It was always a dream – but now home ownership is well within their reach.
After three years as CrestClean business owners, Hamilton couple Niza and Fredie Dela Cruz say they are now in a much stronger position to take the next step and buy a place of their own.
“We are looking around and the prices here in Hamilton are stable,” says Niza. “Ideally we’d like to get a four-bedroom home if possible so we can have room when family come to stay.”
Niza says she loves the independence that comes from being her own boss. “Having the business has been good for us. It helps a lot and we are managing to be able to save.”
Although there are Filipinos in other CrestClean regions around the country, when they bought their business they were the first franchisees in the Waikato who originate from the Philippines.
“I am proud of that because I am making a little bit of history for Hamilton and Waikato,” said Fredie at the time.
The husband and wife came to New Zealand after searching for a country that offered work opportunities and was also a safe place to live and raise children.
CrestClean has proved to be a perfect fit for Niza, who had been working as a cleaning supervisor at a Hamilton hotel. Fredie still works as an electrician and their son Jillier, 21, also lends a hand with the family franchise.
To mark her three years as a CrestClean business owner, Niza was presented with a Certificate of Long Service from Nivitesh Kumar, CrestClean’s Waikato Regional Manager. “It makes me feel really proud of what we’ve achieved,” says Niza.
Nivitesh said Niza and Fredie have adopted a very professional approach to their work and provide a high level of service to their customers.
“It’s always great to hear when our people have plans to buy a house. It just shows what they can achieve through determination and hard work.”
