20Nov

2020

Boss Design / / 0 comment

Building Your Custom Home Wish list

Step 3: Building Your Custom Home Wish list

Once you have determined your budget, and have begun narrowing down builders and design firms, the fun part begins. The Wish List. All of your wants, needs, and dreams you want to incorporate into your new custom dream home; and really decide what matters the most to you and your family and what you must have in your custom home.

type of custom home

What type of custom home are you looking for? Bungalow, Two Storey? Would you like a walkout basement? If you are renovating, what are you envisioning for the final structure of the home. Are you thinking that adding a second story would make your home function better, or would an addition off the front or back be more useful? These are some of the big questions you need to ask yourself.

Two stories are most popular amongst young families looking for a lot of living space at minimal cost. It is less expensive to build upwards than to increase the size of the main floor. Two stories tend to be less expensive per developed square foot than bungalows, and are popular and abundant in neighbourhoods with more affordable price ranges.

Another reason young families love two stories, the general design allows the children’s bedrooms to be placed in close proximity to the master bedroom, in turn containing children’s toys and clutter to the upstairs, away from the primary entertaining spaces of the main floor.

Bungalows are most popular with empty nesters and those with older children. With the lack of a second floor, there is no need for load bearing walls which allows for the opportunity for an open concept design and raised or vaulted ceilings. Bungalows are often found in more expensive areas, where lot sizes are larger and can accommodate a larger main floor footprint.

If the slope of the land is great enough, a walkout basement may be possible. These are popular because they provide homeowners with attractive living spaces at ground level beneath the main floor. Walkouts can also give the appearance of 2 or 3 storey on the walkout side, and add a great deal of value to a home for a modest amount of expenditure.

You also need to take a look at the approx sq.ft. that you are looking at building (this number may also be decided based on your budget as to how big we can go). If you are buying a lot that comes with some restrictions, you may have a specific size range that we need to build in. If you are building on a lot that has no size restrictions make sure to really evaluate the spaces and what you are able to manage now and in the future if this is your forever home.

Style of Home

What style of custom home appeals to you most? Are you really into a modern structure or do you like more of a traditional home style? Does a rustic mountain home sound like something that suits your personality? Are you loving the all white modern farmhouse look? There are so many different options out there to choose from. Checking online resources like Instagram, Pinterest and Houzz are a great and simple way to see a lot of different homes in a short period of time. One fun way to see what appeals to you most is to go for a drive. Drive through different neighbourhoods and areas where you live or would like to live. If you see a house that you like, snap a quick picture. You can make a day out of it and have fun exploring new areas and home styles.

How the home will function

Coming up with a wish list also helps designers really see where the focus and heart of the custom home resides, and what is truly important to you. This knowledge allows us as designers to create your custom home and focus the budget into areas that are most important to you. For example, for some the kitchen and living areas are incredibly important. Large dining spaces, or kitchen islands where everyone can gather. If you enjoy entertaining, or if you have a large family that you need to accommodate with extra bedrooms. Or something as simple as wishing to walk in your front door, and having a place to put your keys on the left hand side. It’s all in the details.

A great and easy way to start your wishlist is through online resources, such as Pinterest and Houzz . You can create your own inspiration boards, adding notes to each image to reference what you love about each, and save all your ideas to share with your design team.

We have a spreadsheet available for download on our website as well if you prefer putting pen to paper. We thrive on detail and specifics, so we recommend going into as much detail as possible. Your design team will sit down with you and review the areas of your custom home, and also offer up suggestions to ensure efficiency and creative pathways for the spaces within your custom home.
It is worth noting, that as you are coming up with this list you should also consider the resale value. If very unique, overly personal options are selected, expect objections from potential buyers in the future. Even if you do not plan on selling, we still recommend keeping this in mind; the future is very unpredictable.

have fun!

step 4: CUSTOM HOME DESIGN

step 1: budget

step 2: team

Wish List

13Nov

2020

Boss Design / / 0 comment

How To Create A Budget For Your Custom Home Design

STEP 1: How To Create A Budget For Your Custom Home Design

Are you planning to build a custom new home, and unsure of where to start? The process can be overwhelming, but it is one of those most exciting experiences as well! We have created a guide to help you along this journey.

This step-by-step guide takes you through the complex process of designing and building your custom dream home.

STEP 1: CREATING A BUDGET FOR YOUR PROJECT

Before you make any other decisions, it is critical that you determine what your budget is. When it comes to design, there is nothing worse than going through the process and falling in love with a design only to find out it is out of reach. We have the knowledge and skill to focus on the elements that matter the most to you. This process does not come without stressors, but your designer and builder are there to support you, and ensure you receive the best design to fit your budget and wish list.

FIND A MORTGAGE LENDER

The first step should always be determining what you can afford, either through your bank or a private mortgage broker. Your mortgage lender will need to see your tax returns, sources of income, and any savings account statements. If you get approved for a large loan, it may or may not be in your best interest to borrow the full amount. It is also wise to take your income stability and the strength of the housing market into consideration

THE 25% RULE

The quickest way to estimate your budget is the 25% rule. Take your total take home pay, including all sources of income and calculate 25% of that. Your total mortgage payment each month, plus other expenses such as your property taxes, home insurance, utilities…etc. should be less than this amount.

EXPENSES BEYOND THE MORTGAGE

Getting pre-approved for your mortgage is important, but it is only one of many considerations. People often overlook proposed yearly property taxes. The size of the home, and the neighbourhood both influence the property tax values. Generally speaking, the larger the home the more expensive the property taxes will be. You will also need to consider home insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs. Also take any other debts you may be carrying into consideration. Ideally, your monthly debt costs each month should be below 40% of your take home pay.

FINDING YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

Real estate values vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood, city to city, and county to county. If you have your heart set on a particular neighbourhood, we suggest doing some research on the average costs of homes in the area, and the average cost per square foot. You can also find out the average lot price, and what the minimum square footage required to build in the neighbourhood is. This will also help you determine if the home you want to build fits within your budget.

Being honest and letting your builder and designer know this number helps us to make sure we are designing within reason and to make sure you get the best design. We have the knowledge and skill to be able to “cut” costs in areas of the design where it’s not as important and really put the focus and dollars into the areas that matter most to you.

step 2: team

step 3: wish list

step 4: custom home design

19Mar

2020

bosshome / / 0 comment

Choosing a Residential Designer to Create Your Dream Home

Home Designing and building a home can be one of the largest investments you’ll ever make. The world of home design can be difficult to navigate and seem overwhelming at times. That’s why choosing a knowledgeable designer is key. At Boss Design, designing dream homes is all about the details. It takes commitment to the whole project, not just to one portion of the work.
It’s this philosophy that founder and principal designer, Jeremy Walter, has followed since the beginning.

Walter attended the Architectural Technology program at NAIT and then went on to work at an architectural firm. However, Walter soon realized that commercial and industrial design wasn’t the path he wanted to take. Home is where the heart is. Walter joined a local boutique home builder and found his calling in residential design.

For more than a decade, Walter and his team have been working with clients to make their dream homes a reality.

“We have built ourselves solely on referrals because of our quality of work, our integrity and our passion to design a home clients are proud of. Nothing leaves this office that isn’t something I would design and build for my family,” says Walter.

Walter adds that there’s a lot of emotion involved in designing a home for someone. No project is the same and that’s always exciting. Boss Design offers everything from design, drafting and 3D renderings to construction management, value engineering and marketing materials.

What sets Boss Design apart?
Walter and most of his senior staff have all designed their homes and continue to enjoy living in them today.

“A home designer should have knowledge of the market, attention to detail and proven expertise in their field. Every foot of development in a design directly affects the overall cost to build a home. One mistake can cost thousands of dollars, but taking the time to plan can also save thousands of dollars,” says Walter.

Walter and his team have a proven track record of success in home design, and recently took home the CHBA Edmonton award in the Provides Service to a Builder category. Boss has also shared awards with local builders who have won local, provincial and national awards for the projects Boss has designed.

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3D technology for home design
The ability to see every aspect of a home before its built is a fundamental step. Boss Design was one of the early adopters of this industry game changer. The technology gives designers the ability to 3D render any house, on any angle, at any time of the day. Designers can create renderings of the inside and outside of a home with the exact finishes, before the home has even started to be built. This creates a clear vision for clients.

With technology comes great responsibility Many people can draw a house plan on paper, but this technology can showcase the smallest details in a home. And its these details that can be the most important. What some clients may like on paper, they don’t like once they see a rendering. With this 3D technology, changes can be made to a plan quickly, and new concepts and ideas can be fully explored.

Designing for success
Whether you have decided to design and build your first home, or the retirement home you’ve always wanted, Boss Design can guide you from start to finish.

“It’s our responsibility to ensure our clients have the information they need to complete the design and construction of their dream home,” adds Walter. “We believe in creating lasting relationships with our clients and pride ourselves on designing a home you can be proud of.”

21Mar

2017

Boss Design / / 0 comment

Big Boss Win!

Boss Design attended the CHBA Edmonton Region Awards of Excellence, with a nomination in the Provides Service Directly to a Builder/Renovator category.

Boss Design has been very fortunate to collaborate and provide designs for several projects and clients that have gone on to win Regional, Provincial, and National CHBA Awards. At this years CHBA Edmonton Region Awards of Excellence, held at the Shaw Conference Center, we had the opportunity to enter our own category. We were so lucky to not only be named a finalist, but to go on and win the award for Provides Service Directly to a Builder/Renovator!

After 11 years of hard work, we are so appreciative to be recognized by our peers in the industry, and want to thank all of our amazing builder and private clients for helping us reach this point as a company. We also want to thank our wonderful team for the hard work and detail they put into each plan that comes through our door.

We also wanted to extend a huge congratulations to two of our long standing clients, who also took home a win at the CHBA. Alair Homes Edmonton & Bengel Custom Homes won for Best Renovation $200,000 to $500,00 and Best Single Family $600,000 to $800,000.

06May

2016

Boss Design / / 0 comment