Red LBP: The Founding Story

Once upon a time, I found myself in a unique position. I was working as a quantity surveyor (QS) in my own company and had the privilege of assisting numerous tradies and builders throughout New Zealand. My role required me to delve deep into the inner workings of each business, understanding how they operated and what set them apart from one another so I could provide pricing exercises that reflected the individual businesses. Over time, I became deeply passionate about one particular aspect – helping these hardworking tradies learn how to price their services effectively themselves, and understanding how pricing had an affect on their livelihood as a whole.

The reason for my passion was simple: I wanted to ensure that these builders were paid fairly for their dedicated craftsmanship. I believed they deserved more than just a paycheck; they deserved financial security, the ability to provide for their families, and the opportunity to enjoy a well-deserved holiday at the end of the year. However, I also understood that most builders hadn't gone to business school; they went to builder school to become, well, builders, not business experts.

As I worked closely with these builders, I witnessed countless instances of financial strain. Issues like unfiled variations, clients refusing to pay final accounts, or subcontractors causing delays were all too common. It was disheartening to see talented tradespeople struggle financially, especially when I knew they had the skills and dedication to thrive.

As the years passed, it became clear that a new venture was on the horizon. My tradie husband, who had been consulting, was contemplating returning to the tools and getting back into physical construction work. Naturally, my response was a resounding "over my dead body!" We needed an alternative that would spare him (and me!) from the high financial risk of running a team of tradespeople and allow him to work reasonable hours without enduring the back-breaking physical toll of the construction industry. He wasn't getting any younger!

This is where the idea of property inspections came into play. It seemed like a natural fit for someone with his expertise. However, there was a significant hurdle to overcome – the process of writing inspection reports was a time-consuming nightmare. It could take days to complete just one report without a system, and the end result was not of a quality I could abide....

We knew that if property inspections were going to be a viable business option for us, something had to change. So, during one Christmas holiday break, we decided to tackle the problem head-on. We found some incredible software partners and began developing an overall system to streamline the inspection process, making it faster and more efficient. Our goal was to make property inspections easier for us and more valuable for our customers.

The journey wasn't without its challenges. We started by creating an online booking system that allowed customers to schedule inspections with ease. No more waiting around for hours to get a response; everything could be done swiftly and conveniently. As part of our software development, we built an app based system designed to simplify and expedite the inspection process, enabling us to complete inspections more efficiently and to an incredibly high standard.

As we continued to refine our system, it dawned on me that what we were creating could be more than just a solution for us. It had the potential to be a groundbreaking business model that would benefit not only us but also countless other builders and tradies. It was at that moment that we decided to take the leap and create Red LBP as a franchise system.

Today, Red LBP stands as a testament to our commitment to simplifying and enhancing the lives of builders and tradies. Our mission is clear – to allow these hardworking individuals to focus on what they excel at, while we handle the rest. Red LBP is more than just a business; it's a support system designed to provide builders with the work-life balance they deserve.

We hold three core values dear to our hearts: integrity, efficiency, and unwavering support for builders. We believe that by upholding these values, we can help builders achieve their dreams, secure their financial future, and enjoy the well-deserved fruits of their labour.

Today, Red LBP boasts 26 territories in NZ and continues to grow. Our sights are set on expanding our reach, not just within New Zealand, but across the globe. After all, tradies and builders are found everywhere, and our business is built by tradies, for tradies.

Our story is one of determination, innovation, and the unwavering belief that builders and tradies deserve more than just a tough job – they deserve a fulfilling and rewarding career. It's a journey that began with a desire to improve the lives of tradies and continues with an open invitation to builders from all corners of the world to join us in building a brighter future, one property inspection at a time.