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5 Questions to Ask When Looking for the Right Home Builder

an unfinished custom home in the middle of construction

Your home is probably your most prized possession. Your home is where the majority of your time is spent, and your memories are made. So, when you decide to do a home renovation project or build a custom home, it’s critical that you find a home builder that you can trust. Asking these important questions will help you find the right home builder for your project and help you bring your dream home to life.

 

How much experience do you have?

One of your requirements when selecting a home builder should be that they have at least five years of experience in your city. When a home builder has been in business for five years or more, it shows you that they have a solid reputation and the experience needed to do a good job. Also, in a province like Alberta, where we experience extreme weather conditions and changes – it’s crucial to partner with a local builder that is familiar with the specific details that need to be taken into consideration.

 

Can I see past projects you’ve completed?

If a home builder is proud of the work they do, there will be no hesitation when you ask to see some of their past projects or for references from homeowners they’ve worked with. How they respond to this request will give you insight into if they are actually credible. If it’s an option, try to visit an active worksite. This will help you see how the team operates and how organized they are.

 

What’s the warranty you offer on your projects?

What happens if you move into your custom home and the floor develops a crack, or you start to notice water damage? It’s critical that before you sign any contract, you have a firm understanding of the warranty the home builder offers.

Homestead Custom Carpentry is a proud member of the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. The Program has been protecting homeowners for over 45 years with its professional and reputable coverage. They are an independent, not-for-profit new home warranty provider serving approximately 700 Builder Members—only the very best builders in Alberta. With our membership with the Alberta New Home Warranty Program, all of our projects include the following coverage:

  • Deposit Protection
  • Builder Performance Protection
  • First Year Workmanship & Materials Protection
  • 5 Year Structural Integrity Protection
  • 10 Year Structural Integrity Protection (Optional)
  • Additional Living Expenses Protection

construction home builders working at a table saw at a job site

What will be the timeline from project start to completion?

Now, it’s unlikely that a home builder will be able to give you an exact timeline. However, if you can get references from other homeowners who have worked with them, you’ll be able to get a good idea of what to expect. Also, don’t look for the home builder that provides you with the shortest timeline. You want the timeline they give you to be an honest estimate and not an optimistic guess to make the sale. It is also a good idea to ask them what tools their team uses to track their schedule and progress. If the builder doesn’t have the tools to provide you with a detailed timeline, it’s not a good sign that they’ll be able to keep the project on track. 

Looking for more information on preparing for a home renovation project? Check out our post, on the Top Home Renovation Mistakes (and tips to avoid them).

 

How do you ensure that you stay on budget?

From the very beginning, you want to make sure that your home builder is upfront about costs and transparent about what is and isn’t included in your build. 

At Homestead, transparency and keeping clients informed is extremely important to us. Because of this, we update our budgets every week. That way, our clients always see the most up to date budgets possible. To avoid cost overruns, we typically set a reserve budget aside to handle unplanned contingencies alongside the budget. Proper planning and accurate projections are important from the beginning to schedule scope and scheduled baselines.

 

Renovating your family home or starting a custom home project is an exciting process. Like any big decision, it’s important that you do your homework when selecting who you partner with. Meet with many home builders, get several estimates and don’t be afraid to ask the questions you need to be answered.

Check out some of our Red Deer home renovation and custom home projects in our gallery.

Have a home renovation project in mind for this summer? Contact us!

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Elevate Your Bathroom with these Luxury Shower Ideas

Top home renovations Red Deer | Homestead Custom Carpentry

You’re shower doesn’t have to be something you hide behind a shower curtain. Imagine having a brand-new, remodeled bathroom shower, with bright, gleaming walls. You don’t always have time to talk a hot, soothing bath. But with the right bathroom renovation your can create a walk-in shower that is just as relaxing and luxurious. Here are Homestead’s top luxury shower tips to take your bathroom to the next level.

Maximize Natural Light

Showers can feel cramped and cave-like – you need to brighten it up to make your shower a bright and inviting place for your morning routine. The best way to do this is by combining a corner unit with frameless glass walls to get the most out of the natural light your bathroom gets. If possible, adding a skylight above the shower can bring in significantly more light and make it feel larger.

Round Out Your Shower for Small Spaces

When space is tight, the best way to make the most of a small area is by adding a corner shower. Rounded corner shower enclosures come with a fantastic feature: doors that slide on tracks, instead of swinging outward.

Open-Air Shower Ceilings

The more enclosed a shower is — the more prone the bathroom will be to mold and mildew. A great way to increase air circulation is by popping off the shower ceiling for more natural light and air flow.

Frameless Shower Door

A frameless shower enclosure uses sturdy tempered glass that does not require the support of metal around its exterior edges. One reason frameless shower doors are so popular is that they help showcase beautiful stonework, intricate tile designs and gleaming hardware.

Add a Shower Seat

What’s the best way to make a shower inviting and relaxing? Add a place to sit down and unwind! Like we said earlier – you need a bath to relax. Adding a bench to your shower gives you a spa seat, a place to prop your leg if your shaving and a shelf for additional bottles or soaps.

Multiple Shower Heads

Get maximum shower pressure and luxury by installing multiple shower heads like wall-mount, handheld and rain-style. One of our favourite shower additions is a rainfall showerhead that pours water from the ceiling and mimics rain in the most relaxing way.

Custom Tile

When renovating your bathroom, don’t overlook the tile. Tile enhances the style of a walk-in shower and is a great way to add colour and texture to what could otherwise be a bland room.

Steam Shower

Imagine it’s the end of a long day out in the cold. You get home, hop into your shower, push a button and sit in warm room of steam. By adding a hidden steam generator to your floor-to-ceiling walk-in shower you elevate your bathroom and create a spa-like experience in your own home.

Additional Shower Shelving

You know how quickly the limited shelf-space in your shower gets filled with soaps and shampoos — especially when multiple people share the same bathroom. When it comes in-shower shelving, there is no such thing as too much space.

Waterproofing

While not luxurious this tip is practical and important. Keeping water in the shower and away from subflooring, is a major issue with any shower remodel. But, you can significantly improve it by using a waterproofing membrane. No longer do you have to tile your shower with cement board, mortar and tile only.

Showers have a wide range of design options. You can go wet-room style, enclosure style, corner showers, tub-shower combos – the list goes on and on. When renovating your bathroom it can feel overwhelming but when you consider the space you have and your budget you can figure out what will work for you and design the shower of your dreams. We hope our list of luxury shower ideas have inspired you for your bathroom renovation!

Check out some of our bathroom renovation projects in our gallery.

Considering a home renovation project? Want to learn more about custom luxury showers? Contact us!

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4 Fresh Layouts for your Fall Kitchen Remodel

4 Fresh Layouts for your Fall Kitchen Remodel | Homestead Custom Carpentry

4 Fresh Layouts for Your Fall Kitchen Remodel When planning a kitchen renovation or home project it can be hard to know where to start. The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s a place where you drink a cup of coffee in the quiet of the morning. Where you make meals for your […]

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