Building a custom home might be the biggest project you ever undertake. It’s exciting, transformative, and yes, sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming when you’re standing at the starting line wondering what comes next.
The good news is it doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. At Edgehill Homes, we’re veterans at guiding families through this journey in the South Okanagan. Over the years, we’ve refined our process to be as clear, supportive, and enjoyable as possible.
Let’s walk through what the custom home process looks like at Edgehill Homes, step by step.
Finding and Securing Your Lot
Before we can start designing your dream home, there are a few foundational pieces that need to be in place.
First things first: you need land. Whether you already own the perfect piece of property or you’re still searching, this is where your custom home journey truly begins.
What’s involved:
- Purchase a lot – Finding the right location that fits your vision, budget, and lifestyle
- Confirm zoning – Making sure the property allows for what you want to build
- Survey – Getting an accurate survey of your property boundaries and features
- Confirm design guidelines – Some neighborhoods have architectural guidelines or covenants
- Subdivision (if needed) – Splitting a larger parcel if that’s part of your plan
- Variance (if needed) – Seeking approval for any exceptions to standard zoning rules
While these steps typically happen before you work with us, we’re happy to provide guidance. If you’re looking at a lot and wondering if it’s right for your vision, we can often tell you what’s possible and what challenges you might face. We’ve built on everything from flat, easy lots to steep hillsides with rock outcroppings so we know what works in the South Okanagan.
1. The Initial Meeting (Where Dreams Start Taking Shape)
Once you have your lot sorted (or at least identified), it’s time to start the actual design and build journey. And it starts with a simple conversation.
Your Complimentary 30-Minute Initial Meeting
This is where we get to know each other. No pressure, no commitment. Just an honest conversation about what you’re hoping to create.
What we’ll discuss:
- Your hopes and dreams for your new home
- How you live and what matters most to your family
- Your timeline and when you’d like to be moved in
- Your budget and what’s realistic for your vision
- Any questions you have about the process
- Whether Edgehill Homes is the right fit for your project
Building a custom home is a significant investment of time, money, and emotional energy. Before anyone signs anything, we want to make sure we’re the right partners for your journey. This meeting helps us understand your vision and helps you understand our approach.
If it feels like a good fit for both of us, we’ll move forward to the pre-construction phase. If not, that’s okay too. We’d rather be honest up front than waste anyone’s time.
2. Pre-Construction (Where Ideas Become Plans)
This is where your vision transforms from “wouldn’t it be amazing if…” into actual buildable plans. We’ll guide you through every decision so it feels manageable, not overwhelming.
Before we dive into design work, we’ll formalise our working relationship with a pre-construction agreement. This outlines what’s included in the design phase, timelines, and what we’re committing to deliver.
It ensures we’re all on the same page about expectations, deliverables, and investment before significant design work begins.
What Happens in This Phase
- Design Development We work alongside you and an Edgehill-approved residential designer to create your custom home plans. This is collaborative. You’re involved in every decision, and we provide ongoing feedback to ensure designs align with your budget.
- Permits and Engineering We handle all the technical stuff (permit prep, engineering, submissions to building departments, and approvals). You don’t need to understand the bureaucracy; that’s our job.
- Selections and Finishes This is the fun part. We guide you through choosing everything from flooring to fixtures, countertops to cabinet hardware. It’s a lot of decisions, but we break it into manageable appointments and help you stay on budget.
What You’ll Receive
By the end of pre-construction, you’ll have everything needed to build:
- Complete architectural plans
- 3D exterior rendering showing exactly what your home will look like
- Design boards with all your interior finishes
- Detailed millwork drawings for custom cabinetry
- Comprehensive lighting plan
- Complete finish schedule documenting every choice
- Cost-plus budget estimate with transparent pricing
- Job schedule timeline with your approximate completion date
3. Construction
This is what you’ve been waiting for. Ground breaks, walls go up, and your home transforms from plans into reality.
How We Keep You Informed
- Comprehensive Construction Calendar – You’ll always know what’s happening and when major milestones are coming.
- Regular Photo Updates – We document progress so you can watch your home come together even if you can’t visit daily.
- Direct Communication – Questions? Concerns? You have direct access to Nick and the Edgehill team. We’re responsive and proactive.
- Site Visits Welcome – Visit anytime (we’ll coordinate for safety). We schedule walkthroughs at key milestones so you can see your vision becoming reality.
Our job is to keep everything moving forward, solve problems before they become your problems, and manage the details so you can focus on the excitement.
4. Handover Day
This is the moment we’ve all been working toward. The day you get the keys to your completed home!
The Handover Experience
- Final walkthrough together through every room
- Systems overview so you know how everything works
- All documentation including warranties, permits, and paint colors
- The key handover when your home officially becomes yours
Our relationship doesn’t end at handover. We stand behind our work with warranty coverage and responsive service. If something needs attention, we’re here.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Our goal is to make this process feel approachable rather than overwhelming. Building a custom home should be exciting, collaborative, and ultimately joyful.
We’ve guided many families through this journey. We know the route, we know the challenges, and we know how to make it smooth and enjoyable.
Your dream home is waiting. Let’s start building it together.
Ready to take the first step?
Contact us today and start turning your vision into reality.
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.
