Build a Home with Co-op: Tips from an Expert

Actions
Build a Home with Co-op: Tips from an Expert

Having a home built to your custom needs and wants can be a dream. But, as with all good things, sometimes getting there can have its challenges. We’ve compiled a list of advice from our experts to make the process a little bit easier.

1. Research

If you’re unsure of what you would like your future home to look like or you need a jumping-off point, start looking around. We have an entire bank of floor plans available in our Co-op Home and Cottage Plans Collection.

Insider Tip: Co-op employee Jeremy Hessdorfer liked the Roxboro Plan so much, he and his wife decided to use it to start building their dream home.


2. Customizing Your Home

One of the most exciting parts of building a custom home is the design. Think about your family’s unique wants and needs. Do you need more closet space? Maybe a separate living space in your basement? More windows?

A few things that came up for Jeremy Hessdorfer while building his home were a larger living space, a third bay in his garage and a walk-through pantry with access to the garage. The pantry was actually a pleasant surprise for the Hessdorfers when they were browsing floor plans. They quickly realized how convenient it would be to come in through the garage, drop their groceries in the pantry, and continue through to the rest of their house.

3. Invest in a Reputable Design Company

A good floor plan can be the difference between costly errors and a smooth construction process. Co-op works with CADVantage Design, a company with more than 20 years in the industry and a commitment to quality. Concise, easy-to-read drawings are the cornerstone of their business. They reduce costly errors during the building process, saving money for the homeowner and time for the contractor.

A good design company will also be able to help you with the unique wish list of items you want for your home.

4. Measure Twice 

We asked Jeremy for his advice for first-time home builders. It was a simple yet often overlooked tip. “My wife and I assumed that because the square footage in our current house is smaller than the square footage of our planned house by about 300 square feet, the newer house would be bigger,” Jeremy said. “But, that’s not the case in every room. In fact, our living is actually going to be smaller. Someone might make that assumption and be left wondering if their furniture is going to fit. So, if I had some advice, I would say measure your rooms in your current house and compare that to the actual measurements that are shown on the plan.”


5. Physically Walk the Floor Plan

Jeremy also mentioned that a first-time home-builder should physically walk the floor plan. “My wife and I talk about it all the time — you can look at the floor plan 100 times and think ‘Oh yeah, it's great. It's probably fine,’ and then you actually go to the house and you walk it and think ‘Oh no, that's a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be, but on paper it looks big’.”

6. Plan for Surprises
Financially, building a custom home is a large investment. A first-time home buyer should plan for costly adjustments or surprises.

7. Balance Costs
You may decide that you want something slightly out of your budget. You may be able to achieve this by balancing costs. Say you’d like granite countertops — you can balance the additional costs with slightly less expensive appliances.

If you’re planning on building your own home, head into your local Co-op Home Centre for more expert advice.


Discover more:
ePlans
You may also enjoy
More Home
More
Home and Cottage Plans
More
Your Home, Your Colour
More
Communities in Full Colour

Complementary Content
${loading}