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For nearly four decades, Today Homes has been crafting high-quality family homes across Canterbury. What began in 1987 as Graeme and Anne Sanders' vision has evolved into a full family enterprise, with their three sons, Jon, Simon, and Michael, now delivering about 150 homes annually throughout the region.

With around 80% of that work concentrated in the Selwyn District, the company has developed a reputation as a trusted provider of high-quality homes that give families room to grow.

"A lot of our clients come to us for their Kiwi Dream Home," Jon Sanders, Qualified Builder and Managing Director of Today Homes explains. "What's great about Selwyn is there's still space to create that quarter-acre dream that's getting harder to find elsewhere."

Over the years, the company’s focus on quality and consistency has built more than houses – it's built a network of around 250 key trade contacts across the district, and a reputation for delivering projects on time and to an industry high standard.

That track record recently earned them recognition that no other builder in the district has yet achieved: Gold Status in Selwyn District Council’s Professional Partnership Programme.

Fast-track success

The Professional Partnership Programme, launched in 2021, has been enhanced to fast-track an even greater range of building designs. Today Homes' achievement of Gold Status is the result of years of trust-building through consistently high-quality applications that require minimal follow-up from council staff.

The recognition means their building consents get approved in two to five days instead of the standard four weeks – and they pass the cost savings directly to clients.

"It's all about building that trust with Council over time. They need to see that you're consistently delivering quality applications without them having to chase you for more information. Once they know they can rely on you, everyone benefits – us, them, and most importantly, our clients."

For Today Homes and their clients, the benefits are immediate and tangible. Building consents that once took weeks now get approved in days, and the cost savings flow directly to customers.

"The fast-track process means we're not keeping families waiting," Jon says. "Everyone wins – we can start construction sooner, clients get into their homes faster, and the cost savings get passed on. It's exactly the kind of efficiency that makes doing business in Selwyn so much better."

When compared to other Canterbury districts, the difference is stark. "From our point of view as a building company in the Canterbury region, from a building consent side, Selwyn are by far streaks ahead," says Jon.

A true partnership

The relationship between Today Homes and Selwyn District Council exemplifies genuine collaboration. As part of Council’s strategic relationship management approach, regular meetings with senior staff and six-monthly catch-up forums offer valuable opportunities for feedback and continuous improvement.

"We regularly catch up with the CEO Sharon Mason, and Executive Director of Development and Growth Bob Love," Jon says. "They're more than happy to spend time with us every month to go over anything we want to talk about. The Council is really quite active in looking at ways to improve, which is great. They are actually interested to hear our feedback and implement solutions to solve a problem, so it's a great relationship."

Jon sees Council's ongoing investment in infrastructure and amenities as crucial to the district's appeal.

"The Council have done an awesome job at massively boosting their infrastructure over the last 10 years. They've been year-on-year the fastest growing district in the country, and it must have been difficult for them to keep up, but they've done a bloody good job."

Looking ahead, Jon is optimistic about continued improvements, including the coming (and much-needed) large-scale hardware store and a second campus for Rolleston High School to support the district's growing families.

More than just builders

Today Homes' commitment to Selwyn extends beyond construction sites. All three Sanders brothers live in West Melton, just minutes from Rolleston, embedding themselves in the very communities they help build.

The family's involvement in local life runs deep. They help where they can in the community and sponsor multiple local sporting clubs, with Jon actively coaching at the Kirwee Rugby Club. "We're heavily involved in the local community.” says Jon. “That's how we like to be known: a local builder for the community".

This local connection creates a network effect that benefits the entire district. With plans to build five new show homes across Selwyn in the next 12 months, Today Homes is doubling down on its commitment to the district. By continuing to focus on quality and community, they aim to maintain their position as the go-to builder that Canterbury people come to and trust.

"Our goal is to deliver a quality product and smooth construction process that clients will recommend to their friends and family. If we can do that, the sales come in by themselves, and we can consistently keep business ticking over while delivering great family homes to the community."

"That's always been our approach – we're not chasing massive growth or trying to be the biggest builder in Canterbury. We just want to be the one people trust, and everything else flows from there."

Last modified: 04 Jun 2025 12:41pm