Currently serving as president and owner of renowned home builder Legendary Developments, Gordie Dhaliwal has more than two decades of experience in this competitive industry. He has led the company from its infancy to its place today atop the home development market in Canada.
After obtaining a degree in Finance and Financial Management Services from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Dhaliwal began working in the home building industry with an eye on founding his own company that would one day offer premier residences to discerning buyers.
With his current business interests focused on home development in Surrey, British Columbia, Dhaliwal enjoys spending time with family and friends while away from work, and often follows his favorite Canadian sports teams as well as U.S.-based NFL football.
With a stated goal of building “unique and modern homes” that he would be happy to live in himself, Mr. Dhaliwal’s company has built a stellar reputation in Canada as being among the few companies that are able to cater to consumers who want boutique homes that offer every conceivable amenity, are in great neighborhoods, and are beautiful inside and out.
Located at Unit 101, 3993 Henning Drive in Burnaby, BC V5C 6P7, the company maintains a website that features an extensive gallery of some of the more than 300 homes they’ve built in the past 20 years. For more information, visit the site at legendaryliving.ca and feel free to leave a message via phone or through the online inquiry form. For general questions, call 604-564-2574. For sales-oriented inquiries call 604-230-9899.
What are you up to these days?
I’m enjoying spending my work life at Legendary Developments, the company I founded in 1998. We are a real estate development firm that specializes in upscale, unique types of construction.
What was your initial inspiration to get started in this line of work?
I began in the home development industry shortly after getting my degree in financial management at BCIT. I loved the challenge from the very beginning and have found a deep satisfaction in helping home buyers build their dream houses.
What is the primary way that your company earns a profit?
Our company oversees projects from concept to completed construction, so there are many ways to earn a living in the development business. While some companies focus or specialize in just one or two phases of the process, we take in the whole cycle. Primarily, real estate developers like us make money on each project that we facilitate and complete.
Was your company profitable right away or did it take a long time to become financially successful?
The first few years, while the company was building up its client base and making a reputation for itself were lean, as is the case in so many other fields of endeavor. But after two or three years we began showing a profit, especially as word spread about the high-quality homes we were building.
Did you have doubts early in your career? How were you able to deal with situations like that?
Every business owner has early doubts, but I quickly found that just putting in the hours and focusing on customer satisfaction helped me to handle those misgivings.
How were you able to find your first few clients?
We did a bit of advertising in our early days and began to receive inquiries from interested customers. After that, we developed our first project and just went there.
How do you generate fresh business leads?
Traditional, honest advertising techniques like showing photos of the homes we’ve built seems to convey the idea of what we do. The public responds well when they see first-hand what we’re all about.
What is the hardest decision you’ve made recently?
Expanding to a new city is always an exciting and challenging event for me. Recently we began developing homes in the City of Langley, which meant many hours of planning, meetings, and corporate negotiations that are typical for a developer entering a new geographical market. It worked out well, but the decision to go forward involved a ton of work and more than a few long work weekends.
What factors have contributed the most to your success?
I’m not a believer in “magic formulas,” because most of my success has been the result of old-fashioned hard work, dedication to high standards, and a focus on customer satisfaction.
Was there a defining moment of satisfaction in your early business career?
The first time, many years ago, when I watched a young couple walk into their first new home shortly after they were married. The look of complete satisfaction on their faces was something I’ll never forget and it made me realize, then and there, that I had chosen the right profession for myself.
What does the future of your business look like?
I hope to continue to expand Legendary Developments into new regions and someday encompass the entire breadth of the nation.
Do you have any favorite books?
I recently picked up a copy of Rao and Chandra’s The Little Book of Big Customer Satisfaction Measurement, which is one of the best on the topic. It has inspired me to learn more about the entire field of customer service measurement in order to deliver an even better product to my own customers. I’ve also been reading Ashlee Vance’s Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future. Musk’s story is inspiring to anyone with a dream.
Have you recently bought a product that has helped you in your business?
I’m not a “techie” at heart, but do stay on top of developments in the computer industry, particularly when they are able to help me in my day-to-day business efforts. Last month I upgraded my smartphone and added about a dozen apps that let me stay in constant touch with everyone in my business circle.
Do you believe in life on other planets?
It’s funny, many people ask me that question and I’ve thought about it a lot. I’m no scientist, obviously, but when I imagine life on other planets my first impulse is to wonder about what kind of houses they live in and whether I could build a better one for them.