In this article, we will address some of the biggest myths about custom home building.

L Patten & Sons has been debunking these myths with high-quality custom homes in the Collingwood and Blue Mountain area for over 60 Years.

Now, let’s break down some of these myths, including myths like custom home building takes too long, is too complicated, and it’s impossible to find the right land.

Myth #1: Your home will take forever to finish

If you sit down and consider the possibility of taking an empty piece of land and having your dream home built on it, you may feel a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Custom home building can seem like an overwhelming process, but it’s actually not as long of a process as you might think.

A custom home builder can typically have you in your new build anywhere from 10-18 months from the start of the project.

Not a small amount of time, it’s true. However, at the end of the process, you’ll be able to live in and enjoy the home of your dreams for years to come, so it’s worth the wait.

The custom home building process typically lasts 10-18 months

Myth #2: There are hidden costs

This myth tends to emanate from those who were recently dissatisfied with their own custom home building experience. The long and short of it is when the paperwork is signed, the cost to build a home shouldn’t fluctuate.

A good custom home builder will do their due diligence and discuss any potential hangups in the estimate before construction begins, making sure to stick to your budget.

Having said that, it’s up to you as the buyer to make decisions and stick to them. Making even small changes along the way could affect the end cost. Be sure to refer to our checklist as a handy guide.

Myth #3: The process is too complicated

Each stage of the custom home building process varies in terms of its complexity, but the general steps can be traced broadly as follows:

Establish a budget
Select and purchase your land
Get involved in the design process
Choose the right builder

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.

L. Patten can help you through every stop of the process and make it as comfortable as possible for you

Myth #4: Design experience is necessary

You don’t need to be well versed in the ins and outs of custom home design, but it does help to know what you want coming into it.

You should come prepared with a basic understanding of what you want. For example:

How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want?
What sort of entertaining space do you need?
What are your priorities, and what can you bend on?
What style do you like?

Make sure you understand the cost involved with all of these decisions so that the house designed for you fits within your established budget.

This is also where the input of your builder becomes valuable, as they are the hands-on source for realistic material and labour costs.

Myth #5: It's too expensive

Some might argue it makes more economic sense to dip into the current market over building a brand new custom home. However, while the base price of new homes sometimes costs more than a resale, buyers need to consider the full operating costs of both types of homes.

Everything will be brand new with a custom home, and you also get brand new warranties as well. You can also design your home with power savings in mind, drastically reducing your annual hydro bills.

Furthermore, new construction is also better for potential re-sale, although the plan may be to live long term in the custom home. Either way, it’s a win-win for you.

Myth #6: It's too hard to find land

This certainly depends on where you want to build, and dense urban areas will provide challenges in terms of finding land.

Choosing your location is a crucial factor when you are buying land to build a house. You may want a nice, private, and remote location, but you also want to make sure you’re able to easily access not only the home itself, but also whatever your family will need on a day to day basis - schools, shops, etc.

It can be a real balancing act, and it’s important to determine your priorities and desired lifestyle when assessing land opportunities. But finding the perfect plot is achievable! We have created a checklist for buying land for the purpose of custom home building to help with this stage.

Myth #7: Home builders don't communicate

This is only true of companies that don’t prioritize customer service.

It is important to understand, going into a build, what you should expect from the builder.

Will the updates come from the builder themselves or from your project manager? Will you get updates weekly, monthly, or daily?

The key to any good relationship is communication. Ask the builder if there is a standard of customer service that they hold to, if there a certain amount of time that they guarantee responses in, and what is the best way to communicate with them.

Also, once you move into the home, there will likely always be a few things here and there that need to be fixed - all minor things. However, it is important to know that the builder will come back to double check things once you’ve moved in.

Exceptional customer service is a hallmark of our custom home building service

Trust L. Patten For The Best In Custom Home Building!

L. Patten & Sons takes 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 home building community.

Our home owners can rest assured that their new home will be a source of pride and satisfaction for many years to come.

“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.”

- Maria Cumming