Building a custom home is a long project with a lot of decisions. We break it into six stages and keep one schedule for all of them, from the first meeting to the warranty.
- 01A complimentary consultation
- 02Your lot, looked at closely
- 03Designed in house
- 04Through the City
- 05Built by our own team
- 06Handover, and after
A complimentary consultation
We meet about your lot, your neighbourhood and how your family wants to live. You leave with a preliminary overview of your new home: what the lot allows, the steps through the City, a realistic budget range and a schedule.
Your lot, looked at closely
Before any drawing, we look at what the zoning allows, the trees, the slope, access for construction and, for an older house, whether it is a character house worth keeping.
Designed in house
Our designers draw the home and our interior designers select every finish, in tandem with your architect and technical consultants if you have them. Deciding finishes now is what keeps the budget and the schedule honest later.
Through the City
We prepare and submit the permit application, register the home for warranty insurance with BC Housing, and answer the City's comments. Character homes and First Shaughnessy add reviews, and we plan for them from the start.
Built by our own team
A project manager with over 40 years in residential construction leads the trades and suppliers, a construction superintendent runs the site, and a project coordinator keeps you up to date.
Extra care in the foundation and framing makes sure the walls and ceilings are straight and true. Beauty has to have a solid foundation.
Handover, and after
We walk the finished home with you, room by room, and hand over the keys with the 2-5-10 home warranty in place: two years on labour and materials, five on the building envelope, ten on the structure.
Questions about the process
How long does each stage take?
Two Vancouver builders who publish their schedules give 8 to 12 weeks and one to three months for design, and 10 to 14 months and 13 to 18 months for construction, the longer for larger homes. The City reports 160 days on average for single-detached permits in 2025.
Who do I call during the build?
Your project coordinator, who knows where everything stands. Troy is involved from the first meeting to the handover.
How are changes handled once construction starts?
Every change is priced in writing, with its effect on the schedule, before the work is done. You decide; nothing is added without your approval.
How are payments scheduled?
Payments follow the stages of the build, set out in your contract before construction begins.
What warranty do I get?
The 2-5-10 home warranty required in B.C. for new homes: two years on labour and materials, five years on the building envelope, ten years on the structure.