Before joining Landmark in 2011, Sarah McMullin was renovating homes for sale. But back before that she was a nurse and midwife, and she gives that same sense of assuredness and calm and joy that is essential in the health industry to everything she does. Perhaps that's why her dream home is something simple and restful, with wonderful textures — something with character. Which echoes with how Sarah sees people. 'I am inspired by people who dare to try new things,' Sarah says. 'I'm also inspired by the beauty of objects or nature, by genuineness, kindness and humour.' That's also why her dream alternative career is being a products purchaser, or renovating a chateau. Something at once majestic in scope and immediately gratifying. In the meantime, much of Sarah's passion goes into her family — the thing she is most proud of, and the people she looks forward to spending her downtime with.

Stephen Tordeich has a singular perspective on what makes a great house a great home. As the director of Landmark's South Auckland office, Stephen has been involved in some great house builds. And before joining Landmark he worked in an engineering company — so he knows a thing or two about good design. So we asked Stephen — what's your favourite house among all the ones Landmark has built. He has the perfect answer. 'It's not quite the right question,' Stephen says. 'It's more about my favourite client. Why? Because people make all the difference, not houses. One couple I have in mind were particularly nice to deal with and to this day they are one of our best advocates. People make the indelible mark — not the house.' Which says everything about Stephen really. For him, working together with a team, whether the Landmark team or a client wanting to build their dream home, is the true inspiration behind what he has achieved.

Amy Hollis has been in the New Build sector for many years and is totally focused on the client's outcome. Amy is inspired by people and says “I have the best job in the world, helping people create their dreams into a reality”. Amy has proven time and time again that when a client needs the process to stay on track due to time restraints and deliver the detail that is needed for the customer, she can be relied on to deliver. With a great sense of humour, service oriented and a strong technical background, you are in good hands. Give Amy a call and she will help you with any queries you may have with building a stunning new home.

There's something so earthy about David Wilson. In fact, you could say he has an almost spiritual connection to the environment. Ask him, and he'll tell you himself: 'I'm inspired by nature.' His favourite thing is his surfcasting rod; his dream alternative career is farming; he says he's the most likely person at Landmark to be happy to leave Auckland; and when he retires he'll head up north to the native bush block he shares with wife Maree (and their two sons) and live with the bees. So what's David doing selling homes? Well, that connection to the land comes in very handy when a client is wanting to build a home that nestles perfectly in its surroundings. 'My dream house is off grid, in a secluded bush setting, blending into the native bush surroundings,’ David says. ‘The statement it makes is that it just blends in beautifully in its environment.' You'd better stop there David — we'll be following you to that native bush paradise of yours.

Mike Kinsella has been reading Jim Collins' Good To Great recently, a guide on why some companies take the leap to the next level, and why others don't. Mike only needs look around him to see the answer to that conundrum in the flesh. It's about people. Understanding and appreciating human potential is something Mike brings into his work. Ask him what his favourite Landmark house is, and Mike gives the question a perfect perspective. 'Every house is unique to our clients and it is about their level of satisfaction,' he says. Even when asked about his dream client, Mike says it is those clients for whom Landmark delivered on what we set out to achieve, even with headwinds. That's an element of Collins' book too — being able to imagine what is beyond the difficult times. No wonder that Mike nominates ELO's Mr Blue Sky as the soundtrack to his life — a life in which anything is possible.