Build Your New Custom Home Oakville

Have you ever thought about building a new custom home in Oakville? Building your dream home on the perfect lot in the perfect neighborhood? The build process can be an amazing experience and very exciting but keep in mind it can be stressful and frustrating, too.

Here is a list of key steps to ensure a successful build:

Your New Custom Home Oakville

What are the features you desire in a property? Waterfront, privacy, backing onto a ravine/conservation, walking distance to town or maybe a country property? Do you want a large estate lot or a small maintenance-free property? At Alex Irish and Associates we can help you find the perfect property. We can make you aware of properties that are off-market or that are on MLS. Once we find the perfect property, it is a good time to ask your builder to walk the lot with you before deciding to put in an offer to purchase. Let your builder know what you would like to build.  If you don’t have a particular builder in mind, the Alex Irish Team can recommend several reputable custom home builders so that you can interview them and choose the right company for your needs.

Before you Purchase the Property

Ask the agent if you can get a survey of the property. You will want to take the survey with you when you visit the local municipal office. Make sure you ask these questions to a zoning or planning officer. Once you have this information you will have done the legwork to go to the next step and decide if this property fits your needs. You must know all this information before purchasing the property.

1)   Are there any building restrictions on the property?

2)   Is it a waterfront property, what is the building envelope set back from the water?

3)   Is there any conservation property adjacent to the property, if so what are the restrictions?

4)   Is the property in a flood plain and if so what is the building restriction?

5)   Are there any utility easements or neighbouring property easements and if so what are the restrictions?

6)   Do you share a driveway with your neighbour?

7)   Is there a home on the property that is designated heritage?

8)   Is the property in a neighbourhood that is designated heritage, if so what are the restrictions?

9)   What is the maximum square footage of a home that can be built on the property?

10) What are the setbacks from the main road; where will the house sit? Can you put a pool in the backyard?

11) What is the height restriction for a new home being built in the neighbourhood?

Budgeting for Your New Custom Home Oakville

Establish a realistic budget for building your new home including an architect, Interior Designer, landscaping and hardscaping, appliances, window coverings and furniture etc.  Ask your builder for a budget on material and labour costs. Make sure to consider all the things that are over and above the land purchase; municipal land transfer tax, HST, development charges, hydro connection, and septic and well, if applicable. Once you have an idea of the total cost then you can go to your bank to arrange construction financing.

Designing your New Custom Home Oakville

Hire an architect to design your dream home. Give them a basic understanding of what you want. Tell them what the most important features for you are. What are you willing to compromise on? What are the “must-haves”? What type of style of home are you looking for – Modern Farmhouse, Georgian, Craftsman, Modern? Are you looking to build a 2-Story, Bungalow, or Lofted Bungalow? Do you entertain often and if so what will that space look like? Do you have a large family and want a main floor family room? Do you want a main floor principal bedroom? How many other bedrooms and bathrooms do you require? Do you need a main floor office?

Hiring a Builder for Your New Custom Home Oakville

Hire the right builder; you can do your investigation on a licensed Tarion builder by going to the https://www.tarion.com/ and https://obd.hcraontario.ca/. These websites have a wealth of information and lots of resources for you when building your new custom home.

The builder will need a detailed list from you as to the types of items you want in your home; bathtubs, sinks, plumbing and lighting fixtures, appliances, cabinetry, flooring, paint, railings, fireplaces, roofing colour, and siding.

Once you have given the builder your specifications of the materials and finishes and the size and style of home you would like, the builder will provide you with a proposal. Builders have many different contract options, so ask them for a detailed cost breakdown of building your new custom home. Once you hire a builder they will become the General Contractor. It will be the responsibility of the builder to hire the trades for the build and purchase the material that you have decided and approved. From start to finish the builder pays all the invoices associated with materials ordered and pays the trades regularly.

If you have construction financing in place with your bank you will pay the builder for the work completed at different stages. Be available to visit the site at the end of each stage of construction, and walk the rooms.

At each completed stage of the construction the bank will send out their appraiser – this is called a construction draw, you can then pay the builder for the completed work and move to the next stage. Some of the stages are the poured foundation, the framing and brick/siding, the roof installation, the interior has been framed and dry walled, flooring, tiling, kitchen, bathrooms have been installed.

Walking through the home allows you to can make small changes that you wouldn’t have noticed in the drawings stage. Ideally, the time to do this is the framing stage as it will be far more costly at a later stage.

It is important to set up a structural meeting with your builder to establish where pipe locations, pot, lights, light fixtures, bulkheads will go.

Stay involved in every step and make sure you meet regularly with your builder to keep on track and stay on budget. Communicate clearly with the builder ideally, do everything in writing for any of the changes you make to the original plans.

You’re now ready to move in, enjoy and love the home you custom built.