A couple of self-described country boys from Australia are remaking an exclusive property in Westport. It”™s their first Fairfield County project, but they have opened a Stamford office for their company, Wellbuilt Co., to join already-established offices in Manhattan and Boston.
A conversation with Wellbuilt co-founders Scott Lumby and Mitch Kidd, both 30, revealed universals in their industry that jumped the Pacific with them, notably project scheduling and budgeting, subjects they studied at the University of New South Wales.
Their core values also translate well between Australia and the U.S. and they drive them home in tandem: “Proficiency. Punctuality. Professionalism.”
“We”™re not your typical contractors,” said Lumby, Wellbuilt co-founder. “We”™re a full-service building and development firm.” But that tag alone does not guarantee success and Lumby acknowledged, “We have knocked on a lot of doors.”
“We saw things could be done better,” Kidd said. “The company is based on core values and most of our customers are repeat. You only have to do one good job and people will recognize you.”
Their work portfolio includes projects in Australia, where their university scholarships were sponsored by one of the largest construction outfits in the country, St. Hilliers Construction Ltd., for which they worked after graduating.
They followed St. Hilliers with a five-year stint building upscale homes. Photos of their projects speak volumes about craftsmanship.
Beyond repeat customers, Lumby stressed the importance of repeat business with architects, designers and contractors. Wellbuilt employs 10 full time and expands to suit projects.
The company not only notices trends, it has to make them reality for its clients.
“Open plans centered around kitchens,” Lumby said of a current popular look. “A lot of blown-out walls.”
Kidd added, “Reclaimed wood is very popular.” The caveat: “Not in the whole house.”
Tieless and crisply attired in what might be termed business-rugged, the two men spoke in the Business Journal office. Both are from New South Wales. Kidd is from Orange and Lumby is from Dubbo, an Aboriginal place name.
“I”™d say 95 percent of our business is service oriented,” Lumby said. “A lot of people don”™t know what they want.” Wellbuilt offers design variations via Internet sites, he said. “And with our knowledge of pricing, we can offer three different options. It”™s value engineering. It”™s value designing. Even on the high-end projects, the clients want to hear ”˜value.”™”
Kidd nodded and said, “Sometimes even more.”
The Wellbuilt office in Boston is managed by Todd Rotondi, who is American. “We can”™t all be so lucky,” Kidd said with a shrimp-on-the-barbie laugh.
The move into Fairfield County comes after a string of projects in Manhattan. Wellbuilt turned the 29th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Central Park South into a 7,000-square-foot private residence. Working on such a property remains a feather in any builder”™s hardhat.
The company also has been busy in the booming West Side Chelsea neighborhood, where projects include bathrooms, kitchens and complete renovations. The Manhattan office opened in 2009; Boston in 2011; and Stamford this year.
“We are always looking at expansion,” Lumby said. “In one year we”™d like to be a household name for high-quality construction services.”
The website is wellbuiltco.com.
Great story,and keep up the good work so I can retire