Custom Designed or Prefab
As the authorized Linwood Custom Homes dealer on the Sunshine Coast, we are your one stop prefab home experts. Whether your interested in a new custom designed luxury home or a more modest eco friendly bungalow, we are here to help make your dream home a reality.
Canada’s Prefab Custom Home builders for over 50 years.
Emerald Forest Homes offers a hassle free and cost effective alternative for home buyers on the Sunshine Coast from
Powell River to Langdale and on the North Shore from Whistler to Deep Cove.
The Process
The design and build of a custom prefab home can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime. However, the process can often be challenging and time-consuming. Emerald Forest Homes is here to guide you through each stage of the experience. Explore below for insight into the planning, designing, financing, and building of your new custom prefab home.
Step 1 - Planning
Often when planning a budget, researching the cost associated with developing the land does not get the attention it deserves. By planning ahead in regards to building permits and the cost to obtain them, you will have a more accurate idea of the actual completed costs. Emerald Forest Homes can assist in obtaining permits.
When selecting your property, research whether water, power, and electric are already on the lot. It can cost thousands of dollars to hook into utilities. It is considerably less expensive hooking up to utilities already stubbed into the site, rather than having to go into the street to make a connection. This involves the cost of digging up to and into the street as well as repairing it. A site with lots of trees means at least some tree removal, which can be expensive and therefore should be factored into the budget from the outset.
Always have soil tests don on the part of the site where you plan to build before you commit to the location and begin building. Finding out during construction that the area you plan to build on is bedrock or has underground water will throw you off budget, especially if you need to pick a new location.
Step 2 - Design
The professional design team at Emerald Forest Homes can assist you in Selecting a plan from our extensive menu of home design choices to create a custom house plan to fit you perfectly and to match your needs to one of the hundreds of unique Linwood plans in our library. Then we will assist you in further personalizing that house plan into your custom home design by selecting a level of customization at an affordable price. Knowledgeable designers can produce new home plans that incorporate those designs. Your new home is a statement of your lifestyle. Express your personal tastes through architectural style, home design and floor plan selection. Then choose from an array of quality building materials to create your own custom dream home.
Basic
Non-structural changes may include siding, millwork, windows, doors, hardware and many other architectural details. Home style changes are easy—and very affordable—within this level.
Enhanced
Add a basement, garage, deck, balcony or porch to enhance your custom home. You can move non-load bearing interior walls to open up your living area or create the perfect storage space. Add a Sun Room or a dormer to bring in more warmth and natural light. These changes are more affordable than you may think!
Accommodate that dream kitchen or master bedroom suite. Stretch or shrink a portion of the home. Add a wing. Change wall heights to create a soaring ceiling. Alter the window configuration to impact the ‘personality’ of your home.
Custom Homes
Linwood designers have had decades of experience creating award-winning unique home plans that begin from a sketch on a napkin, a conversation with the professionals at Emerald Forest Homes or an architect’s rendering.
You can start to design and build your own home from scratch by working with one of our in-house designers, or have your architect work directly with Linwood. After 50 years in the business, we have experience with every kind of scenario. Our primary goal is always your complete satisfaction.
Step 3 - Production and Financing
Your final construction drawings will help you receive accurate contractor bids, obtain building permits and prepare your foundation. One of the Emerald Forest Homes consultants can provide construction estimates, recommend builders, guide the project through required permits – and even serve as a liaison between buyer and builder throughout the construction process.
Financing: Construction Loans
One of the most important factors in successfully building your new home is obtaining the construction loan. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
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When you apply for your construction loan, apply for more than you will need. Running out of money before the project is complete can be disastrous.
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Don’t make expensive changes after construction begins. An ounce of planning can save you cash and stress.
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The bank typically pays out your construction loan in four to ten draws, after proof is shown that the specified phase is complete. Draw schedules are normally back-ended, requiring you to go into the project with start-up cash of your own.
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Make sure your financial package is complete before visiting the lender. Complete all required forms and provide as much information as you can, including cross-sections of the home and a specification of details and blowups of key areas. This will also help the builders give you accurate estimates of building costs.
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If possible, apply for a Permanent-to-Construction Loan (or convertible loan). This eliminates additional closing costs by putting both the construction loan and long-term mortgage in one loan. Shop carefully for the best rates.
Step 4 - Delivery and Construction
You’ve made it through the first steps of the new home building process — planning, design and production. You have transformed your ideas into a floor plan that meets your needs, selected a reliable home builder, have financing ready and all your building permits are in hand. You are now ready to learn about the final stage: Delivery & Construction.
When you are completely satisfied with your chosen home design, you will sign off on your final set of plans and authorize the shipment of your building materials kit. Then you will work with Emerald Forest Homes to set a date for your building materials package delivery.
Delivery
Unloading the Linwood building materials is an exciting time for everyone involved in bringing your new home to life. Emerald Forest Homes will be on hand at the delivery to complete an inventory and make sure that your dream home building project is off to a strong start. Then it is time to let your home builder get to work!
Construction
This phase begins with the arrival of your home building materials and is completed when your custom home builder applies the last piece of trim and the landscaping is done. There are many steps to the actual building process, from the ground breaking, foundation and framing, to the plumbing, flooring and interior trim. Before you know it, it is time to move in—and finish the landscaping, and of course to have friends and family over to share in the grand opening celebration of your new Dream Home.
Get in Touch
Emerald Forest Homes
Gibsons, BC
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