About Paradise Construction
Paradise Construction is a partnership company between Paul Tsakiris and Costas Krasakis.
Paul Tsakiris is also the CEO of the successful First Western Properties, a real estate and construction company based in Chicago. Paul is Greek American and for many years has wanted to return to the place he loves the most in the world: Crete. He was very keen in developing projects in Crete that would be “stand out” and something he could be proud of and when the right opportunity presented itself he was ready to get involved:
Costas is the founder and CEO of CostAnita Villas real estate agency and one of the few developers who grew up in the Almyrida area. As such he has in depth knowledge of the local land and all the best places to build. He is also well known, liked and trusted in the community with both local Greeks and Non Greek residents.
Together Paul and Costas founded Paradise Construction, a Cretan construction company to build exceptional houses and villas or to renovate an old Cretan house to give it new glow. We want to realise your dream living in Crete.
LIVE AN INSPIRED LIFE IN CRETE
Our team
Paradise Construction
Costas Krasakis
CEO
Costas previously worked for one of Australia’s top carpentry firms working with new materials and learning all the latest building methods. He gained an Australian perspective on unique and individual building styles and detail which he likes to incorporate into his projects. He is well respected and grew up with most of the contractors in the area. The local quality tradesmen are happy to work alongside Kosta and his team. This assures our clients that they will not only get the best price but also a quality construction from every tradesman.
Paul Tsakiris
CEO
Paul Tsakiris founded First Western Properties, Inc. in 1999 and is a leading figure in Chicago’s real estate community. Mr. Tsakiris has appeared as an expert guest on Stock Market Observer, the Chicago Real Estate Council and is frequently quoted in publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, as well as Crain’s Chicago Business. He has also written articles published in Chicago Realtor Magazine.
His extensive real estate background includes:
Award Winning Brokerage Results; Mr. Tsakiris has earned numerous sales awards including: CoStar Power Broker, Top Multi-family Sales, Top Investment Sales, Top Retail Leasing by the Chicago Association of Realtors. He has also been recognized in the Wall Street Journ-Development of Retail and Medical facilities both locally and abroad.
The Acquisition and management of B class MF and Retail properties in the US and Abroad.
Acquisition and Turn-Around of under-performing retail properties
Acquisition and Rehab of over 1,500 decimated apartment units, resulting in 6 Good Neighbor Awards; an award given to projects that have the greatest positive impact on a community.
Receivership and REO Advisory to a wide range of debt investors from local community banks to large institutional clients.
Prior to founding First Western Properties, Mr. Tsakiris worked as a Sales Associate with Hallmark and Johnson.
Meike Lechat
Project and Sales Manager
Meike grew up and graduated in Biotechnology in Germany. She lived, studied and worked in Spain, Australia and Greece and finally decided to install herself in Crete 10 years ago. She started to work in Holiday Rentals and is the CEO of her own company exporting Cretan products to Germany and France. Since 2019 Meike works for CostAnitaVillas and Paradise Constructions as a sales manager and real estate consultant.
Meike speaks English, German, French and Greek and will assist you throughout the whole building process from planning to finish.
Manolis Kougentakis
Construction Manager
Manolis is our experienced building site manager with many years of experience to manage projects of luxury villas and hotels. He takes care that your dream home is built in time and to the high standard of our company.
Anita Hamilton-Foster
Interior Design
Anita grew up outside of Sydney, Australia and has been in the hospitality trade for many years. Anita and her mother Janelle had 2 very successful country Hotels in Kent, U.K for a period of 10yrs. With her experience she is the perfect person to help you find your rental property if you want to stay long term in Crete or a stunning place for you to enjoy your holiday in Crete.
Matt Wilson
Estate Agent
Matt comes to us from the hospitality industry where he and his wife ran a successful hotel, prior to that he worked as a senior District Manager for the Dollar Financial Group working in the US, Canada, UK and southern Ireland. He earned his degree from the University of Southampton, UK in 2003 and has more than 15 years of managerial and operational experience. Matt lives in Crete with his family since 5 years and joined our team at CostAnitaVillas as a market manager.
Tash Baptiste
Estate Agent
ash grew up in Kent, UK and studied Primary Education at university. She spent 10 years living in Sydney, Australia and worked as a primary school teacher in local schools. Tash has lived on the island of Crete for the past 4 years and joined the CostAnitaVillas team in 2022. She enjoys the Cretan lifestyle very much and knows the Apokoronas area extremely well. Tash can help you find the perfect property or answer any questions you may have about living in Crete.
Georgios Tsianis
Estate Agent
Georgos was born in Athens and grew up in Crete. He has been working as a Sales & Lettings Negotiator in Crete and London with 12 years of experience in real estate.
Mike Krasakis
Web development & consulting
Mike is specialized in web development and is the creator of our website. He always tries to make our website more user friendly for our clients and keeping it running smoothly.
Maria Bountouraki
Consulting
Maria was born and raised in Chania, studied in Wales and worked in the UK for 16 years then moved back to Crete in 2014. She has managed the sales and development in the financial sector and hospitality industry. She chose the Apokoronas area for buying a home and raising a family. Maria help us with the paperwork of the building sites.
Sophia
Interior Designer
Sophia was born and grew up in Athens, Greece. She has lived in The Netherlands for 5 years as well as the U.S. for 14 years. She has a degree in Interior Design and has worked in the industry for 4 years. She lives in Crete and has a passion and knowledge for Interiors.
Giannis Dimos
Mechanical Engineer
Giannis is our mechanical engineer with a degree in environmental engineering. He helps Kostas to overlook our building sites making sure every construction site is running smoothly.
Hasan Hasan
Supervisor of Workers
Sqelchim Litsi
General worker
he start in 2005 to work in a stone factory .
Vagelis Makridakis
Form worker -Concrete Finisher
Vagelis has more than 40 years experience. He started from the age of 15 beside his dad who is also a very good and well known form worker-Concretetor.
Our partners
Paradise Construction
Manolis Papadomanolakis
Formworker -Concreter
Manolis has more than 40 years experience.
Kostas Haralampakis
Licensed Plumber
Kostas has lots of experience in his work and is a very detailed plumber. Always on time he assures a high quality work for our constructions.
Kostas Vogiatzakis
Licensed electrician
Kostas has experience in commercial and residential applications for 18 years. He is a reliable electrician always finding solutions for your requirements and specific wishes.
ERGOBETON
A trustful concrete mixing company
Verified By ISO:2015 for the quality concrete mix and the regular test controls
Tasos Grigas
Architect and interior-designer
Andreakis bros
Aluminium and still work
From 1969 Andreakis family building doors and windows .1985 the 3 bros take over the father antill today .
Tasos Moisiadis
Carpenter
Tasos is one of the best carpenters in Crete and builts kitchens, wardrobes, interior doors etc for our high quality properties. Based in Kissamos (Kitchen Mota) he always works to a high european standard.
Gavala
Aluminium company working with high quality Alumil series. With a sales network extending in 60 countries and 32 subsidiaries across the globe, ALUMIL is among the top suppliers of architectural aluminium systems of the highest requirements.
Dermitzakis Michalis
brick layer
17 years of experience . Learn from his father .
Bandelis Grigoris
energetic angineer
Virous
smart systems
Dimitris Anastasiadis
Swiming pool Specialist