Are you looking for the best custom home builders Ontario has to offer? Today we are going to let you know how to find the right one.
L. Patten & Sons specializes in custom-built homes in Collingwood and the Blue Mountain area. We'd love to put our 60 plus years of experience building custom homes to work for you to build your dream home!
We'll give you some helpful advice on what to look for when you are choosing a custom home builder to work with. So let's get started.
Custom home builders Ontario: How to choose the best one for you
Custom Home Builders Ontario: How to Find the Right One
Building a custom home will probably be the biggest investment you will ever make, so you want to make sure that you are working with the best custom home builder in Ontario. Before you make your decision, here are some steps to follow to help you choose wisely.
1. Choose a Local Builder
There are huge advantages to choosing to work with a local builder. these include:
Local Builders are Invested in Your Community:
A local builder is invested in your community. They live and work where you do, so they are committed to your community. Because they are local, they will want to protect their reputation and therefore will provide you with the best customer service and quality work possible.
Custom home builders Ontario: Work with a local builder
Local Builders Know the Local Regulations:
A local builder also has a thorough knowledge and probably a good working relationship with your local building department and their requirements. They will be familiar with local regulations such as building codes and which permits are required.
This knowledge will help to ensure that your custom home build progresses smoothly without any legal delays.
Local Builders are Familiar with Local Sub-trades:
In addition they will also be very familiar with the pool of local sub-contractors available as they will have worked with them before. They will know which ones do the best and most reliable job and they will know which ones to avoid.
Custom Home Builders Ontario: Local builders are familiar with permit requirements
2. Do Lots of Research
It's a wise idea to put extra effort into choosing your builder. Doing lots of research before you make your decision will pay off in the long run. Your research could include:
Asking Other Local Homeowners:
Drive around the area you are wanting to build in and see if you can talk to any homeowners who have recently had their houses built. Choose from a variety of styles of houses and find the one that appeals the most to you.
Be polite and ask these homeowners about their experience. If you explain that you are planning on building a home in their neighbourhood and that you really like their home, they will probably be more than happy to chat with you about their experience with their builder.
Reading Online Reviews:
In addition to asking other homeowners in your neighbourhood, you can also do some online research. Do a search of the custom home builders Ontario has to offer and check out their reviews to discover their strengths and weaknesses.
Talking to Past Customers:
Ask to talk to your possible builder's past customers to find out what their experience was like. Ask questions such as:
What was the builder like to work with? Did they listen to your requests?
Did they complete the build on time?
Did they stay within the proposed budget or were there extra costs?
What was the builder's after-sales service like?
Would you recommend this builder?
Custom home builders Ontario: Ask other homeowners about their experience
Choose a Builder that Can Deliver Your Vision
Different builders will have different strengths and experience. Choose a builder whose past work is something you admire. Just like an artist, each builder will have a different flare and interpretation of blueprints.
Take a look at past projects of the custom builders you are considering and choose one that has produced the style of homes that you love.
Choose a builder who is willing to work with you on the design that you want and who will listen to your ideas. A good builder will be able to give you information about the logistics of your choices as well as how much it will cost.
If something you want isn't possible or is going to be outside of your budget, then a top builder will suggest alternatives that will satisfy you and your pocketbook.
Take a look at the builder’s past projects
Find Out About Pricing
Building a custom home is a huge investment, so you want to know upfront, what it is going to cost. You don't want to find out partway through your build that you won't have enough money to finish. No two custom homes are the same and neither will they cost the same.
Pricing not only depends on the size of home you are building, but also on the type of materials you choose and the design features you want included. Putting together an accurate quote takes time, so you need to be patient.
Gathering full pricing can takes weeks of steady work to get right. A good builder will be able to give you an accurate quote and will not present you with unexpected costs along the way.
Find out what everything is going to cost
Important Additional Considerations When Choosing Your Builder
Make sure that your builder will provide you with a well-written and thorough contract.
Beware if the price that you are quoted is too good to be true and is significantly lower than the other quotes that you have received.
Make sure that the estimate you are given has a lot of details and is not simply a lump sum.
Stay away from builders who use high-pressure sales tactics. You want to feel comfortable working with your builder and not obliged to purchase something that you really don't want.
Find out what's not included in the estimate like development charges, hydro connection charges, appliances and final landscape charges. These costs can end up being significant, so ask your builder for guidelines and be prepared.
Don't go with a builder who is asking you to give them a large initial down-payment or a deposit before starting your build.
Only work with a builder who is Tarion certified.
Check that the builder has additional insurance for General Liability or Workers Compensation.
Choose a custom home builder who is Tarion certified
The Best Custom Home Builders Ontario Has to Offer: L. Patten & Sons
If you are thinking of building the custom home of your dreams, contact L. Patten & Sons. L. Patten & Sons brings over 60 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.
We make it our goal to help all our clients realize their dreams. Quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and complete customer satisfaction are what sets L. Patten and Sons apart in the Collingwood and Blue Mountain area custom home building community. Take a look for yourself at our gallery of some of the custom homes that we have built.
Our home owners can rest assured that their new home will be a source of pride and satisfaction for many years to come! Contact us today to get started on your dream home.
"Jerry & the team at L Patten & Sons did an outstanding job building our home. Building a custom home is complex with many challenges, the team went above & beyond. Our family loves the home that they built us. Honesty & Integrity comes to mind when I think of L Patten & Sons." - CJ Horan