There are many qualified luxury home builders in Toronto to help guide you through the design, plan and building phases in creating your dream home, literally from the ground up.

 

For the first-timer it can be a daunting task to start, so we suggest doing your homework; a little research and preparation before you interview a custom home designer, architect or general contractor can go a long way.

 

Whether you have experience with a custom home design and build project or a custom designed renovation or extension; this simple to use ‘tips and to-do’ guide will help to ensure you get the most out of your project while staying within budget.

 

 

Until recently, a modern-day luxury home project would traditionally follow a standard sequential process.

• The design phase
• The bidding (or tender) phase
• The construction phase

Referred to as the design-bid-build method, the designer (or architect) and the general contractor are on two separate sides of the same coin. Its proponents value the maintenance of two distinct perspectives, especially during the creative design phase.

 

With the design-build method, all of the services are delivered from a single point of contact, alleviating the property owner from managing and coordinating between the design team and the trades. Proponents of this ‘master builder’ type model appreciate that the lead contractor is 100% responsible for any error, and the method generally shortens a project’s timeline by performing some design and construction phases concurrently.

 

 

A design-build project can be led by either the general contractor or an architect; as long as the entity commits to a single contract for all of the design and construction services to be performed.

 

Whether you choose contractor-led or architect-led, it all comes down to your comfort level with the people you engage to build your luxury home or custom designed extension. Most importantly, you’ll want to see a track record of completed projects, proving their ability to manage the design and build phases within budget while maintaining the integrity of the client’s initial vision for a custom built home, renovation or custom extension.

 

 

It’s highly recommended that you interview at least three design-build firms before deciding on a short list; then have three provide you with a detailed proposal. Just like hiring a new employee, you’ll get the best result by spending some time outlining what your clearly stated criteria are for the people and company you’ll eventually engage in a contract.

 

Tip: If you’re not experienced with contracts, you may want to enlist the help of someone you trust and respect. For example, designs and drawings that are prepared for you may remain as the intellectual property of the author (creator), so you cannot unilaterally make material changes without the consent of the author. Make sure the architectural designs (including custom floor plans and custom blueprints) are your property, so any potential dispute cannot hold up your overall project.

 

The Canadian Design-Build Institute provides resources to help, including a selection process and criteria; 

here’s our top 7:

 

Pre-Interview Homework

• Project Scope
• Schedule
• Budget
• Project Milestones
• Selection Criteria
• Functional Requirements (including goals and objectives)
• Expectations for Warranties

When seeking the help of luxury home builders in Toronto, invest the time, energy and diligence up front and it will pay off many times over!