Building a custom home is exciting! It’s also one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make (not just financially, but emotionally and time-wise too).
After 15+ years of guiding clients through custom home builds in the Okanagan, we’ve learned that the most successful projects start with the right questions. Not just questions you ask your builder (though those matter too), but questions you ask yourself.
Before you break ground, before you even start sketching floor plans, take a step back. The clarity you gain now will save you stress, money, and regret down the line.
Here are the 6 essential questions to answer before starting your custom home journey.
1. What’s your “why”?
This seems obvious, but it’s worth getting specific.
Do you want a home tailored to your lifestyle? A specific view? Better quality? Room to grow?
Your “why” will guide countless decisions throughout the process. Get clear on it now.
2. How do you want your home to feel and function?
Beyond aesthetics, how do you want to feel when you walk through your front door?
Calm and serene? Warm and cozy? Bright and energizing? Sophisticated and elegant? Relaxed and casual?
These translate into design decisions. A home that feels “calm and serene” might have neutral colors, clean lines, and minimal visual clutter. A home that feels “warm and cozy” might incorporate wood tones, textured fabrics, and intimate spaces.
It’s also important to think about how you live day to day.
Do you cook often? Work from home? Need space for kids, hobbies, or guests?
Understanding your daily rhythms helps inform layout, room placement, and functional needs.
3. What does your lot offer?
If you already own land, understanding its opportunities and constraints is crucial. Orientation, views, sun exposure, privacy, slope, and outdoor living potential all influence design. If you don’t own land yet, knowing what you need helps you choose the right lot for your vision.
4. What’s your realistic budget?
This is the big one. Building a custom home requires honest financial assessment. Consider total project costs (not just construction). Include land, permits, landscaping, furnishings, and a contingency. Construction costs can vary significantly depending on finishes, complexity, and location. In the Okanagan, costs per square foot vary based on many factors. A reputable custom home builder (Hello 👋 ) can help you understand what’s realistic for your budget.
To get started, explore our Instant Home Build Cost Estimator or contact us for a more detailed quote here.
5. What timeline makes sense?
Building a custom home isn’t a quick process, and understanding the timeline early on helps you plan realistically and avoid stress later. Design, permitting, and construction typically span 12–18 months. Think about your current living situation, upcoming life changes, and when you’d ideally move in.
If you need to be in your home by a specific date, work backwards to determine when you need to start the process.
Being clear on your timeline helps your builder sequence the project properly, anticipate potential delays, and guide you through decisions without feeling rushed. It also ensures the entire process is aligned with your life, not the other way around.
6. What do you need from your builder?
Every builder works differently. Consider the support you want: design-build services, help with selections, communication style, and how involved you want to be throughout the process.
At Edgehill Homes, we offer comprehensive design-build services because we believe the best results come from integrated collaboration. But every client has different needs and preferences.
When interviewing home builders consider asking:
- How long have you been building in the Okanagan?
- Can I see examples of completed projects similar to what I want?
- Can you provide references from recent clients?
- What’s your project management approach?
- How do you handle changes and unexpected issues?
- What’s included in your pricing and what’s extra?
- What’s your typical timeline?
- Who will I communicate with during the build?
- What happens if there are problems?
Don’t just go with the lowest bid. Quality, communication, and compatibility matter more than saving a few dollars upfront.
Getting Started
The beauty of asking these questions now is that they prepare you for meaningful conversations with builders, architects, and designers. You’ll be an informed, engaged client who knows what they want and why.
At Edgehill Homes, we start every custom home project with deep discovery. We want to understand not just what you want to build, but who you are, how you live, and what matters most to you.
If you’ve been thinking about building a custom home in the Okanagan and these questions have you excited, that’s a great sign.
Our custom home design and build services cover everything from initial consultation through move-in day. We work with clients throughout the South Okanagan – from Penticton to Summerland to Naramata, and everywhere in between.
Reach out today to get started.
Edgehill Homes has been building custom homes in the Okanagan for over 15 years. We believe every home should tell a story and we’re here to help you tell yours.
