The national Fieldays are in June, but you won’t have to wait ‘till then to enjoy a fun and informative day out for the whole family.

The regional field days kick off next week in Waimumu, with events in Dargaville and Feilding to follow.

Look out for Jennian Homes in the RD1 tent.

Come in for a chat and meet our friendly team.

We can answer all your questions about building a brand new home-town and country!

We’ll have a specialised rural range of homes on offer, and a generous rebate for RD1 customers. See you there!

Southern Districts, Waimumu – 15th to 17th February
Northern Districts, Dargaville – 1st to 3rd March
Central Districts, Feilding – 15th to 17th March

Find out more about Southern Field Days
Find out more about Northland Field Days
Find out more about Central Districts Field Days

Our team at Jennian Homes West Coast showed off their Christmas spirit along with their building skills over the weekend, entering a float in the Westport Christmas parade and then donating it as a prize on the day.

“I loved taking my children to Christmas parades when they were young,” says Jacque Osburn, sales manager for Jennian Homes West Coast. “It’s such a magical memory and I wanted our local families to enjoy it too.”

When a nursery rhyme theme was decided on, the team knew right away which story they wanted to depict.

“We’re all about building quality homes,” says Jacque, “so the Three Little Pigs was ideal for us.”
The team worked together with suppliers to design and build a large playhouse, complete with coloursteel roof and real windows.

The float was a big hit on the day, with local children excited to play the roles of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf. And we’re pleased to confirm it did not blow down!

The playhouse has been donated to the Westport Early Learning Centre, whose London Bridge is Falling Down float took out top honours on the day.

The team at Jennian Homes West Coast are delighted to see their creation go to a deserving new home where it can be enjoyed by local children for many years to come.

It’s that time of year when everyone likes to give a little something special to their friends and family. To celebrate the festive season, we’re giving away a year’s supply of Heart Foundation Lottery tickets to one lucky winner. Just visit our Facebook page, like us and register to win. It’s that simple. Why not treat yourself to an early Christmas present and be in with your chance to win?

http://on.fb.me/vLgVOB

Carl and Tracey Hamilton with Anyia and Libby

Carl Hamilton started his career in the construction industry as an apprentice with award-winning local builder Jennian Homes Southland. Twelve years on he’s returned to where it all began – this time as the owner, together with wife Tracey.

The Southland born and bred couple became Jennian franchisees on 1 April 2011, and have their sights set firmly on the future.   Carl and Tracey already have a successful business under their belts. Arriving home from the traditional Kiwi OE four years ago, they launched Carl Hamilton Builders Ltd, specialising in renovations as well as building new homes.

The move to Jennian has allowed them to deliver even greater value to their clients, with the security and superior buying power that comes with being part of a well-recognised and established brand nearing its fourth decade.

“My own business was already doing really well, but buying into Jennian Homes means we can develop even further,” Carl says. “It extends our opportunities and will bring more benefits for our clients throughout the region. Plus, it’s reassuring to know there’s something bigger behind us, with the right people with specialist skills to support our local team.”

He and Tracey believe that their clients found the transition seamless, as Carl continues to work on site, and Tracey helps out with marketing and client liaison – when she’s not working as a part-time occupational therapist or looking after the couple’s two children, Anyia aged three years and little Libby (the newest addition to the Hamilton clan).

Thinking of building in Southland? Get in touch with Carl and Tracey here www.jennian.co.nz/contact/southland

Abbie Siely - the voice behind our blog

After several years exploring the world, Abbie is welcoming a return to the beautiful scenery, relaxed living, and great coffee that makes New Zealand home. When she’s not busy keeping you up to date with our latest news, you can find her outside – hiking in the summer and snowboarding in the winter, or enjoying a glass of South Island pinot noir with friends.

A whole new wave of technology swept through our Tauranga show home this week as the team welcomed the arrival of QR codes. Visitors to the show home will be presented with an iPad upon arrival, which they can then use to gather information on fixtures and fittings as they stroll through the home. The collected data is then turned into a customised catalogue, which visitors receive a day or two later. The Tauranga team were delighted to be pioneering this technology and are looking forward to rolling it out over the coming weeks. What do you think? Are QR codes the next big thing?

Nelson Business Awards 2011

We’re delighted for our Nelson Bays franchisee Simon Collet, who has been recognised for building a successful and innovative business alongside his exceptional quality homes.

Jennian Homes Nelson Bays Ltd stood out from the pack at the Westpac Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Business Awards over the weekend, picking up three awards including the coveted Westpac Supreme Business Award.

Earlier in the year, three of the company’s homes received honours in the Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards, including a Gold Reserve Finalist.

Simon and his team have built on their success from last year, when they received the Chamber’s Service Excellence Award and four awards for House of the Year.

We are proud of the achievements of our Nelson Bays franchise, and so is Simon. “We have worked hard and we look after our clients,” he says.

While the judges were impressed by Jennian’s design packages and high service standards, Simon puts his success down to having a vision, encouraging his staff to be a part of that vision, and not being afraid to take risks.

It is this positive attitude and commitment to excellence that has seen his company flourish in what has been a challenging time for business.

At a time when many businesses are exercising caution, Simon is optimistic about the future – and with the success of the past two years he has every reason to be.

Our Canterbury franchise's Future Proof show home

We’re excited to be doing our bit to help Cantabrians as they work through the many decisions involved in rebuilding their homes.

Our ‘Tomorrow’s Showhome’ in Lincoln is equipped with QR code technology, making it easy for visitors to learn more about products and services on display that they might like to include in their own home.

This beautiful home, built in conjunction with Future-Proof Building, showcases building techniques, products and appliances designed to improve lifestyle and conserve resources.

It’s a home that’s better to live in today, and will be worth more in the future.

So, how does it work?

QR or ‘quick response’ codes are a type of two dimensional barcode – geometric boxes you may have noticed cropping up in magazines and on billboards.

A step up from the traditional barcodes of old, QR codes can be read by smartphones and other mobile devices like iPads, providing users with access to detailed information faster than ever before.

When you visit our Lincoln show home, our friendly hostess greets you with an iPad and shows you how to use it.

As you wander through the home you can scan QR codes next to appliances and materials that you’d like to learn more about.

The information collates into a personalised catalogue just for you.  A few days later a booklet arrives in your letterbox with all the information about the features that caught your attention.

We know this technology will be useful for anyone thinking about building a new home, or improving the home they live in now.

Creating your own personalised catalogue is surprisingly simple and fun. And with this technology becoming standard in all Jennian show homes, it won’t be long before everyone can enjoy a little extra help with the big decisions in their home.