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Crafting Your Dream Home with Emmett Leo Homes

Crafting Your Dream Home with Emmett Leo Homes

Crafting Your Dream Home with Emmett Leo Homes

At Emmett Leo Homes, we are passionate about creating exquisite custom homes tailored to our clients’ unique desires and needs. As Winnipeg’s leading luxury custom home builder, our mission is to bring your dream home to life, ensuring that it is a perfect reflection of your personal taste and lifestyle. In this blog post, we will discuss how we work closely with our clients throughout the entire process to create a one-of-a-kind home that truly stands out.

Best Communication

There is nothing worse than not knowing whats going on with your home build.  With our online portal and direct access to our team, our clients can have as much or as little communication as they want.  We pride ourselves on transparency, and communication is how we exercise that value.

Personalized Consultation

We begin by getting to know you, understanding your vision, and learning about your specific requirements. This allows us to create a custom home design that perfectly aligns with your preferences and goals.

Collaborative Design Process

Our team of experienced architects and designers work together with you to create a comprehensive design plan, including floorplans, elevations, and 3D renderings, ensuring every detail is perfect before construction begins.

Superior Craftsmanship

At Emmett Leo Homes, we take pride in our exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail. We work with the finest materials and employ expert tradespeople to ensure that your custom home is built to the highest standards.

Project Management

Throughout the construction process, our project managers are on-site to oversee every aspect of your home build. They ensure that every stage is completed on time and within budget, while maintaining open communication with you.

Final Walkthrough and Warranty

Before handing over the keys to your new custom home, we conduct a thorough final walkthrough to ensure that everything meets your expectations. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive warranty to protect your investment and provide peace of mind.

At Emmett Leo Homes, our goal is to create a seamless and enjoyable home building experience for our clients. To learn more about how we can help you craft the luxury custom home of your dreams, contact us today or visit our website: Emmett Leo Homes

The Benefits of Building a Custom Home

The Benefits of Building a Custom Home

Building a custom home allows you to create a living space tailored to your unique needs, preferences, and lifestyle. As Winnipeg’s premier luxury custom home builder, Emmett Leo Homes is dedicated to helping you create the perfect home that meets all your requirements. In this blog post, we will discuss the numerous benefits of building a custom home.

Personalized Design

Building a custom home gives you the freedom to design every aspect of your living space. From the floorplan and layout to the finishes and features, you have complete control over the design process. This ensures that your home is a perfect reflection of your individual style and taste. Whether you prefer an open-concept layout, specific architectural details, or custom-built furniture, a custom home allows you to bring your vision to life.

Quality Craftsmanship

When you choose to build a custom home, you can expect superior craftsmanship. Custom homes are built using the finest materials and expert tradespeople who pay close attention to detail. At Emmett Leo Homes, we take great pride in our commitment to delivering exceptional quality. We believe that every aspect of your custom home should be built to the highest standards, ensuring that it stands the test of time.

Energy Efficiency

Custom homes offer the opportunity to incorporate energy-efficient features and technologies. By choosing sustainable building practices and materials, you can reduce your environmental footprint and save on utility bills. Emmett Leo Homes understands the importance of energy efficiency in today’s world. We incorporate the latest technologies and design principles to create eco-friendly luxury homes that are as energy-efficient as they are beautiful.

Location and Site Selection

One of the key advantages of building a custom home is the ability to choose the perfect location and site for your new residence. You have the freedom to find a plot of land that suits your preferences and needs. Whether you desire a location close to amenities, a quiet neighborhood, or breathtaking views, the choice is yours. This level of control over the location ensures that your custom home is situated in the ideal setting for you and your family.

Adaptability and Future-Proofing

Custom homes can be designed to accommodate your current and future needs. As your family grows or your lifestyle changes, your living space can adapt accordingly. From flexible floorplans to multipurpose rooms, a custom home ensures that your home remains functional and comfortable throughout the years. This adaptability not only enhances your quality of life but also increases the long-term value of your home.

Increased Value

Investing in a custom home often leads to a higher resale value. The unique design, superior craftsmanship, and desirable features of custom homes make them highly sought after in the real estate market. When the time comes to sell, you can expect a significant return on investment. Buyers are willing to pay a premium for a custom-built home that offers a level of customization and quality that surpasses standard homes.

Emotional Connection

Perhaps one of the most profound benefits of building a custom home is the emotional connection you develop with your living space. Every detail, from the layout to the finishes, is tailored to your desires and vision. This level of personalization creates a deep sense of pride and enjoyment in your home. You can truly make it your own and feel a strong emotional attachment to the place where you and your family create lasting memories.

At Emmett Leo Homes, we are dedicated to helping our clients experience the many benefits of building a custom home. Our expertise in luxury custom home building allows us to bring your vision to life while ensuring exceptional quality and craftsmanship. If you are interested in learning more about our services in Manitoba, visit our website at Emmett Leo Homes or contact us today to discuss your project. We look forward to helping you create the perfect custom home that exceeds your expectations.

Home Builder Secrets

Home Builder Secrets

Home Builder Secrets

Emmett Leo Homes Logo

Every industry has secrets and building is no different.  So what are the biggest secrets that a home builder might not be telling you?

1. Upgrades

There is no such thing as an “upgrade” on a custom home.  An upgrade is moving up from a standard, and nothing in a custom build is standard.  When you are having a custom home built, it’s all one-of-kind, so there should be no charges for upgrades.  Especially before you sign the contract, let alone during planning. The only time a custom home builder should charge you for an “upgrade” is when there are fees incurred from changes made AFTER the build has started.

2. Spray Foam

The most expensive product is not always the best option.  A lot of luxury home builders will choose an expensive product because it is seen as the better option but it doesn’t mean that it is the correct product for a particular application.

A lot of high-end home builders will say that spray foam is the best product for EVERY insulation application. However, spray foam that is not installed properly is dangerous.  Also, in some instances like a large wall, spray foam doesn’t work as well as other applications.  Expensive doesn’t always mean better, when greater value products can work just as well.

3. Little Changes, Big DOLLARS

This secret is a really big one for builders who do track homes.  They make their biggest profit margins from changes and upgrades that their customers order AFTER construction has started.  Track builders have the costs for their plans calculated down to the penny, they know their exact margins for their standard builds.  They hope and pray that YOU change your mind and want that ceramic tile in the bathroom instead of linoleum and that double oven and gas range instead of the standard electrical stove.  Make sure you are aware of ALL the costs associated with making changes after you sign your contract.  In order to fight this, we have create the Emmett Leo Homes Process, a step by step design process that allows us to make sure that every decision is made and confirmed prior to starting any construction.

See how the Emmett Leo Homes Process ensures that there are no upgrades and as little change orders as possible!

4. Energy Efficiency

The key to an energy efficient home is the air barrier, not necessarily specialty products.  The most important thing is keep cold air out and warm air in during the winter and the opposite in the summer.  A fully sealed air barrier around your entire house ensures that there is no way for unconditioned air to get in or out.

Improper installation of these products is the biggest cause of issues and inefficiencies. The correct product and installation make all the difference. This may be a clear plastic vapor barrier, spray foam or another product that prevents air movement across a membrane.  Before you put the drywall up, spending the money on a blower door test is worthwhile to ensure that the air barrier has been properly installed.

5. You don’t NEED a home builder, a realtor OR an architect when building a home.

You don’t actually NEED a home builder.  You CAN build your own house.  You won’t have to pay someone else, and you won’t have to wait on anyone.  You can make ALL your own decisions, pick out your own finishes AND take as long as you want.  The building industry has often hidden the fact that anyone can buy land, pull permits, draw houses and build a house.  But SHOULD you?  Using a great home builder WILL be cheaper than doing it yourself.  They WILL not make the mistakes you would.  They WILL find better solutions to problems as well as provide you with better pricing on material.  They WILL be able to do it faster, safer and with a higher quality and professionalism.  This is what we do, are passionate about and continually educate ourselves on processes, material and improving the quality of homes.

You don’t HAVE to use a realtor either.  Realtors and their associations have created the myth that you have to use them for every real estate transaction.  Realtors can help guide you through the purchasing process and there are some realtors out there that are phenomenal and worth their weight in gold, but you don’t need all their forms and certifications.  The legality and validity of a real estate transaction is based on the content of the contract, it could be written on the back of a napkin and, provided it has the correct information, still be a valid transaction.  HOWEVER, having a great realtor on your side is ALWAYS a bonus and can protect your backside.  They will help you negotiate, and they should be able to help you navigate the entire process.

You don’t HAVE to have an architect either.  You can draw it on a napkin.  You can have a draftsman or builder draw it up.  In fact, your uncle can do design it for you.   Architects are an expense, and one that most home owners don’t see the necessity for.  They add another layer of complexity, another person to talk to that slows down any decision making.  HOWEVER, they are amazing artists.  They design beautiful pieces of art.  Ones that take into consideration WAY more than anyone knows.  Sight lines.  Sunlight.  View points.  Flow.  Function.  Interior design.  Feelings.  They are irreplaceable.  Do you NEED them?  No.  Should you use one every time IF you can?  Absolutely!

Buy Or Build A House

Buy Or Build A House

Buy Or Build A House

BUY OR BUILD A HOUSE

Are you ready to move but can’t decide between buying and building?  This is an issue many people debate when they are ready for a new home.  Let’s look at some factors you should consider when deciding between buying a resale home that is already constructed or building a custom home, so you can decide on the best option that is right for you and your family.

There are a lot of important options and questions that you need to answer for your own situation.  The following are some of the most important issues you need to think about in order to form a quick and accurate decision.  

1. Total Cost

In order to make an informed decision about whether to buy or build a house, make sure that you are looking at the same things: ie. compare apples to apples.  The square footage, finish levels, material quality, and location should be similar between a house you are considering buying, versus one you are planning to build.

Generally speaking, the costs of building will be higher than buying a similar resale home. However, with a custom-built home, everything will be new.  Everything will be the latest technology available and will be under warranty.  Beyond just new appliances, this includes warranty on your foundation, mechanical and structural systems.  You rarely, if not ever, get a comprehensive warranty with a resale home.

2. Customization

Without a major renovation, when you buy a house, you get what you see.  The layout, location, and style of the home have already been decided.  It might be just what you were looking for, it might just need a few changes or it might not be right without major changes.

There are a lot of people that do not know what they want until they see it, but there are others who know exactly what they want. The upside of building a house is that YOU get to make the choices, so everything in your home will fit your preference, taste and lifestyle.

For more info about customization, make sure to download our FREE Home Building Planner Guide

3. Financing

Buying a house that will be your primary residence can often be purchased with an insured mortgage, with a very low percentage down.  This means you can often buy a resale home for much less out of pocket and you’ll only need to have a fraction of the final cost of the home.

Building a house will likely need more money upfront.  Depending on your builder and location, you might have to purchase the lot outright with cash, as most institutions will not finance bare land.  You will also need about 10-20% down to put down with your builder.   If you’re in a new subdivision, the builder might carry the lot and build costs but others may require something in between.  The financing situation for building may look quite different than buying a resale home.

4. Location

There are way more lots available in new subdivisions, but the problem is that they are exactly that, NEW.  There will be a lack of landscaping features like established trees, there will be construction happening throughout for years and there will be very little in the way of community or nearby amenities.  You might have a long commute to work and have to wait years for nice trees, schools, and shopping in your area.

Buying a lot in an established neighborhood generally means you will be better located.  You will be more likely to have more developed landscaping and big trees.  You will be closer to community centers, parks, schools, and shopping as well.

A vacant lot or a location where you can demolish and do an infill build can get you into a community that is already well established.  You can be centrally located in an older neighborhood with high demand and low turnover.

5. The Great Unknown

Building a house, with a builder you trust, means you don’t have much to worry about.  You’ll get a new home with warranties.  All your systems will be clean and modern with the latest technology.  Everything will be up to code and you’ll have strong structural and mechanical systems.

Buy a house has a lot more potential issues that might be hiding, even from a home inspector.  You won’t always know what you’re buying.  For example, an inspector can’t see behind the walls of a finished basement to locate issues with the foundation or weeping tiles.  Is that roof leaking or just getting close to needing replacement? Is there mold, mildew, or asbestos hiding in the walls?  Did the previous owners try their own plumbing or electrical repairs?

6. Timeline

You will need to figure out your available TIMELINE.  ALMOST nothing else matters until you figure that out. This is probably the number one consideration that can help you decide between building and buying a new home.   A build can take a minimum of seven months and can take as long as two years for a large, custom, luxury home.  If you have a strict timeline, you might not be able to wait that long before moving.

If you have to get into a home right now, you can buy an existing home while you build. However, if you can’t hold two mortgages, you could also rent someplace while your new home is being built.  Either option may mean moving twice in a short period of time; however, if building a home is where your heart is, you might have to deal with that inconvenience.