4 Things to consider when building a home in the Okanagan
From world-renowned ski resorts to pristine lakes, the activities throughout the year are in abundance and make the Okanagan a highly desired place to live. In addition to the accessible year-round activities, the Okanagan is situated in the beautiful British Columbia Southern Interior and consists of multiple airports — flights to Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary or Victoria take just over an hour and are popular options for weekend trips.
With the Okanagan soaring in popularity, so is the demand for housing. With the lack of homes available, new & existing homeowners are seeking out land to build on instead. New builds can be time-intensive and require the coordination of many moving parts, which is why we have curated a list of crucial things to consider before you begin.
Planning
From permits to blueprints, the home planning process can be tedious and exhausting — that’s why a thorough plan is so crucial and arguably one of the most important steps. You may have an image in your head of your dream home, but you need to ensure the design is possible and fits within your budget. Working Hands offers pre-construction services to work with you to understand your goals and challenges — this will ensure a clear plan is in place before construction begins. Setting attainable goals will save you from disappointment and will assist with a smooth transition to the building phase. Click here to see our full range of pre-construction services!
Cost
How much will it cost? The million dollar question every soon-to-be homeowner wants to know. Unfortunately, it’s not a straightforward answer and the cost will depend on a multitude of factors. On average, the building cost per square foot can range from $175 to $325. This is a broad price range that will be dependent on your building plan, but choosing a building provider who is transparent and honest with you will help prevent any costly surprises along the way. Managing client expectations is also a major component — your chosen builder should help you define your “wants” vs. “needs” to ensure you don’t go over budget. Think of “needs” as components that are required for your home to function, and “wants” as things that would be nice to have, but can also be added down the road.
Working Hands prides itself on being a trusted establishment within the Okanagan community — assisting residents from inception to completion. Contact us today to talk about your budget!
Seasons
Living in a place that has 4 distinct seasons means you need to be mindful of when to begin construction. The ideal time to plan your build is in the winter when construction slows down — use the cold months to get your ideas and paperwork in order. To avoid disappointment & delay, ensure you book your contractors and subcontractors early before their schedules fill up. The perfect time to start your build is in spring — the snow has melted and the days get longer allowing for ample time to get the exterior in place. The summers in the Okanagan can be extremely hot, so having the exterior finished before the heat rolls around means the interior can be the main focus in the hotter months.
Still unsure when to begin your build? We may have the answer you need — chat with our construction experts here!
Location
The location is the driving force of the value your property will hold. You want to ensure your home continues to increase in value as the years go by. What makes a good location? There are plenty of myriad elements that affect property value such as transport, supply & demand, community involvement, highly ranked schools and accessible amenities. It is a smart idea to research your desired location and look for upcoming developments that will add cultural enrichment to the neighborhood — some of which might include cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. Not all developments are beneficial for homeowners, so keep an eye out for anything that might decrease the value, too. Facilities that may contribute to a decreased value include highways, cemeteries, waste management, recycling depots and gun ranges.
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We're here to lend a helping hand!
The building process is complicated and overwhelming, and there are a plethora of things you need to think about before you even get to the building stage. Having a trusted builder on your side who clearly understands your goals will make the process that much easier. Working Hands has a team of experienced and trusted professionals who will assist you every step of the way — you can feel confident knowing we are passionate and committed to making your home building process as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Your dream home is just a click away! Contact one of our experts and let’s get started!