Marian Grove residents Frank and Carmel!
Frank and Carmel – “It just makes so much sense to have everything in the same place.”
“We fi rst met Robert at a Marian Grove Village luncheon when he was setting up the new Home Care service, and I said, ‘Robert I have to talk to you.’ He made an appointment to come and visit us, and that was it,” says Carmel.
“Frank was on a level one package with another provider at that time. We weren’t unhappy with their service, but I just feel like the village is part of our family. The staff are our family most of the time, because we don’t get to see our family much and it just made so much more sense to have everything here. It’s also a bit of forward planning I suppose, to make life easier and support us as we get older.”
“Now Frank is on a level two home care package, we have a cleaner once a fortnight and we’re looking to access a chair to make it easier for him to get up from. But it’s not just about cleaning. We also have wonderful carers who take him out for coffee and a walk around at the National Park so that I can go swimming. Frank enjoys himself so much while he’s out doing what he loves that he’s on a high all the rest of the day, and it gives us different things to talk about with each other. It’s benefi cial on so many levels!”
“Robert is brilliant. He looks at everything from our personal situation and can suggest where we might benefi t from support, which would be different for someone else.” “For example, I go to Baringa for rehab and Carmel picks me up and drops me off,” adds Frank. “If I can access some community transport, which is something Robert is looking into for me now, it saves her from having to do that and I stay more independent.” “It’s about being able to keep doing the things that enrich your life,” Carmel says. “Sawtell Home Care has been a blessing to us, and I can’t recommend it more highly.” If you could use a helping hand to support you to live independently at home, why not contact our Sawtell Home Care team for more information on (02) 6659 6651? Make 2022 the year you step back into your life!
