Each year comes with new excitement. This coming year bring all new excitement for Spruce Homes. Tune into this episode to see what we have going on as we spill the tea!
This one is going to get you thinking! If you think custom home building is complicated, wait until you listen to this one :). We are joined with Amelie Caron to talk about energy efficiency, high performance homes, and different ways to think about affordability and the investments you make into your home. If you are interested in smart building and data driven building decision, this episode is for you! We are entering into a new era of home construction, and this episode will help bring a little bit of insight into what that looks like.
Have you ever considered completing your own build or renovation? Is it coming from a point of pride or a way to save some money? On today's episode, we are joined by Dustin Sikler and Heather Fritz to talk about their personal experiences. Both have completed renovations and builds of their own - some by themselves and others with professional builders. We sit down with them to have a frank conversation about their experience and see things from their side of the table plus bring up some things to think about ourselves. If you are considering building or renovating, this is a MUST listen!
Affordability, quality, and sustainability are at the forefront of the home building conversation right now. Those three concepts are very difficult to combine in our worlds current climate and it’s critical that we have people on our side advocating for us (as builders and consumers). In today’s episode we talk with the Saskatoon & Region Home Builder’s Association to understand the importance of the work they do for us as home buyers (locally, provincially and federally) and also to understand the importance of building or renovating with reputable companies that are part of a local association!
On today's episode we are VERY excited to welcome a special guest, Kerri Tucker! Kerri is a real estate agent here in Saskatoon and has a very personal story about the risks of radon. On this episode Brad and Kerri talk about what radon is and why you NEED to be aware of it. We live in a province that contains high radon exposure, so being educated and aware is important. Enjoy this episode and share it with everyone you know to get this important message out there!
Living in Saskatchewan, we often get questions about building through the winter. Should you? Shouldn't you? How does the process change and how can that affect both quality and pricing? In todays episode, Brad dives into some of those questions and gives you some answers, busts some myths about off season building and gives some general takeaways to consider!
In today's episode, Brad and Kaitlyn talk about the top ten things they would consider including in a custom home. The joys of custom building is that you get to design a home that is beautiful, functional and comfortable. We consider all three of these in our top 10. We'd love tp hear what you would include - find us on Instagram and comment with your top inclusions!
We are in a very different place than last year's market update. With interest rates being a major topic of conversation and the media pushing the severity of a looming recession, fear in the market has definitely become a reality. But is now the time to push the construction of your custom home another calendar year? Maybe. Or maybe not. We can't tell you that for sure, but in today's episode we do discuss what we are seeing in the residential construction industry and how that may impact your decision moving forward. Although we don't have a crystal ball, we do hope you can take a couple nuggets from today's episode to help your decision making!
In our last episode in "Our Process" series, we are talking about construction. What does the experience look like from your side of the table during construction? Brad walks through what our process looks like and gives some insight into what you can expect. From communication to problem solving, the construction experience is a critical piece of the puzzle to ensure that you have the best custom home building experience possible!
Are you building an infill now or in the future? If so, this episode is for you! We curated a list of things that you should be aware of prior to building. Some of these things may add cost to your project and others may add time. Either way, you will want to be aware of these so that when the time comes, you are prepared. From site conditions to permit times, we go in depth about each item so that you can be informed!
When you are building a custom home, it is critical that a solid design system is in place. This is where the interior and exterior design pulls together with the architectural design and the entire home becomes cohesive. Without a solid process details can get missed, pricing can get out of hand and communication can break down. In this week's episode, Kaitlyn breaks down what our Design Process looks like and gives you some insight into what it would look like to work with Spruce Homes!
If you are building a custom home, change orders are likely going to be part of the process. You want to get your home just right and often times throughout construction you may want to tweak a few things from the original plan. That's ok! But you also don't want changes to get out of hand where costs sky rocket and the experience becomes stressful or frustrating. Although eliminating change orders completely may be unrealistic, there are definitely ways to reduce them so that you can enjoy the ride. Today's episode tackles some practical ways to do just that so that everything can go as smooth as you expect!
Have you ever talked to someone who built a custom home and heard about surprise costs that jumped up along the way? It's not a pleasant experience! It's an important thing to keep in mind - there is always a potential for cost over runs throughout the project. Different contract types can protect you from some overruns, but even with a fixed price contract there are always scenarios where costs can pop up on you. To help prepare you (both financially and mentally) for some of those possibilities, we sit down and talk about a short list of things that could potentially add cost to your build even AFTER you’ve signed a contract.
After living in the house we built for three years, there have been some lessons learned. Things that we would do the same, and things that we would do differently. Living in a house you built gives a new perspective and helps better guide clients through their build. To kickoff Season 2, we wanted to start light and talk through the things that we have learned and maybe help guide you as you start thinking about your new home. Enjoy!
Once you finish your project and move it, you want it to feel like home. Part of that feeling is making sure the furniture fits with your new space. In this episode, Kaitlyn discusses things to think through when you are furniture shopping, tips, and trends we are seeing for 2022. If you are in the planning stages of a build or renovation this is something you will want to consider sooner rather than later!
You're planning to build a custom home, but you have no idea what it will cost. Where do you start? Unfortunately, the answer isn't as straight forward as you would like, but we on this weeks episode we break down what our Pricing Process looks like. From inspiration, to floor plans, to pricing, we walk with you through the entire journey to get you to that answer - what will it cost!?
Whether you are planning on building your dream home or doing an extensive renovation to create one, financing plays a crucial role. While it may not be a glamorous topic, we all need to organize our "Benjamins" before starting a project. On this episode Brad is joined by a special guest, Ron Quaroni to break down what construction financing looks like - both from the perspective of custom building as well as renovations. If you're starting your construction journey, play this episode a couple times to be sure you grab all the concepts and nuggets that are thrown your way!
Hint: it's far from straightforward...
One of the ongoing conversations we are having these days revolves around pricing. Where is it now and where is it going? At the moment, there are a few macro-economic factors at play that are impacting the overall market. There are a ton of complexities and the the world is ever-changing. In this episode, Brad goes over some of the macro events and dives into how they are impacting us here at home. Would he build right now, or would he hold off? Listen to this episode to find out his thoughts!
This week we have a special guest from Durabuilt Windows & Doors. Daniel Serrano joins Brad to give some insight into a part of your home that often gets overlooked - windows. Windows play a crucial part in the comfort and feeling of your home but also play a vital role in efficiency. Sit down with Brad and Danny before you start designing your next project to think more about your new window selections and how they can impact the overall comfort and performance of your house!
This week, we decided to go off topic and mix in something different - working with your spouse. It's something that we have a first hand perspective on that most don't. This episode is a fun way to bring you inside the realities of blending marriage and business. Whether you are thinking of going into business with your significant other or you are just looking for some laughs at our expense, give this episode a listen!