How To Choose The Best Custom Home Builders For You
Building a new custom house is a big, complex decision, and you want to have the confidence that you’ve made the right choice before you break ground. With so many factors to consider, how do you find the best custom home builders for you? Contact an experienced home construction company like L. Patten & Sons to begin developing all the ideas you have for your perfect home.
In order to answer that question and provide some guidance, we’ve put together a helpful list of pointers you can use to guide yourself through the research process. Click each heading below to be taken to that section:
Do Your Research
Consider Your Materials
Style Matters
Luxury Options
Ask for Details
Read Reviews
Practical Consideration
Building a new home is a big task, but with enough research, planning, and communication with the best custom home builders in your area, you can reach peace of mind with your decision.
DO YOUR RESEARCH
The first and most important step of any big purchase is to simply be informed. If you’re reading this, it means you’re already on the right track.
The goal of research is to be able to judge for yourself which options are good deals, which companies are trustworthy, and which choices will best fit your personal style and needs.
Read blogs, watch videos, and call up businesses to ask for more information until you feel you’ve built an informed body of knowledge.
Houses have so many features that it can be hard to keep track of what you’ve learned. Start a notebook or spreadsheet to keep track of what you’ve researched. Start by recording your preferences, then use the internet to find local companies that offer the service you want.
Many businesses are happy to give you more information if you call them, so if you need finer details about something, call up your local home-building company.
If you don’t know what to research, read on. Many other important aspects of home construction are covered below.
2. CONSIDER YOUR MATERIALS
Wood, vinyl, metal, glass? Each has its advantages, both for interior and exterior use:
Wood - Adds a beautiful rustic look. It’s important to note that wood does not conduct heat very well, meaning wooden houses may heat up and cool down slower.
Vinyl - Vinyl siding is low maintenance, easy to clean, durable, and affordable, although it can discolour over time.
Metal - Quite durable in the elements, metal is primarily used for accents and secondary features like eavestroughs, although metal decorations look stunning when placed tastefully throughout a garden.
Glass - Glass lets through lots of light and heat. You want plenty of windows to let in natural light, but be careful how they’re placed so they don’t undermine your privacy.
The two most important things to consider are your own personal budget and your own personal taste.
3. STYLE MATTERS
Remember, your personal style matters. After everything’s said and done, you should be proud of the house you’re left with, and part of that is choosing a style of house that fits your preferences.
One way to find your style is to consider your decoration plans. How do you plan to lay out the interior of your house? Or what does your dream patio look like? Start with identifying your decorative style, then extend that style to your house.
Sharp, pragmatic, metallic interiors would match the house above. If you dream of relaxing in something more like a cozy cottage, make sure the outside of your house conforms to that dream.
4. LUXURY OPTIONS
Any part of your home can be upgraded as you see fit. Not every construction company offers luxury services, but if such features are important, the best home builders for you will have lots of experience.
Luxury living comes in many forms, from gorgeous lake houses to getaways on the Niagra Escarpment. Some of the most popular luxury amenities include:
Large back patios - Patios can be built with gazebos, gates, benches, and hot tubs.
Wine racks and cellars - If you’re into wine, proper storage is a must. So why not invest in classy, functional wine storage? Just make sure you’re storing it properly.
Fireplaces - Can be added to living spaces, bedrooms, dining rooms, and more.
Large, well-lit kitchens - Lots of easy-to-clean counter space makes cooking a breeze.
Spacious kitchens are especially popular. Talk to your home construction company for ideas on exciting luxury installations they’ve built before.
5. ASK FOR DETAILS
Get details for everything you can. These are some of the details we recommend you record for your own peace of mind:
An itemized budget, including costs for different add-ons.
Remember, your own time is a resource, and should be considered a cost as well.
Additional costs for any landscapers, interior decorators, or other buildings like sheds, decks, and garages.
Names and phone numbers of contractors or project managers on task with your house.
Confirm that the house building company you’re working is aware and has applied for any necessary permits.
Get a copy of the project agreement, and iron out any warranty details if applicable.
Staying organized is key to making the whole process as low stress as possible.
6. READ REVIEWS
As you search for the best custom home builders for you, make sure to read customer reviews. Companies will be happy to provide portfolios and documentation of their past work, but it’s important to hear both sides of the story.
Look for case studies or project highlights they have on their website, and read their Google reviews or any other reviews you can find of the quality of their work.
Businesses like L. Patten & Sons have been around for decades, and the consistency of their work is evidenced by all their great reviews.
7. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Not every house is appropriate for every environment. After collecting information and reviewing your options, you need to consider weather, amenities, and scheduling.
Weather - Your house must stand up to the snow, rain, hail, or even intense winds based on what part of North America you live in. Some Canadian provinces can get over 3 ft of snow at once, and houses are built to support the extra load.
Amenities - How rural will your house be? The further away from the city, the more costly it is to install plumbing, heating, and to get good internet service.
Scheduling - Finally, how will this new house fit into your life? How soon do you need to move in? Do you have time to plan? Contact your local house construction company for estimates on project durations to give you an idea of how to manage your schedule.
Urban residences will need to conform to more municipal regulations, but rural residences will take longer to construct due to transport time.
L. PATTEN & SONS: TRUSTED CUSTOM HOME BUILDERS FOR OVER 50 YEARS
At L. Patten & Sons, we bring your custom-built home dreams to life. We take pride in building custom homes that are as beautiful to look at as they are comfortable to live in.
Pride in our work, communication, and customer satisfaction are the cornerstones of our business. Servicing the home-building communities of Collingwood, Clearview, and the Blue Mountains L. Patten has developed a reputation for the utmost quality. But don’t just take our word for it, see what our customers have to say.
Our homeowners 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.
“Looking for a builder to construct your dream home? I would look no further, as you found the right team with L. Patten & Sons. The craftsmanship and attention to detail shown by their tradespersons was exceptional. The house that was built for us is magnificent, built on time and on budget. Very easy to work with, the team made highly useful suggestions and were flexible to make modifications during the build when an improvement was apparent. The team from L. Patten & Sons will go above and beyond to make your building experience a most positive one. You have two very satisfied customers here who highly recommend L. Patten & Sons for your building projects.”