Our Process
Are you getting the right home for you?
From: Richard Trapp
Dear Home Buyer,
I know the thought of going out and looking aimlessly in the resale market for weeks or even months for the right home isn't very appealing.
In a lot of cases, even after all the time spent in the evenings and weekends taken away from your friends, family and precious free time you find out that the right home doesn't even exist in the resale market.
Worse still, is that when you do find a house that somewhat interests you... you've probably heard yourself or your spouse saying:
"Well it's the perfect location... and nothing else is out there right now," or, "We'll just live with it for starters and over time we can:
fix the... update the... replace the...
I understand exactly where you're coming from and I hear this all the time. That's why you're probably on the right track by considering building a new home.
Home Building Facts
Don't spend your hard earned money on building a new home until you know the facts
Advantages of Building New
You don't have to fix anything... or find out one week after you move in that the furnace has stopped working
You get a new home warranty
You get the exact layout you want... no more dragging the groceries through the whole house just to get them to the kitchen
You get a completely custom built kitchen with that island and raised eating bar where people can finally hang out and keep you company while you're cooking
You can have your own electrical layout designed for that home theatre you always wanted
You can finally get that gas BBQ... no more running out of propane when the steak is half cooked
You get that brand new gleaming hardwood you've always wanted
In other words you get what you want. That's why building a new home is a dream come true for most people.
So why doesn't everyone do it?
I've been building for 25 years and when I sit down with my clients, I hear the same challenges over and over.
A typical home-building scenario
You finally make the decision to invest in building a new home.
You're really excited to get started and can already picture your new kitchen, your ensuite bathroom with that oversized shower with seat and glass doors - just like in the spas.
The next thing you decide to do is visit an open house of a builder in the neighbourhood you want.
You're excited now because the sales person says that this model is starting at $349,900 and your budget is $400,000! This is great because you'll still have some money set aside for upgrades and that home theatre system! Not only that... the house is 300 square feet bigger than you expected to get for the money!
So, you put a deposit down on the lot immediately and sign a commitment to start building.
At this point everything is great... right?
Unfortunately, what usually follows as you go through building what you think is your unique dream home is an overwhelming feeling of frustration.
The reality that is rarely shared with you is this: Many builders seduce you with their price. They know if they put up a huge beautifully decorated model home and load it with upgrades and then only advertise the base price of the home - they can get you in the door and start selling you a dream.
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Facts of Size
Many builders sell you on size, even if it's useless or wasted space
The simple truth is, if you're only building a big square box and not adding more kitchen cupboards, bathroom amenities, fireplaces, or unique design touches and features, basic space is cheaper to build.
When you actually get into your new home, you realize that the only furniture that will fit properly in your house is the furniture from the model home that doesn't even suit your family
You realize that maybe the kids didn't actually need the same size bedroom as you and maybe you should have put the money you spent on that space into the kitchen
Hallways and stairwells tend to be either too narrow or way too big; approaching ridiculous
You'd think they'd have designed enough closet and storage space and a proper garage size but this is rarely the case
Upgrades
Many builders make their money on upgrades.
- They often charge massive mark ups on any upgrades over the base price and since you almost always need to upgrade from the base model to get what you want which can cost you big money
Base Model Price
Many builders do certain things to keep the base model price as low as possible
They often hire the cheapest priced trades that can do the job in the shortest time which means short cuts and less than consistent workmanship because they may have a different person working on each job
Have you ever been at your friend's new house to help finish their basement and seen:
- A post in the middle of their finished space
- The furnace right where their rec room should be
- No rough-in for a bathroom or wet bar
- Really no consideration for future basement finishing at all
Materials used in the base model are usually less than adequate
This means that you are spending a huge amount of money to upgrade these materials, or worse - repairs in only a couple years time
They tend to skimp on cabinetry
Kitchens and bathrooms are some of the most expensive parts of the house so many builders will give you a lot of space, but will only design in for minimum cabinetry
- Your choice is severely limited. This includes house design and finishing features
Many only have a handful of house designs to choose from. You may be limited to their flooring, paint, cupboard, etc., samples and to their electrical layout and lighting.
You know that feeling when you buy a new car and as soon as you drive it off the lot... you see that everyone on the road seems to have the same car. Imagine that feeling as you drive home and everyone on the street has the same house as your unique dream home. The worst thing of all when I talk to clients that have had challenges building is the big surprise shortly before they take possession of their new dream house.
It looks something like this:
| Base Price: | $799,900 | |
| Warranty Fee: | Hidden EXTRA | |
| Survey: | Hidden EXTRA | |
| Building Permit: | Hidden EXTRA | |
| Lot Levies: | Hidden EXTRA | |
| Paved Driveway: | EXTRA | |
| Garage Man Door: | EXTRA | |
| 200 Amp Hydro Service: | EXTRA | |
| Poured Concrete Porch Steps: | EXTRA | |
| Upgrades Prior To Construction: | BIG EXTRA | |
| Upgrades During Construction: | BIG EXTRA | |
| Taxes: | Hidden EXTRA | |
| Total: | $900,000 | |
Besides the upgrades, many clients complain about the big surprise of hidden fees on closing. Unfortunately this is all too common.
I could go on and on from what I've heard from my clients, but it doesn't have to be this way. The biggest issue that you face when building a new home that causes all these challenges can be summed up in one sentence:
A lack of Personal Expert Advice and Guidance.
After almost 40 years of building custom homes, I have developed a successful approach to building that saves you from unnecessary frustration and delivers you the most value.
It's called Right Design.
When you have your home built through Emerald Homes, you don't get a home builder - you get a New Home Advisor. My team uses a unique consultative approach that always puts you in the driver's seat so that you'll never be left wondering:
- Is this the right design for my family?
- Can I make changes throughout the process without getting charged extra just for making a change?
- Am I going to be charged a massive mark up on changes and additions throughout the building process like most production builders?
- How do I know exactly what I'm going to get for the price I'm quoted?
- Can you guarantee that there won't be any hidden costs on closing?
- Can you guarantee that my house will be finished when you say it will?
- Is this the best material, workmanship, product for my investment? Am I getting the most bang for my buck?
- Can you guarantee that my home will be unique?
- Am I only limited to a few colour/flooring/selection choices?
- Can I visit the site to make sure the construction is going the way I thought it should?
- Do I have direct access to the Builder for my questions or concerns?
- How do I know that my home is energy efficient?
- Is there any warranty for my home?
- I have a house to sell... how does that work?
- Am I forgetting anything that I should consider for my home?
The benefits of working with Emerald Homes Right Design
Is this the right design for my family?
- We sit down with you and custom tailor your home design to fit your needs and wants
- You can make as many changes to the design as you like until your home design is perfect just for you
- This approach ensures the Right Design every time
Can I make changes throughout the process without getting charged extra just for making a change?
- As part of our Right Design approach you can make changes at any time before, during or after construction. You won't be charged anything for just requesting a change.
- Even if you decide to change something after the construction of it has been completed you will only be responsible for the amount of time and material it takes to make your change NOT a fee for making the change
Am I going to be charged a massive mark up on changes and additions throughout the building process like most production builders?
- You will only be charged a standard low administration fee for project management... nothing more!
How do I know exactly what I'm going to get for the price I'm quoted?
- With Right Design - we include above average materials and finishes right from the start. But we know you want a choice and will want to double check that what we feel is above average actually is for you.
That's why with your Emerald Home you have the ability to personally meet all our suppliers to see and choose all your finishes and materials before we finalize your contract price and sign the agreement to build. This way there are no surprises.
Can you guarantee that there won't be any hidden costs on closing?
- Every pricing budget outlines All Costs - nothing is ever hidden
Can you guarantee that my house will be finished when you say it will?
- Unless there's an act of nature that we can't control or you request a later completion date - your house is guaranteed to be completed on time
- Unlike some builders that pre-sell dozens of homes per month, we only work with a limited number of people each year
This ensures that we don't over commit and always allows us to maintain control of construction scheduling.
Is this the best material, workmanship, product for my investment? Am I getting the most bang for my buck?
We consult with you on every aspect of your home.
- We have researched and compared materials and products over the years and continue to do so.This ensures that you take advantage of our list of suggested products and materials that cost you less money but deliver the same or better performance than the ones that cost you more.
- We have taken the time to research energy efficient options for you.We advise you on which ones will pay you back your investment within a few short years and then start saving you money each and every year that you're in your house.
- We have been working with the same trades and suppliers for many, many years and demand that larger ones send the same people to work on all our houses.This guarantees that you get consistent high quality workmanship on your house and every house that we build.
Can you guarantee that my home will be unique?
- Right Design ensures that every house is unique.
However, some people just love a past design that we have built for someone else and insist that we build it for them. In these cases, we will modify elevations and make slight floor plan redesigns to create a unique new design for you. This approach protects our previous clients and makes sure that you don't experience that new car feeling that I talked about earlier.
Am I only limited to a few colour/flooring/selection choices?
- Although we suggest certain products and materials, because your house is uniquely yours - you can literally choose any product or material for your home.
Can I visit the site to make sure the construction is going the way I thought it should?
- You are not only welcome to visit the house as its being built - we encourage it!
We understand that it's hard to visualize a completed house from a set of drawings. During construction, you may discover something that either wasn't what you expected or maybe you just realized you forgot something that you needed or wanted. It's much easier and less costly to deal with these changes and additions as they happen rather than have you move in and be disappointed.
Do I have direct access to the Builder for my questions or concerns?
- You have direct access to me and everyone working on your home
This means you get the best service from the right people and there isn't any middle men getting in the way.
How do I know that my home is energy efficient?
- The typical Emerald Home is built beyond current building code standards for energy efficiency
- As an Energy Star Certified builder, you can choose to have us build you an Energy Star Certified home
Is there any warranty for my home?
- Emerald Homes is a registered Builder with the Tarion Warranty Corporation, which means your home is fully under their 7 year warranty
You can get more information at: http://www.tarion.com
I have a house to sell... how does that work?
One of the biggest obstacles most people face when wanting to build a new home is dealing with the timing of the sale of their current home. The issue is that most builders won't start construction on your new home if you have a condition on the sale of your current home in the agreement. That means you either have to sell your current home first before starting to build a new home and hope that the people that buy your home will wait four to five months before moving in.
Or, you have to live with relatives or in a hotel room while your house is being finished. The other scarier scenario is that you start building right away with no condition on the sale of your house and hope that you can sell it before construction is complete, so you don't have to carry both houses.
These options just aren't realistic for most people. That's why we have developed a unique program that allows you to put a condition on the sale of your home and get started on the construction right away as well. This gives you the most flexibility with timing for buyers of your current home (making the sale easier) and gives you the peace of mind knowing you won't be stuck paying for two houses at once.
Am I forgetting anything that I should consider for my home?
- Our team includes a full time professional Realtor that advises on all aspects of your home for future resale value. This ensures you are making the most of your investment.
- Whether you are finishing the basement or not, it will always be designed for you. We make sure that posts are hidden in walls and you get the best design for when you decide to finish it
- We work with you for two full years after you move into your home to make sure that everything is as it should be and for any questions or concerns that you may have
As you can see, we try and make the process as smooth as possible while always keeping in mind your specific needs and budget. But I don't want you to take my word for it, I want you to be able to experience the Right Design Approach for yourself. To get a No Cost - No Obligation Right Design Consultation to determine if building with Emerald Homes is right for you:
Just fill out and submit your Wish List or Contact our real estate representative at the easy Home Team.
However, because we are limited to the number of people we can work with, please send us your wish list as soon as possible or call today to make sure that you get the most flexibility to accommodate your personal timetable. Here's a short list of a few things that you can look forward to, at and after your consultation if you choose to work with us:
- A Personal 1 to 1-1/2 Hour consultation meeting
- A complete review of your Wish List to determine the best options for you, or if you should be considering something else
- Access to our Custom Designs and Personal Plan Library
- Tour of houses that we are currently building or ability to view past client's homes - they are always accommodating and love showing off their Emerald Home
- Custom Home Design Service specifically for you and a complete NO Hidden Fees pricing budget for your specific house
- Cost and Features - Apples to Apples Comparison between our build quality and another builder you may be considering
- One on One approach with advice and guidance throughout your whole home building experience
- A fun and enjoyable home building partnership
I want to be clear though. Emerald Homes isn't the least expensive option out there. We are interested in giving you the most value for your money and want you to be happy and satisfied with your investment.
