The Cost Of Building A Custom Home In Calgary

Building the home of your dreams is an exciting journey. And when you’ve come to a place in your life where you can build your legacy, what better way to celebrate the fruits of your labour than by investing in a luxury home crafted especially for you?

As a custom home builder in Calgary, we are often asked how much it costs to build a home. The answer depends on a multitude of factors, including whether it’s a completely custom or a semi-custom build, how large the property is, site preparation, the architecture, material, and features – just to name a few.

At Riverview Custom Homes, we specialize in luxury. In fact, if you can dream it we can build it. Our portfolio of custom homes showcases a diverse range of designs – from sleek contemporary to traditional builds of stone and wood. If you’re considering building a luxury custom home in Calgary, one of the preliminary steps is to determine an estimate of the cost and set a budget.

Here’s what you can expect during the process and how to choose a reliable company that will stick to the budget as closely as possible.

Evaluating the cost of a custom home

The first step in the process is to meet with your builders, which includes the design and architect team. You’ll discuss your overall vision, your desired location, your needs, lifestyle, and budget. From here, our team can give you an idea of the cost based on similar builds, square footage, and features.

Although each custom home build differs, the process typically follows:

An offer to purchase the land – At Riverview Custom Homes, we can help you choose the location and offer recommendations on how to optimize the land. Once the offer to purchase is made and secured, we begin the design process.
Initial design concept – The initial design concept is based on your vision. Our expert designers will put together elements for a cohesive look, including materials, colours, backsplashes, door styles, lighting – every one of a thousand detail. The design concept may go through a few revisions – remember, this is your home and you should be completely satisfied with the concept before moving forward. During this stage, your team will inform you of the estimated costs and any changes in total expenses.
Home plan review – Once the design is approved, an architect reviews the home plan to verify that it’s architecturally sound. After the home plan has been approved and signed, we can put together a detailed budget forecast.
A detailed forecast of costs – The budget forecast includes the expected cost of the overall build and what each expense includes. Of course, with any build, some issues may arise that may become an added expense. An experienced builder will communicate common issues with you and plan for contingencies to keep the project moving smoothly. Once you’ve approved the budget forecast and the funds are secured, construction begins on your new luxury home.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to build a 2000 sq ft house in Alberta?

When you search online on the average cost of building a 2000 sq ft house in Alberta, many sources will claim that it’s about $150 per square foot. However, keep in mind that this number fluctuates significantly depending on the type of house you’re building, the materials, site preparation, architecture, design, and more. The cost of a stick-built home will differ greatly from building a custom luxury home in Calgary.

Can I build my own house in Calgary?

Absolutely. Calgary has vast open spaces with available land in rural areas and desirable locations in the urban sprawl to build your dream home. If you decide to build in Calgary, be sure you work with a home builder that has a firm knowledge of city by-laws, zoning laws, and provincial policies.

How expensive is it to build a house in Alberta?

The cost of building a house in Alberta is not a straightforward answer as it depends on a number of factors. First, Alberta offers diverse locations – rural, urban, small towns, hamlets, city suburbs, to name a few. Each location requires different site preparation, which can impact the cost. Second, the type of home you want to build is a ruling factor on the overall cost. While a single-family home can range anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000 and over, you can expect a superior luxury build to cross the million-dollar mark.

Choosing the right custom home builder in Calgary

While there are horror stories about custom home builds – projects going thousands of dollars over budget and builders leaving the project unfinished – these incidents are rare. However, they do highlight the importance of choosing an experienced builder, especially for superior and complex builds.

Be diligent in your search for the right builder. When it comes to costs and budget forecasting, some good questions to ask are:

How do you make sure the project stays on budget?
Will I be given invoices and details of each expense?
How do you communicate issues during the project?
How do you approach constraints and solve problems along the way?
Can you walk me through your home-building process?
What warranties do you offer?

At Riverview Custom Homes, we set a high standard in the custom luxury home industry. Our team includes professional designers, architects, builders, project managers, and site supervisors who are experts in their field. Together, we have built superior properties that our clients find joy coming home to.

Modern vs. Traditional House: Which One is Right for You?

Your home is more than a place where you lay your head at night. When guests step through the door, they get a sense of your style, preferences, and personality. Some people prefer more contemporary homes with present-day amenities, while others enjoy a more conventional type of home with quaint and simple attributes.

Thus, the competition between the modern and traditional house wages on. However, if you’re currently in the planning stages of building a luxury home in Calgary, you may be wondering which one is the better choice for you, personally.

Perhaps you’ve been weighing out the pros and cons of each, and find yourself thinking either one would be a good fit. As an award-winning custom home builder in Calgary area, Riverview Custom Homes want to help you weigh out the factors of a modern vs traditional home.

Modern homes

Modern homes offer a plethora of benefits that make them an appealing choice for the more progressive homebuyer. Keep in mind that a modern home goes beyond the clean aesthetics of contemporary architecture, sleek lines, and minimalistic look.

Features such as environmental friendliness (more commonly known as a ‘green’ home), beautifully designed composition, even something as “innocuous” as excellent space utilization is a great selling point for many people. Modern homes offer all of these elements and more.

Contemporary construction also offers the luxury of a naturally superior atmosphere. What does this mean? Every home decor conveys a certain texture that affects your emotional state. For example, rundown and dilapidated homes make you feel ill-at-ease and uncomfortable. On the other end of the spectrum, beautiful homes that are clean and well-maintained make you feel relaxed, calm, and peaceful.

Now, of course, with the proper refurbishment, even the dreariest of home decors can become lively again. But why go through the work when you can have that high-quality layout right from the get-go with a more present-day house?

That’s exactly what a modern home helps you achieve.

So if you’re someone who is forward-thinking and appreciates the finer things in life, a custom luxury home in Calgary may be the ideal choice for you.

Traditional Homes

I know, modern homes sound appealing, don’t they? But that doesn’t mean you should count out traditional homes. Trust me when I say these properties have their charm.

First of all, traditional homes are very family-oriented. So if you’re someone who holds family in high regard as a strong, personal value – then a traditional home will certainly have its appeal.

Secondly, traditional homes possess a certain amount of character and quaintness that can sometimes be hard to find in more modern homes – they are timeless. And they offer an unfailing classic reversion that can remind you of simpler times – think 2.5 kids with the white picket fence.

This is something many people yearn for; a return to more customary and time-honoured ideals. And if you happen to be one of those individuals, then the traditional home is right up your alley.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between traditional and modern houses?

There are many differences between modern and traditional homes: space utilization, amenities, windows, lighting, the materials used for construction, even the floorplan are all differentiators that separate these two styles of homes.

Do modern-style homes cost more?

Yes – in general, modern homes are more costly than traditional ones. Why? Because modern houses are equipped with up-to-the-minute technology, constructed with better materials, outfitted with higher quality appliances, and stocked with other features that enhance their inherent value in the marketplace.

What is the difference between traditional and modern design?

There isn’t a single difference that separates modern and traditional homes from one another. But rather, there are many differences that are unquestionably unique to each type. Everything from colour, design, layout, style, all play a role in differentiating one type of house from the next.

Modern vs Traditional Home: Which is Best For You?

Choosing one style of home over the other is neither good nor bad – it’s simply a matter of preference. If you enjoy a more sleek and polished home with sophistication and refinement, then the modern home is for you. However, if you hold more conventional values and enjoy simple and old-fashioned architecture, then the traditional home will most likely be the better fit.

The good news is, with a custom luxury home, you won’t have to sacrifice one for the other. If you dream of a traditional style with modern features, this is all possible with our team of expert designers and architects at Riverview Custom Homes. We construct custom homes for our clients; you dream it, we build it. If you’d like to learn more, don’t hesitate to connect with us today. We look forward to hearing from you.

How Riverview Custom Homes Can Help You Select The Perfect Lot In Calgary

Before building your custom home in Calgary, there are a few things that you have to take care of. One of these things is lot selection. As you already know by now, where you will build your future house matters a lot. Whether you choose to build it in the heart of downtown or in a more rural area, it has the potential to affect you and your family dramatically for many years to come. It is important, therefore, that you spend a good amount of time looking at your options.

Unfortunately, it’s sometimes easier said than done — especially when so many options are available in Calgary. The good news is that Riverview Custom Homes can help you. With us, lot selection does not have to be so complicated. Our team of professionals will first discuss your expectations with you before finding lots that fit those expectations. Here’s how our team at Riverview Custom Homes can help.

A detailed first consultation

During the first meeting to discuss your future luxury home, we sit down with you to get to know your full vision. There are no limitations here – you can let us know how you want your home to look, your inspiration, and any features you dream of. Whether it’s a large home theatre, an expansive entertainment area, a hidden room, indoor basketball court, just to name a few – the possibilities are endless.

We’ll discuss your desired location and answer any questions you may have about building on an acreage or within the city, including any restrictions, zoning laws, taxes, and more.

A finger on the pulse of the market

As experts in luxury home building, our team at Riverview Custom Homes is closely connected to the current real estate market, including existing lots and future properties that will become available. We know the ins and outs of both urban and rural living, development plans for the area you’re looking at, neighbourhood characteristics, easements, amenities, and the smallest details to consider such as the ideal view.

We can walk with you through the lot, answer your questions, and discuss the pros and cons that will help you make an informed decision. Lot selection is a crucial part of the home building process – you can take the time to choose the location that reflects your lifestyle and interests.

Simply put – we care

Building a house is a long and complex process that requires a dedicated team. If you are considering building your legacy in Calgary, then relying on Calgary contemporary home builders such as Riverview Custom Homes might be the wisest course of action. You will be working closely with professionals who have your best interest at heart.

5 Easy Tips to Help You Choose the Best Home Remodelling Contractor

Are you planning a home remodelling project? Do you want to know what to look for when choosing a contractor? Home remodelling is an exciting endeavour many homeowners seek to take on. In fact, in the second quarter of 2021, home renovation application loans increased by 30%. Even during a global pandemic, Canadians want to develop the home of their dreams with custom renovations.

In order to achieve your dream home, as well as have a successful, smooth, and seamless renovation process, you must ensure the right people are on the job. More specifically, you need to have a competent and professional contractor.

Choose the Best Home Remodelling Contractor - Riverview Custom Homes

Without such an individual, the process to create the house of your dreams can turn into a nightmare. But how do you find the best remodelling contractor for the job? Keep reading to find out.

1. Reach out to friends & family

All of us know somebody – whether it’s a relative or close friend – who has gone through the remodelling process before. And whether it’s your first time or not, it’s always a good idea to first consult with those in your inner circle who have already done it.

The reason being is that if your connection recommends you to a contractor, it means they trust this particular contractor and their business. They wouldn’t refer you to them otherwise. This can save you a lot of time and hassle trying to sift through the plethora of contracting companies.

You’re essentially removing an entire step by getting a recommendation for a contractor who has already proven himself to be reliable and trustworthy. Work smarter, not harder.

2. Check online reviews

Regardless of whether you get recommendations from connections or you find the contracting company yourself, be sure to review their online presence. More specifically, their reviews. These will say much more about their code of conduct, levels of professionalism, and the degree of integrity with which they operate than anything else.

If you see a myriad of scathing reviews of angry customers, this is obviously a red flag. Steer clear and continue your search. On the other hand, if people are generally happy and satisfied with the contractor’s service, then congratulations, you may have a winner!

If the company doesn’t have any online reviews, this should be a warning, but not a deal-breaker. Some companies are just getting started in business, while others may have just recently joined the online space (better late than never), and as a result, have yet to produce those raving reviews.

If such is the case, call and ask for testimonials from previous clients.

3. Weigh out your options

Once you have a few contractor companies in mind, compare your options. See which ones you like best. If possible, ask for “before and after” photos of other projects they’ve worked on. It will help solidify your choice if you have something tangible to see what the quality of their workmanship is.

Moreover, it will give you a visual representation that will be impossible to deny. If you notice things about their work that you don’t like – ask for another photo of a different job. If a similar blemish is spotted again, then you have found a pattern in their craftsmanship that you should take care to avoid.

4. Certification and licensing

Once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few, you’ll want to dig a little deeper. Ask for any certifications, accreditation, as well as licensing information pertinent to your home renovation project. This is simply a precautionary measure to ensure your contractor is not only competent, but operating legally.

Home renovation projects are difficult as is, the last thing you need is additional trouble from the law because you failed to exercise a little due diligence. If your prospective contractor is unable to provide this information, consider it a red flag and move on to the next company.

5. Connect with their team

It’s important to know the kinds of people that you’re hiring. You don’t have to become buddy-buddy with everyone. However, if you meet and connect with the workers who will be carrying out the project – and find that you like and trust them – you’ll feel a greater sense of confidence knowing that your home is in good hands.

And this will do wonders for your peace of mind during the process. If you get an unpleasant or uneasy feeling from your contractor’s team, this may be cause for concern and you might want to reconsider that particular business relationship.

Final Thoughts

With over 10 years of experience providing custom luxury renovations in Calgary, Riverview continues to awe clients with stunning architecture and unique, one-of-a-kind home creations. We pride ourselves on being able to bring your vision to life with quality craftsmanship.

If you’d like additional information about Riverview and how we can serve you, get in contact with us today to learn more.

The 5 Biggest Mistakes to Avoid With Your Calgary Home Renovation

Your home is most likely the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. For this reason, your due diligence is required when it comes to anything related to your home. Mistakes can prove to be quite costly, particularly, home renovation mistakes. With this in mind, it makes sense that you’ll want to do all you can to avoid such blunders.

Custom home renovations in Calgary can breathe new life into your living space and create the home of your dreams. However, they can also become a nightmare if you don’t know which mistakes to avoid.

If you want to steer clear of those unnecessary errors, then keep reading to learn about the top 5 biggest home improvement mistakes.

1. Failure to do your research

Sometimes the excitement of change can be overwhelming. We get so caught up in the emotional appeal of the end result that we fail to properly plan for that outcome.

So it is vital to do your research. Don’t leave the details up to chance, thinking or hoping they will sort themselves out. They won’t.

Study home renovations, research the materials you want, and learn if they can meet your needs as a homeowner. Whether you plan on doing the work yourself or you decide to hire someone else, you should have an idea of what’s going on.

2. Cheap renovation materials

We all want to save money. However, the old axiom, “you get what you pay for” is a deep-rooted truth that is especially pertinent for bigger or more large-scale purchases. You don’t have to spend your life savings, but you should budget for quality materials and good labour to ensure the job is done right.

Failure to do so could actually end up costing you more in the long run.

Cheap materials wither away and break down quickly, poor labour doesn’t hold up well against time and wear and tear.

So be sure to budget enough for these all-important elements for your home renovation project. And if you can’t quite afford to yet, then it may be wise to wait a bit longer until you have the funds to do so.

3. Not budgeting

Piggybacking off of the previous home renovation mistake, you must budget for this expense. Money will play an obviously large role in your new endeavour. And unless you have everything on a spreadsheet – keeping track of the financial details – it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of overspending.

Granted, even with a budget, sometimes it is possible to go overboard. However, you will be far more in control if you have the safety rails of an airtight budget keeping you levelheaded.

4. Keeping the budget too strict

Budgets are made to be followed, however, sometimes unexpected events occur. This is particularly true when you’re dealing with something as complex as a home renovation. For this reason, you must plan for contingencies in your budget.

If your budget is too narrow, too strict, you run the possibility of feeling like you need to cut corners if any unforeseen circumstances arise.

It’s important to have breathing room in your budget for these kinds of scenarios. An additional few thousand dollars can go a long way in covering the costs of unexpected expenses.

5. Not properly qualifying contractors

You’d be surprised at the number of incompetent contractors that are out there. And if you aren’t aware of what to look for, you will pay the price. To avoid this, be sure you are properly pre-screening your contractors.

Ask for their qualifications and past experience, check for online reviews from previous clients, and ask for images or videos of work they’ve done before. You want to gain an accurate assessment of the quality of contractors you’re considering hiring for your home project.

A home renovation is going to be stressful enough, the last thing you need during the process is inept people adding to your stress. That’s why this vetting process is so important.

When you have the right team working on your renovation, they will meet deadlines, be professional, inform you of problems, and proactively solve them. In short, they will make the entire process easier for you rather than harder.

Final thoughts

At Riverview Custom Homes, we want your vision to come to life. For this reason, we offer more than just construction services. We will work with you – alongside our award-winning designers and architects – to find the perfect lot, control costs, and ensure that it all fits within your predetermined budget.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, contact us today to see how we can help.

Calgary Acreage Home Builders – Rural Vs Urban?

The debate to build a rural vs. urban custom home has been going on for many, many years. While there are positive sides to both, there are also drawbacks to both. As clichéd as it might sound, the decision all comes down to you and your expectations. In an urban area (think downtown Calgary), you have the advantage of public transportation. Everything is nearby — restaurants, entertainment, people, diversity. Some people can’t live without the rush that living in a big city provides. But is it ideal to build a house and raise a family in this environment?

On the other hand, you have rural areas: lush, beautiful and green. When people think of rural, they think of space and nature — and often they are not too far off. If you are the kind of person who absolutely can’t stand the rush of the big city, then living in a rural area might be best for you. Many rural areas also offer a deep sense of community, something which you really can’t get from urban areas.

Calgary has a great blend of both – an abundance of beautiful acreage properties and desirable locations within the urban sprawl. As a future owner of a luxury custom home, you have the choice between building your home in a rural area or an urban one. Which one will you choose?

The benefits of acreage living

Acreage living offers incredible advantages for those who are looking for peace, quiet, and seclusion. Some of these benefits include:

More privacy and space
Away from the stress of the hustle and bustle of the city
Expansive space ideal for raising a family
Plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and hosting large outdoor gatherings
Freedom to enjoy nature

The benefits of urban living

The allure of urban life is exciting – vibrant art and music scenes, nightlife, and endless entertainment. Many homeowners who choose to build a custom home in the bustling city enjoy the following advantages:

Faster-paced living close to attractions, events, and amenities
A diverse and vibrant mix of culture
Close to essential services such as hospitals, schools, and clinics
Faster commute with access to alternative transportation
The opportunity to meet new people

Building your legacy with Riverview Custom Homes

Whether you choose urban living or an acreage lifestyle, you will love the custom home you build with Riverview Custom Homes. Picture a sprawling rural estate set against the backdrop of the Rockies or an extravagant contemporary mansion in the heart of the city. When you’re ready to build your legacy, the possibilities are endless.