Blog | Home Builders | Sentinel Homes

Smaller Homes, Bigger Dreams: Maximizing Space in 2025

Throughout New Zealand, Kiwis are increasingly building smaller homes on smaller pieces of land. But that doesn’t mean that you have to settle for less!

Wrapped 2024 | Taking a look back at another great year

Even though 2024 has been a challenging year, we were fortunate enough to have helped a number of brilliant clients bring their dream homes to life. We also saw the opening of new franchises and show homes, great local initiatives, and some more awards to boot.

The newest pride of the South - Sentinel Homes Dunedin and Central Otago

When it comes to establishing a new franchise, Sentinel Homes doesn’t just let anyone take on the job. Luckily for us, Anna and Greg Sinnott tick all the boxes that make for fantastic leaders, and have the skills and experience to lead an amazing team in Dunedin and Central Otago.

A not-so-secret recipe to success

Since taking over Sentinel Homes’ Manawatu and Horowhenua franchise, owner Nigel Higgison and his team have gone from strength to strength the old-fashioned way - through hard work, dedication, and a focus on building and maintaining quality relationships.

Sentinel brings home eight 2024 House of the Year awards

The 2024 House of the Year awards have been announced, and Sentinel Homes is proud to have been awarded with eight awards for our innovation, craftsmanship and commitment to creating outstanding homes for our customers across the country.

4 Reasons to visit our showhomes before you choose a builder

Thinking about building your dream home is exciting, but it can be hard to know how to start making that dream a reality. That’s where our showhomes come in!

Meet the men redefining Christchurch’s building scene

The Christchurch building scene is changing for the better. Find out how our newest franchisees, Troy Lange and Eric Briggs, are making expertly-designed living more achievable in Christchurch.

Empowering parents, strengthening communities

As the old saying goes — parenting takes a village! Learn how Sentinel Homes is helping Kiwi families thrive with Parenting Place.

Dreams to doorsteps — how long does it take to build a new house?

Sentinel Homes helps demystify the home-building process so you can confidently press go on the next stage of your life – and build the home of your dreams.

How to maximise space on smaller sections

Say goodbye to cramped spaces on smaller sections. If you’re about to build a new home in the city, here are our tips to make it spacious, comfortable and functional.

A year of awards, innovations, and expansion

A year in review. Discover the triumphs, awards, new locations, and stunning show homes we opened, that defined Sentinel Homes' exceptional 2023 journey. Dive into innovation, expansion, and modern living.

The new Karaka show home: not just a pretty face

Experience the Karaka show home, where dream living meets affordability. Read about the smart structural design and cost-saving tips that will make your dream home a reality.

Need to build a new home on a small site?

Step into the extraordinary with Sentinel Homes’ Ara Hills show home from Maree van de Water, Managing Director at Sentinel Homes North/West Auckland. Discover how an upside-down concept, high ceilings and strategic design choices create a spacious and modern haven – without breaking the bank.

Park Green Open Day

Park Green is a stunning new development in Karaka, just minutes from the motorway and close to shops. Park Green already has a brand new primary school, and a neighbourhood centre and café are coming soon.

What does a knockdown and rebuild involve?

Imagine being in a home tailored to your every wish – in your favourite location. Whether it’s beachfront Mt Maunganui or the middle of Ponsonby, you have options, no matter how busy the area already is. From demolition to recycling, find out how to knock down and rebuild, turning your favourite spot into a masterpiece. Here are your FAQs answered.

Sentinel Homes Taranaki: Award-winning homes

Sentinel Homes Taranaki’s award-winning designs guarantee to meet clients’ needs, and it has the accolades as proof. With a background in architecture, owner Andrew explains why Taranaki’s homes consistently stand out.

How to future-proof your new home

Learn the tricks of future-proofing your new home. At Sentinel Homes, we’re all about modern design and sustainability for a timeless, adaptable and eco-friendly future.

Sentinel Homes bags seven House of the Year Awards 2023

Sentinel Homes won seven medals in this year’s House of the Year Awards. This blog shows how innovative architecture and five-star quality can meet affordable, functional living.

Common questions about subdividing in NZ

In this article, you’ll learn how long a subdivision takes, how much it could cost, and what you can build on your property – read about the full process here.

New Wellington show home

Delivering equal parts of quality craftsmanship and clever cost savings, our new Wellington show home will wow you. Here we speak to the owners Hayden and Kylie Rau, about how they made smart choices to keep the price down without compromising quality and style.

Fortune favours the subdividers

Want a tailor-made home with million-dollar potential? Discover how a family-centric subdividing and building strategy can help you achieve your dreams while creating stronger bonds.

Turn one of our house plans into one of yours.

Design your dream home without the stress of starting from scratch. You can fully customise any of our existing plans – add your ideas and let our designers make some clever tweaks, for a standout unique home of your own. Here’s why it could work for you.

Benefits of a house and land package

If you’re thinking about building but worried about the headache of making it happen yourself, a house and land package can make things simpler and easier. Discover all the benefits here.

Building new: total control and a smarter investment

When you buy an existing home, it always comes with compromise and risk. Learn why building your own home, rather than buying, is the ultimate choice if you want a place to truly call your own.

Smart-money home design

Want to create a stunning home that leaves everyone speechless? With smart design and cost-saving strategies, you can get the same effect without breaking the bank. Here’s how.

10 ideas for designing a home that is uniquely yours

Why blend in when you can stand out? Whether starting from scratch or customising one of our plans, get inspired to make your new home one of a kind with these 10 design ideas.

Ambition and passion meet big build energy

Born and bred in Whangarei, Ric Butturini wants to make the next generation proud. Passionate, hands-on and good with numbers, he went straight into building after school and gave it his all.

Subdivide your way to the good life

If you’re sitting on a subdividable property, why not get in a better position to help your family into their home or maximise your retirement fund. Our step-by-step process to property subdivision makes straight forward and easy to understand – don’t wait any longer to invest in your dream future!

Building homes to fit our changing world

Summer 2023 has been tough for Kiwis, with Auckland’s severe flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle causing widespread devastation across the country. Our hearts go out to those people facing the daunting task of cleaning, repairing, rebuilding, or in some cases not being able to return to their homes.

Hometown reputation means everything

Nigel Higgison, the new owner of our Manawatu and Horowhenua franchise, is a local boy born and bred. He spent 19 years running businesses in construction and project management. He’s also worked in almost every aspect of the building industry, from running crews on civil engineering projects and operating drill rigs and cranes in large foundation engineering around New Zealand to building beautiful new homes and multi-unit complexes in the Manawatu area.

Architect by training, tradie at heart

Will Batts has always been in the property industry – with a successful property developer as a grandfather, you could almost say it was a family business. “I’ve grown up around property – it’s in the blood,” says Will. “I always expected to get involved in it.”

Investment Property: Should you build or buy?

Ever thought of getting an investment property, owning your own? Well, there are loads of options out there, but would you buy an existing house? Or would you try and build a new one? And if you're going to build a new one, where are you going to get the land?

Team Taranaki is on a winning streak

It’s only been three years since Andrew and Julia Kuriger brought Sentinel Homes to Taranaki – and most of that has been through a pandemic. Even so, the couple’s passion for design and quality has seen them go from strength to strength, with a stunning new show home and impressive wins at Registered Master Builders House of the Year.

The secret behind Waikato’s golden year

The cherry on top of an incredibly successful year, Sentinel Homes Waikato has just taken out a national win at Master Builders House of the Year. That means their Ngaruawahia home has been named the country’s best in its category – a massive achievement. Read on to learn more about how Waikato keeps going from strength to strength.

New tax exemptions make new builds the smarter investment

New rules have purposely made property investment far less profitable – unless you build new. Here’s what you need to know.

Sweeping the 2021 House of the Year Awards

Despite a few challenges from the global pandemic, we’ve seen huge success across the country at Registered Master Builders House of the Year, 2021. Three homes rank in New Zealand’s top 100 – we’re the only group home builder to gain those accolades. It’s a testament to the care and passion for quality you’ll find at every Sentinel Homes business in New Zealand.

Sunset views and a man cave make the Butlers’ perfect place

Alan and Liz Butler had to move – their house was old and needed a lot of work. And when you race lawnmowers and build hovercrafts in your spare time, as Alan does, a regular house just isn’t going to cut the mustard. Initially, they looked at renovating but realised that if they built they’d get exactly what they needed – man cave and all. “If we sold, we could move, buy land and build,” Alan explains.

People and the planet, not just profit

Speak to any of our franchisees and they’ll tell you one of the biggest reasons for joining Sentinel Homes is because our approach to business matched theirs. Since we first started, we’ve been focused on doing more than just building houses – we want to make a difference in the future of New Zealand.

Is your land build-ready?

When it comes to building or subdividing, it’s often what’s underground that can cause the most hassle. From pipes in the wrong place or unstable ground to protected trees or deceptively steep slopes, understanding the unique constraints of your build site can set your project up for success. It means you can tweak designs or build techniques, seek additional approvals or expert support so you have a better chance of sticking to timelines and budgets.

Rugged beauty built to order in Akatarawa

Perched on an outcrop overlooking the Akatarawa Valley is Stephanie and Campbell’s dream home, built by the team at Sentinel Homes Wellington and Kapiti. Their journey began after Stephanie’s mum passed away just a year after moving into her new build – it was a wake-up call to seize the day.

It’s tens across the board for the Auckland North/West team

From design to customer service – they’re awarded for every area of the business. Winning any award is always satisfying, but when you’re taking out accolades in every area of your business, you know you’re doing something right.

Sarah and Andrew’s ‘jackpot’ of a house

Sarah and Andrew McTaggart had very clear ideas about what they wanted from their new home build. It had to make the most of their stunning Akatarawa section and support their varied interests and lifestyle pursuits.

Two homes, one happy family

Nicole and Kurt’s journey to building their “forever home” was a bit unusual. They weren’t thinking of moving, let alone building, until Nicole’s parents came to stay while they hunted for their next property.

9-gong glory in the House of the Year Awards 2020

What a year 2020 has been, with huge ups and downs across the board. For Sentinel Homes, it has been a productive year with our franchisees busier than ever.

Meet Hayden Rau: Business owner/speed freak

During the working week, Hayden Rau of Sentinel Homes Wellington and Kapiti can be seeing tootling around in his branded car. But underneath all that polite driving and professional polish? He’s a card-carrying petrol-head.

Lockdown in a brand-new home

The government’s COVID strategy of going hard and going fast has worked, but it wasn’t without its complications. People all over the country scrambled to do everything they needed to get done before level four lockdown took effect. As it happens, Toa and Luma Tauai had only 20 minutes to spare to move into their brand-new home!

Lockdown pivots and how they’ve made our service stronger

Pivot: it’s the word of the pandemic, as companies all over the country – and the world – change the way they think about their offering, and how they deliver it to clients. Sentinel Homes was no different. While our core work – building houses – can’t change much, we worked hard behind the scenes to move everything else online. Like others in business, we’ve found that the changes lockdown required us to make came with a raft of benefits – and fewer downsides than we expected. Here are the pivots and innovations we implemented to make sure we could keep serving our customers – wherever we were.

Working from home is the new normal

While many employers and employees already enjoyed the benefits of remote work, it wasn’t until the pandemic hit our shores that it became widespread.Companies who had been dragging their feet were forced to ‘make do’ with staff working from home, and many found it worked surprisingly well. Employees are liking it too. One survey suggests that over 70 percent of workers don’t want to go back to the way things were.

Event wrap-up: FIH Hockey Pro League presented by Sentinel Homes

We’re big supporters of Hockey New Zealand – we back many of their smaller events and are the presenting partner for the FIH Pro League. So we couldn’t have been more pleased with New Zealand’s performance this year. We were underdogs, but took home some stunning wins – the men’s team even beat the reigning Olympic champs!

Enthusiasm and service wins Auckland North West team a seven-home development

“They came across energetic and they were as excited as we were. They wanted to do a quality job.” The Auckland North West team have won a contract to build not one, but seven new homes. We spoke to developers, Bela and Mariann Horvath, about how they knew Sentinel Homes were the right people for the job.

Six-figure profit helps build Kiwi families

Our latest charity home just sold in Wellington, netting our largest donation to Parenting Place to date. Every cent of the six-figure profit is going to the charity and will be put towards the practical support of children, parents and families. Read more about the scheme and what Parenting Place CEO Greg Fleming had to say.

Golden finalist amongst the best at the nationals

Back in August, the team pulled in an impressive haul of awards – the North West franchise in particular were over the moon to be awarded not one, but TWO golds. One of those was a gold reserve medal for Auckland in the new home category, 450k to 600k.

Being mindful of the mind

This year’s conference was all about mental health. As owners, we have a responsibility to keep our people safe and well – and that includes their mental wellbeing.

FIH Pro League and beyond

For the last three years, Sentinel Homes has been proud to partner with Hockey New Zealand. It started when we sponsored the finals of the Women’s Hockey World League played here in NZ. The partnership worked so well that we’ve kept it going – we now sponsor the FIH Pro League, hockey’s answer to Super Rugby, but played by national teams.

Our golden run continues

Wow! It’s safe to say the team here at Sentinel Homes is fizzing with excitement after this year’s Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards – we’ve taken home our most impressive ever haul!

The Keshavs live rent-free while we build their dream home

A wee while ago, we launched a really exciting campaign – sign up to build with us and you’ll go in the draw to win $25K to spend on rent or your mortgage while you’re waiting for your new home to be ready. Sentinel Homes CEO Stuart Shutt says he wanted to give away something he knew would really help someone out.

Good builds take time

You’ve finally managed to save a deposit for a new home – a new build even! You’re chomping at the bit to get started, but whether this is your first home or your fifth, the thing to remember is like Rome, your home won’t be built in a day.

Dos and don’ts for a stress-free build

Watching Grand Designs, you can’t help but wonder – is building a new home always that stressful? We know from experience that the answer is ‘no’. In fact a recent customer, Joe Webber, called building with us “relaxing”! While that’s probably a bit much to ask from most builds, the truth is that minimising stress is really just about ticking a few boxes – and avoiding a few no-nos. We dug into the shared expertise of our franchisees, to compile this definitive list of building dos and don’ts.

The Sentinel Way

Lifting the lid on our build process – and the costs involved. For many, building a new home is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s also, often, a decision that requires big time and financial commitments. A quick Google search for ‘home builders nz’ will more than likely give you a ridiculous number of results – including close to 20 different building companies ready to help you build your dream home.

Inspiration starts here

Some people tell us that working with us gives them the best of both worlds – the reassurance and systems of a group home builder, but with far more design freedom. With us, you don’t have to pick your home out of a catalogue and just hope that it fits with your site and your family. We follow a really detailed process with architectural designers to make sure your new home suits you perfectly.

The Sentinel Homes community’s ultimate guide to moving house

Pro tips for less stressMoving house is no one’s idea of fun. Even if you love organising and tidying, there’s still the stress of the move itself to get through. Then there’s days or weeks of living with boxes you haven’t had time to unpack.The good news is there are some things you can do to the make the whole thing easier. We shared some of our pro moving tips on our Facebook page, and were inundated with amazing hacks from our community.

Adding emotion to function

Meet Anna and Ruary O’Toole: our new Nelson/Marlborough and Tasman franchiseesAnna O’Toole and her husband Ruary are Sentinel Homes newbies, but when it comes to owning a building company, they’re old hands.The couple are still running their commercial building company – joining the Sentinel Homes family as our Nelson/Marlborough and Tasman Franchise has rounded out what they can offer to the area.

It's all in the design

There’s nothing quite like designing and building your own home. Think floor-to-ceiling kitchen storage, open-plan living – heck, you could install a hand basin for every family member if you wanted. Starting from scratch allows you to create a home that functions perfectly for you and your family.

Two new houses for Joe Webber? No worries.

Generally, when people think about building a house, “relaxing” is not what they picture.But that’s exactly what Joe Webber says Sentinel Homes delivered when we built not one, but two homes for him.

Live rent-free while you build with Sentinel Homes

When you’re building your new home, where do you live? Do you rent a property, stay in your existing home (and pay two mortgages) or live in a caravanIt’s worth thinking about. While the cost of the land and the build are considered in your budget, often the cost of rent doesn’t get accounted for.

Christmas with the Sentinel family

Christmas is all about spending time with the family – and at Sentinel Homes, that doesn’t just mean relatives. Part of what makes our company so unique is our strong shared values, and the silly season lets us spend some time on our work relationships.

Charity begins at home

A BIG CONTRIBUTION FOR AN AMAZING CAUSE We’ve got a pretty big Christmas present ready for Parenting Place this year – a brand new house. After buying the land and building a home, we’ll sell the property and hand the profits over to our favourite charity.

Spotlight on Maree & Leon van de Water

We’re all about the people here at Sentinel Homes, and our staff are an integral part of that philosophy. To give you an insight into our awesome team, we’re profiling our people up and down the country. This month, the spotlight is on Maree van de Water, our NorthWest franchise owner and Managing Director.

Megan and Glen's Story

Last month our Warkworth/Matakana franchise owner, Brent Gilchrist passed away unexpectedly. The following story is testament to Brent’s legacy of integrity, passion and good will – something Brent’s wife Ursula and her team are committed to as they continue to manage Sentinel Homes Warkworth/Matakana.

Building a winning streak at Auckland House of the Year Awards

Sentinel Homes has once again seen its passion for building great family homes rewarded at the RMB Auckland House of the Year Awards. Sentinel Homes took out six awards, including gold - taking the Auckland team’s gold tally to nine, with 30 awards in total. We also won Gold Reserve (the overall winner in a category) in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

When builds go bad

How Sentinel Homes came to the rescue for Viv and John

A strong foundation for families

Building homes in partnership with Parenting Place

How to build a house from the deck of cruise ship

The Sentinel App gave Kevan and Michelle visibility and full control from their European holiday

Millwater showhome

Two living areas and a separated bedroom zone make this Sentinel Homes showhome ideal for family and entertaining

Auckland Couple build their dream home Part 2

I like the Harry Potter books. Not in a ‘I-have-a-Hufflepuff-tramp-stamp’ crazy-fan kind of way, but I have read each of the books and seen the corresponding movies. I remember watching one of the films with Caitlin once and she said, “I like these movies, but when I read the books, I imagined Hogwarts to be on a much grander scale, didn’t you?” Without needing to think about it, I replied: “nope, I just pictured Hogwarts as my high school”.

How to get approved for a mortgage in this market

It’s no secret that it’s getting harder and harder to get approved as a borrower to purchase property in this market, and there are a number of things driving that.

The smallest house in the coolest place

When Kylie Harcourt typed the wrong word in a real estate search, it sent her down a rabbit hole that ended with her dream; a beautiful cottage in a remote location. Find out how Sentinel Homes turned that dream into a reality.

Spotlight on Sentinel’s first franchise

When Sentinel made the decision to franchise the company in 2015, Barney Culloty became the company’s first regional managing director. Two years later, he’s loving his new challenge.

Auckland couple build their dream home

Thomas and Caitlin Weston are turning a bare piece of dirt into a family home with help from Sentinel Homes. Follow their journey as they turn their quest for a dream home into reality.

Sentinel Homes Hamilton wins 4 awards

Sentinel Homes Waikato were delighted to pick up a clutch of awards at the annual Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards at the Claudelands Event Centre recently. It was a great achievement given this was the first time they had entered the Awards and they knew they were up against some fierce competition. It’s a testament to the quality of their work that they managed to pick up a Gold and then the overall Category Winner for their Flagstaff Showhome. They were also awarded a Silver and the Lifestyle Award for Outdoor Living for one of their client’s Cambridge Park homes.

Advantages of House & Land Packages

House and land packages combine the comfort of owning land with the freedom that comes with designing your own home plan. Your customisation possibilities extend beyond the home itself, allowing you to choose both where the windows are and the view they look out to. With lots of exciting land ownership opportunities opening up in recent years, it’s a great time to look at combining your new house design with a plot to match.

5 Questions To Ask Your New Home Builder

When you build a new home, you’re making a large financial and emotional investment. You want to find the best possible builder to build your home and asking the right questions can help you do that.

Featured Article

Smaller Homes, Bigger Dreams: Maximizing Space in 2025

Smaller Homes, Bigger Dreams: Maximizing Space in 2025

Wrapped 2024 | Taking a look back at another great year

The newest pride of the South - Sentinel Homes Dunedin and Central Otago

A not-so-secret recipe to success

Sentinel brings home eight 2024 House of the Year awards

4 Reasons to visit our showhomes before you choose a builder

Meet the men redefining Christchurch’s building scene

Empowering parents, strengthening communities

Dreams to doorsteps — how long does it take to build a new house?

How to maximise space on smaller sections

​​A year of awards, innovations, and expansion

The new Karaka show home: not just a pretty face

Need to build a new home on a small site?

Park Green Open Day

What does a knockdown and rebuild involve?

Sentinel Homes Taranaki: Award-winning homes

How to future-proof your new home

Sentinel Homes bags seven House of the Year Awards 2023

Common questions about subdividing in NZ

New Wellington show home

Fortune favours the subdividers

Turn one of our house plans into one of yours.

Benefits of a house and land package

Building new: total control and a smarter investment

Smart-money home design

10 ideas for designing a home that is uniquely yours

Ambition and passion meet big build energy

Subdivide your way to the good life

Building homes to fit our changing world

Hometown reputation means everything

Architect by training, tradie at heart

Investment Property: Should you build or buy?

Team Taranaki is on a winning streak

The secret behind Waikato’s golden year

New tax exemptions make new builds the smarter investment

Sweeping the 2021 House of the Year Awards

Sunset views and a man cave make the Butlers’ perfect place

People and the planet, not just profit

Is your land build-ready?

Rugged beauty built to order in Akatarawa

It’s tens across the board for the Auckland North/West team

Sarah and Andrew’s ‘jackpot’ of a house

Two homes, one happy family

9-gong glory in the House of the Year Awards 2020

Meet Hayden Rau: Business owner/speed freak

Lockdown in a brand-new home

Lockdown pivots and how they’ve made our service stronger

Working from home is the new normal

Event wrap-up: FIH Hockey Pro League presented by Sentinel Homes

Enthusiasm and service wins Auckland North West team a seven-home development

Six-figure profit helps build Kiwi families

Golden finalist amongst the best at the nationals

Being mindful of the mind

FIH Pro League and beyond

Our golden run continues

The Keshavs live rent-free while we build their dream home

Good builds take time

Dos and don’ts for a stress-free build

The Sentinel Way

Inspiration starts here

The Sentinel Homes community’s ultimate guide to moving house

Adding emotion to function

It's all in the design

Two new houses for Joe Webber? No worries.

Live rent-free while you build with Sentinel Homes

Christmas with the Sentinel family

Charity begins at home

Spotlight on Maree & Leon van de Water

Megan and Glen's Story

Building a winning streak at Auckland House of the Year Awards

When builds go bad

A strong foundation for families

How to build a house from the deck of cruise ship

Millwater showhome

Auckland Couple build their dream home Part 2

How to get approved for a mortgage in this market

The smallest house in the coolest place

Spotlight on Sentinel’s first franchise

A year of awards, innovations, and expansion