How to Build a Custom House

The exciting prospect of building your house in Shorerise, in the beautiful Okanagan region—is certainly a momentous undertaking deserving of careful planning and consideration.

Step-by-step Guide

Don’t try to rush this wondrous journey of turning your custom home dreams into a living, breathing reality. Let yourself embrace the process, roll with any roadblocks that may arise, and stay focused on the bigger picture goal.

What’s my Vision for This House?

Defining your vision for the ideal home should be the first priority. Take some time to really reflect on your lifestyle needs, aesthetic preferences, and any must-have amenities or design features. Create an inspiration board filled with architectural styles, interior finishes, and innovative layouts that speak to you.

Explore the Area

Doing some good old-fashioned boots-on-the-ground exploration of the West Kelowna neighborhoods would be an incredibly wise move. You want to make sure the vibe and energy of a particular area truly resonates before committing to building your dream dwelling there.

Think of it like going on a series of blind dates with different communities before deciding which one is marriage material, you know? You can ogle all the online listing photos you want, but until you actually spend some quality facetime getting to know the real personality of a place, you’ll never quite capture that elusive je ne sais quoi.

So I wholeheartedly encourage renting a cute little convertible and just cruising around the various West Kelowna ‘hoods with your windows down and senses open. Pay close attention to the intangible vibes — the community aesthetics, the types of folks you see out and about, the general atmosphere. Does one area make you instinctively exhale and think “Ahh yes, this could be home”?

While the Shorerise development sounds dreamy on paper, you’ll want to experience it through an immersive lens. Grab a latte and post up in a local park to do some covert people-watching. Drive the potential commute routes during peak hours if applicable. Heck, stop into a few open houses just to get a true feel for the construction quality and community amenities.

Because you’re not just choosing a house—you’re investing in an entire lifestyle and energy that will surround your sanctuary. Getting that elusive vibe alignment right is crucial for manifesting your domestic bliss down the road.

Immerse yourself in the West Kelowna scene for a few days or weeks if needed. Bring a notepad and record all your observations — the aesthetics that delight you, the amenities that feel essential, the energy levels that inspire or drain you. Gathering that visceral field research now will pay dividends when it comes time to make your ultimate place to put down roots.

What’s Your Budget?

Doing some exploratory recon will also allow you to realistically assess what your budget can procure in each specific area. Maybe the dreamy Shorerise lots are a tad out of reach, but you discover an unassuming nearby enclave with even more character that fits your financial parameters perfectly.  

There’s no substitute for experiencing these neighborhoods in the flesh and letting your intuition guide you. Those gut feelings about what constitutes “home” are invaluable data points.

Because this custom home should be so much more than just a fabulous piece of architecture. It needs to be an extension of your soul, a place that lets you inhale peace and exhale joy with every breath. And sometimes the perfect piece of land for manifesting that reveals itself in the most unexpected ways and locations.

Time Schedule

Despite our best laid plans and timelines, delays and setbacks are often inevitable when undertaking such a complex endeavor. However, that doesn’t mean scheduling is a futile exercise — in fact, having a well-constructed schedule can be invaluable, if properly framed.

The key is to view the schedule not as an immutable set of deadlines carved in stone, but rather as a flexible roadmap and communication tool to keep everyone aligned on general targets and expectations. It helps coordinate the dizzying array of contractors, materials deliveries, inspections and other crucial milestones into a logical, sequential flow.

Without that overarching schedule in place, even tiny delays can quickly snowball into project chaos and stakeholder frustration when no one is on the same page. But by acknowledging upfront that target dates may shift, the schedule becomes more of a rallying point to re-sync after any unavoidable setbacks.

This is where your builder’s experience and communication skills become paramount. A seasoned pro will have built-in buffer periods into the schedule to account for potential lags in permitting, material shortages, weather impacts and more. They know the process intimately enough to pinpoint those likely delay risk areas.

Their role is to continually manage participant expectations and promptly communicate any emerging schedule adjustments. Perhaps bi-weekly homeowner meetings to go over progress, identify upcoming milestones, and proactively discuss potential schedule modifications. This transparent dialogue is crucial for maintaining trust.

From your end as the client, the best strategy is to adopt a zen-like acceptance that delays will absolutely happen, but stay focused on the bigger picture goal. Build a lifestyle buffer into your personal plans – for instance, if you’re selling an existing home, maybe rent temporarily rather than trying to times the moves too tightly.

The schedule then becomes more of a mutually understood framework to work towards, not an absolute drop-dead timeline. You can celebrate when major targets are hit, while rolling with the inevitable punches that arise. A rigid, uncompromising view will only breed frustration.

There are also proactive steps you can take to try and condense the schedule where possible. Being decisive and prompt with your selections for finishes, fixtures, options and the like. Clearly communicating your priorities to your builder upfront. And perhaps even exploring opportunities for parallel work streams where possible.

West Kelowna Real Estate

Once you have a relatively clear conceptual blueprint in mind, it’s wise to start familiarizing yourself with the Kelowna/West Kelowna area real estate market. Get a sense of available lot locations, neighborhood vibes, commuting logistics if applicable, and general pricing trends. This will help narrow your search parameters.

Custom Home Builders in Kelowna

From there, I’d recommend identifying a few respected custom home builders that have an established reputation and portfolio in the Okanagan region. Don’t just go by online reviews — schedule in-person meetings to get a true sense of their communication style, design philosophies, and whether you gel with their overall approach.

A top-tier custom builder should function as much more than just a contractor. They’ll be your partner in translating that initial vision into a cohesive, functional reality while expertly guiding you through the myriad logistical considerations like site prep, permitting, material selections, and more.

Time for Details

Once you’ve honed in on the right builder for your needs, it’s time to take a deeper dive into the finer details. They’ll likely have you complete an extensive questionnaire covering everything from layout preferences to technology integration wishes. Be honest and thorough here — this is what allows them to create an authentic design that fits your life like a glove.

From there, the real collaborative fun begins as they start presenting initial renderings, 3D models, and architectural plans for feedback and refinement. Don’t be afraid to speak up about any aspects that miss the mark — thoughtful back-and-forth is crucial to crafting your dream dwelling.

Throughout the entire construction process, continuous communication and on-site meetings will be paramount to ensure your unified vision remains intact. A world-class custom builder will keep you looped in every step of the way while expertly managing all the behind-the-scenes logistics.

Of course, there are plenty of other factors that should be carefully weighed in parallel — like long-term costs, energy efficiency targets, landscaping plans, smart home tech packages, and much more. But a talented builder will be your guide through those rabbit holes as well.

A mindset of flexible patience, open communication, and focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel will serve you best. Your dream home is coming, likely just on a slightly different timeline than initially mapped.

If you remain open, ask the right questions, and select a builder aligned with your values and aspirations, the end result will be a beautifully handcrafted residence that feels like the ultimate expression of you. A place to put down roots and create cherished memories for years to come.