There’s much excitement that comes when you are planning to build a home, but there are certain things to keep in mind so you don’t end up with regrets down the road. It can be tremendously satisfying when you plan ahead and choose the right builder, but it can be frustrating if you do not. Read on to discover eight mistakes to avoid when you build a home in Canada. If you're looking for a custom home builder in the Blue Mountain area, contact L. Patten and Sons today!
8 Mistakes to Avoid When You Build A Home In Canada
1. Short-term thinking
If you custom build a home and plan on being there well into your retirement, you should design with reduced mobility in mind. Taking a long-term view at the design and construction phase can save you all kinds of headaches down the road - and your home's eventual next buyers might appreciate it, too!
Potential problem areas include elevated front porches (those steps could be an issue down the line), or second-floor master bedrooms, which might be hard to reach in the future.
If you custom build a home and plan on being there well into your retirement, you should design with reduced mobility in mind.
2. Failing to anticipate delays
When you build a home in In the “true north strong and free”, you should make room in your schedule for delays. Even if you plan your build in traditionally dry, warm months, you could still be hit by wind, rain, and even snow when you least expect it, making it difficult for your builder to keep things rolling.
Other delays could be caused by government delays as you attempt to secure permits. For this reason, it’s best to anticipate potential delays when it comes to securing permits.
"Every builder and contractor I've talked to says that their country, city, or state is 'the worst' when it comes to permitting and bureaucracy," says Jordan Brannon, who built a 4,600-square-foot home with his wife in 2010. "They can't all be right, but universally the local bureaucracy will cost you money and delay you."
Being flexible with your timeline with room for delays means you - and your wallet - will be pleasantly surprised when things come in on time.
3. Poor planning with heating, ventilation and air conditioning
In Canada, we get hot summer months and bitter, snowy winters. Poor planning with respect to heating, ventilation and air conditioning - or HVAC - here can lead to issues with moisture, mold, and other health concerns.
You should give careful attention to the size of your units. Models that are too small will under perform and won’t cool and heat your home efficiently. You’ll come to regret this when your home is too cool in the wintertime and not cool enough during the hot summer months. On the other hand, those that are too large will use up too much energy.
Make sure to listen to the advice of the HVAC professionals when planning this aspect of your home.
4. Adding under-utilized rooms
The addition of a playroom, game room, or multipurpose room sounds enticing, but you should only plan to build rooms that will actually get used. An unused room often becomes a dumping ground to place objects that also never get used!
If you plan on adding a spare room, make sure that it is a room that can transition well from one type to the next. A specific sewing room may never get used, but a sewing room or office that also doubles as a guest room could indeed get used often.
5. Poor space planning
Along those same lines, Fresh Home writes, “Unless you have plans to build a very large home, space planning and design is crucial. Ample storage is necessary, but pay attention to where you place your storage space.”
Does your master bedroom really need an oversized walk-in closet when the space could potentially be added to your bedroom or master bath? Pay attention to where you place your closets. There should be one in each bedroom and in a main hallway. But too many and the storage space takes away from the living space.
Since you live in a cooler climate where coats are worn at least half of the year, it would be wise to add a large foyer closet, especially if you entertain in your home and the front entrance is the main point of entry. If you have no use for a coat closet, don’t build one!
If you clearly need more space, consider building a larger home.
6. Lack of natural light
The importance of natural light when you build a home can’t be understated. It should be the main source of light wherever possible, so windows should be present in every room and as large as you’re able to fit and afford. Light fixtures and outlets should also be plentiful.
7. Ignoring energy alternatives
With the rising costs of energy bills and concerns over climate change, it's no wonder many are considering solar panels in Ontario as a clean alternative. While wind and water have their merits, solar is by far the most accessible, and the installation of panels is becoming increasingly popular with homeowners.
More and more people are adding solar panels to existing rooftops, and the experts at L. Patten and Sons highly recommend considering solar for any new custom home builds. Click here to discover 3 things you need to know about solar panels.
Be sure to consider natural light in your home, as well solar panels.
8. Letting someone tell you what you need
While it’s good to trust the expertise of the professionals you hire to build a home, it’s also true that you know your family’s needs and preferences the best. Professionals can make suggestions, but they cannot tell you what you do and don’t need.
Trust L. Patten & Sons When You Build A Home
L. Patten & Sons Limited brings over fifty years of custom home building experience to every project we undertake. We take pride in building custom homes that are as beautiful to look at as they are comfortable to live in.
If you are building a dream home that you plan to live in for years, make sure it’s as close to what you want and need as possible.
Take this testimonial from Marie Cumming as an example of what you can expect:
“As an interior designer I have great respect for a company with the construction and management skills to build a home on time and in budget while meeting a client's vision. Through every stage of construction the Patten team took our design and turned it into reality. We have our dream home.”