Building a Custom Home in Delta

The world we live in is tailored to customization. You can customize running shoes, a pair of blue jeans, and every piece of furniture in your house. So why not customize your own home?

A custom home means you can create exactly what you want: a home tailored to your vision, your family, and your lifestyle. If you’re considering building one in Delta or Tsawwassen, here’s how to set your project up well from the start.

Why Build a Custom Home?

Answering the “why” is the most important part of the equation. Do you need more space as a family? Are you looking for a specific layout? Do you want to maximize the square footage on your lot, or add a garden suite or coach home for extended family or rental income? Or maybe it’s a home you’ve pictured for years and you’re finally ready to build it.

One thing homeowners often overlook is how much a custom project can improve day-to-day life. That bathroom layout that has bothered you since you bought your home will no longer be an issue. Now you can have the bathroom you’ve always wanted.

Whatever your “why” is, keep it front and centre. It should remain the driving force behind every decision you make.

Financing a Custom Home

Start by analyzing your financial situation. This sets the parameters of your project before you get too far into planning. If you’re financing the build, get preliminary approval from your bank before you start anything. Setting your budget early makes every decision that follows easier.

Building Regulations

Next, research what the City of Delta allows for custom-built homes on your lot. It’s also worth checking in with your bank or credit union early: some lenders won’t allow you to tear down your existing home to build a new one on the same lot, because the bank loses its collateral. Depending on your mortgage, your lender may require you to sell or renovate instead. Knowing this up front saves you from surprises later.

Align Yourself With Experts

Unless you’re an architect or contractor yourself, you’ll want a team that can execute your vision. That typically includes an architect or house designer, a builder or general contractor, and an interior designer.

When hiring a builder or general contractor, look for someone with a strong understanding of construction costs. You don’t want to spend money on plans and then discover you can’t afford to build the home you spent months planning.

Consider working with a designer, too. As builders, we’ve seen their value in action, and it often far outweighs the cost. A designer’s expertise can save you time, introduce you to new ideas and products, and catch potential problems and costly design mistakes before they happen. Someone needs to create the design, select the products, and tie the vision together, and designers are the professionals in that field. If you already have a designer you love, even better — we work closely with market partners on many of our projects.

Custom Home Building Timelines

Timelines depend on the size and complexity of the home. Once permits are approved, many custom homes take roughly 8 to 12 months to build, and larger or more complex homes can take longer. For a closer look at what drives the schedule, read How Long Should It Take To Build?

What this means for you: start the planning phase early. The more that’s resolved before construction begins, the more predictably your project will run.