North Harbour franchisees realise home ownership dream
Ravinesh Prasad and Kanchal Rekha always dreamed of owning their own home, but with Auckland’s rising property prices they feared they would never achieve their goal — that was until they joined CrestClean and now their dream has come true.
“We are very happy. Instead of paying rent, we’re paying the mortgage. It’s very hard to buy a house in Auckland but we’ve done it!” says Ravinesh.
The couple moved to Auckland from Wellington in 2015, after the factory Ravinesh was working at as a chef, closed down.
He picked up a job as a courier driver but became frustrated with the long hours on the road, many of which were spent stuck in traffic.
With family working in the cleaning industry, he started to do some research on the internet and came across CrestClean.
“I called the 0800 number and they set up a meeting with me. I liked the idea of being my own boss, and not being stuck in traffic,” says Ravinesh.
Starting with a turnover of $60,000, Ravinesh and Kanchal more than doubled the size of the business in four years, which enabled them to buy their first home.
“What I earnt driving for 10 hours a day, I now earn in seven hours. I never expected to buy a house when I was driving a courier truck, but CrestClean has made it possible,” he says.
“And now I have more time to drop the kids off at school and pick them up. Before, Kanchal had to hire a taxi because she doesn’t have a driver licence.”
The family are loving their cosy brick and tile home, which has its own backyard and vegetable garden.
“We are growing lots of vegetables — lettuce, spinach, sliver beet bok choy and taro — we are very happy.”
CrestClean’s North Harbour Regional Manager Neil Kumar says Ravinesh and Kanchal are extremely hardworking, with a positive attitude.
“I love seeing franchisees rewarded for their hard work. I remember what it was like to buy my first house and when I visited them in their new home, it was as if I had just bought my first house!”
