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Isuzu enjoying a seachange

With no foreseeable ease on rocketing housing prices and continuing pressure on interest rates, city residents are finding it more

With no foreseeable ease on rocketing housing prices and continuing pressure on interest rates, city residents are finding it more difficult to achieve their aspirations for home ownership.

For urban dwellers, leaving the city in search of a sea change is becoming increasingly popular, as the temptation of an affordable home, ocean views and relaxed lifestyle takes over the cluster of city smog.

At the helm of a third generation building company, Mark LeMaistre has extensive experience in the coastal lifestyle, with his company now reaping the rewards of Melbournians’ migration to the coast.

The LeMaistre family threw in life in the big smoke for coastal leisure themselves some 40 years ago, and since then have capitalised on the city folk’s desire for quality designed homes without the price tag.

According to company owner Mark, the family business based in the picturesque coastal hamlet of Ocean Grove on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula is performing extremely well.

With the bulk of its business centred in Ocean Grove just a stone’s throw from where the ABC’s hit television show ‘Sea Change’ was filmed, the location requires little persuasion to set up home – this demand keeps LeMaistre busy with an average of 22 projects per year.

In the midst of the increased workflow, the urgent requirement for a new truck led Mark to purchase an all-new Isuzu NPR 250 crew cab; the decision was based on specification and word of mouth alone, having never actually driven the truck before.

“When we were looking around for a truck to purchase, we came across the new Isuzu on the internet and were pretty impressed with the entire package on offer,” he says.

“We had a relatively short time frame, so we called around to some of the Isuzu dealers and received some great information and competitive prices.

“We also know a guy who delivers water to our worksites and he drives an Isuzu. He was extremely enthusiastic about his truck’s performance and highly recommended we purchase one.”

Playing an integral part in the transportation of essential equipment, tools and work crews to job sites around the peninsula, Mark said the truck is the number one tool for the business.

“The Isuzu is one of the things we can’t live without; everyday we cart a lot of scaffold, timber, generators, ladders and the like to, and between job sites,” he said.

“We run about nine or ten sites at a time, so that makes up the majority of the truck’s work.”

One of the first to take delivery of the 2008 model Isuzu N Series, the purchase has proven to be a rewarding experience for the LeMaistre family, being more than impressed with its new addition.

“I think the new truck is a real dream to drive and the actual power is great. Going up hills, where other trucks might slow, the Isuzu basically drives like a car – incredible power,” LeMaistre says.

“The comfort is also outstanding; there’s plenty of room and the large door openings allow for great access – it has so much flexibility, I have to remind the drivers they are in a truck.”

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