#residentialhomebuilder

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This is Why Hiring A Custom Home Builder Is the Right Choice!

Single Point of Contact

Hiring a custom home builder means you get an architect, a contractor and a project manager all in one. That means that as the client you only have to communicate with a single person about any and every aspect of your home. This makes the whole process a lot smoother and easier.

2.     Save Money

A home builder might be an upfront cost you think of as unnecessary, but this decision can save you money in the long run. A custom home builder will help you manage your budget, recommend cost-saving materials and design decisions and keep subcontractors honest with their pricing.

3.     Save Time

By eliminating the bidding stage you already save time with a home builder. In addition, your custom home builder will become the sole person responsible for the project meaning scheduling and timelines can be managed easily without the hassle of miscommunication.

4.     Better Communication

Miscommunication is not only a headache but it can be costly in terms of both time and money on a build. Luckily, with a custom home builder, everything happens under one roof meaning the chances of miscommunication happening are significantly reduced.

5.     Easy Changes

Changes and construction go hand in hand. Setbacks, delays and design changes are bound to occur. With a custom home builder, all of these become easier to handle as you’ll have one person dealing with all of these changes. You’ll also have the added benefit of having the ability to alter your home design further along than you would if you had a separate architectural designer and builder.

6.     Better Quality

The most important thing to a custom home builder if their client's happiness. To them, it’s not just about completing the job and moving on but rather it’s about building a lasting relationship. They know quality design, quality construction, quality communication, quality relationships and quality product will be the way to satisfaction.  

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A new home addition project in White Rock . Faze I - foundation , drainage almost done . #homeadditions, #generalcontractorssurrey, #residentialhomebuilder , #builders

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We Can Help You...AVOID Home Buyers Remorse! 

Find the Right Agent

The right agent can make all the difference. They will be your ally through the stressful process. A good agent will negotiate prices, point out items you may have missed, and generally guide you through the whole buying process. Real estate agents are also a great source of information, they can tell you if you’re getting a good deal and share info about neighborhoods.

Meet Your Needs

When you start looking for a house, write down your wish list. This should be a combination of both wants and needs. Then, it’s a good idea to prioritize them from deal breakers to would-be-nice items. This way, you can make sure that the house you pick meets you top wishes.

Think about the future too, especially if you’re planning on staying in the house for awhile. Will your family be growing? Are you going to want more bedrooms in the future? What about separate living spaces for the kids? Will school districts and transportation matter? Thinking about all of this will save you from having to move before you want to.

Right Price

In hot housing markets, like Toronto, it’s hard to not spend a good chunk of money on a home. It’s important you feel comfortable with the price you pay though. Never spend more than you can afford. This will put you in a tough financial spot and stress you out. If you lose a house, don’t panic. There will be another one later on.

Future Resale Value

The common mistake people make when picking a home is not thinking about resale value. Even forever homes end up needing to be sold. Life has a way of changing plans. You may be looking at a home that you plan on making changes too, but when it comes time to sell you realize you won’t see any money in return for those upgrades. All of that should be taken into account when you buy. Think about the future!

Ask Questions

Knowledge is power, especially when buying a home. Don’t be afraid to ask the sellers questions. After all, they know the home better than anyone. Knowing things like why they’re selling, what they love about the home, and how old certain features are, gives you info about the property. It also decreases the chances of unpleasant surprises.

Contact a Toronto Custom Home Builder today if you have any questions or concerns.

[customhomestoronto-blog]

You Should Live In a Townhouse Development - Here’s Why!

1. Townhouse Owners Are Landowners

In a busy, large city like Toronto, single-family homes are often unrealistic for many people. They are either too far away, too small, or too expensive to justify purchasing. That results in more people settling for condo living. When you purchase a condo or apartment though, you only own the space within the residence's walls. With townhouses though, you actually own the land they are built on. What this means is that you will be a landowner as well as a homeowner. The land is incredibly valuable in the GTA so this is a bonus you don’t get with a condo.

2.     Townhouses Come With Access To Amenities

One huge draw to condo living over single-family homes is the access to amenities. Most condos offer gyms, pools, media rooms, spas, and other great features to those that live in the building. With townhouses, you get that perk as well. Each townhouse community will offer different amenities so it’s easy to find one that meets your needs.

3.     The Only Upkeep You Do Is Inside

A big downside of purchasing a house is knowing you will have to care for the entire thing, from interior repairs to exterior ones, not to mention landscaping. That’s another wonderful bonus of townhouse living- you are only required to upkeep the interior of the home. Most exterior repairs and landscaping is taken care of by a townhome development’s homeowners association. While there is usually a monthly fee, it typically comes out to less long term. Plus, it gives you the peace of mind knowing you don’t have to worry about painting the house, mowing the lawn, or shoveling the sidewalk.

4.     Townhomes Are Financial Smart

It’s no secret that Toronto has an incredibly expensive and competitive housing market. That means that houses go for way more than they should. Townhomes are a great option because they are typically cheaper than single-family homes in the same areas. Townhouses can also be located closer to downtown, meaning you’re getting a better location at a better price. That means you’ll save money on transportation and commuting.

Contact a Toronto Custom Home Builder today to discuss our latest townhouse developments that we are working on.

[customhomestoronto-blog]

Fire Your Custom Home Builder: 5 Signs 

1. Asking For Too Much Money Up Front

Every home builder will ask for some money up front, this is perfectly normal. However, anything over 15% the total amount is a big red flag. A good home builder will have enough credit to pay the rest. You don’t want to pay for work before it’s done. That’s the easiest way to ensure it won’t get done on time or up to par.

There are moments in the building process when additional money is required. Items like foundation work, plumbing, framing, roofing, flooring, or unplanned costs, will require more upfront money. Make sure when you hand over this money it’s tied to a specific milestone task. Sketchy home builders will tie money to dates, not items, which is another red flag.

It’s not always best to take the cheapest big. Remember, the saying you get what you pay for is so true in construction. If you’re paying less, expect less quality work. This could result in costlier repairs in the long run.

2. Keeping Odd Hours

It’s a good idea to stop by and see the house a few times while it’s being built. Before going into the actual site make sure you let your home builder know for safety reasons. It’s perfectly fine to stop by or drive by unannounced to make sure work is being done. If you visit at normal houses and the site is quite, that’s an issue.

Home builders do set their own house, but if they aren’t working during the day then that means they likely won’t be sticking to your timeline. Ask your home builder about these issues. Often there is a perfectly acceptable reason as to why they weren’t at the site or why work wasn’t being done. Maybe the floors were just refinished so they couldn’t work that day or your home builder was out looking for materials. If they don’t have a good excuse or they get defensive, it’s a bad sign.

3. Using Drugs or Alcohol On the Job

Whatever a home builder does during their free time isn’t your concern, but if their personal life interferes with their professional time than it is. You should absolutely not tolerate any illicit drugs, alcohol, or unreasonable prescription drug use on your project site. This goes for everyone working on the site, from contractors to workmen.

4. Not Signing a Contract

A contract isn’t just a piece of paper- it’s a document that provides safety and protection for both you and the home builder. If anything is damaged, disputed, or even misunderstood, the contract is there for clarification. Contracts should spell out every aspect of the project from the expected work completed to the materials being used. All of this will impact the price you agree to pay. If a home builder doesn’t want to sign a contract, chances are they don’t intend to do what they say.

5. Having Poor Communication

You might not realize this, but communication is by far the most important thing during a project. You as homeowners should know exactly what is happening at every step. After all, you’re the ones paying for it!

It’s important to have reasonable expectations for communication though. Make sure to discuss these when signing the contract. A missed call is fine, they’re probably working, but they should be able to call you back in a timely manner. But if you’re calling during non-work hours, you’re not respecting their personal time. Some builder are okay with this, other’s aren’t. It’s best to understand all of this before one of your crosses a line by accident.

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Avoid Making These Mistakes As A First Time Home Builder!!

Mistake 1: Not Choosing the Right Custom Home Builder

You will be relying on your custom home builder and working with them for months. Make sure they are experienced and talented. 

Mistake 2: Doing it All Yourself

Many people make the mistake of trying to save a few dollars by taking on the role of the general contractor or project manager themselves. This can actually end up costing you more money, though. 

Mistake 3: Cutting Corners

Cutting corners during construction is never a good thing. Especially don’t skimp out on key items. Doing that will only guarantee higher costs later on. 

Mistake 4: Not Thinking About Livability

During the building process, it can be easy to forget you will live in that home. Don’t let your voice, needs, and wants to get lost amongst everyone else’s. 

Mistake 5: Having Unrealistic Expectations

Even the best home builder can’t give you everything. Have realistic expectations about what you can get in your home. 

Mistake 6: Not Thinking About The Future

Not thinking about the future is by far the biggest mistake first time home builders make. Are you planning on expanding your family? Will you potentially need an in-law suit? 

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Myths About Architecture Firms, EXPLAINED! 

Myth #1: Architecture Firms are Unaffordable

Architecture firms will work within the budget you provide them. Not only that but they can actually end up saving you money because they have relationships and haggling experience with the contractors and material suppliers you’ll be using.    

Myth #2: Architects Make a Lot of Money

Architects tend to get lumped together with lawyers and doctors but the truth is we don’t make nearly as much as them. A few of the big names might but most of us make around the same amount as you so there’s no need to feel insecure or intimidated about your budget or spending.

Myth #3: An Architecture Firm Will Just Design

We’ll only do the design part of the process if that is what you want but we are also able to do the whole project including project management.

Myth #4: Architects are Only for Large Scale Projects

A lot of people think you only need an architecture firm if you’re constructing a tall building. The truth is that most firms’ work on smaller scale projects most of the time.    

Myth #5: Architects are Introverted and Weird

We blame movies and TV shows for this myth. Most of us architects are very outgoing- we have to be between talking to clients, contractors, colleagues, and distributors.

Myth #6: All Architecture Firms are the Same

Architecture firms can vary in different ways. Each firm has a different experience, qualification, styles, and management skills. We might all do the same thing but we don’t all do it in the same way.