Embarking on the journey to build a custom luxury home is a significant and exciting venture. At Riverview Custom Homes, we understand that it’s about more than just construction; it’s about crafting a legacy, a unique space that perfectly reflects your vision and lifestyle. We build wow in every detail, ensuring your experience is as seamless and enjoyable as the masterpiece we create.
Before you take your first steps in the custom home building process, read through this comprehensive guide to gain a full understanding of what to expect from start to finish.
Considerations Before the Construction Process
Before breaking ground on your dream home, thoughtful preparation lays the foundation for success, moving beyond simple ideas to concrete plans that will define your future living space.
- Envisioning Your Lifestyle: Start by envisioning how you want to live in your new home. Consider the flow of daily life, entertaining needs, desired amenities like home offices, fitness studios, or expansive outdoor living areas, and the overall ambiance you wish to cultivate. This deep understanding of your lifestyle will guide every design decision.
- Site Selection: Where you choose to build your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in this process. We help you evaluate potential sites for their aesthetic appeal and unique characteristics, such as sun exposure, views, privacy, and how they might influence the architectural design and construction logistics, ensuring optimal integration of your home with its environment.
- Initial Budgeting and Scope: While your focus is on the quality of your new home, a preliminary understanding of the scope and potential investment is critical. This initial discussion helps align expectations regarding the project’s scale, desired finishes, and unique features, ensuring a shared vision from the outset.
Finding the Right Custom Home Builder
Selecting the ideal partner for your custom home journey is the best way to ensure your vision is realized. By working with a professional custom home builder in Calgary like Riverview Custom Homes, you’ll have the advantage of our expertise and experience.
In your search for a custom home builder, ensure to consider the following:
- Philosophy & Expertise: Look for a builder with a philosophy that aligns with your own values and a commitment to quality, innovation, and client satisfaction in the luxury market.
- Client-Centric Approach: A true custom builder prioritizes your needs and desires above everything else. This means fostering open communication, active listening, and a collaborative spirit throughout the entire process.
- Reputation for Excellence: In the luxury home segment, a builder’s reputation speaks volumes. Seek out testimonials, industry awards, and a track record that demonstrates superior craftsmanship, ethical practices, and a capacity to deliver exceptional results without compromise.
Verify Builder Credentials and References
Thorough due diligence can provide you with objective evidence of a builder’s capabilities and the quality of their past work. Before signing a contract with your chosen custom home builder, be sure to verify any professional affiliations, licences, and industry awards, and confirm that the builder carries comprehensive liability insurance and bonding to protect your investment from unforeseen circumstances.
Designing Your Dream Home
The design phase is where your aspirations take shape, transforming abstract concepts into meticulously detailed blueprints. This phase is a true partnership between you, our architects, and interior designers, working together to translate your lifestyle and vision into a functional design that absolutely wows.
At Riverview Custom Homes, we create bespoke architectural solutions where the only limit is your imagination. If you can dream it, we can build it – from multi-storey great rooms to indoor sports courts, elaborate home spas, or even a hidden speakeasy. Your vision, no matter how grand or unique, becomes our blueprint for your extraordinary reality.
Understanding the New Home Construction Contract
A comprehensive and clear construction contract is the bedrock of a successful custom home build. It serves as a roadmap for both the client and the builder, defining the scope of work, outlining payment schedules, and laying out any provisions for potential changes.
Unlike a standard home purchase agreement, a custom home contract is highly specialized, accounting for design changes, material selections, and the collaborative nature of the building process.
Key Components of Your Construction Contract:
- A detailed scope of work encompassing everything from site prep to final landscaping
- Specific material quality and types
- Clear guidelines on handling overages or underages
- A clear payment schedule that’s tied to specific construction milestones
- A defined process for managing change orders
Payment Schedules and Financing
While quality is the priority when you’re in the custom home building process, understanding financing options and the payment schedule is an important step for any home buyer. Here’s what you need to know:
- Custom home construction usually involves milestone-based progress payments, disbursed as specific stages are completed and verified.
- Specialized construction mortgages are common, with funds released in stages as work progresses. We can assist you in gathering the necessary documentation for your lender.
- Riverview Custom Homes maintains transparency in all financial dealings. For a deeper dive into the investment involved in building a custom home, explore our guide on the Cost of Building a Custom Home in Calgary.
Warranties and Protection for New Homeowners
Any reputable luxury builder should stand behind their work with warranties that provide buyers with long-term peace of mind and ensure the lasting quality of their investment.
New custom homes generally come with multi-tiered warranty coverage. At Riverview Custom Homes, we provide buyers with the following warranty through Progressive Home Warranty:
- 1-year materials and labour warranty
- 2-year mechanical systems warranty
- 5-year envelope protection
- 10-year, $60,000 structural defects warranty
- $25,000 deposit security warranty
- $6,000 additional living expenses coverage
Understanding Permits and Inspections
The permit and inspection process is a necessary administrative step that ensures your home meets local building codes and safety standards. At Riverview Custom Homes, we expertly manage this process, preparing and submitting all architectural plans and documentation to the City of Calgary for approval.
We prioritize timely approvals, utilizing our established relationships with municipal departments to streamline the process and minimize potential delays. We also seamlessly coordinate scheduled inspections by city officials at every step of the custom home-building process, ensuring your home passes all compliance checks.
Stages of New Home Construction
From initial groundbreaking to the final touches, the construction of your custom home unfolds through a series of carefully managed stages, each bringing your vision closer to reality.
- Site Preparation and Foundation: This initial phase involves preparing the land, including grading and excavation, followed by the pouring of the foundation, which forms the base of your home.
- Framing and Exterior Shell: Once the foundation is solid, the framing goes up, outlining the structure of your home. This is followed by the installation of the roof, windows, and exterior doors.
- Rough-Ins: In this stage, mechanical systems are installed, including all plumbing lines, HVAC ductwork, electrical wiring, and integrated smart home technology infrastructure.
- Insulation and Drywall: Insulation is installed to ensure energy efficiency and comfort, followed by the hanging and finishing of drywall, which creates the interior walls and ceilings.
- Interior Finishing: This is where luxury comes to life. High-end cabinetry, flooring, interior doors, trim, custom millwork, paint, and fixtures are all meticulously installed at this stage, reflecting your chosen aesthetic.
- Exterior Finishing and Landscaping: The exterior siding, stone, and other cladding are applied, along with the construction of decks, patios, and initial landscaping to enhance curb appeal and outdoor living spaces.
- Final Inspections and Walk-Through: After all construction is complete, a series of final inspections is conducted, followed by a comprehensive walk-through with you to review every detail and ensure your absolute satisfaction before handing over the keys.
Build Your Legacy with Riverview Custom Homes
At Riverview Custom Homes, our commitment to unparalleled quality, bespoke design, and client satisfaction ensures that your custom home-building journey will be an extraordinary experience, culminating in a residence that truly embodies your legacy.
To learn more about our process or to take the first step in building your legacy, connect with us today.