Yes, you can still get price and timeline certainty – even now.
With interest rates, construction costs, and global supply chains in flux, many Kiwis are hesitant to take on a building project.
Confidence takes a hit when people fear their build will blow the budget or drag months past deadline – a familiar story for many New Zealanders still wary after pandemic-era disruptions.
But Paul Bull, CEO of Signature Homes, says now could actually be a smart time to build if you choose a builder that can guarantee not just price and timeline, but also trust.
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“We’re close to or at the bottom of the housing cycle,” Bull says. “We've got a lot of work in the pipeline. Retail banks are getting more competitive, and we’re optimistic about the back half of 2025 and into 2026. The challenge is giving people the confidence to move forward.”
Built-in certainty
Genuine fixed-price and completion guarantees are key to a smooth building experience, Bull says. Once the contract is signed with Signature Homes, “there is no price movement – no surprises, no escalation, no stress”.
The company also offers a guaranteed completion date once the foundation and floor are complete.
How is this possible while remaining price-competitive? Through strong, long-term relationships with suppliers and a deep understanding of future pricing trends, the company can predict costs and timing with precision.
“Our product cycle is long – sometimes up to a year or more from contract to move in date. But we price at tomorrow’s rates and lock it in. We can do that because of the volume we build and the backing we have from our supply network,” Bull says.
“We have to compete at the sales coal face. If there is price escalation throughout the project, it's at our cost.”
Signature Homes is one of New Zealand’s top three builders, with around 400 homes under construction per annum, all backed by New Zealand’s best building guarantees.
Meticulous service
Price certainty is only one part of the puzzle. Bull says what really sets Signature Homes apart is customer experience – something the company measures thoroughly at four key stages of every build: contract, roof-on, handover, and three months post-completion.
“We have a Client Experience Officer who reports directly to me, and we take client experience seriously,” Bull says. “We don’t just want our clients satisfied – we want them telling their friends and family about us.”
That focus has earned Signature Homes the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Award two years in a row, based on independent surveys of New Zealanders.
Bull says the company intensified its focus on service “because the industry is riddled with stories about poor service, builders’ failures, guarantee failures and budget blowouts – which creates nervousness for banks.”
The company was recently named one of Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies for 2024, an award recognising excellence in strategy, innovation and performance. Signature Homes says the recognition reflects its commitment to running the business as solidly as the homes it builds.
Homes for every stage of life
“Our company’s position is ‘Your home, Your way’. We spend a lot of time diagnosing clients' needs and wants as a team. We tailor every package to each client – whether it’s $350,000 or $3.5 million.
“It’s typically our clients’ most valuable asset. We never forget that.”
This personal approach extends to financing, site planning, and even interior selections.
“We like to think of ourselves as the Toyota of housing – whether you’re getting a Prius or a Landcruiser, you get that Signature name and quality across.”
Health and safety leadership
“We’ve had anecdotal feedback that we are deemed to be the leaders not only in site health and safety but also mental wellbeing.”
Through partnerships with Trees That Count, Save the Kiwi, and Mates in Construction, the company is also investing in NZ’s future. Every home it builds results in around 45 native trees planted.
“We’ve calculated the emissions for every home size, and we’re planting the trees to mitigate our construction emissions – over 56,000 so far,” Bull says. “It’s not a requirement. We just think it’s the right thing to do.”
The company is also putting pressure on its supply chain to lower their emissions and deal with waste responsibly.
Peace of mind the ultimate goal
With economic volatility still making headlines, building a home in 2025 can feel like a leap of faith. But Bull says it doesn’t have to be.
“Every home we build represents someone’s future. Our job is to make sure they walk away with not just a house – but peace of mind, pride, and an experience worth sharing.”
Learn more at signature.co.nz
