It's home-buying time! Buying your first, or second, or maybe even third home is exciting and can be a lot of fun, but it requires you to know a ton of information. You need to learn and know about mortgages, tax credits, home builders, home designs, and so much more. This 101 list of must-know home buying tips will guide you through your entire buying and building process and will hopefully make some of your decisions a little easier.

Discover 101 home buying tips that will help answer some hard-hitting questions that you need to ask yourself!

Mortgage-Related Tips

These mortgage tips will help make the process of obtaining a mortgage a little easier.
 

1. Use a Mortgage Calculator

Before you begin your home buying process, use a mortgage calculator to see an estimated amount that you can spend on your new home. There are a variety of calculators available on Google, like the one on the mortgage calculator website.
 

2. Know the Difference Between Pre-approval and Pre-qualified

Discover the difference between pre-approval and pre-qualified before meeting with your mortgage lender. The main difference is that pre-approval is a guesstimated price of how much you can afford based on your credit history, whereas pre-qualified is an estimated price of how much you can afford to spend without providing a credit history. Pre-approval is more legitimate and exact than pre-qualified.
 

3. Get Pre-Approved by Your Mortgage Lender

Ensure you are pre-approved for a mortgage loan prior to home shopping. This will allow you to realistically house hunt and discover what you can afford based on your income.
 

4. Consider Spending Less Than Your Approved Mortgage Rate

Spending less than your pre-approval estimate can help you budget for additional expenses you might have and have yet to discover. This may include furnishings, home repairs, or other features that you would like to add after you have moved in.
 

5. Understand The Difference Between Mortgage Types

Develop a strong understanding of the different mortgage types and options available (conventional loans, variable loans etc.). This will allow you to understand mortgages before you meet with your lender and help you decide which type of mortgage works best for your lifestyle.

Money-Related Tips

A home is likely the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make. Here are money-related tips that will benefit you throughout your home buying or building process.
 

6. Tax Credits

Ensure you are aware of the different tax credits available in Canada. For example, you may have home accessibility tax credits and a first-time home buyers credit that will benefit you financially. For more information about the available tax credits, you can visit the Government of Canada website.
 

7. Ask Your Advisor About Property Tax (GST)

All neighbourhoods have different property taxes. This amount depends on several factors, such as location, density, and nearby amenities. It's best to gain an estimated idea of how much you will be spending on your annual property taxes to budget accordingly before purchasing your new home.
 

8. Maintain Your Credit Score Throughout Your Building Process

Although your bank or lender may initially approve you for your mortgage, they still need to provide a final approval closer to your move-in date. If you gain pre-approval, do not go into debt elsewhere or spend your money on any big purchases that can impact your credit.
 

9. Ensure Your Monthly Mortgage Payments Are Feasible

Along with paying less than your mortgage approval rate, ensure the monthly mortgage payments that you will be paying are achievable based on your income and spending habits.
 

10. Budget for Move-In Expenses

Do not forget about your move-in expenses. If you need a moving truck to transport your current items or you need to purchase new furniture or appliances, ensure you budget for these extra moving expenses.
 

11. Shop Around for the Best Interest Rate

Interest rates can vary between different mortgage brokers, so make sure you shop around and discover the best interest rate that you can afford.
 

12. Buy Proper Home Insurance

Once you move into your home, ensure you have the proper insurance coverage on your home. If you live in a low-grade area, consider flooding coverage, especially in the winter months.
 

13. Deal With Existing Debt Before Your Home Purchase

When you are approved for your mortgage, you must provide all of your credit and spending history. If you have excessive debts, you may not be pre-approved until they are paid off.
 

14. Understand the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive

The home buyer’s plan has a variety of different incentives that may help you and your family. For example, In Alberta, first-time homebuyers are given the option to put down a down payment of 5%. Understand what this means for you, and if this is an option you would like to consider for your mortgage.
 

15. Understand the Utility Costs Before Purchasing Your Home

Be sure that you have a deep understanding of how much you may be paying for your utilities. This will allow you to budget accordingly without facing any detrimental financial consequences.
 

16. Take a Hard Look at Your Budget

Make sure you look at your budget as a whole. Create a financial plan and stick to it to ensure you don't go broke over purchasing your new home.
 

17. Budget For New Furniture

Ensure you have money set aside for any additional furniture that you have yet to purchase. Furniture can be quite costly, and you don’t want to limit yourself to buying furnishings that will break or wear quickly.
 

18. Create a Monthly Budget

Once you understand all of your expenses, create a monthly budget that you can stick to. This will help you save for any additional expenses that arise in the future.
 

19. Budget an Emergency Fund

Ensure that you have an emergency fund in case something unexpected happens. This can be within your home or if your car breaks down or you have a personal emergency. Creating this fund will allow for a financial cushion in hard times.
 

20. Put as Much Money Down as You Can

Unless you are using the first-time homebuyer incentive, try to put as much money into your down payment as possible. This will allow you to pay a minimum price each month and will benefit you in the long run. Make sure you still have enough money left over in your emergency fund though!
 

21. Buy Low in Hopes of Selling High (If You Can)

Before you purchase, ensure you are spending an appropriate amount on your home. Try to find a home that costs less and has the potential to increase in value over time. Being the first in a new community, may be an excellent choice!
 

22. Buy the Most Affordable House in the Nicest Neighbourhood

Don’t buy the most expensive home in the community, as you are likely to have trouble finding a buyer when it comes to selling.
 

23. Don’t Over Do It With Upgrades

The cost of upgrades can easily run away on you. Be sure you differentiate between the “must-haves” and the “nice-to-haves” and upgrade things that you see as a necessity. Ask your Interior Designer for suggestions on where you should splurge.

Connection-Related Tips

Throughout your home buying process, you will meet with a variety of different real estate professionals that all have a significant role in your home building and buying process. Consider these connection-related tips for your home buying journey.
 

24. Connect with a Professional To Assist You With Your Purchase

When you purchase a home, connect with a Shane Homes Area Manager that knows the community you want to live in. These experts have all of the information you need and are an excellent resource for any questions you may have.
 

25. Connect With a Reliable Lawyer

Typically, homeowners will use the same lawyer that they’ve always had when buying homes. This is because they trust and know that the lawyer is looking out for everyone's best interests. So, find a lawyer that you enjoy working with and that suits your needs. Don’t forget to save up for your legal fees! Alternatively, some home builders, like Shane Homes, cover your legal fees provided their lawyer is utilized in the purchase.
 

26. Pick a Home Builder that Meets Your Needs

With a variety of home builders in Calgary, ensure you pick one that meets your needs. This also includes choosing a builder who cares about your home and is just as excited as you are about building your dream home.
 

27. Connect With a Lender That Cares About Your Journey

It’s important to choose your lender wisely. They can make or break your homebuying journey. Try to find a lender that you can connect with on a personal basis, one who will advocate for you and will work with you to hammer out the best terms for you and your unique life situation.
 

28. Meet With a Knowledgeable Design Team

When you pick out your home's design aspects, ensure you choose a knowledgeable design team. At Shane Homes, our design team will provide you with excellent advice to help you design the home of your dreams.
 

29. Do Not Work with Lenders, Builders or Real-Estate Agents That You Don’t Trust

Ensure the builders, real estate agents, and lenders you choose to work with are reputable and trustworthy. You may want to check out reviews to learn more. Buying a house is an extremely emotional purchase,, and you want to be sure you’re taken care of during the process.

Community-Related Tips

Finding a community that suits you and your family is extremely important. The following are tips to help you consider your wants and needs in your new community.
 

30. Do Your Research to Find an Area That You Like

Ensure you buy in an area that you know is safe and growing. Neighbourhoods with poor reputations can make it challenging to sell your home in the future, and you may not like the community once you have moved in.
 

31. Think about the Future of the Neighbourhood

Prior to purchasing in a community, do some digging. It’s important to understand what future development in the community, and around the community is planned. You can look through city records, speak to your area manager, local real estate agents, and talk to community members.
 

32. Learn if Your Community is Mainly Renters or Owners

Ensure you check to see what your community feel like, so you can know your neighbours.
 

33. Look into Schools Within the Community

In a new community, ensure you know if there will be any schools close by. Schools are a great asset for the community and can increase the value of your home over time.
 

34. Understand Development Plans for New Communities

Ask your developer or area manager about the plans for the community. Understand that new amenities, schools, close transportation and various facilities can boost the price of your home over time.
 

35. Join the Community Facebook Group

Neighbourhoods often have local conversations about current issues or updates within the community. Joining these groups will allow you to stay up-to-date on the area's strengths and challenges, as well it may bring features to light that you hadn’t even considered.
 

36. Analyze the Property Value of Your Community

Understand how the values are going up or down in comparison to the city average. If you notice they are progressing at a slow rate or declining at a greater than average rate, you should explore this more.
 

37. Understand if Your Community has Mandatory Fees

Double-check if your community requires you to pay mandatory fees. Communities with specific amenities like lakes will require you to pay regardless of whether you use the amenity or not. Make sure you understand the obligations and the value of these fees.

Home Location Tips

Finding the location that best fits your day-to-day lifestyle is very important. Since you will be residing in your home for a long while, you want a home that meets your needs. Consider the following tips when you decide where you would like to move.
 

38. Consider the Commute to Work

It might be important for you to move to a location that is close to your workplace. If you live somewhere across the city, anticipate the additional time you will spend commuting and the cost of gas you will be spending.
 

39. Do your research on Flood Plains

Flood risk homes can boost your insurance costs and, worst of all, run you the risk of having flood events in the future. To check if your home is in a flood plain in Alberta, you can check the City of Calgary website.
 

40. Note Which Way the Front Door Faces

Strategically buy a lot that faces a direction you like best. A popular opinion is buying a south-facing lot where your backyard faces the sun all day long. If you enjoy the sun in your backyard all day, can you put up with the snow and ice on your driveway all winter long due to shadows?
 

41. Check to See if Your Community is Under a Flight Path

Check the City of Calgary website to discover if your neighbourhood will have air traffic noise, then decide if this is something you would like to live with.
 

42. Consider What’s Behind Your Home

Consider what your home backs onto. Ensure you are happy with your view, whether it is trees, a creek, other houses, or maybe it doesn't matter to you.
 

43. Check to See if There are Any Easements on Your Property

Check the current Real Property Report (RPR) and title to understand any easements that might exist on the property that could impact your future plans
 

44. Consider How Far You Are From the Highway

If you do a lot of commuting, ensure you are near a highway or major road to help make your driving time more efficient. However, being too close to a highway could result in noise.
 

45. Consider Street Parking for Guests

If you are often a party host or have multiple cars, ensure there is parking outside or nearby your home.
 

46. Live Close to Emergency Services

Make sure you know where the nearest emergency services are in your community. This will put your mind at ease, and in some cases, if you live close to a fire hall, your insurance may be cheaper.
 

47. Ensure You’re Aware of Gas and Utility Lines in and Around Your Property

Make sure you know where any gas or utility lines are located and make sure they are marked. This may impact your future plans of planting trees, putting in driveways, accessory buildings and more. In Alberta, you can contact Utility Safety to ensure you know of the whereabouts of these lines.
 

48. Evaluate the Test Walk Score

Discover what your test walk score is in your new community. This score will provide you with information on how far shopping centres or grocery stores are based on walk time. It will also provide information about nearby train stations or bus stops.

Tips Related to Your Homes Layout and Lot

If you are building your home, here are tips that will help you decide what your must-have layout and lot features are.
 

49. Consider if You Want a Garage

Once you understand what outdoor parking space you have, strategically think about which garage-type best fits your needs. If you have one car, you may want to consider a single garage; if you have two or three daily vehicles, you may opt for a double or triple car garage.
 

50. Decide Which Lot Accommodates You and Your Family Best

Upon choosing which lot you would like to purchase, evaluate the surrounding area and the size of the lot. If you have kids and pets, you may want to consider a corner lot with a large backyard to have more space for outdoor activities.
 

51. Decide How Many Bedrooms You Want

If you are planning to have children, or have many hobbies that require more space, decide how many rooms will best fit your growing family. It's better to plan for more rather than having less space.
 

52. Consider the Amount of Bathrooms You May Need

Most homes come with at least one bathroom on the main floor, and in two-story homes, additional bathrooms are typically upstairs. If you have a large family or you are a constant party host, you may want to consider adding more bathrooms to accommodate the needs of your family or guests.
 

53. Consider Where You Want Your Laundry Room

In modern homes, the laundry room is typically upstairs near the bedrooms. Discover if you like having the location convenient or prefer it on the middle or basement floor to help reduce noise when you are using it.
 

54. Consider if You Want Your Basement Developed

Basement development is often not included in the initial home purchase price. Some families decide to develop their basement right away, but some believe they may not use their basement and decide to upgrade later down the road. Developing your basement with the rest of the home build is significantly more convenient, and you can then roll the cost of the basement development into your mortgage.
 

55. Decide What Type of Landscaping You Want

Builders typically have landscaping companies and references ahead of time; if you decide to use their recommendations or not, the option is available for you. In new communities, you will often have a set date of when you need to have your landscaping completed. It is best to look into options beforehand so you can meet this deadline.

Home Style, Design and Size Related Tips

When you’re building your home, there may be some conflict between what home you need versus what home is better for your lifestyle. Discover home style and size-related tips.
 

56. Size Matters

Ensure you think about your long-term plans. If you know you are about to have children, buy a home that is big enough for everyone. On the other hand, if you are downsizing due to children moving out, really think about how many rooms you need.
 

57. Customize Your Home

Building a new home rather than buying an older one will allow you to customize your home. Being able to customize your home is an additional perk as you can plan a layout that meets you and your family's needs best.
 

58. Decide Which Type of Home Meets Your Needs Best

Decide if a condominium, townhouse, single-family home or a multi-family home best fits your needs. By using the Shane Homes build and price tool, you can dive into different home options and discover which may be best for you and your family.
 

59. Know What You Value In a Home

Discover what features of your home are most valuable to you. Your “must-have” list might include:

• Walk-in pantry
• Spice Kitchen or Butler’s Pantry
• Kitchen Island
• Built-in appliances
• Walk-in closets
• Developed basement and more!

 

60. Understand The Smart Home Packages

In today's day and age, home builders have a multitude of smart home packages. From built-in speakers to alarm systems and more, ensure you discover what these specific features are and if they are beneficial to your lifestyle or long-term goals.
 

61. Decide if You Need HVAC Prior to Moving In

Air conditioning is a rising priority in some home buyers' must-have lists. Prior to building a home, ensure you know if this is a feature that is feasible for you.
 

62. Ensure You Have a Spot for an HVAC Unit

If you decide to purchase AC after moving in, ensure you understand the restrictions that can be placed on your property. You need to ensure that your unit is around 12-24 inches away from your home, and that there is enough space on all other sides of the unit.
 

63. Decide if You Need a Central Vacuum System Before You Move In

Some home owners love having central vacuum systems in their homes for the convenience and luxury of any vacuuming needs. Look into this feature and see if your home builder offers this, and if it is something you require.
 

64. Research if You Want to Have Natural Gas for Your Stove

Having natural gas is a must-have for some homeowners. Ensure you research if this is something you may be interested in. Having natural gas will allow you to have a gas stove over an electric one, and it will run to your barbeque, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing propane.
 

65. Decide if You Want a Heated Garage

If a garage is a must-have on your list, you might also want it to be heated. For individuals who love working on their cars, bikes or spend time in their garage, having a heated garage can make your daily activities much more enjoyable. In Calgary, the weather is extremely cold in the winter, so a heated garage can make your morning commute much more enjoyable.
 

66. Two Stories Generally Sell Better Than Bungalows

Typically two-story homes sell better than bungalows due to the higher demand. Although this isn’t as important right now, it is still always vital to think about how your house may sell one day.
 

67. Consider if You Want Carpet, Vinyl or Hardwood Flooring

Vinyl and hardwood flooring are becoming increasingly popular in new homes. Deciding what flooring you need in each of your rooms ahead of time can help you save money. Also check what comes standard from the builder you’re buying from. For example, at Shane Homes Luxury Vinyl Plank and carpet with 8lb underlay comes standard.
 

68. Think About The Types of Cupboards You May Want

Oftentimes, you can upgrade to cabinetry that has specific functions. For example, some homeowners decide to upgrade to have built-in spice racks, garbage in drawers instead of under the sink, skinny cupboards for baking sheets and more. Before you finalize your design, ensure you consider all of the options.
 

69. Consider the Importance of Different Window Types

Some windows are more energy-efficient but may cost more money. In the long run, it’s better to invest in high-quality windows that will last longer and hold up better to weather, especially in cold cities like Calgary. See what comes standard with your builder.
 

70. Decide If You Prefer Normal or Stamped Concrete or Exposed Aggregate

Concrete can be pricey, but having high-quality concrete is an investment you won’t regret.
 

71. Ensure You Customize a Closet that Fits the Needs of You and Your Family

Some home builders allow you to customize your floorplan. Builders like Shane Homes will allow you to create changes like closet size, to ensure all of your needs are met.
 

72. Evaluate Where You Want to Place Your Television

When your house is being built, you will need to identify the best location for your cable. Although cable television is not as popular, you will still want the option to have it later on and for resale value.
 

73. Think About the Height of Your Basement Ceiling

Most of your ducting is in the ceiling of your basement. If you decide to develop your basement, think about raising it a couple of feet to allow for more space. People sometimes convert their downstairs areas to gyms. If this is an idea you have, you may want to consider how tall your equipment is to ensure your ceilings are high enough.
 

74. Don’t Shy Away from the Standard Features

Builders like Shane Homes offer high-quality features as a standard in each of their homes. Talk to your Interior Designer and ask where it’s worth it to upgrade and where it’s better to choose a standard.
 

75. Think About Cleaning Your Fixtures

Some features are very nice to the eye, but can require a lot of upkeep and maintenance in order to keep clean. For example, glass lighting may look nice, but they also attract a ton of dust.
 

76. Decide if Double Sinks in Your Master are Necessary

Some families insist on having double sinks in master bathrooms or in kids bathrooms. If this isn’t as important to you, but counter space is, you might want to consider having just one sink.
 

77. Decide If You Want Keyless Door Entries

There are new keyless door entries that are very secure and safe, which save you the hassle of carrying around a key. Before you purchase your standard or upgraded handle, decide if you would prefer keyless entry.
 

78. Decide if You Want Heated Flooring

It is common for builders to install heated flooring in bathrooms, so decide if you want this or not before your home is built. Although this is an upgrade, it is worth discussing and thinking about.
 

79. Consider if You Need a Home Office

Most new builds come with a designated home office space that is typically on your main floor or upstairs. Decide if this space should stay a “home office” space or if you would use it better as a study or den area. You may also want to consider if you need a door and if so, do you want glass doors, standard doors, a barn door etc.
 

80. Decide if You Want a Fireplace in Your Home

During the cold Calgary winters, it is always comfortable and cozy to curl up next to a fireplace. Whether you enjoy a real fireplace or gas fireplace, consider your options before building your home.
 

81. Decide if You Want Your Builder to Install Dimmers

Dimmers are a very common feature that new homeowners install as they can provide you with different lighting options and can also help you save on energy costs.
 

82. Decide if You Need a Bath in Your Master Bathroom

If you don’t see the value in a bath and shower, think about upgrading your shower and eliminating the bath. Sometimes families who like showers more than baths will have a bath in their kids' bathroom and leave the master with only a walk in shower.
 

83. Go For a Timeless Design Rather Than Trendy

By choosing a timeless design, you can change elements of your home throughout trends, without eliminating the good bones of your house.
 

84. Decide if You Want to Wallpaper Any Rooms

Upon choosing your interior paint colours, decide if you see wallpaper fitting the style of your bedrooms, bathrooms or living room walls. Wallpaper is a great way to bring a room to life and add that subtle design touch to your space.
 

85. If Your Home is 2000+ Sq Ft Discuss Having Two Furnaces

It’s essential for bigger homes to have two furnaces to help deliver more consistent heat to your home. They are also energy-efficient, which can result in lower energy bills.
 

86. Consider the Type of Blinds or Window Coverings That You May Want

With many different styles and types of blinds, choose which best fits your lifestyle. For example, some families with small children or individuals who need the pitch black to sleep, consider installing black out blinds in each of your bedrooms to ensure you get a good night's sleep every night.
 

87. Decide Where Your Basement Windows Should Go

If you do want to develop your basement, there are multiple regulations that come into play with bedrooms and windows. You still have a say in where your windows will go and how big they will be (the bigger the better), as long as you follow the guidelines.
 

88. Consider the Size of Your Hot Water Tank

If you have a bigger home, multiple bathrooms, or a large family, consider purchasing a larger hot water tank to ensure you don’t run out of hot water.

Miscellaneous Tips

Amongst all of the specified home buying and building tips, there are some more that you need to think about. The following are eight tips that will help you become one step closer to buying the home of your dreams.
 

89. Get Home Warranty

Home warranty is a very beneficial perk that some builders offer to new homeowners. For example, Shane Homes provides a one-year warranty package for protection against defects in materials or workmanship. We also provide a 10-year warranty for any additional structural items. This warranty is important to protect your home in the event of an unexpected defect.
 

90. Review Your Documents Thoroughly

When you're reviewing your ownership documents, ensure that you look for any significant red flags. For example, if you're moving into a condo, double-check the history of condo fee rates, the capacity of the reserve fund, any upcoming or pending legal action with development and if there are any mentions of major repairs. When purchasing a home, you must understand all things regarding your property.
 

91. Don’t Obsess Over the Housing Market

The housing market fluctuates constantly, and if you obsess over the current market, you may lose out on a really great deal or opportunity.
 

92. Take Your Time

Buying a home is the next step in your future plans, but this doesn’t mean you should rush the process. Slow down and you will find the home of your dreams.
 

93. Don’t Get Caught up In One Home

When you go on your house hunt, ensure you look at all of the available options before purchasing the first home you see. As a new home buyer, this experience can be quite exciting, but you don’t want to miss out on a better opportunity elsewhere.
 

94. Don’t Go House Hunting Alone

It’s important to get a second or third opinion on a home before you purchase it. You may become attached, and start to overlook things that you would typically care about. Getting a second opinion can validate your feelings towards a home.
 

95. Don’t Get Emotionally Attached to Your Home Until You Move in

Sometimes things can change throughout the home building and buying process. Avoid getting attached to all of the elements in your home until they are complete and the house is ready for you to move in.
 

96. Be Thorough in Your Walk-Through

When your house is built, your project manager will typically walk you through the home and ensure everything that is supposed to be there is there. This also includes a home inspection, so bring tape and mark down any chip in the wall or crack that you may see.
 

97. Choose a Quality Home Builder

Compare the homebuilders you are interested in building with. See what their standards are, ask about materials and trade partners. Ensure you’re choosing a builder you’re comfortable with.
 

98. Make Your Own Decisions

Although realtors and area managers are there to guide you through the home buying process, ensure you are still making your own decisions and using critical thinking with each step of the process.
 

99. Save Physical Copies of Your Paperwork

We’re all human! Sometimes mistakes can happen, it’s important to always keep physical copies of all of your contracts and related documents.
 

100. Focus on Your Needs VS Wants

You want to stay conscious of your budget when buying a home. If you are trying to cut your purchase price, think about if you NEED heated bathroom floors or if you NEED the nicest countertops. These are wonderful features to have, but only if you can afford them.
 

101. Understand What You Need in a Home

Overall, develop an understanding of what you need in your home based on your lifestyle and your future goals. The home of your dreams awaits!

Get the Most out of Your Home With Shane Homes

Wow! After those 101 tips, we hope our long list of must-know tips has helped you.

At Shane Homes, we offer support and guidance in any of the questions that you may have during the home buying and building process. For over 40+ years, Shane Homes has helped many new homeowners build and find the home of their dreams, and we’re ready to add you and your family to that list.

If you’re ready to find the perfect home for you and your family, check out our build and price tool. With this tool, you can discover communities, home styles and types, all while customizing your home just the way you want it. Once you’ve created your dream home, visit a Shane Homes showhome, or contact us today!

We’re looking forward to helping you.

For many people, paired homes strike a balance.

They blend the functionality and lifestyle of a single-family home with the increased affordability that comes with a shared wall.

These homes, also referred to as semi-detached, are offered through Shane Homes in the northeast Calgary community of Cornerstone, and Pine Creek, Legacy, and Wolf Willow, on the city’s south end.

The builder also has paired homes in the Airdrie community of Midtown.

Here are some reasons people should consider buying a paired home built by Shane Homes.

Custom changes

Do you love the floor plan but wish a few things were different? Shane can modify it.

While the ability to make revisions to a floor plan is more typically available with higher priced homes, Shane offers this flexibility for each of its home styles.

Want to move the kitchen from the rear to the middle of the main floor? Wish that three-bedroom paired home had dual master bedrooms instead?

Shane’s area manager in the community in which you’re looking to move can share more about how accommodating these paired homes can be.

Your own yard

While downsizers will seek an easier to maintain square footage, many will also want some outdoor space to call their own.

Whether it’s to grow your own flower or vegetable garden, or watch your grandchildren jump through the sprinkler on a hot summer day, personal green space is often a must.

Paired homes offer a front and rear yard that is smaller and more manageable than most single-family homes.

Peace and quiet

While paired homes have a shared wall, with those built through Shane, you’ll barely notice it.

The two sides only attach at the roof trusses and the foundation.

Rather than two-inch by four-inch construction, the paired wall is constructed with two-inch by six-inch staggered studs.

There’s also a one-inch air gap between the walls that extends through the stairs. This cuts down on sound transfer and vibration between the two homes.

Many builders use a shared wall system that does not extend the one-inch air gap between the joists.  

Shane Homes encourages people to try the “yell test,” where one person stands in each of the two paired show homes to see if they can hear the other.

It doesn’t happen.

Smarter

Through Shane, paired homes come with more conveniences, including those that support its security and energy-efficiency.

They all include a smart home package, featuring a smart speaker, Wi-Fi smart lock, video doorbell with camera, smart light kit, smart Wi-Fi plugs, and a smart home learning thermostat.

The owner can control these features through an app on their phone.

 

It’s time. You’re committed to buying a house for you and your family. Congratulations! Now you’re faced with the tricky question: Do you want to buy an old home or a new one?

It can be a hard decision for home buyers as both new and old homes have a variety of perks and disadvantages. Are you looking for fresh new curb appeal, or are you looking for an established neighbourhood? With about 100+ questions to ask yourself, let’s break down some basics so that you can decide the best option for you. 

Buying an Old House vs. Buying a New House

Becoming a home buyer is an exciting time in your life! Let’s dive into the pros and cons of both new and old homes so you can get a better idea of what you want and need in a house. 

Pros of Buying an Old House

Buying an older home can come with a variety of advantages; let’s check them out!

1. Move-in time
   Typically upon purchasing an old home, you can move in quite quickly. This may relieve stress if you need to leave your previous home in a timely manner.
2. Established neighbourhood
   Living in an established community has a variety of advantages. These may include the absence of early morning construction, established schools with good reputations, paved pathways, and more. When you build a home, you will typically live in a brand new neighborhood that is less developed.
3. Mature Landscaping 
   Having beautiful large trees in and around your home can make your space feel private and peaceful. Some of the enormous spruce and evergreen trees commonly seen in your city can take 20+ years to grow. In a new construction home and community, you won’t see major landscape growth for many years.
4. Renovations 
   If you want to save money, you can purchase a cheaper used home and renovate it according to your wants and needs. However, keep in mind that this process takes a lot of time and you might come across unexpected costs along the way!
5. Location
   Living in an existing house may increase the chances of you living closer to the core of the city. As the city expands, new homes are being built on the city's outskirts, leaving the older homes much closer to major roads, shopping centres, and downtown. 

Pros of Buying a New House

From that new-home smell to your customized dream home, new houses have many advantages.

1. Customizable Floor Plan and Finishings 
   When you build a new home, you have the creative control to customize your home the way you want. From finishings to floor plans, you can move walls, change countertops or customize your new space however you'd like. Move into your home worry-free rather than living in a home throughout renovations.
2. Energy-Efficient 
   New homes are more energy-efficient than older homes due to a variety of reasons.
   1.  Energy-efficient upgrades - New homes are built with multi-pane windows, reducing utility costs by up to 50%. On top of that, most modern appliances are built to consume less energy. 
   2. Build Quality - When your new home is built, new and high-quality materials are used. These materials are often guaranteed to function at a high level over several years.
   3. Energy Efficient Requirements - In Alberta, energy codes have been put in place to try and reduce energy consumption. These energy codes have ensured that new builders are installing efficient furnaces, wall insulation, pipe insulation, and more. 
3. Minimal Maintenance
   Upon moving into your new build, you will have minimal maintenance to do. Everything from the piping, electrical and appliances are brand new and won’t require servicing or repair for some time. Plus, if there are needed repairs, your new home warranty should cover it!  Moving into your home and relaxing in a clean new environment is a huge benefit to building new rather than buying old.
4. Up-to-Code
   As a house gets built, the contractor has to ensure that they are staying up-to-code. These codes are enforced from the day that the ground is dug up to the day you are handed your keys. Staying up-to-code is not a new procedure, but with every year, the codes become more safe and effective.
5. Home Warranty 
   Warranty plans are put in place to help you feel secure in your home and allow you to trust the homebuilder. For example, Shane Homes provides a one-year warranty package for protection against defects in materials and workmanship. Beyond this warranty, you also receive a 10-year warranty for additional structural items. This protects you and your family and may save you costs further down the road.

​Becoming a home buyer is an exciting time in your life! Let’s dive into the pros and cons of both new and old homes so you can get a better idea of what you want and need in a house. 

Cons of Buying an Old House

Unfortunately, buying an old house comes with some additional disadvantages for home buyers. 

1. Repairs 
   When buying an older or resale home, repairs may come at a high cost. From plumbing to electrical, there may be a lot of unknown work involved.
2. Upgrades 
   As you step into an older home, chances are, the appliances, including dishwashers, refrigerators, washers and dryers, and more, may no longer work at their full potential. These upgrades can be costly for new homeowners. The average costs of appliances can dramatically increase the budget that you create. For example:
   • Dishwashers: Average price of $300 - $1,000
   • Refrigerators: Average price of $1000-$2000 
   • Washer: Average price of $250-$2,050
   • Dryers: Average price of $200 to $1,750​​
    

   These prices vary, and all depend on your style and preference for the upgrades that you want.

3. Inspections
   The most crucial step when buying an older home is the inspection process. As beautiful and perfect as the house may seem, what lies within its bones may surprise you. This con must be considered, as you may fall in love with a home, but find out that it is infested with bugs, has poor support, cracking in the foundation or more. 
4. Competition
   Once you have met with your real estate agent and decided to purchase an older home, you may have to enter into negotiations. If a house has a lot of traffic or potential, you may have to increase your budget to outbid other buyers.
5. Old School Designs 
   From layout to carpets, kitchen and overall floor plans, older houses have a very different style than you would find in a new build. Now, this isn't necessarily a negative if you like the old-school style, but overall, it may not be what you are looking for, especially for resale purposes.

​Cons of Buying a New House

New home builds have some cons that may be a deal-breaker for you. Here are five potential drawbacks to buying a new home. 

1. Long-Term Construction 
   Buying in a new community can mean living with construction noise for a while. From Monday nights to Saturday mornings, you may hear drills, hammers, saws, and more. When this happens, remind yourself that the price of your home will increase with every hit of the hammer! 
2. Suburbs 
   Calgary and Edmonton are very established cities.  With hundreds of communities; building anywhere near the center is impossible unless you are tearing down an existing home. Most new builds are built in new communities on the edge of the city. Living in the suburbs has its challenges, including long commute times and lack of access to certain amenities. 
3. Lack of Character
   If your personal home design preferences include character homes with a lot of history, a new build home is probably not the move for you. However, building a home is a great option if modern finishes and floor plans are what you desire.
4. Build Time
   On average, it takes 8-10 months to build a new home, but you are never certain of the possession date until almost the month before. This unpredictability can be challenging if you are renting or trying to sell your current home. 
5. Upgrade Costs
   When purchasing a new home, you must keep in mind that the cost of upgrades can add up, and can become a larger expense than you had planned for. If you're looking to add additional upgrades like high-end blinds, alternative cupboard designs, heated flooring etc., you can expect the price of your home to increase (we cover more additional costs below!).

​
The Most Cost-Effective Solution

Buying a new home and purchasing an older home may come at similar price points, but they also come with different costs.

The Price To Buy a New House

The prices of homes can completely change and alter depending on various factors, including location, market value, customizations, upgrades, and more. Besides your average mortgage, insurance and tax costs, here are additional costs that you may need to consider when buying a new home.

1. Landscaping - Your Homeowners Association may have rules that stipulate that you must landscape your property within a specific amount of time. On average, landscaping can cost anywhere from $1,000-$50,000 in Calgary (unless you can do it yourself!). 
2. Upgrades - Show Homes typically include many of the potential upgrades. When you arrive at the design studio, you may realize that the standard features are not what you envisioned in your home. If that's the case, you will need to budget for your new upgrades. Some say a good rule of thumb is to expect your upgrades to be around 12% of your home's base price. 

The Price to Buy an Old House 

Buying an older home can be either an excellent purchase for you or a costly investment. Although purchasing an older home may have alternative perks that you like, the price may turn you away. Let's look at some hidden costs of buying an old house. 

1. High energy bills - Without the upgraded technology and innovative materials of a new build, older homes may cost you more due to the lack of energy-efficient appliances and effective insulation.
2. Home inspection fee - These fees can cost anywhere from $300-$550+ for a full home inspection. 
3. Renovations - If you purchase an old home you will have to pay for any required repair costs. Broken or malfunctioning appliances and utilities will not be covered by a home warranty.

How Shane Homes Can Help You Buy The Home of Your Dreams

 

Buying the home of your dreams should make you excited! If you have decided to purchase a new home, contact Shane Homes. At Shane Homes, we eliminate all hassles and work with you directly to build your dream home.

Curious to learn more about what new homes have to offer? Check out our build and price tool to discover all the floor plans, house types, and neighbourhoods that you can soon call home. 

You’re ready to be a homeowner! Let us help you build the perfect home for you and your family. Contact Shane Homes today!

 

When builders such as Shane Homes offer quality standard features, upgrades are less necessary.
With that said, certain options can help a home buyer bring their favourite spaces to the next level. This not only elevates the current owner’s enjoyment of the home but can boost resale value when it’s time to sell and find something new.
Tiles, both floor and wall, are among the most popular upgrades, says Suzanne Widas, senior interior designer for Shane Homes.
Here’s a look at some of the most common ways buyers are choosing to go beyond the standard finish:

FLOOR TILE
While standard floor tiles through Shane Homes are square in shape, there are inexpensive upgrades in a different format.
One common selection is a tile that measures 12 inches by 24 inches.
“This is a very popular upgrade and definitely more modern,” says Widas.
This is typically applied to any or all of the full bathroom, ensuite, and laundry room.
“It can be in different shapes, such as hexagons, or have a pattern printed right on to it,” she adds. “We are seeing things like that in the foyers, mud rooms, and smaller spaces like a half bath or a laundry room.”

ACCENTS
Eye-catching tile feature walls in the shower can give the bathroom a visual boost. In some cases, the tile on the floor is continued around the shower.
In some areas of the bathroom, a little upgrade can go a long way, says Widas, singling out the vanity backsplash.

“Not a huge square footage so you can get something a bit more unique, more fun and not at a huge price,” she adds. “Something pretty, something sparkly.”
As a key area for hosting, the kitchen is often a showpiece.
Decisions around upgrades are sometimes driven by “What are my guests going to see?” says Widas.
An upgraded backsplash can make the cooking space look “higher-end,” she adds.
“We have lot of options for that, too. All different sorts of patterns and colours.”

COUNTERS
Staying in the kitchen, some buyers seek a step up from the standard 2 cm counters.
“It may be a decision to go to 3 cm or do something more decorative in the kitchen, like a marble, or maybe something darker,” Widas says, adding the addition of a waterfall edge to one’s island is another popular pick.
 
CARPET
This is less about elevating the visual interest of the space and more about durability.
“We get people wanting to upgrade their carpet and their underlay and it’s good value,” says Widas. “If you spend even $1,000 now, you’re not spending $8,000 to replace your carpets in 10 years. It just depends if you want to put up a bit more money now or do it later.”

FLOORING
Durable and elegant luxury vinyl plank is a Shane Homes standard on the home’s main floor.
While this is a material many buyers prefer, there are variations available as an upgrade.
“If people want just a bit higher end of a look, we have one that has varying width in the plank,” Widas says. “We have boards that are longer, and thickness that varies.”
With that said, she adds, “Typically people are more inclined to choose something for the colour that they like the best or the look in general, not necessarily because it is thicker.”
 

Picking interior selections is an exciting step in the process of building a new home.
Do you want a modern farmhouse interior design or something more traditional? Dark or light tones? Maybe a mix of the two?
This is where you will set the look and feel of your home.
Here’s what you should know about this process when buying a home through Shane Homes.

Who am I going to meet?
You’ll have access to area experts to help guide your decisions. For picks such as cabinets, plumbing, appliances, a fireplace (if you choose to have one), lighting, shower glass, and closet shelving, it’ll be with the vendors, themselves.
Everything else will be a member of Shane Homes’ design team. These are all certified interior designers and the minds behind the selections in Shane’s many beautiful showhomes.
The interior selections meeting with Shane’s designers takes about three hours.

What happens first?
One of your first steps will be meeting with Shane’s design team to make decisions about the exterior of your home.
This includes selecting materials such as your siding, door, railings, and stone, if applicable.
All exterior selections are dependent on what’s available on the block according to the community’s architectural controls. These controls, set by the developer, set a standard for the esthetic of the community.
This includes ensuring the streetscape doesn’t have homes with the same exterior elevation or colour built side-by-side.  
To prepare for the exterior selections meeting, Shane’s senior interior designer Tricha Hamstra suggests driving through the community in which you built. 
“That way they can see what has already been approved and get some ideas from that,” she says.  

Preparing for Interior Selections
When making that many key decisions about your home, it’s good to go in with a plan.
However, with Shane’s expert designers by your side, there’s no harm starting from scratch.
Browsing Pinterest boards is one way to get a general idea for the type of design theme you want. Scrolling through a Pinterest board with the designer will give them a feel for what you have in mind.
But to get a true sense for what’s available from a specific homebuilder, zero in on their showhomes.
Whether that’s an in-person walk-through to get a sense of the textures of these selections, or done through a 3D walk-through on your computer or smart device, you’ll discover some of the options your builder can provide.
“That’s a great way to get inspiration,” says Hamstra.
 
 
 

It’s no secret that the housing market has fluctuated dramatically in the last couple of years. With house prices increasing up to 20%, first-time home buyers may shy away from buying a new home anytime soon.

If you’re a first-time home buyer, don’t let these numbers bring you down. The Canadian government is well aware of these changes, and they want to ensure all Canadians have an equal chance to purchase an affordable and safe home. As a result, they’ve implemented some new mortgage rules for first-time home buyers.

In this blog, we will dive into new rules that you can take advantage of starting at the end of 2022-2023. Let’s get into it.

1. Tax-Free First Home Savings Account

To help first-time buyers purchase their first home, the Canadian government will be implementing a Tax-Free First Home Savings Account. Think of this account as a hybrid between a TFSA and an RRSP, with an annual contribution limit of $40,000, tax-deductible contributions, and the ability to make a withdrawal when purchasing a first home, tax-free.

For reference, the current RRSP limit is $27,830 a year, and the TFSA limit is $6,000. So, with the ability to contribute up to $40,000, there is more flexibility and potential to save even more for your down payment, without the worry of additional taxes.

2. Extended and More Flexible First-Time Home buyer Incentive

The first-time home buyer incentive is being extended until March 2025. This incentive allows first-time buyers to put a minimum down payment of 5 or 10% of the home purchase price. By lowering borrowed funds, homeowners can share the housing costs with the government to make it more affordable.

If you’re just starting to learn about mortgages, read our blog, What is a Mortgage & How Does a Mortgage Work? Home Loan Basics for First-Time Buyers. This blog will guide you through contacting mortgage lenders to find out your minimum qualifying rate and how your down payment impacts your mortgage payments. You can also complete a mortgage stress test to ensure you’re financially ready to purchase your first home.

3. Doubling the first-time homebuyers' tax credit

Homeowners that purchased on or after January 1st, 2022, will be able to take advantage of the doubled first-time home buyers tax credit. This non-refundable tax credit is doubling from $5,000 to $10,000, providing up to $1,500 in additional support for first-time buyers. This credit increase is intended to support Canadians buying a home and help with additional closing costs.

Additional Mortgage Incentives and Regulations that Will Change the Real Estate Market

Along with 3 new first-time home buyer incentives, there are a variety of additional mortgage rules you may want to consider when purchasing your home (if you qualify). The following are ways the Canadian government intends to make housing more affordable for Canadians:

• Launching a New Housing Accelerator Fund
• Rapidly Building New Affordable Housing
• New rules to tax property flippers
• Supporting Rent-to-Own Projects
• Moving Forward on a Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights
• Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit
• A New Generation of Co-Operative Housing Development
• Investing in Housing for Indigenous Communities
• Direct Support for those in Housing Need
• Speeding Up Housing Construction and Repairs for Vulnerable Canadians
• Affordable Housing in the North
• Doubling the Home Accessibility Tax Credit
• Long-Term Supports to End Homelessness

How Shane Homes Can Help You Take Advantage of New Mortgage Rules

Now that you're aware of the new Canadian mortgage rules for 2022, it's time to take advantage of them! Buying your first home is a huge investment, and these government regulations and incentives will help you better afford mortgage payments and your down payment.

If you're overwhelmed by the home buying process, you need a home builder, like Shane Homes, that will help you every step of the way. At Shane Homes, we prioritize ensuring your home buying process is stress-free and accommodating to your wants and needs. If you're starting to look for your dream home, use our build and price tool to determine which house is best for you.

Ready to take advantage of the new mortgage rules and purchase your new home? Stop by one of our show homes or contact us today to get started!

People interested in buying a home in northwest Calgary have a new opportunity through Shane Homes.
 
The builder recently launched pre-construction sales in Ambleton, a new master-planned community by Qualico Communities.
 
Reaching 160 acres, Ambleton is adjacent to the established community of Evanston, and will build out to more than 1,200 homes.
 
Shane is offering front-drive single-family homes starting from the low-$500,000s, including the lot and GST.
 
The builder’s standard models range from 1,767 to 2,575 square feet and are available in three-or-four bedroom orientations.

“Our buyers love that we customize along with our dedication to providing an outstanding experience,” says Melanie Gowans, general manager, sales, marketing and interior design at Shane Homes Group of Companies.

Shane will unveil its first show homes in the community this coming June, each featuring a mid-century farmhouse architectural style. They include the 2,303-square-foot Cypress and 2,428-square-foot Boston.

 
Both have three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.
 
One of the show homes boasts a unique podcast room.
 
“Our show homes give buyers ideas, however,” adds Gowans. “the sky is the limit.”
 
The other architectural styles offered in Ambleton are Craftsman and Prairie.
 
Ambleton is designed to support its residents enjoying time in the fresh air. This includes 7.3 kilometres of planned and multi-use pathways, five parks, and an assortment of outdoor activity centres.
 
The community also has a site earmarked for a commercial area and another for a future high school through the Calgary Catholic School Division.
 
“The community is in such a great location, it’s an exciting opportunity for families waiting for a new northwest community,” says Gowans.
 
Located in the scenic Symons Valley corridor, Ambleton puts it residents near a wide range of shopping and dining amenities. This includes a five-minute drive to Creekside Shopping Centre, which is anchored by a Co-op grocery store, and a Wal-mart Supercentre in Sage Hill.
 
Creekside also has a variety of restaurants, places to pickup a coffee, banks, hair salons, a gym, and a medical clinic.
 
Ambleton is also less than five minutes from an established retail centre with a Sobeys grocery store in Evanston.
 
Bulk buyers will appreciate the community’s 10-minute drive from a Costco at Beacon Hill Shopping Centre, as well.
 
As another fitness option, Ambleton is also less than 15 minutes from Shane Homes YMCA in Rocky Ridge, which features a 25-metre, eight-lane pool.

 
For more information on the community and what Shane Homes has to offer, contact Shane’s Ambleton area manager Rut Aronovich at [email protected] or 403-536-2319.
 
 

When moving to a new place, there’s a lot to do.
Some people even put off buying a home they want and/or need because of the workload required to relocate.
To simplify this process for its home buyers, Shane Homes has teamed up with Virtuo. This is a concierge service that streamlines all of the critical elements associated with moving into a new home.
“We take care of all the not-so-fun things by human-led support through our concierge,” says Nate Edwards, Virtuo’s managing partner and co-founder.

“We match that with some really cool technology to really make that ugly part of moving a first-class experience.”
Launched in July 2016, Virtuo tackles tasks such as forwarding mail, transferring utility services, coordinating moving boxes, and the moving company, itself, among many others.
“All those odds and sods that people generally forget about, that’s now taken care of as part of the Shane Homes experience,” says Edwards.

The homeowner’s relationship with Virtuo can start from the moment their home purchase goes from pending to firm.
“In a presale environment, we’ll work with that homeowner through that presale and take care of anything they need to transition into that new home, including things they have to do in their old home,” Edwards says.
“If they have to coordinate donations, or even touch up their existing home before they sell it, we can help them there.”
Once they get moved in, the focus shifts to making the process of putting down roots as easy and stress-free as possible.

“We’ve added on some home care services,” says Edwards. “Everything from home maintenance to snow removal, lawn maintenance, and more.
“It’s an end-to-end concierge experience for all things home.”
In addition to coordinating these services, Virtuo collects and provides quotes, with an emphasis on getting the homeowner top-end value.

“We’ll shop around to get them the best deals from the best people who can deliver within the timeframe of the needs of the homebuyer,” says Edwards.
The relationship with their Virtuo concierge is executed through the homeowner’s preferred method of communication, such as phone, text, or email.

Both the buyer and concierge are also supported through the Virtuo app.
“That app streamlines the process, making things more easy and transparent so they can see what’s happening and what’s coming up next,” Edwards says.  
The Virtuo app is available for download wherever you get your favourite apps. For more information on the company and its services, visit virtuo.com
 
 

The research that goes into buying a new home can be a time-intensive process.
While many homebuilder websites give house hunters a taste of what they build and where it’s offered, their information only goes so far.

Then it’s up to homebuyer to spend time calling, texting, emailing and visiting builder sales centres to uncover many of the difference-making details.

How much is a basement development? What are the main floor options and what do they cost? What are the standard features offered with this model?

Shane Homes has a solution, offering a unique level of transparency through its new Build and Price tool.
“It’s a simple to use online tool that new home researchers can use anywhere and anytime,” says Melanie Gowans, general manager, sales, marketing and interior design at Shane Homes Group of Companies
“They can review what home models are available in what community, and get a sense of the types of changes they can make to the floorplan,” she adds. “The best part is that they can see how these changes affect their price.”

The tool can be accessed through one’s computer or smart device at buildandpricemyhome.com, allowing them to conduct their research when and where they’d like.

“Shane homes is serious about providing the best customer experience period,” says Gowans. “Every touchpoint people have with us should be an awesome one. We aim to make home building fun and easy, which is what this tool is all about.” 

The process starts by selecting the city and community in which the homebuyer would like to live.
From there, a list of the community’s models is displayed, each with a starting price, including the home and lot, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

After picking the model, they can browse the options available to them on the various levels of the home and what they’ll cost.
Need a place to work from home? The buyer will be able to see if a main floor study is available on the model they selected and how that influences their purchase price.

Once they’ve customized the floorplan, they can learn about each elevation available for that model and make their pick.
The elevation they end up using, however, will be based on what’s available on their block according to architectural controls.

Finally, the buyer is able to view a complete list of the standard features in that home and select a specification package if a choice for that model is available.
The information on this home, including the selections made using the tool, and pricing are then emailed and texted in PDF form to the person who made them.
 
“Build and price makes the initial research phase easier,” Gowans says.
Once they figure out roughly what model, community and options are important to them, it’s time to meet with one of Shane’s experts.
 
“Our area managers will review what they have started, make suggestions and educate them on the process providing support throughout,” Gowans adds. “Our team can also customize and change almost any floorplan to better align with a home buyers’ wish list. 
 
All of our online tools are there for customers who wish to research and buy that way. It’s what people want and are asking for so we are happy to deliver.” 
 
 
 

While a buyer’s home may already come with a high level of standard finish, a few choice upgrades can go a long way.
This master ensuite — where the heads of the household both start and end their day — is an optimal space for such a boost.  
When considering upgrades for the ensuite in a single-family home, a few options stand above the rest.

Here are three ideas from Shane Homes interior designer Tricha Hamstra:

Shower style
The most common ensuite upgrade at the Shane Homes design studio is currently tile in the shower.
“It makes the home look more high-end,” says Hamstra. “Plus, you get more options around your personal style.”
This option replaces a fibreglass shower and tub which is usually white.
“With tile, it opens the door so you can pick a lot more,” Hamstra adds.
This includes a range of colours and sizes of both tile and grout lines.
“People are loving a polished tile,” she adds. “They also love larger tiles in the bathroom.”
A measurement of 12 by 24 inches is typically the minimum tile size because it’s easier to clean due to fewer grout lines. However, subway tile continues to be a popular route, as well.
“If you choose the same tiles on the floors as the shower it makes the room look a lot bigger, too,” Hamstra says.

Grand glass
This upgrade also helps make the shower a star.
Buyers are choosing to go with a six or 10 millimeter glass door in place of the standard five millimeter glass door.
“You’re going to get more stability out of it and you’re going to get a smaller frame, too  — so it’s less impeding,” says Hamstra.
The smaller frame is even more beneficial when paired with the aforementioned tile upgrade.
“You can see through it more and see the tiles,” Hamstra adds. “If people are upgrading to the tiled shower, they’re usually also upgrading the shower glass with it.”

Double up
When sharing the ensuite with a partner, additional space for getting ready in the morning or for bed is a perk many seek.
This makes dual vanities a sought-after ensuite update.
“If you’ve got the room for it, I would definitely recommend adding another vanity,” Hamstra says. “For resale value, too. People look for that.”
Depending on the size of the ensuite, sufficient counterspace may already be in place and the upgrade is only to add a second sink and the corresponding plumbing. In other cases, the upgrade involves an extension of the counterspace, as well.
 
 

One of the things that we are finding is increasing in popularity with our new home purchasers, is adding side entries to their homes.

We sat down with our laned home Area Manager in Cornerstone in NE Calgary, Deb Gearey and asked her some questions on this increasing trend.

Question:  What is a side entry?  Does it replace the main entry door?

Answer:  Side entry doors are added to allow a separate private entrance straight to the basement, great for future rental or for your kids to gain some feeling of independence if they are living down stairs.

Question:  Which models are side entries permitted on?

Answer:  We can add this to the Sienna model with no customizing, on the zero lot line lots.  We can also customize the Ventura and Wysteria models to accommodate this.

Question:  Is it only on certain lots?

Answer:  We can do it on all our zero lot lines with modifications.

Question:  Are there any other benefits of side entries?

Answer:  RESALE! So even if a client doesn’t think they would benefit themselves, for resale, it’s a HIT!

Question:  Are there any repercussions on the remainder of the home design if a side entry is added?

Answer:  I don’t think there is any to be honest. It allows everyone a chance to have a secondary revenue income without interfering with the people living upstairs.

Question:  Are people able to view any homes with side entries in your community?

Answer:  We have some homes under construction that will be viewable soon.  Just call me at and we can set up an appointment to view.  :) 

Following is a front and side elevation of a home with a side entry and a floorplan to provide a better idea of how it looks.

 

 

At Shane Homes our customers are able to customize their floorplans to meet their needs.  As we say “Love It or Customize It!”  Adding a side entry is just one of the many things are customers can add to their home to fit their personalities and lifestyle.

To learn more about Secondary Suites from Canada Mortgage and Housing please visit:

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/afhoce/afhoce/afhostcast/afhoid/pore/pesesu/pesesu_001.cfm

Deb Gearey Contact Info:

Tel:  403-536-2320

Email:  [email protected]

Just like everywhere else, workplace trends are ever-changing. Currently, we’re seeing more and more people working from home - both part-time and full-time. It’s not always easy to find the best space in your home for your work-from-home office. You want something where you can focus and be productive without the distractions of the rest of your house (that ever-present temptation to get some housework done or pop in a quick load of laundry). That is why it’s so important to create an office space that works with you and not against you.
 
Working from home does have many advantages; from having the flexibility to set your own schedule, avoiding the daily commute to work (which can be a traffic nightmare), to allowing you to enjoy your own home in a different capacity. When setting up your work-from-home office it’s important to create a separate space that promotes efficiency where you won’t be disturbed. Your home office is still your office, so it’s a great idea to make it as comfortable and also as professional as possible.
 
Here are some things to keep in mind when creating your home office that will help you work from home efficiently and effectively.
 

1. Decide which room or space will be your dedicated home office area. When choosing your space, create a list of all the things that are a priority for you. For example, do you prefer a well-lit space or a den? Do you want to be close to the kitchen or tucked away where it’s quiet? We all work differently and some us enjoy having a big beautiful window, while others may be more productive with a more cozy space. Remember to keep your office space practical, ergonomic, comfortable, and clean. Otherwise, you may end up working in your kitchen!
2. Make sure your space has proper lighting. Whether you have natural lighting or several lamps, lighting can help us remain focused. Lighting that is too soft can make you feel sleepy, especially during midday. It’s also good to position your computer to avoid any glare. This will help alleviate eye strain.
3. Paint the walls. Use a colour that soothes and calms like a blue or neutral cream. It doesn’t have to be the latest colour trend, but make sure to pick a colour that you like. You can have a bit of fun with matching coloured furniture too!
4. Decorate your wall space. Hang a map or a calendar on the wall. Add a whiteboard and some Post-It Notes. Throw up some of your favourite photos to make you smile or some feel-good quotes that will motivate you.
5. Breathe some life into your space. Whether you like traditional or modern, your office space should be a reflection of your personal design taste. Add a touch of flair with some personal items such as plants or flowers. Plants can help give you a calm feeling. If you don’t have a green thumb you can always add some fake ones.
6. Your desk, shelves, and storage should function for you. Keep in mind how you work through the day and what items you need at your fingertips. Invest in furniture that is both beautiful and functional. Remember, your home office furniture should complement both the design of your other pieces and the way you work best.
7. Keep things in balance. Make sure that you have enough storage as well as enough comfortable desk space to work in. You want ample room for your laptop and your notepad without too much clutter.
8. Add a rug! This can add colour as well as making your space feel cozier and warmer.
9. Consider traffic. Yes, traffic! If you have little ones running around or coming home at a certain hour from school, you’ll want to make sure that they don’t disturb you when you’re focused. Your home office may need a door. Invite your family to understand that when you’re working from home, they also need to be respectful and treat you as if you’re at the office. Great productivity can be accomplished from the comfort of your home if you plan right!
10.  Finally, make sure you have the right equipment. There’s nothing more frustrating than needing to run to Staples to print something because you are out of printer ink! Keep your inventory well stocked and consider what supplies will help you be more efficient. Maybe a corkboard or a second monitor? You also want to make sure you have a really good internet connection. You certainly don’t want to be suddenly disconnected when you’re on an important video conference!

Have a great home office design you’d like to share? Visit our Facebook page and share a photo with us! #ShaneHomesDesign
 

Shane Homes held our 23^rd annual golf tournament this year and we are happy to report that it was another great success!
 
With the support of our staff, suppliers, volunteers, and partners, Shane Homes helped to raise $28,030 for the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation.
 
Since the first tournament in 1996, we look forward to our golf tournament all year long so we can show our gratitude to the people who work hard and show commitment to make the Shane Difference a reality. Of course, the day is about raising funds for a great cause! The Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation does incredible work supporting youth golf programs and we at Shane Homes are proud to do our part to help change people’s lives.
 
Our golfers had so much fun on the course! The weather was fantastic and many new friendships were made.
 
Golfers were pleased to find Dave Rickett at the Tiki Bar a few holes into the day! Cool refreshments were served and donations were kindly accepted.
 
Rhonda Halyn was up to her old tricks again! She threw a fun-filled Mexican fiesta for our golfers! We danced to festive music, dressed up in sombreros and serapes, and took fun photos.
 
After all of the fun at the Tiki Bar and the Mexican Fiesta, we felt it was time for a break. As always, we can count on our good friend and Canadian Long Drive Champion, Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk, to help us get going on the next hole. She hit drives for our golfers all day on the course and consequently put our golf skills to the test!
 
A special thank you to Myke Thomas for being our MC, Dave Rickett for hosting the Tiki Bar, Rhonda Halyn who hosted the Mexican Fiesta and special guest Lisa Longball, 8-Time Canadian Long Drive National Champion, all of whom did an amazing job to help raise money for the tournament.
 
This day allows us to make some fun memories with the help of all our friends and we are glad to come together for a cause so dear to us at the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation. At this year’s tournament, we were able to raise $9,015 from our donors. We at Shane Homes promptly matched those donations, and D+B Lumber graciously donated an additional $5,000 make the grand total for the day $28,030!
 
Over the course of the foundation, hundreds of kids have been put through golf programs thanks to generous donations and with events like ours, more kids will be able to take part in this great game for years to come!
 
Again, a special thank you to our staff, volunteers, suppliers, trades, and partners who helped make this yet another amazing day in support of a great cause. We can’t wait for next year!
 

Do you want to buy a house but feel stressed due to the complexities of the home buying process? Thinking, "what is the first step when buying a home?", "where do I even start?".

If that's how you're feeling, you've come to the right place! We believe buying your first home should be stress-free. It's one of the most exciting experiences you'll go through, and you don't want stress to guide your journey and impact your decisions!

In this article we're breaking down the 7 essential home buying steps that you’ll go through when buying your dream home. From budgeting to purchasing your dream family home, follow along to discover how to purchase your home stress-free.

1. Find Out if You’re Financially Ready

Budgeting for your home is one of the most important steps in buying a home. If you are just starting to budget or looking to find out if you're on the right track, CMHC has an entire list of general requirements for obtaining a homeowner mortgage loan. Some of these requirements include:

• Your total monthly housing costs shouldn’t be more than 32% of your gross household income. To calculate how much you can afford for your monthly mortgage payments, refer to the CMHC gross debt service form.
• Your total debt load should be less than 40% of your gross household income.
• If you want to purchase a home that costs $500,000 or less, your minimum down payment is 5%. If you're buying a home that's more than $500,000, your minimum down payment will be 5% for the first $500,000 and 10% for the remainder of the cost.

CMHC also has an excellent budget sheet that can help you identify how much it will cost you to buy and maintain a home. To ensure you budget everything, here are additional fees that may occur throughout your buying process:

• Closing costs
  • Land transfer tax
  • Title insurance
  • Legal fees
• Homeowners insurance
• Taxes
• HOA fees (this depends on your home and the neighbourhood it’s in)
• Condo fees (if you wish to purchase a condo)

Once you have run the numbers and think you’re financially ready for the next step, it’s time to take a trip to your local bank.

2. Get Pre-Approved

Once you book your bank appointment and meet with your mortgage lender, it’s time to get pre-approved. Mortgage pre-approval is the process of determining the maximum amount of money you can spend on your home. In your appointment, your lender will analyze your financial documents and provide you with a pre-approval letter that you can bring with you as you tour new homes.

Before we get into the next step, it’s essential that you go to your appointment prepared with the correct documentation. Here is what your lender will likely ask you to provide:

• Documentation of your liabilities
  • Requests for loans
  • Current loans
  • Current expenses
• Assets
  • If you currently own or rent a home
  • If you own or finance a car
  • If you have any investments (RRSP, TFSA, etc.)
• Income Report
  • Your proof of income
• Miscellaneous
  • Overall credit score
  • Debt to income ratio

If all goes well and you have your stamp of pre-approval, it’s time to browse Google and determine which home type is best for you.

If you have additional questions about the pre-approval process, read our blog, How to Get Pre-Approved to Buy a House: The Ultimate Guide.

3. Determine Which Home Type Suits Your Family

It's time to discover which home type you can afford and, most importantly, suits the needs of your growing family. As a first-time home buyer, you've probably searched for a real estate agent and maybe even dipped your toes to see what home builders have to offer. At Shane Homes, we have a variety of home types that you're sure to love.

Single-family front drive: If you’re looking for a larger home, this is an excellent option. With square footage ranging from 1694 - 2727 and the option between four and five bedrooms, this home type provides ample room for your family.

Duplex: If you'd like to spend less of your budget on land but still want the features and floor plan you love, the duplex might be perfect for you. They feature a main floor living space and a backyard with 1372-1594 square feet of ample space.

Single-family laned homes: Detached laned homes are also a great option for those looking for a single family home. These homes range from 1368-2110 square feet and are designed to maximize your living space.

Townhomes: Shane Homes has luxury townhomes in the community of CornerHaven, in NE Calgary. These homes include covered balconies, private walkways, attached garages, and ample natural light.

Condominiums: If you’re looking for a home that’s a little smaller, Shane Homes condos are a fantastic option. Choose between one bedroom, one bedroom and a den, or two bedrooms in 613-946 square feet.

By now, you should have a better idea of what home type you like. If you're looking for additional information or looking to build and price the home of your dreams, use our build and price tool!

This unique tool will allow you to:

• Design and customize your dream home
• Provide you with real-time pricing
• Give you all the necessary information you need

We highly recommend using the build and price tool to get a taste for what you love in a house and understand what home you can afford based on your budget.

Still can’t decide? Take the Shane quiz and see which home type will work best for you! After you’ve decided what home type you like, it’s time to have fun and visit some showhomes!

4. Visit Showhomes

If you decide to build your own home, it’s time to visit showhomes! Touring showhomes is a great way to understand what features you want in your home, and it’s one of the most fun steps in the home buying process.

If you fell in love with one of our homes from Shane Homes, discover which beautiful neighbourhoods our homes are featured in. You can find Shane Homes in Airdrie, southwest Calgary, southeast Calgary, northwest Calgary, and northeast Calgary. When you visit our showhome, one of our sales representatives will happily let you walk through our homes and answer any questions that you may have about the home, the neighbourhood, or Shane Homes.

5. Choose Your Home Model and Lot

After you've toured some showhomes, talked to the sales representative, and found a home model that fits your needs, congrats! Now the hard decision comes into play, which lot do you want to choose?

In newer communities, lots sell fast, so it's important to get your hands on the one you desire quickly. Here are some things to consider when you choose a home lot:

• Sun exposure. If you love to garden or enjoy being outside, you may prefer a lot that is south facing. This will bring the most sunlight to your backyard year-round.
• Slope of lot. Some homes have walk-out basements which requires a steeped slope lot. The slope of a lot can impact how much useable space is in your yard, and how you want to use your backyard should be a consideration.
• Location in the community. Do you want to live across the street from the neighbourhood park? Close to the entrance of the community? What about living at the end of the street near the main road? These are all questions to consider.

Once you've chosen your home model and lot, your sales representative will provide you with a quote for your house, which you will bring you back to the bank. At this point, real-life has probably clicked in, and we can imagine how excited you are; we're excited for you!

It's important to note that nothing is final until your bank fully approves you for your mortgage. Now it's time to go back to your lender, finalize your mortgage payments, and get your down payment ready.

6. Meet With a Mortgage Broker

Now that you have your dream home picked out, it's time to book another bank appointment with your trusted lender/broker. This is the final step you need to take before you are approved. At this point, your lender will ask you for even more documentation than they required for the pre-approval step. Here are some of the documents you may need to provide:

• Your number of dependents
• Additional financial information
  • Assets, including any mutual funds, RRSPs, etc.
  • Credit report
  • Home equity line of credit (if that’s something you want)
  • Your employer and monthly income
• Information about the home
  • Property description
  • Purchase price of your home
  • Estimated property taxes
• Information about your mortgage
  • What type of mortgage you’d like (conventional loan, fix-rate, etc.)
  • What mortgage loan term you’re looking for
  • The mortgage loan amount you’ll need

Unsure of what mortgage you want? Check out our blog, What is a Mortgage & How Does a Mortgage Work? Home Loan Basics for First-Time Buyers. After you visit the bank and have been approved to purchase the home of your dreams, the real work begins!

7. Purchase The Home of Your Dreams

Congratulations! You've been approved and are ready to build your dream home. In this step, you will meet with your sales representative and go through all of the necessary next steps. This includes but is not limited to:

• Meeting with designers
  • Selecting your floor, cupboards, tiles.
  • Picking out your lighting fixtures, taps, door handles.
  • Choosing wall, grout and baseboard colours.
• Visiting your lot and watching your land transform from a hole in the ground to your gorgeous dream home.
• Going to walk-through home inspection appointments.
• Moving into your new home.

After you purchase your home, move in day is right around the corner. Congratulations on being a new home owner!

Shane Homes is With You Every Step of the Building Process

When you build with Shane Homes, you will be in good hands from the day you visit our showhomes until the day you move into your new home–and even after if you have any questions!

Shane Homes is honoured to be your partner throughout your entire home buying and building journey. As a trusted home builder for over 40 years, we've heard every question in the book and are ready to assist you with any questions you may have along the way.

Let's work together and make your home-building experience stress-free and rewarding. Visit one of our showhomes, or contact us today!

A Great Event ‘Fore’ a Great Cause: Shane Homes raises $26,750 for the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation.
 
Shane Homes held our 22nd annual staff, trades, and supplier golf tournament on July 27, 2017 at Heritage Pointe Golf Club, and we are thrilled to announce it was another fun and successful event!
 
This fantastic annual tournament allows us to invite all of our valued staff, trades, suppliers, and partners out for a exciting day on the golf course to show our appreciation for everyone’s hard work, commitment, and dedication over the past year. On top of that, this exciting day also raises funds for the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation; a cause near and dear to Shane Homes.
 
Every year, this action-packed event features some great highlights and different themed holes. This year, there were three specialty holes to challenge and delight golfers: Desert #3, Pointe #9, and Heritage #9.
 
Desert #3

After a smooth start to their day on the course, unsuspecting golfers rounded the corner at Heritage Pointe Golf Club to discover a pirate ship marooned in the middle of the desert… Desert #3 that is!
 
“Watch out for pirates” was the warning sign golfers passed as they fearlessly made their way to their fate at the hook of ‘Captain Dave’ and his ragtag band of pirates who were serving refreshing libations and accepting donations for the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation.
 
Whether it was a ‘Captain Dave’s Green Lagoon Shot’, a ‘Captain’s Seabreeze’ or the traditional ‘Captain and Cola’; refreshments were flowing, and a fantastic time was had by all at Desert #3!
 
Pointe #9

Meanwhile at Pointe #9, our VP of Finance, Rhonda Halyn, treated golfers to a fun mini Mexican Fiesta complete with sombreros, serapes, and lively fiesta music right there on the course!
 
A fun, brightly coloured, and unique Mexican-themed photo booth gave golfers the perfect backdrop for a once-in-a-lifetime goofy team photo; Moustaches and Maracas all around!
 
Each team of golfers was then given the opportunity to try their luck at a game of Bean Bag Toss for a chance to earn a birdie or a hole-in-one on the hole! While no team was able to toss their way to an ace, many teams snuck away from Pointe #9 with a birdie, a goofy team photo and a delicious snack to enjoy over the coming holes!
 
Heritage #9


Golfers got a special treat at Heritage #9 where 7-time Canadian Long Drive Champion Lisa ‘Longball’ Vlooswyk was waiting for golfers on the tee box! To raise money for the Frank Lindsay Foundation, Lisa hit drives all day for Shane Homes guests off the tee at Heritage #9.
 
A special thanks to Lisa Longball for her continued support of our tournament and the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation!
 
Every year, Shane Homes holds this fun tournament not only to show our appreciation to our staff, trades, and suppliers; but also to raise funds for the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation. This year, we are excited to announce that we were able to raise $13,375 during the golf tournament. Shane Homes was honoured to match the funds raised to bring the total amount of donated funds to $26,750 for this amazing cause!
 
Frank Lindsay was an avid golfer who always lived life to the fullest. In 1984, he founded one of Shane Homes’ trusted suppliers, Carpets for Less; now known as All Floors. This strong partnership still exists today.
 
Shane Homes’ founder, Cal Wenzel, was a very close friend of Frank Lindsay’s, and wanted to honour Frank’s memory by supporting the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation. This incredible foundation has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help put kids through golf schools and programs. Through the Frank Lindsay Golf Foundation, kids are able to enjoy Frank Lindsay’s favorite pastime for years to come.
 
Thank you to all of our staff, partners, trades, suppliers, and volunteers who helped make this year an amazing event for a great cause!

Shane Homes: After-sales care
The process of buying a new home is a little different than buying a pre-lived in house. To better help potential and existing customers understand what happens after they sign on the dotted line, we talked to Paul Savoie – Quality Service Manager.

What is a Home Service Team?
At Shane Homes, our Home Service Team is responsible for the pre-possession and post-possession inspections with customers. They move through a comprehensive checklist to ensure that the home purchased meets industry standards in terms of mechanics, structure, and aesthetics.

Pre-possession inspections
Before receiving the keys to a new Shane home, our Home Service Technician completes a pre-possession inspection of their own, carefully reviewing the finer details of the home. This inspection also includes any cosmetic repairs to ensure that the customer receives the keys with their home looking its best.

Next, our Home Service Technician will conduct a Walk-through Orientation with the customer. This is where customers can expect to learn about the mechanics and how the home functions. The Home Service Technician and customer will next review both the interior and exterior of the home, including components such as windows, walls, and flooring.

If any problems are noted at the pre-occupancy orientation, the Project Manager will ensure that everything is fixed before the key release. At the time of the key release, the Home Service Technician and customer will review any past problem areas that have since been fixed.

Post-possession inspections
A purchase of a new Shane home includes a three month and one year inspection completed by the Home Service Team. This is a chance for the customer to bring forward any concerns they may notice to the team’s attention. “We want to make sure that at least in the first year, under the builder warranty, we are helping the customer as much as we can,” says Paul.

The Home Service Team calls the homeowner a couple of weeks before the three month and one year possession to set up a time for the Home Service Technician to complete an inspection.

The first step is to talk with the customer about any concerns. “We ask that customers keep track of items of a non-urgent nature,” says Paul. At the time of inspection, the team member will refer to this list of items, as well as working through their own standard multi point checklist.

These inspections give the Home Service Team a chance to assess common issues. Shane Homes is proud to report that their inspection results have been positive. “In 30 percent of the inspections in the last ten months, our team has been able to take care of any concerns during the inspection and avoid a service day,” says Paul. “That way, we aren’t inconveniencing our customers by scheduling a specific trade service appointment.”

If there are any issues that cannot be remedied at the time of inspection, an appointment will be immediately scheduled. Subsequent appointments can be anywhere from two to six hours depending on the nature of the problem.

At both inspection stages, the Home Service Technician will walk the customer through the mechanics of their home again if they need a refresher on units like the furnace, hot water tank and HRV.

What is the Home Service Team looking for?
At the three month and one year inspections, the Home Service Technician looks for abnormalities or anomalies that affect the function of the house.

For example, the Home Service Technician will record the humidity in the house to ensure that it meets standards. They check the entry doors, including the locks and seals. As well, they check the grout and tile for cracking because some cracking can lead to larger problems. If the customer has hardwood floors, they check for cupping.

Because every new house shrinks and settles, they also check the drywall. If there are any issues with the drywall, this will require the attention of the drywall companies. The drywall companies that Shane Homes works with offer a year-end touch up service. Due to a number of variables in living conditions with customers, we do not do paint touch-ups.

Dealing with irregularities
Outside of the regular inspections, Shane Homes does everything they can to remedy problems in a timely manner. “We strive to keep customers as happy as we can,” Paul says. “We go the extra mile.” If a Shane customer has any urgent issues, they should speak to the Home Service Team to set up an appointment or if outside of normal business hours, the customer can call our emergency line for assistance.
 

Brandy is almost done shopping and this week she is setting up the showhome so things are a little chaotic!  Grand opening is Saturday, March 1, 2014, with prizes, entertainment and food!  Come join us.  :)

On June 1st, we unveiled our new Smart Home Advantage package! This exciting, state of the art home automation package is now standard in all newly constructed paired and single-family homes. 

Wondering what this means for you? Join us as we go through the features of our new system.

 

The Basics

Intelligent Spaces by Visions Electronics will provide the Google and Nest product lines that will be installed, quality checked and serviced by their home automation specialist.

 

In addition, our ‘Love it or Customize it’ formula ensures you are able to further modify your homes’ performance by visiting their showroom and selecting upgraded products and/or services if you so desire.

 

The Features

Google Home Minis with Mounts

Are you curious about what life would be like with an assistant? Our Smart Home Advantage comes with Google Home Minis! These handy helpers are here to make your life easier. They can play music, answer trivia questions, create calendars and more!  No more tying a string around your finger when you want to remember something. Google will write notes and keep track of events, giving you reminders when a due date is approaching. 

 

In addition to this, if you don’t have time to read the paper or scroll through the headlines in the morning, ask Google to do it for you! It will tell you everything from weather, news, and finance- all you have to do is ask.

 

Your new home’s automation technology is designed to work together to give you peace of mind. Some of our safety features include the Nest Yale Wi-Fi Smart Lock. No more getting out of bed to double-check if the front door is locked! All you have to do is pull out your smartphone and lock it from there, allowing you more time to catch those much needed Zzzzzs.

 

Before you get up in the morning, change the temperature of the room using your Nest Smart Home Learning Thermostat. Wake up to a nice, warm bedroom in the winter, and keep cool in the summer. As a bonus, this thermostat learns what temperature you like and builds a schedule around you. Studies have shown that is has saved people an average of 10% - 20% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills! 

 

Even with the perfect room temperature, it can be difficult to wake up in the morning. That’s why we love the Lutron Caseta Kit, which allows you to remotely control the lighting in your home. With simply the press of a button on your remote or smartphone, you can control multiple lights in your home. Slowly raise the brightness in your bedroom until your body naturally feels more awake! (Or help your partner wake up by turning the brights on all at once!)

 

Don’t forget to brew some coffee so it is ready when you get to the kitchen! Smart Things Hub and Z- Wave Plugs let you monitor and control connected devices in your home. Compatible with various Wi-Fi products, you can now control portable electronics such as coffee machines over Wi-Fi!

 

Today, a lot of people prefer to shop online. But often packages can arrive when we are at work or otherwise out living our busy lives! That’s why your new home will come complete with the Nest Hello Video Doorbell with a Camera! With 24/7 streaming you can check who is at your door any time of the day! Unlike traditional security cameras with their grainy images, this security feature delivers HD video and bright, crisp images, even at night. It’s designed to show you everything at your doorstep - people head to toe or packages on the ground. 

 

The Advantage

Technology is a combination of hard work and imagination. It is the product of dreamers with a passion for making the world a little better, one step at a time. When we take advantage of technology that is designed to make our lives easier, we find more time in our days. Time to be with family and friends, or explore our hobbies and interests. We hope that you will love our Smart Home Advantage as much as we do and that it will help make your days and nights a little easier.

 

In order to be able to provide more information on what is happening in our new communities, Shane Homes is seeking Community Correspondents to provide updates.  Information such as new stores opening in community strip malls, community events such as Stampede breakfasts or lunches, community clean ups, community meetings and more.  If you’re interested in being a Community Correspondent, then please email [email protected] to learn more.

Rachel has graciously agreed to be our “ear to the action” in SkyView Ranch and Ashley will be providing updates for Sherwood in NW Calgary!

Ashley has graciously shared her story with us and we’d like to share it with you:

My Story by Ashley

My story starts about 6 months ago, I was living in a Shane duplex in Panorama Hills in the NW when my life suddenly took a turn. I decided it was time to make big changes and split from my husband. When we made the decision, I had full intentions of staying in the home in Panorama Hills. It was a nice place and would be large enough for my son and me to live comfortably. However I began to feel uncomfortable and needing to make a huge change.

I knew how much I enjoyed my last experience buying with Shane Homes, so I decided the first place I looked might be at the show homes in Sherwood. I had visited the Leera show home in Sherwood in Autumn for the Fall Festival. I viewed the four homes that are in Sherwood and I was by far most impressed by the Shane model. I went home that day and I thought and I dreamed that maybe one day I could be in a place like that. When I decided I would want to start looking at a new home for my son and me, I instantly thought that this would be the place to start.

I drove with my sister and my son to the Leera show home in Sherwood and my sister agreed that it was beautiful but might be a bit much for me. I started discussing with Lorraine (the hostess) and Claude (the area manager) what options I might have and what sort of price range I’d be looking at. We looked at a few models and they suggested that I should go out to Airdrie to view the Fiesta II model and see how I felt about it. They let me know that there was one that was being built as a spec home just around the corner from the show home and that it was just being listed by a Realtor!

I took my floor plan sheets and headed out with my sister still dreaming a dream. I knew I needed change. I looked at the floor plan and thought that it looked beautiful. I knew deep in my heart that it wasn’t going to last long. I immediately called my mom upon arriving home because realistically, I knew that I would need some help to move – to get into a home like this. She was a little reluctant at first but then agreed to look at the Airdrie show home in the morning.

We went out and viewed it and we were both dumbfounded by how perfect it was. The best part is that my son loved the home too! We hopped back in our car and headed straight to the show home in Sherwood. We went in and let them know that we wanted to buy the spec home. It was as easy as that. Claude was wonderful in getting all of our paperwork together and making sure that everyone was on schedule and taking care of business. He was always sure to keep us up-to-date on what was happening at our home. Our project manager Duane is also quite the guy who was the real muscle behind this build making sure that it was complete as promised!

This was the perfect option for me as I wanted to find something that I could move to sooner rather than later but I still wanted to pick out all of the colours and appliances. There were a couple things that were already chosen as we got in so late in the game but I hurried along through the last half of March and first half of April getting my colours, lighting, appliance, and plumbing fixtures chosen. I have to say that is the most fun part! I need to say that Marion in the design center is an absolute genius and can somehow tell exactly what you might like.

Dealing with Shane Homes is a blessing and a very easy, fun and rewarding experience. They understand your situation and they will do anything in their power to make your buying experience easy and smooth with no worry to you. They truly are there for your best interest and it shows in the care to detail inside your home and through the entire sales process. They have chosen amazing companies to work with that have the same values and customer care as they provide. Their employees are truly the top class amazing people. This is my second Shane home, my mom also owns one in Royal Oak and my sister owns a duplex in Panorama Hills. It is safe to say that we are loyal Shane customers and I feel that they would be my go to home builder if I decide to move again one day!

I moved into my home on May 16, 2013 and I can’t even begin to explain how perfect it is. I finally feel like I’m home. When I took possession on May 15, I felt that I could just sleep on the puffy grey carpet that night and there wouldn’t have been anything more peaceful and relaxing in the universe. It was hard to leave the house that night to go home and get ready for the real move the next day. When I was moved on the 16th, I was at home completely even before the boxes were all unpacked. I’ve now been here just over a week and we are getting the rest of our home put together. (We are almost there with just a few more pictures to hang and a couple boxes to unpack.) Tomorrow we will be hosting our house warming party with the intent to make this our fresh new start. I have lived in a few different houses but now it’s easy to see I am home. Friends who have visited already have commented how perfectly this home suits Dimitri (my son) and me. Now that they’ve seen me here, they couldn’t see me elsewhere.

I have been dreaming of a home in Sherwood for nearly a year and now with some funny circumstances, I am finally here. I love this neighborhood because I find it very accessible. My sister lives in Panorama Hills while my mom lives in Arbour Lake so it is nice to be in the middle. I am close to Stoney Trail – which means easy access to pretty well anywhere you might like to go. I work in Kensington and I have found so far that living in Sherwood has cut my commute time by about 10 minutes. I am glad to have fast access to Market Mall and to Crowfoot. I feel that I am closer in even though I am further out than I was and that there is a sensible route to any place you’d like to go in the city. I love the fact that I am close to Costco and basic amenities here! Everything I need is at my fingertips. If you decide to move to Sherwood, or to any neighborhood with Shane Homes, you won’t be disappointed. It is the perfect match for a new beginning or to continue an old one.

I’m excited to be the community correspondent for Sherwood and I can’t wait to get to know everyone around here more!

Follow Ashley on Twitter at @YYCSherwood

Our pets are loved and are a huge part of our lives! We would do anything for our furry bundles of joy, but sometimes they can leave wear-and-tear on your home that you don’t want! Rather than ban your pet to the backyard, choose finishes in your home that promote a pet-friendly environment. There are finish options that you can use in your home that are not only beautiful, but they are also durable enough to withstand any type of pet!
 
The biggest issues are without a doubt nails and teeth. Pets can use their nails to dig into hardwood floors as well as carpets and chew on any furniture, curtains, and home décor within reach. This is disastrous especially when our pets are young and aren’t house-trained yet. Of course, the other main issues are smells and stains that can be next to impossible to remove. These stains can completely ruin your carpets, for instance, to the point where it will need to be replaced entirely. So, let’s make some changes!
 
Flooring
Vinyl – Vinyl flooring is easier to keep in good condition as opposed to a hardwood option and if it does need replacing, the process is much simpler and easier on the wallet. This is the optimal choice for most pet-owners for the simple fact that it is one of the most durable kinds of flooring to have. When installed properly, vinyl can withstand wear-and-tear as well as water accidents. Pets will feel comfortable on this grippy flooring, compared to tile or hardwood.
 
Laminate – Laminate is another great option that mimics the look of hardwood flooring, without all the hassle that comes with it! Cleaning up after your pet is easy on this affordable, scratch and stain resistant flooring. Just be warned that smooth and glossy laminate will make your pet slip-n-slide! Not to mention the constant click-click-click of their nails.
 
Tile – Tile floors have a warm, natural look while providing comfort for your pet’s feet. Any clean-up is easy once the flooring is sealed. Tile can pretty much stand up to any challenge that presents itself! This flooring may be highly durable, but it can also be slick for your pet as well.
 
Walls
If you are able to, finishing your home with a high-quality paint on the walls will make any clean-up far easier. Low-quality paint may smudge or scuff if you try to wipe up any mess on your walls.
 
Other finishing touches
Sofas – Sofas and couches should ideally be made from tough and stain-resistant fabric. Also, be sure to keep your sofa looking fresh by removing any fur build-up.
 
Curtains and Drapes – Cats especially love to rip up fabric curtains and drapes with sharp claws. Perhaps opt-in for wooden shades or any kind of horizontal blinds that are more suitable for curious pets. And don’t forget to keep those hanging cords out of reach!
 
Simple Steps to protect your home finishing
As with anything, the most effective way to solve a problem is at the source. Wipe up any messes or accidents from the floor as soon as possible to prevent any damage. Consider clipping your pet’s nails to minimize marks on the floor. Place rugs and mats at the entrances to your home to catch dirt from the inside and underneath food and water bowls to catch spills! Give your pet some toys to chew on so the furniture is spared.
 
Hopefully, with these suggestions in mind, you can create a home that works for you as well as your furry pal! How do you protect your home finishing and décor from your pets?

Build and Design the Perfect Garage
You want to build that garage that’ll have everything you need: a cubby for golf clubs, wall mounts for tools and equipment, a practical workbench, room for vehicles… the list goes on. It can seem like a daunting task to build and design your perfect garage. There is a lot to consider and doing your research is the best place to start. Here are some steps to help you along.
 
The Build
Now, before you go ahead and build your garage, it’s important to note that each garage build follows the same basic steps:
Take measurements, and make a plan with the dimensions available
Get building permits from your local municipal building. Keep in mind, that you may need to supply detailed drawings to ensure code requirements are being met.
Determine the final build design, as well as the design on the inside (we’ll cover this later)
Order materials or DIY kits from your local hardware store
Build the foundation
Build the frame
Assemble the walls
Assemble the outer shell
Install roof trusses and sheathing
Add shingles or other roof finish
Add the windows and doors
Wire any electrical needed
Install the insulation and put up the drywall

As you can see, you’ll need a lot of material, planning, and building experience to pull-off a DIY garage build. Also keep in mind that not every build is the same and to use your judgement when planning and building. Enlist the help of local experts in home hardware stores or any family and friends who can lend a hand. Some aspects of the build make sense to outsource to contractors, while other aspects are perfectly within your scope.  If this project seems bigger than you can handle, don’t worry. Depending on your design, everything you need should come in pre-packaged garage building kits available at your local hardware store. With most kits being highly customizable.
 
The Design
Now we are on to the fun part! What exactly do you want to do with your garage? How many cars will it need to accommodate? Is it mainly for storage, or will it be used as a workshop? You can make your garage exactly what you want it to be – nothing is off the table. Compile a list of the ideal features you’d like to see in your perfect garage. Here are some fun ideas and things to consider:
 
Workshop
More often than not, the garage is a place to set up your workshop. The first thing you’ll need is a workbench for your projects. A workbench can be found at any hardware store, however, building your own workbench gives you the opportunity to customize it for your space. Storage cubbies, vises, tool chests, wall mounts for tools, power tool storage – all the bells and whistles can be built on or around your workbench.
 
Gym
Easily assemble a gym space in your garage for some home exercise. Weights, benches, squat racks, cardio equipment, and yoga equipment are all things you could accommodate for.
 
Office
If there isn’t adequate space in your home for a full office, consider building a small room in the garage. For a simple office design you won’t need much more than a desk, chair and possibly a bookcase or filing cabinet. This has an added benefit of dissociating your home from work as well to help you focus.

Second Floor
A second floor may be a large endeavour, and requires some extra planning, but could be a space with many possibilities. Adding a second floor to your garage gives you space for any kind of studio or extended office - even extra storage.
 
Added Extras
Whatever you decide, be sure to consider your power needs and design the space to provide an adequate power supply. Also consider safety in your garage. Power tools, and workout equipment require safety considerations, but when you couple that with parked vehicles you should take the necessary steps to ensure accidents won’t happen.

Consult with a local expert on lighting options. These days you have everything from LED bay lights, to Fluorescent lamps. Specialty flooring is also something to consider. In an office you’ll want carpet, home gyms should have mats for the weights, and your workshop should use heavy-duty mats or a textured epoxy floor.

There is a storage solution for everything these days. Whether it’s tools, yard or sports equipment, determining the best way to store these items will allow you to maximize your garage space.

Finally, if you’re looking to go the extra mile, you can plan to have simple plumbing installed in your garage. A basic washroom could be a great addition to a workshop or office.
 
Other Garage Gadgets
Here is a quick list of other small additions that will make life easier around the garage: Camera for security, cord coiler for extension cords, stop bars for your vehicle tires to guide your parking, door guards on the wall to protect your vehicle, a shop vacuum, a stereo/sound system for some music while you work, an extra fridge, and an air compressor.

Features aside, consider the style you want your garage to have. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to try and match your garage to the style you have in your home. However, when building your perfect garage feel free to be creative and make this space unique.
 
Once your building specifications and dream garage checklist are complete, it’s time to start putting the pieces together. It’s often wise to quickly sketch out your ideas to get a vision of how things will be organized, and determine what items on your list you’ll be able to fit.

To help, there are many online tools that will allow you to create a 3D rendering of a garage. This is a great opportunity to take your ideas to the next level. It will give you a sense of what your garage might look like, the potential limitations of your ideas, and open your eyes to new possibilities that you hadn’t thought of yet. There are also online resources that will provide you with free garage plans to reference as starting points.
 
Building and designing your perfect garage is a large project. However, with the proper planning, knowledge, and execution, you’ll see your dreams come true in no time!

When hunting for a new home, it’s important to consider all options.
After deciding on the type of home and price range, people need to determine if they’d rather buy something newly-built or previously-owned.
Each option has its benefits.

Here’s a look at factors to ponder when choosing between the new home or resale listing route:

Expenses after moving in
The condition of the materials in a previously-owned home depends on its age, wear and tear, and any upgrades the previous owner made prior to selling. 
New homes, on the other hand, are more of a sure thing. Just as the four walls are brand new, so are its specifications.
In general, new homes drastically decrease a buyer’s need to replace flooring, appliances, the furnace, and any other materials no longer making the grade. They also improve a house hunter’s chances of finding current finishes and paint colours, rather than needing a renovation to step out of the 1970s or 80s.

Peace of mind
If something significant happens to the home, it’s important to know there’s a safety net. Every home built in Alberta since February 2014 offers this advantage.
This is when the provincial government introduced the New Home Buyer Protection Act. This includes requiring the builder to provide proof of a warranty plan that covers, at minimum, one year for labour and materials, two years for distribution systems, five years for its building envelope, and 10 years for structural integrity.
The frame and foundation are the two main examples of what structural integrity refers to.

Use of space
With a newly-built home come current layout concepts.
As floor plan designs advance over the years, drafting departments are finding new ways to use every sliver of space in a home. This pours more square footage into prime areas like the kitchen and bedrooms, and less on oversized hallways. 
If enclosed spaces on the main floor is the preference, homes build in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s are your best bet.
Buying new will likely mean fewer walls and a greater emphasis on bright and open-concept spaces.
There’s no need to jog down the hallway and around the corner to chat with a family member. In an open design, conversations can happen one room away.
 
Taking possession
Many factors play a role in timing a move. A buyer selling or ending the lease on their current home are among the biggest.
Buying a home through the resale market means the possession date needs to be negotiated with the seller who likely has a set of scheduling restrictions of their own.
Through a builder, things are more flexible.
When building from scratch, a buyer schedules their move-in after construction, which is usually about six to eight months later.
This gives them plenty of time to sell their existing home and not be rushed into taking less than what they are looking for.
The extended possession also gives first-time purchasers the chance to save money before moving out of their parents’ place or rental.
Builders also provide much quick move-ins with immediate possession homes or homes that are already under construction.
 
Location
People who need to live within a few blocks of downtown will likely find more options through MLS listings. But for a master-planned community with expansive parks and pathways, and architectural controls – which contribute to maintaining the value of homes in the community – there is an abundance of opportunity through the new home market.
 
Energy
Government regulations around the energy efficiency required for new homes change.
This means new homes are more likely to be equipped with sustainable features than older builds. Some builders today even exceed code minimums for energy efficiency.
Along with leaving a lighter environmental footprint, homes with greener features are known to provide substantial savings on monthly utility bills.
 
 
 
 

My name is Brenda and I am in charge of Shane Homes’ Social Media plus I am one of the Directors on the Peanut Butter Classic executive and organizing committee, along with Rhonda Halyn, Shane Homes’ Vice President of Finance.  In my volunteer role on the Peanut Butter Classic I take care of their Social Media and Marketing.

 

Brenda (left) and Rhonda (right) at our 2010 tournament

Shane Homes is a major sponsor of the Peanut Butter Classic charity golf tournament.  The PBC is a ladies only charity golf tournament that was created by founder, Heather Forsyth  in 2003.  Who knew back then that the idea she conceived of while having coffee with the girls would flourish and evolve into a major event involving over 250 people and raising over $1,527,000 in 13 years – not to mention generating approximately 7707 jars of peanut butter as each golfer is required to bring a jar of peanut butter as part of the entry fee!

Photo:  Heather Forsyth, Founder of the Peanut Butter Classic

Shane Homes first started sponsoring this event in 2010 and this year marks the 7th year as presenting sponsor.  We have committed to being major sponsor for two additional years.

Rhonda and I joined the committee in 2010 and we are both proud to be involved with this successful event.  Our 13th annual tournament took place on Monday, June 13th and we are excited to say that we raised over $150,000!  This year, in particular, we are even more appreciative and grateful for our sponsors, golfers, prize donors and everyone contributing to the success of our tournament, especially with the local economy being as it is.

The tournament is organized entirely by volunteers and the chosen charity receives 98% of the funds raised.  Since Shane Homes has become major sponsor for the PBC our recipient charity has been Alcove Addiction Recovery for Women (previously known as Youville Recovery Residence for Women).

The committee members are very proud of the PBC and here are just 10 of the reasons why we are:

 

1. Over $1.5 million raised in 13 years which was presented to local charities helping women and children in need!

2. Over 7500 jars of peanut butter presented to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank since our inception!  We were very fortunate to have several large donations of peanut butter over the years, including 3000 jars from Skippy in 2014!

3.  97% Sold out!  In a tough economy we thought we would need to cut back to an 18 hole tournament with 144 golfers, but we sold out, so we increased to a 27 hole tournament with 192 golfers.

4.  Complimentary Golf Clinic:  Who else has a complimentary golf clinic before their tournament with the talented and dedicated Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk, 7 Time Canadian Long Drive Champion, providing tips and encouragement?

5.  Customized Chocolate Bar:  Who else has a customized chocolate bar for a golf tournament?  We do compliments of Cococo Chocolatiers!  Each lady receives one at the event!  Sweet hey?

6.  Calgary Firefighters:  Who else has some of Calgary’s finest men, members of the  Calgary Firefighters participate on 6 holes selling drives to our ladies!  These gentlemen came on their day off to help us raise money.  Very very generous!  The Calgary Firefighters have been involved with the tournament since the tournament’s inception.  They help liven things up on tournament day and happily pose with golfers as well as generating money for our chosen charity by selling drives.

7.  Private Photographer:  Who else has a private photographer covering the event?  Thank you so much to Soul Focus Photography!  The photos are amazing and will help us in our marketing and promotional efforts for next year!

8.  2 media sponsors – The Calgary Sun and the The Calgary Herald who champion our tournament helping us to acquire and thank sponsors and golfers.

9.  17 Dedicated Volunteers on our Executive & Organizing Committee:  Heather Forsyth, Ann Christopoulos, Ann Logue, Brenda Kasianiuk, Cathy Spackman, Cheryll Nandee, Cindy Drummond, Janey Chupik, Janice Tiberio, Jeaninne Zanewich, Jennifer Wainwright, Kim Urban, Keoma Duce, Rhonda Halyn, Traci Laliberte, Trudi-Ann Webster and Wendy Keegan

10. Over approx. 150 companies involved!  That’s 40 sponsors, 26 prize donors, 58 silent auction donors, and over 30 special thanks!

Next steps?  We will be doing a cheque presentation to Alcove in the upcoming months, but for now we are planning to take the summer off.  :)

To view a photo gallery from the tournament please visit our Facebook page.

Please email [email protected] for more information on becoming a sponsor, to donate a prize, or  other inquiries.

Social Media:

Follow PBC on Twitter: @PBLadiesGolf

Like PBC on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/PeanutButterClassic/

Are you  looking for new decorations for the inside or outside of your home?  Or gift ideas for that hard to buy for person?

Blue Grass Nursery  may have what you are looking for.  They are much more than a nursery.  Walking into their store is like stepping into the magical land of Christmas!  Complete with coffee, cookies and freshly popped popcorn!!

They also have many unique gift ideas such as imprinted rocks, garden ornaments or thousands of other items to choose from.

We are proud to also have Blue Grass as a long time participant in Shane Homes Family Rewards Program which all Shane Homes and Creations by Shane Homes purchasers automatically join with their new home purchase.

Have fun decorating your home for the holidays!

Have you ever wondered how Interior Designers decorate their own homes for the holidays – or more specifically their Christmas trees?  Whether they go buy the newest decorations every year or prefer a more traditional look?

Thanks to our talented team of designers – Kal, Marion, Brandy, Natasha and Catriona, for sharing their homes for the holidays with us.

Their trees are as unique and different and special as each one of them is.  About the only commonality we can find between them all is their Christmas spirit!

Clear lights, gold ribbon and coordinated decorations make this tree almost glow from within!

Clever placement of a full size mirror behind the Christmas tree doubles the wow factor!

Who says you need a star or angel at the top of your tree?  This contemporary tree uses some non-traditional Christmas colours that are popular this year including hot pink and sky blue.

This tree mixes traditional gold ornaments with some whimsical butterflies and rich red and brown ornaments.

Space constrained!  Go up instead of out!  This tree is fit for royalty in it’s purple splendor!

Why waste space in a spare bedroom if you don’t actually need the space for house guests to sleep? Instead, repurpose your wasted space to become a functional place in your home. Not sure where to start? We have a few creative ideas for you!
 
Walk-In Closet
Yes, please! If you’re a big shopper (or shoe lover), this is the obvious choice. An entire room for all your clothes and accessories is a dream come true!
 
Art Studio
Are you a creative type? A long-lost painter? Maybe you’re a DIY crafter with a little extra time on your hands. Transform your spare room into a dedicated art studio to let your creativity run wild again!
 
Fitness Studio
This is one of the more obvious options, but it’s still a great idea! No need to pay for a gym membership when you have everything you need right at home. Save time and money, and kick any excuses to the curb.
 
TV Room
 Most of our single-family homes come with a bonus room that doubles as a great space to put your TV, but some families might want to section off the TV area from the “family space.” Your spare bedroom could become the TV room or even a complete home theatre. Close the door for the ultimate surround sound effect.
 
Play Room
 If you have lots of kids and toys around your house, it might be nice to have a dedicated play space. Teach your kids to keep their toys in the playroom as much as possible. That way no one steps on any Lego when they least expect it!
 
Library
We love this one because it repurposes the spare bedroom into a space that the whole family can enjoy! Fill your spare room with books for your personal library. Put a desk or two between the bookshelves so the kids can have a space for homework—and comfy reading chairs are also a must-have.
 
Home Office
If you work from home, you will thank yourself for a dedicated office space. It’s hard to maintain productivity in the common areas of a home, especially with kids or messes nearby. Just close the door and get to work as if you had a traditional 9 to 5. Having a dedicated office space also helps people who work from home clock out at the end of the workday.
 
Music Studio
Any musicians in the family? Give them a space to retreat to while they practice! You might need to consider a bit of soundproofing for the room, but that likely depends on the instrument they play.
 
Game Room
A game room is fun for the whole family! Add a pool table, foosball, maybe an old ping pong machine? It will be the coolest place to hang out in the entire neighbourhood. We promise—you won’t be able to keep the kids out of there!
 
Multi-Functional
Instead of tossing the spare bedroom idea altogether, make it multi-functional. Put a futon in the spare room, but use the rest of the space for one of these other ideas.
 
What do you use your spare bedroom for? We’d love to know your ideas!
 

Shane Homes and the Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA) have partnered together since 2008 to ensure that youth soccer remains a sport that is accessible and affordable to all.   CMSA is dedicated to working with their member organizations to develop, organize, promote and create opportunities that allow all participants to reach their desired level of achievement within the sport of youth soccer.

On July 5 the CMSA brought together the top male and female players from across Calgary from the U18 Tier I to compete in Shane Homes All-Stars competition.  Click here to view the press release to learn more on this tournament or to view the photo gallery. 

Shane Homes awarded $10,000 in Scholarships to the top players who were selected by guest Coaches and Technical Directors.

To view the male scholarship recipients click here.

To view the female scholarship recipients click here.

Shane Homes is proud to support these young athletes and provide them with opportunities that will assist with their University Education.  We were touched to receive thank you notes from some of the scholarship recipients and would like to share them with you:

Dear Shane Homes,

I recently took place in the Calgary soccer All Star games and I would like to thank you very much for the incredible support Shane Homes has given me to get a scholarship.  What you guys are doing at Shane Homes is great and I hope to see you guys continue doing it!

Thank you, Edward M.

Dear Shane Homes,

I would like to thank Shane Homes for the support you give towards minor soccer in Calgary.  I have grown up playing soccer my whole life and with the generous support and sponsorship of Shane Homes it allows players to chase their dreams of moving on to that next level.

Thanks again,

Dustin B.

 For more info on CMSA visit their website at: www.calgaryminorsoccer.com

Who doesn’t love spending summers in their backyard? Sunshine, greenery and flowers, a cool breeze through the trees—what’s not to love?! You can’t wait to spend some time outside, but there’s one problem: Your backyard is boring!
 
Creating an outdoor space where you can relax, entertain guests, and spend time with your family might seem like a large feat, but with these fun ideas, you will be enjoying your own backyard oasis in no time.
 
Do you want an outdoor kitchen?
If you’re like most homeowners, then summer also means it’s BBQ season. No backyard oasis is complete without a grill to fire up some good ol’ Alberta beef, but why stop there?
 
You need an outdoor kitchen complete with a countertop for food prep, cabinets and storage for food and cooking essentials, a small refrigerator, and even a sink. Your BBQ area will function like any kitchen. To go the extra mile, consider building a bar top with stools so you can entertain your guests while you cook!
 
Build a spacious patio or deck!
Your patio doesn’t have to be a simple concrete square and your deck doesn’t have to be just a wood platform!
 
Spruce up your patio by using attractive stone or bricks. Design a unique yet functional layout. Add a little charm with some fun flower beds or container gardens. After that, it’s just a matter of mixing weatherproof patio furniture and other décor features to make it your own creation! Comfort and aesthetics are possible in a single space.
 
Don’t just choose one—why not have both?!
 
With the right space and design, you can easily incorporate a deck into your patio design. For example, dedicate your patio space to your outdoor kitchen and leave your raised deck for dining and relaxing. It’s your backyard oasis, so you can make it whatever you want it to be!
 
For more information on how to build your patio and deck, read our article on How to Design Your Deck and Patio Space to Meet Your Needs.
 
What about a pergola or a gazebo?
Pergolas are a game changer for your backyard and can be used anywhere you want! Attach one to the side of your house casting shade over your deck, free-standing over your patio, or keeping the sun off your hot tub.
 
Take your design to the next level! Consider covering your pergola with vines and hanging twinkle lights from the top for when it gets dark out.
 
Another option: Adding a gazebo to your backyard is sure to bring your oasis to luxury status in no time. Enjoy your morning coffee in the shade, read a book in the sun, or catch up with a friend in the space. Your gazebo can be as versatile as you want it to be!
 
Gather your friends around the fire!
The ultimate weapon in any backyard oasis arsenal—the fire pit. If you don’t have a fire pit, you’re not only missing out on some tasty campfire-style treats, but a chance to share a fun night with your family and friends swapping funny stories, singing songs, and laughing all night long!
 
Fire pits can also be easily integrated into your patio design. Plus, there are so many options! From metal enclosures to the more impressive stone fire pits, something is sure to suit your backyard needs.
 
Hang out in the hot tub!
Rub-a-dub-dub. What’s a backyard oasis without an ultra-relaxing hot tub? If your backyard can accommodate a hot tub, it might just be the best feature you can add to your home. You work hard for the things you want. It’s only fair that you come home to a space that makes you forget the stress!
 
Relaxation aside, your hot tub will be another place to hang out with friends. Your backyard will be the place to be on weekends all summer long!
 
Let’s not forget Mother Nature...
What would any backyard be without a little help from Mother Nature? A healthy collection of trees, greens, and flowers can make all the difference in the world. There are so many ways to accent your backyard with nature. The sky's the limit!
 
Did you create your own backyard oasis? We would love to hear your tips. Let us know if we missed anything!
 

At Shane Homes our in-house Interior Design Team design pick the selections for our showhomes, pouring over home and design magazines and  searching websites for the newest designs and finishings to showcase in our showhomes.

The fireplace tends to be the main focal point in the living room.  Whether you are renovating your existing home or building new, we hope our selection of fireplaces inspire you to come up with a design that warms your heart and home.



Fiesta II (Prior Showhome in SkyView Ranch):  Cosmo fireplace with maple floating hearth and TV niche above, set within Eldorado Stone, Chapel Hill Stacked Stone. 

Orion (Prior Showhome in Nolan Hill):  Cosmo fireplace with TV niche above, set within Simple Stone, Basalt Black, Random Mosaic Tile, installed vertically. 

Andorra II (Prior Showhome in New Brighton):  Cosmo fireplace with TV niche above and floating hearth, set within hectagon shaped white floor to ceiling tile (Extro, White, EXHWH6). 



Tofino (Prior showhome in Cranston):  Cosmo fireplace with TV niche above and floating hearth, set within ceiling height stone (Velvet Natural Grey 12” x 24” – VGR 1224 N-J and 949 Grout) installed in a horizontal straight stack. 



Cambrian IV (Prior Showhome in Valley Ridge Estates):  This two-way gas fireplace is set within an expansive half height stone wall (Centurian Texas Ledge) and topped with a TV niche flanked by windows



Tofino II (Prior Showhome in SkyView Ranch):  This gas fireplace is topped with a TV niche and flanked by a handy built-in bookshelf.  The fireplace is adorned with slate charcoal tile (Slate Charcoal Stone Cladding Slchcecl – J 4” x 24″) installed in a brick pattern. 



Leera (Prior Showhome in Sherwood):  This two way fireplace features a contrasting white mantle and beige tile (Zera FG-AN-2-OLIVE-T (12”x24”)). 

Tofino (Prior in Showhome in Nolan Hill):  This fireplace looks a little bit traditional with the brick like stone (Centurion Texas Ledge stone) but has a contemporary twist with the light colour. 


Fiesta II (Prior Showhome in New Brighton):  This gas fireplace features a contrasting white mantle and grey tile (Ledgestone 6”x24” Black SLLEBLK).  A recessed niche above is ideal for artwork or a TV. 



Orion (Prior Showhome in Cranston):  This corner gas fireplace features a contrasting white mantle, dark tile installed in a Herringbone Pattern (Metro MN210 – J 2.5”x 9.5” Matte Nero with grout:929 Charcoal) and black hearth (Usak Satin Black – CT13”x13” with grout: 929 Charcoal). 


Orion (Prior Showhome in King’s Heights):  This corner gas fireplace features a white mantle and white tile (Layers chalk 11.8 x 24 CT with grout 903 birch) which really pops against the dark hardwood floors.

To view more fireplace inspirations visit Homzz.com

Shane Homes is excited to sponsor the 19th year of the Every-Yard-Counts Program, a charitable initiative with the Calgary Stampeders.

Every Yard Counts, presented by Shane Homes, features player visits to the Alberta Children’s Hospital the day before every home game throughout the course of the season. The program also gives two patients from the hospital’s oncology unit the chance to attend a home game as personal guests of Vince Danielsen, who played with the Stamps from 1994 to 2001 and won two Grey Cup rings. Danielsen started the program in 1997 because he himself is a childhood cancer survivor.  

Shane Homes donates 200 tickets to the hospital for patients to utilize as part of the program.

On Thursday, June 25 this charitable initiative was launched with Stampeders alumnus Vince Danielsen, Every Yard Counts player representative Brandon Smith and other members of the current Stampeders team as well as members of the Outriders cheer team, Ralph the Dog and patients at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Some of our marketing team from Shane Homes were there to enjoy the launch and shared these photos.

Members of the Outriders cheer team led the crowd in a cheer






Stamps alumnus Vince Danielsen being interviewed for Stamps TV

 

The Calgary Stampeders played some fun games with the kids at the hospital during the program launch.


Autograph signing with the Calgary Stampeders

When someone has their home built from scratch, personal design preferences are present throughout the home.
Selections around flooring, tiles, paint colours, and cabinets all contribute to a look and feel that suits the buyer’s taste.
But this tone can be set even before setting foot through the front door.

After buying a pre-construction single-family home through Shane Homes, the buyer will meet a member of the design team to go through the exterior selections process.
This lets the owner make decisions that influence their home’s appeal from the curb.  
“When you purchase a new home at Shane Homes, you design the exterior elevation of the house according to architectural guidelines with your sales person,” says Tammie Onslow, part of Shane’s design team, who has worked in the industry for more than 20 years.

Architectural elevations may include Tudor, Arts and Crafts, Craftsman, French Country, among others.
“Once you have that and drafting has drawn it up, I get a copy of that in design and I make an appointment with the customer to come in and choose all of their exterior products,” says Onslow.
Among these selections are railings, along with shingles, trim, and railing colours.
Before meeting with the design team, grab your smartphone and go for a drive.
“The best way to prepare for your exterior selections appointment is by driving around, and looking for houses that you like the colours of,” says Onslow. “If you see a house that really strikes you as beautiful, snap a photo of it and bring it to me.”

If the home in the photo is in the community that the buyer is building in, “9/10, I can actually look up what the colours are on the house, or I can usually tell just be looking what the colours are on a house,” she adds.
“Having a photo is the best thing that they can do.”
Phases within each master-planned community have architectural controls that support the overall vision of the developer.
“I submit the elevation of a customer’s house, as well as their colours, to the developer for approval,” says Onslow.
Some developers set lighter or darker siding colours in their requirements, while others offer a mix.
Another example of a potential requirement is white trim on all homes within the community.
Typically included in architectural controls are that homes cannot have the same colour scheme and elevation as their neighbours. This usually extends to the two neighbours on each side and occasionally some homes across the street.
“When you are the last person on the block sometimes it’s difficult to pick your colours and get what you want,” says Onslow. “But that’s why we are there to help.”
In choosing products for the exterior of the home, such as railings, Onslow suggests steering clear of trendy options and instead picking what the customer can see themselves enjoying long-term.
 

Close proximity to retail, transit, major roadways and other handy amenities are a draw for most people in the market for a new home. Buyers with children, however, may benefit from following a few other factors in mind.

For many families, nothing beats living a walkable distance or quick drive to the school their children attend.

Not worrying about missing the bus helps create a low-pressure start to the day. It also gives children, who are old enough, the opportunity to walk to and from school – including enjoying lunches at home.

People who have identified a home model they’d be interested in can ask its builder for a list of schools that are open or under construction in the community.

If the buyer is looking to build-from-scratch, they may ask the builder to show them a map of available lots that are near the school that they are interested in. People who need a quick move, can ask to tour constructed homes near this school.

For buyers who see schools as a long-term need, the builder can show them the location of future school sites in the community. Depending on the status of the site, they may be able to provide information around the type of school slated to be built there and a projected completion date.

If the community does not have a school that fits a family’s needs, there may be one in the adjacent community that does.

For people looking to move to a community in Calgary, this can be found on cbe.ab.ca for the schools belonging to the Calgary Board of Education or cssd.ab.ca for schools that are part of the Calgary Catholic School District.

House hunting in Airdrie, parents can look into schools in Rocky View Schools by visiting rockview.ab.ca. Meanwhile, schools in Okotoks belonging to the Foothills School Division can be found at fsd38.ab.ca

To some families, distance to daycares and day homes may rate high on their wish list, as well. In this case, the buyer’s decision on a new community may include Googling and doing their homework on childcare services nearby.

Depending on the age of the children in the family, a sunny afternoon on slides and swings may be another must-have. Buyers would benefit from sharing this priority with their builder who can shed light on playgrounds and tot lots positioned nearby.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Amy and Matt built a Fiesta II model in King's Heights in Airdrie.  We previously featured them in a blog - read it here:  Welcome to Our Shane Homes Family Amy and Matt! Valued New Home Purchasers in Airdrie

They have now moved into their home and gave us permission to share their journey through a series of photos. 


August 5, 2016
"Pretty excited about this puddle. It will be our first home come February!! 🏡🏡" 
Amy


August 14, 2016
"A few sample selections and me in my glory. I guess my many hours playing sims and 3D home architect 'played' off!! 😉"


August 25, 2016
"This is what moving with a cat is like!"
Amy


September 27, 2016
"The ball is rolling! 😃 a few more decisions, then 🔨🔨🔨 😁"
Amy


November 1, 2016


December 1, 2016
"A bit difficult to see the progress now! 🙈"
Amy


December 17, 2016
"WALLS! 😬😬... also a delightful album by Kings of Leon."
Amy


December 24, 2016
"Merry Christmas Eve 🎅🏼from our house to yours!! ❄️🏡"
Amy and Matt


January 7, 2017
"Our excitement can't be contained! Not even a little bit! 😁😁🏡"
Amy and Matt


February 25, 2017
"Homeownership is getting closer!! 😁😁"
Amy and Matt


March 30, 2017
"It may be smushed and doesn't have an ocean view.... but it's officially 100% ours and we are super thrilled!! Now to make it a home! 🏡 "
Amy

From Start to Finish: The New Home Journey with Shane Homes
If you’ve never built a home before, you might be curious about how the process might work. How do you go from an empty piece of land to your dream home? How many people are you going to be working with and how long is it going to take? At Shane Homes, we know that this purchase is one of the largest you'll make in your life, so we want to make sure that your home buying journey is special! We take extra care to make sure you know exactly what stage your home is at and what the next steps are, so you feel comfortable throughout the purchasing process. Karen Kotchar, Area Manager for the Airdrie communities of Midtown on 8th and Kings Heights talked us through the new home process.
 
Before Signing
There’s a lot to take into account before it’s time to break ground on your home. Once you’ve settled on building a home, you’ll need to start visiting showhomes in communities that seem like a good fit. When choosing a community, consider the community’s proximity to work, friends, and family, among other factors that might be important to you.
 
Once you choose your community and builder, you’ll need to make sure the Area Manager is the right fit. The estimated length of time from signing to move in is around eight to nine months, during which you mostly work with your Area Manager. Since you’ll be working so closely, it’s important to make sure you get along with your chosen Area Manager.
 
With Your Area Manager
Once you settle on your Area Manager, they’ll walk you through a series of steps. The first step is making sure you’ve chosen the right lot. “The lot is the most important thing! Shane Homes can customize any home, but if you don’t have the right piece of land to build that house on, then it’s all for naught”, Karen explained.
 
Customization
After the lot is chosen, the Area Manager will talk with you about your budget and walk through your wish list. Ideally, you’ll have an idea of your budget and a wish list before you begin this process; however, the Area Manager is equipped to support you through any situation. Your Area Manager will guide you through choosing the right model, customizing it to suit your needs, and then you’ll sign a purchase agreement. The deal will be sent for approval to head office and then the drafting department for drawing to be developed.
  
Starting the Design
The first design decision you’ll make happens after the drawings are developed. Once they’re put together and approved, they’ll be sent to our Interior Designers at the Expressions Design Studio, who will reach out to you to make an appointment. During this first appointment with your Interior Designer, you’ll make decisions on the exterior of your home as well as your cabinets. The exterior design decisions include looking at shingles, siding, stone, brick, and more!
 
The look and feel of your home exterior are important decisions to be made early, as they’ll need to be approved by the Development Guideline Officer of the community. It is the job of the Development Guideline Officer to ensure that the community guidelines are adhered to and the community as a whole is visually appealing.
 
Choosing from Suppliers
At Shane Homes, we keep an updated list of trusted suppliers within the city. We have worked with these suppliers for several of years and trust that they will take the same level of care with you as we do. At this point in your journey, it is time to decide on your appliances, plumbing, and fireplace. These suppliers will reach out to you to set up appointments, during which you will have the opportunity to make choices that will best complete your dream home.
 
This is an important step, as all of the cabinets, bathtubs, and showers are installed during the framing stage. You’ll also want to have a sense of your fixtures as you move into the next stage of interior design.
 
Behind the Scenes
While you’re bringing the vision of your home to life, there is a lot going on behind the scenes. Once the Development Guideline Officer approves your home, they’ll issue a grade slip. This will allow the final drawings and blueprints to be created for your approval. Your Area Manager will go through these drawings with you in detail to ensure all the features of your home are included in your final plan. Once the final plan is approved by you, a work order will be issued and sent to all the suppliers to ensure they are properly prepared for the construction of your home.
 
Following the issuance of the work order, Shane Homes will apply for a building permit for your home. This may take some time but as soon as it’s approved, construction will begin on your home. Congratulations! Ground has been broken and construction has started!
 
Next Steps for Design and Suppliers
Now it is time to choose some of the finishing touches. At this point, you’ll go back to the Expressions Design Studio to make decisions on flooring, countertop materials, wall tiles, and paint colours. Following this, the Interior Designers will send you back to our trusted suppliers to find the perfect lighting, storage (including all shelving and closet storage), granite, and structured wiring. This is the last phase of the interior design process with our team.
 
Construction and Framing Walk-Through
Typically, Shane Homes tries to complete construction of a new home within five and a half months. You’ll see the basement approximately two weeks after the work order and building permit, and after about two months, you’ll see the framing of your home!
 
The timelines may shift based on the time of year and market conditions, but once the framing is done, there will be a Framing Walk-Through; this is the perfect time for you to ask questions or comment on the progress of your home. The electrical, heating, and plumbing rough-ins will all be completed. At this point, all deposits will also be collected and the possession date will be set. Your dream home is in sight!
 
Customer Orientation Walk-Through and Possession Day
A week before your scheduled possession date, you will have a walk-through of your home with your Project Manager and Home Service Technician. Your home won’t be completely done at this point, but the team will provide information on the maintenance of your home, including items such as the thermostat, ventilation, furnace, and more.
 
Your Area Manager will meet you the following week at your home for your possession day. They’ll reiterate important details from your customer orientation, help you finalize documents, and hand over the keys to your new house. Congratulations! You can now move into your perfect dream home!
 
My Home
Throughout the home building process, you’ll have access to an exclusive website for Shane Homes customers. This website will house all of your documents, keep you informed about the stage that your home is in, inform you of everything that you’ve selected for your home, and what you have yet to choose. When you wake up in the middle of the night wondering which colour floor was selected, you’ll have the ability to confirm your floor details and other selections in your My Home account, allowing you to rest easy at night.
 
With You Every Step of the Way
There’s a lot that happens during the home building process and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. As Karen mentions, “we do everything we can to make your journey joyful and stress-free. We try to keep the process as informative as possible, answer all questions, and try to help the buyer know where they can find their information”.
 
While you’re building your home, Shane Homes is going to be with you every step of the way.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … and once again Shane Homes is entering the 2013 Gingerbread Design Competition by Evans 2 Design Group with proceeds going to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation (Calgary) and the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation (Edmonton). Last year the contest raised an amazing $67,782!

Innovative standard features in homes by Shane Homes are offering a new level of control that is quick and easy to use.
The builder’s Smart Home Advantage features a range of valuable devices that can be activated remotely from a smart phone app or computer.
This package worth $1,900 is now included with the purchase of every newly-constructed single-family or paired home by Shane Homes.
“Many of our buyers have told us how much they value the added security and convenience,” says Melanie Gowans, general manager, sales and marketing, Shane Homes.
Devices in the Smart Home Advantage include two Google Home Minis, a Nest Yale Wi-Fi Smart Lock, Nest Video Door Bell with Camera, Nest Learning Thermostat, Smart Things Hub, Smart Z-Wave Plugs, and Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge, Pico Remotes and Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch.
This all amounts to meaningful real-life results.

Secure
“People can make sure their kids got home from school safely, seeing them walk through the door,” says Gowans of the video door bell.
When the doorbell rings, getting to see who is standing at the door before deciding whether or not to answer, is a “huge security feature,” Gowans adds.
She also highlights how it benefits people who shop online, allowing them to see the delivery to their home happen from wherever they are.
The Wi-Fi Smart Lock is tamper-proof and offers the convenience of locking and unlocking with a single touch to one’s smart phone app.

Your in-home assistants
Google Home Minis are handy and fun. They provide home owners the chance to stay organized by using their voice to make shopping lists and modifications to their calendar. These devices also let people set their home’s indoor temperature, hear the weather, find a new recipe, pick a song to play – or even white noise, to help get a good night’s sleep. This is all possible in a range of languages.

Knowing the right conditions
This package can also help people save money on their monthly utility bills. The learning thermostat pays attention to the home owner’s schedule and automatically sets the temperature accordingly.  
“You don’t have to program it,” says Gowans. “It learns what you need.”
Studies reveal this technology is helping people save an average of 10 to 20% on heating and 15% on cooling.

Your home comes to life
To activate lights and other in-home electronics, there’s no need to be in reach of a switch.
Using a smart phone, the Caseta Smart Bridge helps people operate in-home lights, and Smart-Z Wave Plugs controls lamps, coffee machines, fans, humidifiers, and other devices.
“If you’re on holidays and wanted to look like you’re home, you can turn your lights on and off and in different rooms and at different times,” Gowans says.
For added convenience, these lights can be scheduled, as well.
Another perk for families is the ability for young children to turn on lights before heading to different levels of the home, such as the basement.
“There are so many ways to use all these different pieces and it’s all through the app on your phone,” says Gowans.

Ready for you
Each device is user-friendly and comes with a set of instructions.
Don’t worry about setting everything up. These devices will be installed through a service coordinated by Shane Homes.
 
 
 
 

It takes the talents, skills and dedication of a variety of experts to build a home. The ‘building’ starts with an idea for a layout, then the floorplan needs to be drawn with electrical, plumbing and so forth, brochures designed, the home must be plotted on the lot, architecturals approved, basement dug and poured, walls framed, colour schemes selected and so on and so on and so on. Never mind the relationships that must be cultivated and maintained with developers to have a selection of communities to build these homes in, plus a Sales Team to help match customers to their perfect communities and floorplans, Interior Design Team to help turn our customers visions for their dream homes into a reality, and a Service Team to help out after move in if there are any issues!

At Shane Homes we have around 90 staff who work in the following departments: Drafting and Design, Sales & Marketing, Accounting, Estimating, Interior Design, Service, and Construction.

Every month we will be profiling a different member of our Team so you can get to know us better plus you will have the chance to learn more about our industry.

Our first “Get to Know Shane Homes” feature is dedicated to our President who was also the inspiration behind our company name: Shane Wenzel.

Here are 10 things you may have not known about Shane:

#10 Shane started in the family business in the early 80’s working in the field on job sites and then in the marketing department and worked his way up in the company.  In 2010 he was promoted to President of Shane Homes.

#9 Shane loves to issue challenges.  Shane challenged a local charity that Shane Homes supports, the Peanut Butter Golf Classic, to raise $150,000 for Youville Recovery Residence in 2012.  Mission accomplished! 

#8 Shane Homes was in the New York Times & in a book by Joanne Thomas Yaccato on our women designed home. 

#7 Shane Homes is a 6 year supporter of Calgary Minor Soccer Association and Shane is an avid soccer dad.

#6 Shane’s favourite sports to watch:  hockey and  to participate in:  golf.  Go flames go!

#5 Find Shane 7am on Saturdays on job sites with his Dad & Dave Rickett, Shane’s VP of Marketing & Sales: checking quality of homes under construction and status of new phases and communities.

#4 Shane loves to have fun at work and has often said “If you don’t enjoy your job, you need to find a new job.”  See the many sides of Shane here!

#3 Shane loves technology and has been instrumental in encouraging and overseeing many technological advancements over the years at Shane Homes including the launch of the first website and automating the sales process.

#2 Shane volunteers ALOT.  He is currently co-chair of the SAM (Sales and Marketing) Awards committee through CHBA – Calgary Region (Canadian Home Builders’ Association).

#1 Shane loves to stir the pot on twitter.  Follow Shane at @79reasons

Mudroom/Entryway
The point of entry to your home is the first stop on your home organization adventure. This is the last place you see before you leave your home in the morning, and the first part of the home you see when you walk in the door after a long day. The organization of your home largely lies on how effectively you can use the entryway space. If you have a mudroom, you likely already have a great outline for organizing your home! You have coat hooks, closet space, and maybe even some cabinets or cubby holes to store your family’s outerwear and shoes. If you don’t, it is easy to install some simple hooks, a bench and some baskets so that your family can walk in the door and put their belongings in a specific place where they belong. The entryway is the perfect spot for backpacks too! Stick them on an easily accessible hook and keep them out of your living space.
 
Effective use of the entryway of your home can make or break your fall organization plan. If your belongings are scattered, it will likely take longer to get out the door in the morning. If you don’t have entryway storage for outerwear, footwear and bags, then you will likely find these strewn about the rest of your home. In short, your entryway isn’t just the gateway to your home, it’s the gateway to your fall organizing strategy also.
 
The Kitchen
The heart of every household, your kitchen is a critical component to total-home organization. It is likely that your kitchen sees more traffic than any other room in your home. Between cooking, dishes, preparing a meal and grabbing a quick snack, it is easy for your kitchen to become a disaster zone. During the school year, the kitchen is where you can find rushed breakfasts, bagged lunches and sometimes, it’ll even become the homework hub of your home. Without a kitchen organization plan, you’re setting yourself up for a long fall.
 
In the kitchen, the best way to keep everything in order is to organize the room based on your family’s lifestyle. This time of year often calls for easy access, and grab-and-go storage. To keep the kitchen away from chaos, store those quick, tasty after school snacks in an easily accessible place where nobody has to dig through cabinets to find them. To make lunch packing easier, keep everything in your fridge stored in a purposeful place and each child’s lunch in an easy to access place for them to grab before school. If you have to run off to after-school activities, keep nutritious, ready-to-go meals like pre-made sandwiches or leftovers on their own shelf in the fridge. Lastly, make sure your family eats dinner at the table to keep the island or counter tops from getting too crowded.
 
A systematic, lifestyle-based approach is the key to keeping your kitchen organized and your family sane during this fast paced, busy time of year. But if you’re able to find the lifestyle suiting strategy that’s right for your family, you’ll have a kitchen that’s ready to handle everyone in your family all season long.
 
The Family Room
Back to school time means your home is likely now cluttered with backpacks, school supplies, books, paper and other belongings that need to be tracked and organized. Often, these possessions make their way to the most comfortable living space: the family room. As the room most often used for relaxing and unwinding, it is natural that the kids come home from school and dump their bags and homework in the family room as they sit to watch their favorite TV show or do some reading. This is how the chaotic, messy family room starts!
 
This fall, try making your family room a clutter-free zone. Set aside space for normal family room belongings such as books, videos or other things used for unwinding. Keep those bags, school supplies and school work in a study area or the mudroom. The family room should be a space for relaxing and being comfortable; not for being overwhelmed and surrounded by clutter. Devote your family room to being a neutral space, free from the work, school or sports materials used in every other facet of day-to-day activities.
 
The family room needs to be the space where family can be together, not where work and homework get done. Relax, kick back and share a conversation together. After all, a family room is for family time, right?
 
Kid’s Rooms
One of the scariest parts of back to school organization, organizing your child’s bedroom and closet is frightening enough to make any parent consider giving up on their organization plan. But don’t give up yet! Not only is this a great opportunity to say goodbye to your youngsters old, grungy clothes, it’s also an opportunity to teach them a great lesson about the benefits of staying organized.
 
To start this grand undertaking, begin in their closet. Start your organizing by purging all of their old clothes that are no longer worn or no longer fit. This will give you more space to work, and more space for all of their new back to school shopping goodies. Following that, organize their belongings based on activity or function. If they have a school uniform, have a specific spot set for it. Do the same with casual wear, sports uniforms and anything else they may have. Ensure they also have some shelving or baskets for toys or other possessions that you commonly find around your home. If your kids have a spot for these things, it’s less likely they will be found where they don’t belong.
 
Getting your child and their room organized may be the most challenging part of organizing your home this fall, but don’t look at it as a challenge for you; see it as a learning opportunity for them! The process will go a lot smoother, and it may even be a bit of bonding fun.
 
A space devoted to study
Not every home has an office. However if you have kids currently going to school, you need to have a space devoted to homework and studying if you want to keep your home in order. Whether it is a full room, or a desk with a bulletin board and cabinets, your child needs their own space to study, do homework, learn and play. Not only does this give them their own space, it also keeps them from getting distracted by TV or any other pastime that might also be available.
 
Homework, arts and crafts all over the house is a parent’s worst nightmare. Keep their school lives organized with a special study and homework area. It will keep the rest of your home a little bit more organized and you won’t have to spend time looking for your child’s book report before school in the morning!
 
Laundry room
This bit of fall home organization is for the parents in particular. Possibly the dirtiest room in your home, the laundry room needs its share of organization to help you get through the fall. Have you ever walked into the laundry room to your little soccer star’s dirty jersey lying on the floor? What about soaking wet pants or a sweater after walking home in the rain? Of course you have. Every parent has!
 
Laundry room organization can go a long way to ensuring you make it through the fall without having to pick laundry up off of your floor. Give each family member an individual hamper to keep their clothes separate. If they have their own place for dirty clothes, they would be more likely to use it. If you have two kids, this is a great way to keep from getting their clothes mixed up and misplaced. You’ll never have to hear “Mom, where did you put my new shirt?” ever again!
 
Organizing your laundry room provides you with peace of mind, and helps keep stress levels low. Take back your laundry room with a fall organization plan.
 
Starting small
Organization doesn’t happen overnight. Having the perfect fall home organization strategy comes with patience and time as you and your family develop the habits necessary to maintain your newly organized home. The best way to get used to your fall home organization plan is by starting small. Just like starting a new school year, organization is a process that needs to be eased into. Start small by developing the habit of putting bags and jackets away in the mudroom, or by removing your kids’ old homework and schoolwork to give them a fresh space to start anew in their study space. After that, slowly work your way into those busy, often cluttered rooms such as the kitchen or family room. As the habit develops, the organization process gets easier for the whole family!
 
 
Fall is one of the busiest times of the year for most families. Work, school and extracurricular activities have everyone running around non-stop every day. Making sure your home is organized to suit your lifestyle is key to having a home that works for you. From the moment you walk in the door, there are steps you can take to ensure your home is organized. This fall, as the kids go back to school and you begin planning your schedule of events to host and activities to do, organize your home to improve its efficiency.

Summer is an amazing time of year but we can’t forget that fall is fast approaching! Have your home ready inside and out for the season to avoid any unexpected issues and costly repairs. Getting your home’s exterior ready for the fall doesn’t have to be hard. Plan a day with your family and tackle these items together!
 
Maintenance
 
Do a roof check, even if just from your front and back yards, and look for damaged shingles, or any debris that needs to be removed. If you need to go up on the roof with a ladder, do so safely and with a spotter. Any damages to your roof need to be addressed immediately. Inspect your siding for any cracks or holes and get them repaired before winter. This will prevent moisture from getting inside your walls.
 
No one likes doing it, but clean out those gutters! Clear any leaves, nests, garbage, or otherwise from the gutters and repair any leaks. Unchecked clogs can damage your stucco and siding. Water downspouts also need to be clear of debris and directed away from the house. Check the seals of each door going outside and window frame for any space where air could be passing through. You wouldn’t want the cold weather to cause any hazardous buildup in these areas, not to mention a properly sealed home will keep out the cold and keep your heating costs down.
 
Close-off and empty the water lines running to your outside taps. While this may not be necessary in every home, in the case of an event where temperatures drop to extreme lows, the water left in your pipes could freeze and burst the pipe, causing you serious issues. Blow out any irrigation system in your yard and get it serviced, if you have one installed. Even underground pipes can freeze and burst so save yourself the trouble and book a professional to visit your home.
 
Trim down the lawn and apply fall-fertilizer to help protect the grass from cold temperature. This helps to keep your lawn strong before winter hits. This is also a good opportunity to quickly trim any trees, plants, or bushes down to a manageable size. Store and winterize any lawn equipment that needs to go away until spring. The lawn mower should be cleaned, and if there is any fuel in the tank left-over make sure to add stabilizer. Don’t forget to drain, coil up, and store the garden hoses. Store any seasonal furniture from the patio that can get damaged from the cold weather.
  
With these fall maintenance checks in mind you can keep your home in tip-top shape all fall and winter long without worry. Now that we’ve got that covered, it’s time for the fun side part of your home in fall…
 
Decorating for the season!
 
Liven up your home with light autumn colours, pumpkins of any kind, gourds, harvest-inspired goods, and orange mums! These fall classics will have your home ready for the season in no time. Go the extra mile and incorporate a hay bail into your house decorations!
 
Place an autumn or Halloween themed doormat on your porch to change things up. Hang a wreath or a cute seasonal sign on your door. Have a stockpile of firewood for the outside of your home that both gives it a cabin feel! Of course, you can always use the wood for a warm backyard fire.
 
Have fun! There are so many possibilities to decorating the outside of your home for fall, we couldn’t possibly list them all here. Create your own unique fall theme for your home!
   
Properly maintaining the exterior of your home can save you money, time, and effort on costly repairs or wasted energy. Enjoy the remaining weather of the season before fall and winter hit, and use these suggestions to prepare your home for colder weather.

The first opportunity in almost 30 years to build a new home at the prestigious Hamptons Golf Club has arrived.

Enclave at the Hamptons is a small but exclusive residential development created by the recent redrawing of the venerable course. There are 10 lots in Phase 1, which is 50 per cent sold, and another 56 lots in Phase 2. Shane Homes is the exclusive builder in Phase 2, to be located on the former 14th and 15th holes of the golf course.

“Lots 1 to 12 back onto the existing golf course and lots 13 to 56 back onto green space. They have very beautiful views,” says Shane Homes area manager Jack Kushner.

The standard specifications for an executive home in the Enclave will be higher than in most other new neighbourhoods.

“Ten-foot-high ceilings on the main floor, beautiful dressing rooms with built-ins, super large shower, triple-car attached garages — every customer has different things that are important to them.”

He offers assurance that architectural guidelines are in place to protect the integrity of the development and the buyer’s investment.

“We expect a great deal of diversity in the Enclave. From Urban Modern to Modern Prairie, plus more classic architecture, like Georgian or Tudor — it will be a nice mix. We don’t want the community to have a cookie cutter feel or look. We want it to look like an estate community from the moment you drive in."

The Phase 2 lots are on the newly created cul-de-sac of Hampstead Mews N.W. and are 35 feet to 56 feet wide, with six pie-shaped lots.

Lot sizes will accommodate homes from 2,500 square feet to 4,500 square feet in size, with prices expected to be in the $875,000 to $1.8 million range.

Shane has a show home under development, but as a custom builder, there are no standard models specific to this community. The sky’s the limit.

“We customize a home to the wants and needs of the customer. We may start with one of our models. We may start with a customer sketch. We may start with a blank piece of paper,” Kushner says. “We pick the brains of the customer, listen very carefully, come up with something that’s close and tweak it until they’re in love with it.”

Shane Homes brings a depth of experience to the Enclave after building many custom homes across the city. Shane was involved in every phase of Aspen and the recently completed Westgrove Point in the city’s southwest.

“We’re just completing a 4,000-square-foot infill facing Confederation Park and that one did start as a blank piece of paper,” Kushner notes.

Like the revitalization of the Hamptons Golf Club, the Enclave presents a fresh opportunity to build a new home from the ground up, designed for 21st century lifestyles while staying within a mature, complete community. There’s some excitement rippling through the area, where most of the homes were built in the early 1990s and homeowners finally have the chance to move up and build in a familiar area with all the amenities — parks, playgrounds and pathways to Nose Hill Park — already in place.

“Many of our customers are coming from the existing neighbourhood and, certainly, the surrounding communities in the northwest. Some have growing families or are downsizers looking for an executive home with all the new efficiencies and design in a well-respected community. That’s why the quality of investment in the Hamptons is exponentially higher than in other areas of the city — because it’s an infill community,” Kushner says.

Sales are being conducted from Shane Homes’ head office at 5661 – 7th St. N.E., with first possessions expected next summer. For more information, click here.

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Shane Homes.

With the upcoming launch of Phase 3, buyers are going to be thrilled to discover a wide selection of lots built by Shane Homes in the southeast Calgary community of Belmont.

“We’ve just released our new lots and they’re fantastic, offering back yards with west-facing exposure onto the playground and walking path, south-facing back yards that are in high demand and pie-shaped lots,” says area manager Erin Jorgensen.

“And buyers can choose from 16 different models ranging from 1,700 to 3,000 sq. ft. in Belmont depending on the lot size. Our most popular models here are three bedrooms with a bonus room, and designs that offer side entries because buyers like the opportunity to have a separate entrance for a nanny, an older child or even parents – we get a number of multi-generational families because of the diversity of Belmont,” she says, noting that they can offer four- and five-bedroom layouts.

The two top models in Belmont are the 1,767-sq.-ft. Fiesta II, which starts in the low $420,000s and the 1,910-sq.-ft. Alston, which starts in the $440,000s. “Both have very attractive price points and we have promotional pricing on them as well,” Jorgensen says.

Joining the top four are – the 2,056-sq.-ft. Orion II and the 2,307-sq.-ft. Sovanna – both showhomes in Belmont, which offers pricing starting in the mid $400,000s.

“The Orion II is a popular model for us because people love the open floorplan and having a den on the main floor,” Jorgensen comments. “We also added a beautiful skylight in the stairwell and people love it so much that buyers have been adding it in other models.”

The showhome also showcases Shane’s popular super kitchen upgrade that features a long island, extended cabinets and built-in appliances, owners’ suite with a luxurious ensuite that includes double sinks, corner soaker tub, walk-in shower, large walk-in closet, plus generous secondary bedrooms and a front bonus room.

As for the larger Sovanna, buyers love the features such as “the central family room with a vaulted ceiling upstairs, the open lifestyle room on the main floor and the upscale chef’s kitchen. They literally scream with delight when they see the size of the walk-in closet in the owners’ suite,” Jorgensen says. “It’s absolutely massive. You could easily put a middle island inside the closet and still have room.”

Among other highlights are the convenient built-in smart home technology in the upstairs loft, large secondary bedrooms, upstairs laundry and a spacious owners’ suite with a lavish ensuite featuring dual sinks, make-up counter, soaker tub and an over-sized walk-in shower.

“One benefit for buyers is our ‘Love It or Customize It’ feature so if a client wants something they’ve seen, but isn’t in the model they want, we can customize the plan,” Jorgensen says. “For example, we’re often recreating the walk-in closet and other popular features displayed in the Sovanna showhome in other models because we can customize our homes to suit our buyers’ needs.”

For more information, visit the showhomes at 100 and 104 Belmont Terrace S.E., Calgary, open Monday to Thursday, 2-8 p.m., and weekends and holidays, noon-5 p.m., call Erin Jorgensen at 403-536-2311, or visit shanehomes.com.

Guest Blog Author 
Next Home 
 

So you’ve decided to buy a home! There are few things in life that are as daunting or as exhilarating as the process of buying your first home. The process can seem intimidating; but with a little planning and organization, it truly can be a simple and smooth process.

 

The rule of thumb is that you should be prepared to have 20% down payment on a home. However, even first time home buyers may be able to secure a mortgage with a down payment as low as 5%. If you have a down payment of less than 20%, you’ll be subject to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) insurance premium to secure your mortgage, which is an additional fee that you’ll need to budget for. Your down payment amount will also have an influence on your monthly mortgage payment and the interest rate that you’ll be offered (higher down payment, lower monthly mortgage payment).

 

Meeting with your bank or mortgage broker to seek pre-approval before doing any serious home hunting will give you an idea where to start. Pre-approval is a simple check that your mortgage specialist will calculate to determine the amount that you are approved for from a lender. During this process your credit will be checked and will be a key factor in approval. Before you start looking at homes, it's a good idea to be free of any large outstanding debts and maintain a good credit score. Your mortgage specialist or the Area Manager within the new community you are looking at purchasing in can then help you determine the right amount for your budget.

  
 

Now you can start looking, you’ll need to start visiting showhomes in communities that seem like a good fit for your needs and any other factors that might be important to you. Then, once you choose your community and builder, you’ll need to make sure the salesperson is a good fit. The estimated length of time from signing to move in is around 7 to 8 months. Either way during this time you will be working very closely with your Area Manager so it's important to make sure you get along well and they understand your requirments and needs. Your salesperson will walk you through a series of steps, from choosing the right lot to customizing your home.

 

Owning a home is such a rewarding experience! There’s a lot that happens during the process, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. But with some planning and patience, your journey to home-ownership can be joyful and stress-free!

 

Relationships are all about compromise—especially when it comes to the big decisions like how your home looks. When decorating your new home, the goal should be to create a space that everyone feels comfortable in. 

Here are a few of our suggestions on how to make sure everyone involved is happy with the household’s interior design decisions. Trust us. It really is possible!

1. Shop together
To make sure that everyone feels equally included in the design decisions, don’t go shopping for big-ticket items without the other party in tow. Try to make choosing the perfect sofa a fun afternoon activity rather than a stressful shopping trip.

2. Talk about what stays and goes
If this is your first time moving in together, you will likely both be bringing mismatched pieces into a new space. Rather than telling your partner how outdated their cracked leather sofa is or how stuffy their pink chaise feels, talk about why these pieces are significant. Sometimes material things mean a lot more than we realize—no matter how old and tattered.

3. Donate and start fresh
If sorting through each other’s belongings is a challenge you don’t want to dive into, donate it and start fresh! Choosing entirely new pieces together allows for a brand new interior style instead of merging two that might not mesh well.

4. Brainstorm together
Your styles might clash but it’s important to find common ground. Spend some time collecting images of spaces you love and then try to find the commonality between your choices. Choose styles that work together in your photos and use those as guidelines while shopping.

5. Clearly define your ideas
Let’s face it—most discrepancies are just avoidable misunderstandings. Be clear when describing your dream home and your partner will be able to envision your ideas.

For example, if you say you would love crisp whites in your bedroom, your partner may think it is uncomfortable. Instead, explain that whites can be soft, cozy and inviting so that everyone is on the same page.

6. Give and take
Relationships are about give and take to find a balance—not struggling with extremes. If he doesn’t like the idea of pink, but you’re dying for that pop of colour, find a balance in a more neutral version of pink. Or use pink as an accent colour against a neutral backdrop.

7. Not everyone needs to be involved all the time
Small decisions—like the colour of your dish towels or where to place the plants often don’t need a second opinion. When we ask for an opinion on unimportant decisions, we are setting ourselves up for a potential argument.

For example, your partner might not care what colour the dish towels are but they form an opinion the second you ask. Then it becomes a debate of principle, rather than because they are personally attached to blue versus yellow dish towels. Instead, make small decisions separately and you will both probably be happier with the result.

8. Explain why you want to decorate
For some couples, the desire to decorate is not equally balanced. If your spouse could care less about what your house looks like, the best plan of action starts with talking about it. Explain why decorating is so important to you. If they understand your reasoning, they are more likely to jump in the car with you to buy from IKEA.

9. Incorporate their passions
If you live with a hobbyist, they may have several materials, instruments or tools lying around their space. Instead of focusing on the mess, offer to help them design around their passions. Organize tools in beautiful chests of drawers. Display instruments like wall hangings. Get creative!

10. Default to neutral
If your opinions lie on opposite ends of the spectrum, default to neutral so no one is unhappy. Everybody wins because nobody wins!

Most importantly, enjoy the process. Make it personal. Decorating your new home should be an exciting time! If any problems arise, remember the bigger picture - your relationship is worth more than a disagreement over what colour you want to paint your foyer.

While the home model you choose is an important decision, so is the land it sits on.

When building a home from scratch, you’ll pick a floor plan that meets your family’s needs and preferences. The sales representative in the community you’re buying in will then show you lot options in the community that fit the model you’ve selected.

This is where you can evaluate and compare what’s available.

Think about your lifestyle, suggests Erin Jorgensen, Shane Homes area sales manager in the south Calgary communities of Belmont and Pine Creek.

“Do you spend many evenings in your yard after work?” she asks. “In this case, you might prefer a backyard that faces west, to take advantage of the evening sun.

“Perhaps you want low maintenance and want to be budget conscious? In this case a zero-lot line might be perfect. Or maybe you hate shoveling tones of sidewalks? You will probably steer clear of a corner lot.”

For those who don’t know, a corner lot not only has a sidewalk in front of the home to look after, but one along the side of the home, as well.

“There are many factors that you have to consider when selecting a lot that is best for you such as budget, orientation, size, and location,” says Jorgensen. “By sharing details about your lifestyle with your sales representative they can help you find a lot that would best suit you and your family.”

Ultimately driving your lot decision, however, will be the buyer’s budget, as prices fluctuate based on their size, shape, and location within the community.

 “Setting a goal in mind for your budget is a great place to start,” says Jorgensen. “This will go hand in hand with type of home you want.”

In recent years, zero lot line options have been increasingly more common in new communities.

But what are they?

Rather than the home sitting in the middle of the lot, as they do on conventional lots, with four feet on either side, zero lot line homes are closer to one side of the property.

As a result, there’s a five-foot side-yard on one side of the home.

“This means that you only have one side-yard to take care of instead of two,” Jorgensen says. “This is great because not many people use their side-yards very much anyways.”

With this configuration, you are only paying for the amount of space you need to build the home,” she adds. “They are growing in popularity due to affordability.”

This format means all windows will be concentrated on the side of the home facing the five-foot side-yard (in addition to the front and back of the home.) On the opposite side, people often add a skylight to pull in additional natural light, adds Jorgensen.

While homes are designed to withstand all types of weather, a few simple tweaks can help maintain top form during the frostiest months.

With typical Calgary area days exceeding 15 degrees Celsius in September slipping to freezing-and-below temperatures in October and November, conditions within the home change.

Here are three tips to get your home ready for winter from Kevin Johnson, a homecare specialist with Shane Homes.

Drain the Taps 
After watering the trees and lawn one last time before the snow flies, make sure the exterior taps — also known as hose bibs — are clear.

“This is important because the water lines in the faucets can freeze, potentially break and cause a water leak in the home,” says Johnson.

To accomplish this, first find and close the shutoff valve to the exterior line in the basement. Then remove and put away hoses connected to any outdoor taps and open the house bib to drain the line.

Finally, return to the basement and locate the bleeder valve on the line leading to the outdoor faucet.
When you open this valve, expect to see about one litre of water released.

Clamp Down On Condensation
Cold air carries less moisture than warm air, so when temperatures drop, water vapor is more likely to land on glass.

Condensation and ice “will build up rapidly and cause problems,” says Johnson.

The easiest way to dodge this issue is adjust the settings on the home’s humidifier and heat recovery ventilator (HRV).

Johnson suggests setting the humidifier to about 30 per cent and the HRV to about 35 per cent.

Another tactic to cut condensation is raise window blinds five to six inches. This welcomes additional heat and dries any moisture buildup on the window.

Air Movement 
At no time of the year does a furnace need to work harder than the winter months, so make sure it’s setup to succeed.

While it’s recommended that furnace filters are changed once a month, many change them seasonally.
Before things get cold, change your furnace filter and clean the HRV, says Johnson. 

“If you don’t have a clean filter it is going to put a lot of stress on the furnace so it could shut down,” he adds.
“We are going into the heating season, so having a clean filter right from now on is going to make everything more efficient. Your furnace is going to heat more efficiently and it’s going to heat faster.”
 
 
 

How to Properly Plan to Develop Your Basement

Turning your basement into the living space you’ve always wanted may be both exciting and intimidating at the same time.

Your basement is an important part of your home. It not only houses your furnace, water heater, electrical distribution system and air-conditioning, but also forms the structural foundation of the entire home.

There are a few important things you need to do before you can have your own decked-out personal gym or private home office. Here are some things to consider when planning to develop your basement.

Layout and Purpose

If you’re building from scratch with your builder, ask them what needs to be in a specific place. For example, legal bedrooms must have an egress window, while hot water tanks and electrical panels may need to be on a certain wall. Then, decide what you want to go where in the remaining space.

If you’re doing your basement development after the home is built, examine the layout of your basement and take note of things that are expensive to move, such as structural components like integrity beams, mechanical components (like the boiler, the breaker panel/fuse box, etc.), as well as the electrical system and cable television distribution point. Depending on your budget, it may be best to have a plan which revolves around keeping these components where they are.

You will want to make the most of the available square footage in your basement while spending the least amount of money. You can do this by figuring out the best layout for your basement’s intended purpose. Will it be a very modern entertainment space with all the latest high-tech audio/video equipment, or would you prefer a well-lit and colourful games room for the kids? Maybe you need a quiet and organized space for a home office or a fully furnished and comfortable in-law suite.

Measure all the objects you want in your basement and decide how much space each room needs, then determine the best location for them.

Basement Permit and Inspections

If you’ve chosen to develop the basement with your builder at the same time as the rest of your home build, they will deal with getting all of the proper permits and inspections; however, if you’re developing your basement after you’ve bought your home, you’ll need to apply for your own basement development permits.

Go online and check the city’s basement guideline policy which outlines what permits you will need to apply for, as well as basic electrical, gas and plumbing information.

A homeowner wishing to perform electrical, plumbing or gas work, a homeowner's declaration may be required with your permit application.

An inspection may also be required once the framing, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and gas rough-ins are complete, prior to installing insulation or hanging drywall.

You’ll also need different permits depending on if you want your basement to be its own income suite or if you just want an extension of your living space.

Property Value

Basements, when properly developed, have the potential to not only add to your amount of usable living space, but also significantly increase the value of your property.

A well-refurbished basement can be an unexpectedly pleasant surprise for potential buyers and give you a leg up when compared to homes with unfinished basements.

By properly planning your basement’s development, you can be sure to save yourself a lot of time and money. No matter what your motivation: additional living space, an in-law suite, or resale value - taking the time to properly inspect, prepare, and lay things out before you build is a surefire way to successfully develop your basement.

How to Select Your Perfect Lot with Jeff Brodowski
We want everyone who purchases a house from Shane Homes to be absolutely thrilled on move-in day! To make sure that happens, we walk our families through every step of the buying, designing and building process. “We help people right from the get-go,” said Jeff Brodowski, Midtown Area Sales Manager. That includes selecting the perfect lot.
 
Why is your land so important?
Many new home buyers get so caught up in the excitement of building their dream house that they forget about the land their home will sit on. “Choosing the lot is the biggest step because there are a lot of factors to consider,” Jeff said. The lot you choose impacts the design of your entire home: your floor plan, the available outdoor living space, even which rooms will see sunlight. It also affects the privacy of your property and total interior square feet.

With a new customer, Jeff starts by asking them to identify their needs. “What are they looking for in a house?” he said. “I want to know what is most important to them.” Take some time to think about what you require from your lot in order to build the house you want. Prepare your “must-have” and “if-possible” lists in the same way that you dreamt up your perfect home. Remember to keep your budget in mind throughout the process! Lots vary in price based on size, layout, location and orientation.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few options to think about.

Where do you want to build your home?
The location is especially important because each community Shane Homes builds in offers a different experience. When determining location, first evaluate your lifestyle. Where do you work and play?

When we think about a lifestyle, we realize that the location of your home within the community affects daily routines like your commute time to work, school, or extra-curricular activities. It might be important for you to live near main roads. On the other hand, cul-de-sac roads are quieter and sought after by families with young children.

While considering lifestyle in terms of location, we should talk about your preferred backyard view. In Calgary communities, your home could back onto greenspace, an alley, or a neighbour. If you’ve thought about your view, have you thought about sunlight too? Orientation determines the amount of sunlight and the time of day your rooms see those rays. “Some people want the sun all the time and some people do not. Because of the sun, south or west-facing backyards are typically at a premium,” Jeff said.

How big of a home are you hoping to build?
You can alter a home to fit the landscape but you can’t alter the landscape to fit a home. Frankly put, your home has to fit the size of the lot. “For example, some people want larger square footage in their home but depending on the size and width of the lot, there may be only a handful of lots that a larger house could fit on,” said Jeff. Depending on the depth of the lot, a larger home could fit but it would come at the cost of your backyard space. A smaller house offers more flexibility for lots.

The floorplan itself is also a factor. Do you want a walk-out basement on a sloping lot or an underground basement on a flat lot? Walk-out lots are typically more expensive than flat lots.

Other size factors to consider: larger lots offer more space for more features. People choose large yards for pools but corner lots in Calgary communities provide extra roadside parking for families with multiple vehicles. Pie-shaped cul-de-sac lots are perfect for families who dream of swimming in their backyard pool but are less than ideal if extra parking is a priority. Once you choose a lot that fits, we can customize the homes to suit your exact needs!

How much landscaping do you want to consider?
If you back onto greenspace, privacy might not be as important to you. However, if you choose a lot with neighbours on all sides, your landscaping dreams might change. “If you back onto a neighbour but prioritize privacy, you’ll want to plant trees,” said Jeff. The orientation of your land comes into play again when considering landscaping your property. If you plan to grow a large garden, will your house block the sunlight?

What is most important to your family?
When it comes to choosing the perfect lot, the definition of perfect varies between families. There is no bad choice in a Shane community. It’s about choosing the best option that meets your family’s needs.

As always, we are here to help! Visit one of our Area Managers to chat about your options.
 

While buying a home is usually about finding an ideal place to live, it can be a smart business decision, as well.

There are many ways a house hunter can turn their purchase into a money-maker.  And all of them are directly connected to buying in the right conditions.

The housing market in the Calgary area presently favours the buyer. This means the prices offered today will only rise in the future.

The average price of single-family homes sold through the resale market in Calgary in April (the most current statistics available) was 8.5% less than it was a year earlier, says the Calgary Real Estate Board.

Combining the uncommonly-affordable purchase prices available in the Calgary region today with mortgage rates sitting at near historic lows creates optimal conditions for investors.

Lower-than-average purchase prices increase the ability to build equity in the home quickly. For people looking to buy a home now for the purpose of selling as soon as the market rebounds, there’s exciting potential for short-term financial gains.

Likewise for investors with longer-term plans.

With rates as low as they are, less money earned through a renter will need to be allocated for mortgage payments, significantly improving the return on investment.

Ratehub.ca says the lowest 5-year fixed rate offered in the last 10 years was 2.09% in 2016. This only slightly edges the rate -- listed May 19, 2020 -- of 2.14%.

For those eyeing a 5-year variable rate, the figures are appealing, as well, adds Ratehub. The 10-year low was 1.69% in 2017. As of May 19, 2020, it was 1.95%.

Another advantage of lower purchase prices is that it makes expanding the home’s ability to earn money more affordable.

Rather than simply renting the above grade portion of the home, developing the basement for the purpose of renting it to a tenant becomes more cost-efficient.

There’s also the ability to develop a legal secondary suite, which Shane Homes offers in every community in which it builds.

“Numerous buyers are choosing to add a secondary suite to maximize their investment and reduce their monthly expenses,” says Melanie Gowans, General Manager, Sales, Marketing and Interior Design at Shane Homes Group of Companies

Much like an apartment, secondary suites can feature a kitchen, bedroom, laundry area, and great room, making them completely self-sufficient. Rather than a rental property where people above and below grade share the kitchen and laundry area, the secondary suite creates two individual but attached homes, increasing the value in both.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

If you’ve been going to showhomes and open houses, you may feel overwhelmed in making the big decision: should I buy an older home or build a new home?

When buying a home, deciding between an older home and a new build can be pretty tricky. If you've weighed the basic pros and cons, it's time to look at price points and the value that comes with each home type.

This article will dive deeper than mortgage rates and property taxes, and provide you with average purchase prices and costs that are easily forgotten about. Let’s dive into which home type works best for your budget and your lifestyle.

The Cost of Building a Home

The prices of homes can completely change depending on various factors, including location, market value, customizations, upgrades, and more. For example, in Calgary, the average cost of a new construction home is $520,000. Besides your upfront costs like your down payment, traditional mortgage, insurance, interest rates, and property taxes, here are extra costs that you may need to consider when buying a new home.

1. Upgrades - Show homes typically include most of the potential upgrades. When you arrive at the design studio, you may realize that the standard features are not what you envisioned in your home. If that's the case, you will need to budget for your new upgrades. Some say a good rule of thumb is to expect your upgraded interior finishes to be around 12% of your home's base price.
2. Energy-Efficiency - New homes are more energy-efficient than older homes due to a number of reasons including the windows. Many new homes are built with windows that are multi-pane rather than single-pane, which can significantly decrease utility costs.
3. Land Prices - When you purchase a newly built home, you will notice the varying costs in properties based on their lot size or shape. In a showhome, you will typically see a map of the available lots and the price points of each. On average, homes in corner lots (pie-shaped) or larger lots will cost more than the other lots. When choosing your lot, you must weigh the pros and cons of each and decide which one best suits your needs.

Although there are other variables that affect the costs of buying a new home, these costs are the most common. Keep in mind that all of the listed costs may fluctuate based on the size of the house, the price of building materials, the market, or the home builders.

The Cost of Buying a Home

Buying an older home can be an excellent purchase or a costly investment. The average total cost of buying an existing home in Calgary is $485,482. Purchasing a home within that price range typically means additional expenses you will likely have to pay. For example:

1. Home inspection fee - When purchasing an older home, you should get a home inspection. This inspection process will tell you all of the potential risks or issues in the house. These fees can cost anywhere from $300-$550+ for complete home inspections.
2. Maintenance - The maintenance costs on existing homes can cost you more than anticipated. Some experts suggest you should save between 3-5% of your home's cost, or about $24,000 annually to pay for maintenance. If that seems high, it is. It factors in major repairs, which may be necessary for older homes. But don’t go rushing out to speak to a new home builder just yet, average costs for routine maintenance are likely to be about $1000 a year. So, if your home doesn’t require any major repairs, your annual maintenance fees are much more reasonable.
3. Roofing - With a variety of maintenance and major repairs that occur in an existing home, you can’t forget about the roof! Calgary and Edmonton snowfall and hailstorms can decrease the life span of roofs significantly. The average home needs a new roof every 15-25 years. Depending on how old the home is, you may need to consider this sooner rather than later. According to Sunik Roofing, new roofs can cost between $5,400-$9,000 for asphalt shingles, $7,858-$14,412 for metal shingles, $12,00-$16,000 for wood and cedar, or $22,200-$37,000 for a slate roof.

As these are just three key points you must consider when buying an existing home, there are plenty of additional costs that you may want to consider.

Additional Factors that Affect Home Buying Costs

There are many factors to consider when purchasing a new build home or an existing home. The following are additional costs that you might want to think about.

Investment Journey

Buying a new home is one of the most significant investments that new home buyers ever make. Generally, all homes go up in value over time, and this is commonly evaluated with the terms: appreciate and depreciate. Appreciation refers to an increase in home value over time, whereas depreciation refers to a home decreasing in value over time. These values often fluctuate, depending on the current home market.

In an older home, you will have access to how the market has affected the home over time. You are taking more investment risk in a new home because there is no viable information on the home's historical value. On the other hand, as the community that your new build is in grows and develops, your home will likely begin appreciating.

Driveways

At times, new build owners want to upgrade their driveway to aggregate instead of standard concrete slabs, or existing home buyers want to re-do their driveway due to long-term use. These additional costs can be forgotten about, and they are not cheap! Driveway costs range from $600 to $18,000, depending on the materials and type of driveway you like.

Air Conditioning

Frequently, new homeowners like to have HVAC units installed in their home prior to moving in. The luxury of air conditioning can be added into a new home build, or an existing home. If you are looking for HVAC in your new home, consider that air conditioning can cost anywhere from $3200–$6000 to install.

The Most Cost-Effective Solution

To answer the big question,” is it cheaper to build a house or buy one?”, well, it depends. Buying a new construction home and purchasing an existing home may come at similar price points, but they can also come with alternative costs. Evaluating which home works best for you, is completely dependent on your lifestyle and what you value in a home. For example, if you value convenience and spending time with your family rather than repairing your home, you may be sold on a new build.

If you're still looking for more information on the differences between older homes and new construction homes, check out our blog: Buying an Old House vs. Buying a New House: The Pros & Cons You Should Consider.

Get the Best Bang for Your Buck with Shane Homes

Have you made your decision yet? After weighing the costs between the two homes, you may notice that an existing home typically has more additional costs that new homes do not.

If you value convenience, saving money, and custom home solutions, buying a new home may be the perfect fit for you and your family. Discover exactly what you love in a house with the Shane Homes Build and Price tool. This tool allows you to browse through a variety of home types, so you can become one step closer to purchasing your own house and building your dream home.

Shane Homes offers a variety of duplexes, townhomes, condominiums, and single-family homes that you can choose from and customize. Start your home building process with Shane Homes. Contact us and purchase your own home today!

The year was 1979. Calgary was a growing city of just over half a million people and the Calgary Tower was still the tallest building in the city. It was in this era of growth that Cal Wenzel and his then partner Barry Basillie founded Shane Homes. Naming the company after Cal’s son, Shane Wenzel, made a statement about what they wanted their company to be; namely, a family business.
 
Those early years were a hands-on experience for the partners. They rolled up their sleeves to help build the very first Shane home! From framing and painting to the everyday business operations, they did it all!  The very first Shane Homes home was finished in 1980 with four more homes completed by the end of that year.
 
Right from the beginning, they had ambitious plans for the company. Through hard work, they accomplished their goal of building fifty new homes a year in just five years. Ten years after that, they were building and selling hundreds of homes per year.
 
By the time Y2K hit, the city had undergone many changes! Calgary’s population had increased to one million people, and those growing families wanted new, exciting homes. Avocado green appliances and wood panelled walls were out, while granite countertops were slowly becoming all the rage!
 
By 2004 the Calgary new home market was evolving. People were moving to the city from other parts of Canada and the world bringing their own ideas of what type of home they wanted to live in. Most importantly, they wanted homes that were built to raise their families in. In response, Shane Homes extended the product line adding attached homes, laned homes and street townhomes, all of which continue to be extremely popular!
 
Today, Shane Homes is continuing that response by incorporating new, exciting features into our homes. Many of them are features that we could not have imagined back in 1979- such as our new home automation system! We are excited to continue growing our portfolio of homes and community involvement as well. The solid foundation we built in 1979 has allowed us to continue to build our company like we build our homes: with quality. We have loved being a part of Calgary’s story for the past 40 years, and we cannot wait to see what the next 40 years will bring!

The kitchen is the heart of the home and it is the hub of the home.  It is where the family gathers for a hurried haphazard breakfast before everyone heads out the door in the morning and where everyone reconvenes at the end of the day for dinner and to catch up after a busy day.  The kitchen is also a place for rest and relaxation on the weekend, a favourite spot to sip a cup of coffee or tea and read the paper or look up recipes online, and share a leisurely breakfast.  And when entertaining family and friends, it is sure to be the main gathering spot, with the stools around the island spilling over with people, the counter happily cluttered with drinks and snacks and sounds of laughter and good conversations filling the room.

When building a new home, there are many elements involved in designing a kitchen once the layout has been finalized.  You need to pick your counter top, flooring, wall colours, backsplash, lighting, cabinetry and more.

Today we will talk about cabinetry, which, surprisingly, when building with Shane Homes is one of the first selections you will make after choosing your exterior colours.  We order cabinets this far in advance as they have a long lead time and we don’t want any material delays to potentially push back our customer’s possession dates.

When it comes to picking your kitchen cabinets there are many options to consider.  What colour and/or finish?  Should the upper cabinets be full height to the ceiling or staggered?  Flat or moulded doors?  Should you include a built-in wine and glass rack?  Should you extend the cabinet design into the dining area for seamless continuity for a built -in hutch with upper cabinets to display your mom’s or grandma’s china and lower cabinets to store less used and seasonal items?  How about adding an open shelf below your upper kitchen cabinet for your dishes or glass fronts on the cabinets to display the plate or glassware collection that you are so fond of?  Crown mouldings?  One tone or two tones?  Built-in or free standing appliances?

Building new, you can get exactly what you want in your kitchen, so it is worth taking the time to consider the options.

Before you select your cabinets put some thought into what would work best for you and your family.  Tour showhomes, talk to your family and friends, look at design and decorating magazines, search the internet and look at websites such as Houzz for ideas.  We have also provided some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Cambrian IV (Prior Showhome in Valley Ridge Estates): This light contemporary kitchen is sure to appeal to wine aficionados and features: two tone cabinets – light Buttermilk cabinets and dark Cappucino on the island (even the names sound yummy!); a built-in vertical wine rack; and built-in wine fridge on the end of the island. 


Verve II (Prior Showhome in SkyView Ranch):  This traditional kitchen has dark cabinets, 42″ upper cabinets with moulding and an end cabinet on the island with glass front. 

Tofino II (Prior Showhome in SkyView Ranch):  This kitchen has sleek dark maple cabinetry (cove flat panel door in aged bronze) with multiple pull out pot and pan drawers providing well thought out storage options. 

Fiesta II (Prior Showhome in SkyView Ranch):  This warm kitchen features simple yet lovely maple beachtree cabinets, built-in lower wine rack and built-in microwave and wall oven.  The frosted glass door to the corner pantry and matching stain colour to the cabinets provide a seamless look.

Leera (Prior Showhome in Sherwood):  This kitchen is a chef’s dream with V-groove aged bronze cabinets with plenty of counter space for prep work and plenty of handy storage. 

Tofino (Prior Showhome in Nolan Hill): This inviting kitchen features cove raised panel buttermilk light cabinets with plenty of drawers and dark Cappacino island cabinets. 

Orion (Prior Showhome in Nolan Hill): This sleek contemporary kitchen features slab flat panel door profiles with high gloss white upper cabinets which open directionally ‘up’ and rich maple stone lower cabinets. 

Fiesta II (Prior Showhome in New Brighton):  This inviting kitchen features bevel raised panel doors in ivory. 

Andorra II (Prior Showhome in New Brighton):  This showhome features maple, V-Groove cabinets in Velvet Truffle.  The layout of the kitchen places the sinks under windows looking out to the backyard, allowing you to daydream and enjoy the natural light when washing dishes or cleaning produce in the sink.  

Tofino (Prior Showhome in Cranston):  This showhome features maple, shaker flat panel door cabinets in Cappuccino which reach to ceiling height. 

Orion (Prior Showhome in Cranston):  This showhome features Cashmere coloured cabinetry with a crown moulding. 

Tofino (Prior Showhome in Hillcrest):  This showhome features dark cabinetry with substantial elongated hardware.

Fiesta II (Prior Showhome in Hillcrest):  This showhome features maple bevel flat panel door cabinets in Espresso with 36″ upper cabinets and 3″ crown moulding. 

Previous Acclaim Showhome:  This previous showhome features a built-in hutch in the dining area which matches the kitchen cabinetry.

Previous Tofino Showhome:  This previous showhome features an open shelf under the upper cabinets.

Previous Leera Showhome:  This previous showhome features a mix of light and dark upper and lower cabinetry.

Previous Triumph Showhome:  This showhome features an open shelf on the lower end cabinet to store cookbooks or knick knacks.

Hi, and thanks for taking the time to read our Shane Homes Blog! I’m Brigitte and I work in the Drafting & Design Department.

I will be going over items we commonly show on our second floor plans and why it is important that they are there.

In case you missed Part I of my blog, please visit our blog archives.

3. Main bath

The main bath has the standard sink, vanity, toilet and shower/tub combo. It is the primary bath on the second floor and is accessible from the second floor hallway and easily accessible from the children’s bedrooms. Upgrades made to the owners ensuite can easily be reflected here as well.

4. Laundry Room

Shane Homes plans typically include a separate laundry room. Creations by Shane Homes plans typically include a laundry closet with a bi-fold door, with either side by side washer and dryer or a stacked washer and dryer.

The laundry room must have a minimum 2’8” door according to Building Code, in order to accommodate the install of a washer and dryer. Typically flooring is either linoleum or upgraded to tile. This could also be another location where the roof attic hatch access can be found and is preferable to be located here as opposed to the owners ensuite.

Options that can be added in the laundry room include:
• Laundry sink with a cabinet for storage
• Counter top over the front load washer and dryer to provide a convenient work space to fold clothes
• Upper cabinets for storage
• Built-in ironing board to provide a handy spot to do this not so favourite chore and to store (and hide!) your ironing board

All these upgrades to the laundry are to help make life a little simpler and to help avoid clutter by having proper storage to organize in the first place.

3. Children’s bedrooms

Shane Homes floor plans and Creations by Shane Home floor plans typically include two additional children’s bedrooms, similar in size to avoid fights over room selection, which are ideal for growing children, or to be used as a home office and/or guest room. These are fitted with a standard size closet with bi-fold doors and also egress windows.

Some Shane Homes and Creations by Shane Homes plans will include walk-in closets in the secondary bedrooms such as the Tofino model.

4. Family room

Our Shane Homes floorplans typically have a family room. The second floor family room provides a secondary living space for the family. It is typically where the family can gather to relax but it can easily be turned into a playroom for children or can be utilized for multiple purposes depending on your personality and interests. It may be located in the centre of the second floor, separating the owner’s suite from the secondary bedrooms, or it may be located at the front of the home over the garage. Depending on the configuration, it may or may not have privacy doors to lessen the noise to the bedrooms.

It is also commonly referred to as the ‘bonus room’ as it typically located over the garage and is considered a “bonus space”.

Some of the options that can be added to the family room include:
• Wet bar
• IT centre
• Entertainment centre

You might see double dotted lines at doorway locations outside the family rooms, ensuite or even closets. This is to show archways in lieu of doors. The actual archway height is noted on the plans as well.

If you like the look of a high ceiling, upgrading to a vaulted ceiling (if possible) is a great option. We show these with dotted lines and notes.

 

In some cases family rooms have been extended with a cantilever and depending on the roof design, this may require either a dropped or a flush beam. Height of these cantilevered walls might show on plans if required.

Watch for part III of our blog coming soon.

If you missed the blog on our main floor, please visit our blog archives for Part I, Part II, and Part III.

Today in our blog, we will share Lynn’s volunteer story from a trip she recently took to Mexico to help build 5 homes.

Lynn has been with Shane Homes since 2006 and is part of our Design/Drafting Team. Lynn is an avid supporter of Kids Cancer Care Foundation since her daughter, Briony, became ill and has participated in many biking adventures to raise funds for Kids Cancer Care Foundation.

For the last 4 years Rotary South Calgary has teamed up with Kids Cancer Care Foundation volunteers to help build homes in Mexico for needy families. Rotary teams up with a group called “Youth with a Mission” and they provide homes for needy families under the “Homes for Hope Program”.

Inspired by her daughter, Emily, who volunteered in 2010, this year, Lynn volunteered, flying to Ensenada, Mexico with a group of 75 other dedicated volunteers from Calgary and Red Deer.

One would think that the costs for the flight, accommodations and food would be complimentary for those volunteering their time and possible vacation days, but no, it wasn’t. Lynn had to cover the costs on her own.

When asked why she was volunteering to help on this project Lynn said “I am doing this to pay it forward. Our family has been blessed with many people coming forward to help out, when we were going through Briony’s illness.”

Here is more some amazing info on this project:

• 75 people participate and build five houses over a two day schedule
• Families must own the land the homes are being built on
• Families go through an application process to be chosen to receive a free home

Home details:

• 16” x 20” size of home
• Home is built on a concrete pad
• Home has three rooms inside: a sleeping space for the parents, a separate sleeping space for the kids, and a front common area for living space.
• Inside of home has no ceiling and is open to the rafters which aids in ventilation to keep the home a bit cooler
• No second floor or basement
• No cabinets or closets, just open rooms
• Electrical is run to home but not hooked up
• Area in kitchen for a fridge and propane stove
• Exterior of home has a couple of windows and a door
• The inside and outside of the home are both painted white with the family able to select the trim colour to personalize it
• Each family was given a propane stove, double bed and single bed
• Each family was also given $500 cash to shop for items for the home

Lynn also took a variety of goods donated by herself and other Shane Homes employees to give to the families, as the family profiles indicated that the families are very poor. Before Lynn left, she let staff know the children’s ages and sex and many of our staff stepped up, donating clothing and shoes in almost new condition!

Lynn says “I am thankful that I had the opportunity to help on this project. The families were desperately in need of help, and it was heart-warming to be able to help them. A home provides security and shelter and a place for the family to bond and be together as a family. This family will enjoy their home for years to come. When my daughter Briony was going through her illness, which is the toughest thing I have had to experience in my life so far, I had so many people around me helping me. I am glad to be able to pay it forward and help this family in their time of need.”

Here are some photos from over the two days:

 

In order to provide more information on what is happening in our new communities across Calgary and Airdrie, Shane Homes is seeking community correspondents to let us know what’s new and noteworthy. Information such as new stores opening in community strip malls, community events such as Stampede breakfasts or lunches, block parties, community clean ups, community meetings and more.

A warm welcome to the Shane Homes Family to some of our newest home owners, Dan and his wife, currently building a duplex style home, the Allee, in Midtown in Airdrie.  They are taking possession of their new home September 16th, 2016.  We asked Dan some questions about the building experience.

Shane Homes:  Is this your first new home build?

Dan:  Yes it is.

Shane Homes:  Did you customize your floorplan?  What is your favourite feature of the home?

Dan:  Yes, we customized the ensuite bath and walk-in closet.  Our favourite feature is definitely our custom ensuite bathroom with full ceramic tile on the walls and ceiling and rain shower heads.  The shower also has a glass door, bench and glass shelves.

Shane Homes:  What is your favourite part of the process so far?

Dan:  Going to the Expressions Design Studio to make selections.

At the Expressions Studio we started with selecting the biggest item of importance in the house which was the laminate floors. Then after the floors we selected the kitchen cabinets, the granite, the paint colours and so on.

In the owner’s ensuite bath, the floor and shower walls are a high gloss porcelain grey tile and we used a small stone on the shower floor.

Here’s a picture of the bath floor so far and the walk-in shower. 

The bath floor features high gloss polished porcelain grey tile.  This polished tile was continued into the shower but we used a smaller tile for the flooring and continued it up the back wall to create a vertical accent band.

My wife and I agreed that she would design the kitchen and the living room and I would get the home theatre in the basement and my garage. But we both designed the shower and changed the bathroom layout and walk-in closet. 

We loved all the newer styles in the Design Center. For example,  the “Nest” thermostat and the electronic locks for the doors. We did check every sample possible. We didn’t want to miss anything. (laughs)

Shane Homes:  Do you have pets?  Are you designing anything special in the house to accommodate them?

Dan:  Yes we do have pets and we bought the Allee for our parrots. We originally were going to purchase the Galea but realized that there wasn’t a big enough window to put the parrots cage in front of (yes they are spoiled!).

Shane Homes:  Anything else that has stood out in the process so far?

Dan:  Satwinder Notay, our Area Manager, and associate Abigail James were just fabulous throughout this whole process.  They were a big influence on our purchase and after four months are now like a part of our family. They walked us through the whole process, showed us how to save in some parts of the house so we could upgrade other parts of the house and just gave us first new home buyer’s invaluable advice.  We will never be able to thank them enough!

Thanks for sharing your story Dan!  We hope you will share more photos once you move in.

#ShaneHomes #betterwaytobuild

Imagine stepping out your front door in the morning and enjoying nothing but views of scenic open green space.
This is what people who purchase a ParkFront paired home through Shane Homes can experience in Airdrie.

The builder recently launched sales on these stylish homes in the master-planned community of Midtown.

Accessed off 8^th Street S.W., Midtown is a quick drive to a variety of shops, services and restaurants. Within the community, there’s a commercial complex anchored by a Tim Hortons.

ParkFront paired homes are — just as they sound — paired models with a rear lane that face a striking park in Midtown. They start from the low-$300,000s, including lot and GST.

“You can have your morning coffee on your front porch and have beautiful green space to look out on,” says Melanie Gowans, general Manager, sales, marketing and interior design at Shane Homes Group of Companies.
It’s serene, she adds, “You don’t feel like you’re in a city.”

Shane’s ParkFront models are the Eden VI and Cascade III which are 1,639 and 1,668 square feet, respectively. They each have three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

Show homes for both models are currently under construction.

Shane is also constructing show homes for the 1,597-square-foot Eden V and the 1,638-square-foot Cascade II, which are street-facing laned paired homes in Midtown.

The Cascade, which has been offered in other communities, has consistently ranked as one of Shane’s top-selling models. Gowans credits the second-floor central bonus room as one of the characteristics contributing to its appeal.

All of Shane’s paired homes in Midtown are offered in a charming Homestead exterior architecture.
Shane is a seasoned paired home builder that uses advanced shared wall technology to restrict the transfer of noise.

Gowans says the builder encourages people who visit their paired show homes to experience this by testing it for themselves.

With one person standing in each paired home, one shouts and the other listens.
“You can’t hear anything from the other side,” says Gowans. “We pride ourselves on soundproofing things the best we can while keeping the cost down.”

Buyers of paired homes can choose some customizations, including reconfiguring the second floor for dual master bedrooms.

In addition to the paired show home, Shane is planning a new front-drive single-family show home of its Manhattan 3 model.

The single-family front-drive homes start from the mid-$400,000s including lot and GST.
All lots for this home style back on to a pond, so “it’s just absolutely gorgeous” … a great location,” says Gowans.
 
 

The Shane Difference: Our unique programs & services
 
At Shane, we love building homes; but we love the people we meet along the way even more! Our valued customers are the reason for our continued success and to show our appreciation, we are always working to provide exceptional customer service before, during, and after their new home journey. Through listening to customer needs and following up with customer surveys, we have been able to develop and refine a collection of unique programs and services to better serve our customers and ensure their needs are continually met.
 
Family Rewards Program
When you choose to build a new home with Shane, you become part of the Shane Homes family! As a warm welcome to the family, homeowners receive a membership to the Shane Homes Boom Rewards Program. Being a valued customer and member of the family, you will receive preferred pricing and value-added promotions from a variety of our quality merchant partners. From a fun weekend getaway and sports tickets to home and auto insurance or a relaxing spa day, The Boom Rewards Program helps keep money in your wallet. Discover the savings from the Boom Group here.
 
Long-term members of the Shane Homes family are eligible for even more rewards. If you’re buying your second Shane Home, you receive 10% off on home upgrades and other purchases made through our Expressions Design Studio. If you’re buying your third Shane Home, that discount increases to 15%! When you build with Shane, you become family!
 
Referral Rewards program
A new home is one of the most important purchasing decisions that you will ever make and we understand that finding the right builder can be difficult. When you choose to build with Shane Homes, we do everything we can to show our appreciation. Every time you refer a relative or friend and they purchase a home from Shane, we we want to say thank you! In appreciation of your referral, we want to give you $2,000 every time a referral purchases a single family home with a front attached garage, and $1,000 every time a referral purchases a street town, paired home or single family laned home! You can get your referral certificate here.
 
It’s just another way we show you how much we appreciate your choice to purchase a home from Shane!
 
Home Care
We recognize that your home is one of the most important possessions in your life. At Shane Homes, we have a dedicated team of home care coordinators and home service technicians working in unison to make sure that we are able to meet your every need.
 
Throughout the entire building process, we are there to work with you. You will receive emailed communications at different intervals throughout the building process to inform you of service appointments and important information re­garding your new home. This information will be emailed to you both before and after you take possession to ensure you are always informed on your new home’s progress.
 
From the beginning of the build to long after your home is complete, we are here to work with you. We provide all new homeowners with warrantied protection against defects in materials and workmanship of your new home for 1 full year after your occupancy date. In addition, through The Alberta New Home Warranty Program, you will receive further protection on your new home for a full 10 years on major structural items.
 
Home Safety
Whether it is Shane Homes staff, trades and suppliers, or our valued Shane Homes customers, safety is of the utmost importance to us. It is through our efforts to ensure safety in everything that we do that we produce a safe environment from the beginning of your new home’s construction until after you and your family have settled in. Some of the ways that we promote safety include:

• Customer and trade jobsite safety videos:

We have produced videos that outline all of the potential hazards that could occur during the building process of your new home.

• Safety care kit:

All Shane Homes customers receive a safety care kit for their new home containing a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.

• Full-time Safety Supervisor:

We have a full-time supervisor on staff to help ensure the safety of our trades and customers at all times on the job site.

• Construction Safety Training Program

All of our field staff have first aid training, carry first aid kits in their vehicles and have completed our Safety Training Program.

• Personal protective equipment

Every single Shane Homes showhome is fully stocked with personal protective equipment including safety goggles and hard hats. Before visiting their home under construction, customers are required to sign in at the showhome to receive equipment.
 
Safety is always our number one concern, and we take every measure to ensure that at the end of the day, everyone goes home safe and well.
 
List for Free Program
When you buy your new home with Shane, you can realize even more savings by reducing the commissions on the sale of your existing home through the Shane Homes List for Free Program. As part of the program, Shane Homes will pay the Listing Representative of your existing home the entire portion owed to them by the seller. This can equate to savings of up to 50% on the commission! You can check out all of the terms and conditions of the List for Free Program here.
 
Through the List for Free Program, we are able to make your transition to a new home less expensive and so much easier!
 
Shane My Home
It’s your new home. We understand that you want to be informed and stay up-to-date with everything that is going on as your home is being built. That’s why we have “My Home”. When you buy a home with us, you will receive a personalized username and password that will allow you to access information about your new home at any time.
 
Through the My Home section of our website, customers can view and update their profile, view the building process of their new home including key construction dates, access their purchasing and financial documents, receive information regarding their new home’s warranty, see the browsing day schedule for the Expressions Design Studio and so much more!
 
Shane My Home is another great perk to building with Shane. Stay informed and in the know with every detail of your new home’s construction.
 
Realtor Participation Program
Shane Homes great selection of programs and services isn’t limited to customers; realtors can benefit from working with Shane Homes too! Shane Homes is happy to welcome realtors through our Realtor Participation Program.
 
The Realtor Participation Program is simple. On your initial visit to the showhome, the client must be registered in person with the Shane Homes Area Manager. A Client Registration agreement must also be completed in its entirety before anything can proceed. Realtors must then negotiate commission amounts and complete all agreements with the Area Sales Manager. As a condition of this program, all contracts must be executed within 60 days of registration.
 
Whether you are a customer, employee, trade or partner, our unique variety of programs and services have been developed to serve you better and provide you with everything you need to benefit with Shane Homes.
 
We are always looking for more ways to make your new home building experience easier and more fun. Through our unique selection of Programs and Services, we are able to better improve your home buying process, and allow you to rest at ease in your new home knowing that we are always there to help should something go wrong. Before, during, and after your home building journey, we will be there to help you live comfortably in your new Shane Home.

We love embracing outdoor living in spring and summer! The best way to do that is to design a deck that brings indoor comforts to the sun outside.
 
However, building a deck can be a tricky process. You need to consider a few things first in order to design the deck of your dreams.
 
What is the Deck for?
Decide the purpose your deck or patio will serve. This will help you with the next step. Will you need seating for large parties or just for a couple of you lounging? Will you want outdoor cooking space too or just enough room for a patio table? These factors will come in handy when it’s time to design the space.
 
Search for Inspiration!
Do you want a raised deck or a ground level patio? What shape do you want your deck or patio to be? Rectangle or irregular? Search for inspiration online to get an idea of the styles you like. Create a Pinterest board with homes similar to yours and the decks they’ve built. Hopefully something will jump out at you so you can start designing!
 
Consider the Logistics.
This is the less fun part. You will need to figure out which of your dream decks will work with your home. How high will it need to be? Is your yard sloped? Are there large bumps in the terrain? Does your back door open straight to the yard or is your home built on an incline? These are all factors to consider at this stage of the planning process.
 
Do You Have Children?
Families with young children might want to design their deck to include slightly higher railings for added safety—especially if your deck will be significantly raised.
 
When Will You Use Your Deck?
Will you use your deck year-round? You might require slightly different materials or consider a slightly different design. For example, if you want to have a hot tub on your deck, you might want to build a cover over that area so you can spend time outside in the winter.
 
What Is Your Budget?
Your budget will also determine the type of deck or patio you design. Start by pricing out different options for materials. Will you go for the most expensive or mid-grade to save a bit of money? Decide if you will build the deck yourself or hire help. Use all these numbers to create a budget as a guideline when it’s time to purchase everything.
 
Collect Your Materials.
What materials will you need to actually build the space? Collect all the correct materials in one go and write down exactly what you purchased. This way, if you need extras, you will save time knowing exactly what you are looking for. Aesthetic materials like paint or stain can always be decided after your deck is complete.
 
Time to Decorate!
Choose patio furniture you love because you will probably be spending a lot of time with it!
 
Do you have plans to build a deck or patio this summer? Let us know!
 

Good day, and thanks for taking the time to read our Shane Homes Blog. I’m Jason and I work in the Drafting & Design Department.

Today I’m going to go over a few of the items we commonly show on our Main Floor Plans, and why it is important they are there.

Main Floor Components

The typical Main Floor Plan will consist of the foyer, living room or great room on some plans, dining area or nook, half bath and finally the kitchen. Some of our plans are large enough that we will include a Lifestyle or Flex Room.

1. Foyer:
The Foyer is the main front entrance to the home. It’s the first point of contact your guest will have and we like to design that space to be as spacious as possible and inviting. When your guests arrive you don’t want the foyer to be a tight space, you want there to be room for your guests to get in the house, take off their coat and shoes, and not have it feel like a traffic jam on Deerfoot. We always try to provide our Foyers with ample closet space to store guest’s coats and shoes.
 

2. Living Room or Great Room:
The Living Room is the main living space for the house. Typically the living room will come with a corner fireplace, but occasionally our customers will opt for the upgrade of moving the fireplace to the exterior wall and cantilevering it out. This does make the room bigger and will provide better options for furniture placement and flow through the room.

3. Nook:
The Nook is typically located at the rear of the house, bumped out from the main living space. In our nooks we try to add large windows to bring in lots of natural light. A breakfast nook should be a warm and inviting space, and natural light is very important to that feeling.

4. Kitchen:
Our kitchens typically have 3 options.
a. The Standard Kitchen will be the simplest version. It will include all the appointments (stove, fridge, dishwasher, double sink, and Island with a flush bar, pot & pan drawers).
b. Option # 1 upgrade will add more cabinetry, a larger island, and generally would include a larger nook.
c. Option # 2 is the Super Kitchen. Our super kitchens are well appointed, and include a wall oven with a built-in microwave and pot & pan drawer, a four burner cook-top, as well as a large Island.

The main thing we have to watch for when designing a kitchen is the “Triangle.” That’s the distance between the stove, the sink and the fridge. We want to minimize the travel distance in this triangle to make cooking and food prep easier. A well designed kitchen can simplify the cooking process. No one wants to run a marathon while cooking dinner.

Pantries
All of our kitchens include a walk-in pantry. Most of them are in the corner between the stove and the fridge. This keeps the dry food storage right in the middle of your cooking triangle for easy access. Some pantry’s are upgraded to walk-through and can be accessed from the mud room. This makes storing the groceries much easier, as you won’t have to walk through the house to get there. A walk-through pantry is generally much larger than the standard walk-ins.

Cabinets
The cabinets we show in our kitchens are a basic representation. We’ll show your fridge, stove, dishwasher, kitchen counters, cook tops, drawers, and wall oven locations. But we don’t go into a lot of detail on the floor plans. Our Cabinet Drafter is responsible for drawing a much more detailed plan for the cabinets and they will come in a separate package. I’ll let her explain the cabinets in more detail at another time.

5. Half Bath
All of our main floor plans include a Half Bath. A half bath will contain a pedestal sink, and a toilet. We try to locate these bathrooms away from all the activity on the main floor; usually in a back hall way, or off the mud room or foyer. This provides privacy, and reduces the noise in the rest of the house.

6. Mud Room
In our mud rooms, we try to provide good space. When you come in with your groceries it’s not convenient to be in a real tight area, so we try to design them in order to give our customers room to maneuver when their hands are full. We’ll do our best to include a bench, and an ample closet for storage of coats and shoes.

7. Lifestyle or Flex Room
This extra room can be used for a formal dining room, an extra living space, a play room for the kids, or we can add French doors and turn it into an office. The lifestyle room is a space with almost limitless uses. Just use your imagination. I’ve even seen it turned into a music room, complete with soundproofing.

Occasionally when making changes to these spaces that the customer has requested, we are unable to make them exactly as the customer wants. Sometimes we’ll run into Building Code issues that prevent us from putting certain things in certain places. We’ll need to maintain clearances from counter top to counter top, hallways need to be kept at a reasonable size, doors and archways to the mud room (which may at times house a main floor laundry), bathrooms, basement stairs, all need to be kept at specific minimum sizes. When we run into these types of problems, we will do the very best to ensure your plan is as close to what you asked for while still maintaining these specific Building Code items.

Make sure to watch for Part II of this blog coming out ne

Prelude in Radisson Heights Opens Their Doors May 16, 2017

Shane Homes is a strong supporter of causes that promote health, wellness and education, and that help change people’s lives for the better.  Over the years, we have re-invested millions of dollars back into the cities and towns in which we build, supporting the community and deserving causes. Our reputation for fairness, ethics and giving back has been one of our most valued assets. It is a pledge that we look forward to honouring in the years ahead.

At Shane Homes we also believe that everyone deserves a place to call home.

The challenge of providing affordable housing for lower income groups and not-for-profit agencies in Calgary is being met head-on by the RESOLVE campaign.  It's a unique collaboration of nine partner agencies raising $120 million to build affordable and supported rental housing for 3,000 of the most vulnerable and homeless Calgarians.  Shane Homes is proud to be one of 11 Calgary home builder members of RESOLVE, supporting the efforts of the Calgary Homeless Foundation and HomeSpace Society.

The RESOLVE campaign allows Shane Home and our industry to do what we can to provide a tangible difference and lend a hand to those who need it the most.

As part of our commitment, Shane Homes, in partnership with Nuovo by Shane Homes, Shane’s multi-family division, has constructed Prelude in Radisson Heights, the fourth building to break ground through the RESOLVE Campaign.

Being part of RESOLVE was an easy decision for the Shane Homes Group of Companies, says president Shane Wenzel.  “We derive an income from the community and we feel it’s necessary to give back to it.  We have a severe homeless problem here in the city of Calgary, so you have to address that.  We are very happy to be one of 11 builders who are participating in the RESOLVE Campaign.”

Many of our trades and suppliers have also helped on this initiative, adds Wenzel.  “There are a number of them.  Some are new trades for us who are stepping up to the plate and contributing their materials and services at cost or even below.”

Construction on Prelude in Radisson Heights began in Spring 2016.  This four storey building will provide permanent supportive living to 23 individuals facing chronic or episodic homelessness.  Each resident will have a kitchen, bath, bedroom and living area, and more importantly a permanent and safe place to come home to at the end of the day.

Cal Wenzel, CEO of the Shane Homes Group of Companies says, “We are grateful to have been able to be part of the RESOLVE Campaign and participate in the worthy cause of building homes for Calgarians experiencing homelessness.

“Prelude is a partnership between Shane Homes, HomeSpace Society, The Alex Community Health Centre, RESOLVE and Calgary Homeless Foundation and this is a great representation of what can happen when we all come together to get things done.  The result of this work is that another 23 people have a place to call home.  We know that this project really is a ‘prelude’ to something great for Calgary.”

Prelude in Radisson Heights doors will officially open on May 16^th, 2017.

Visit resolvecampaign.com to learn more about this initiative.

 

Is there any harder “adulting” task than budgeting? Most people hate it but budgeting is essential when you’re saving up for a substantial house downpayment. It takes patience and persistence! But with a few simple tips budgeting doesn’t have to be intimidating or for Scrooge-like misers only...

 

1. Use a budgeting app like Mint, Every Dollar, or even a simple spreadsheet to track expenses. Track everything: all income, every expense and every purchase. It will help you to determine where your money is really going.

 

2. Have an annual budget as well. Don’t forget about unavoidable purchases - things like birthdays, Christmas, or wedding gifts. It won’t help you save, but it will be less of a blow if you know that it is coming up and have budgeted for it. Stick to your plan and don’t go gifting crazy!

 

3. Once you have all your expenses tracked, you will be able to see areas where you can cut back. Eating out frequently? Buying coffee daily? Can you cancel cable? Small amounts can add up to big savings over a number of months.

 

4. Pay yourself first, this can be an easy way to save for a big goal. Set up an auto-draft to transfer from your main account into a savings account, so your money is transferred as soon as you get paid. That way you won’t accidentally spend it and you’re less likely to miss it if you never see it - out of sight, out of mind.

 

5. Make a grocery list and stick to it. Never go shopping hungry (you’ll be tempted to buy more treats!). Make a weekly meal plan and shopping list, you can even base it on what’s on sale at your local store that week. Packing your lunch instead of buying lunch out is also a huge savings!

 

6. Talk yourself out of purchases. Ask yourself, do I really need this? Do you have anything that can be used in its place? If you really want something, wait it out for a couple of weeks and see if you’re still thinking about it.

 

7. Remind yourself frequently of your financial goals. Give yourself a visual reminder: post a picture of your dream house on your fridge, your desk or your bulletin board. 

 

Seeing your savings start to build can be really motivating, once you start seeing your total you won’t want to spend it to keep the momentum growing! Don’t lose sight of what you want- you’re working towards a great goal of homeownership! 

 

Style

Choose floors that compliment your style and the décor that you already own. Think about what each floor could look like and how they feel to you in each room. Carpets, ceramic tile, hardwood, natural stone, laminate and vinyl flooring – each option comes with even more in colours, patterns, and textures. There are many choices at your disposal so you can find the right flooring for your personality and lifestyle.

Lifestyle

We love our pets but sometimes they can leave wear-and-tear on your floors that you don’t want. Rather than ban your pet to the backyard, choose flooring in your home that promotes a pet-friendly environment. Here is an article where we lay out the flooring options that you can use in your home that are beautiful and durable enough to withstand pet marks.

Another force to be reckoned with? Children. Floors can take a beating from kids playing and eating so it’s important to keep their needs in mind. For toddlers learning to crawl and walk, having a soft carpet to learn on is safer than falling on hard floors. For our messy eaters, opt in for flooring where the cleanup will be easy. Ceramic tiles, vinyl flooring, or any hardwood surfaces are resilient to spills and accidents. These types of flooring also have a trendy modern look for those who want the best of both worlds. On the other end of the spectrum, seniors do best with soft and sturdy carpets are good for to walk on. They provide comfort and stability while encouraging mobility.

Who likes to party? Not your floors. Flooring in your home needs to be durable enough to take dancing and heavy foot-traffic if it’s going to last in the long-term. Hardwood floors, carpets, and stone floors are prone to heavy use, as well as food and drink stains. Floors that serve your party needs can also serve your décor needs without limiting your options. Options, like ceramic tile, can impress your guests and hold up to anything your party people can throw at it.

Really, different floors suit different aspects of our lives. It comes down to which factors are most important to you. If you’re someone who hates cold floors, explore options that feel comfortable and warm to your feet, or floors that can have heat installed underneath.

Budget

Finally, it’s important to keep your budget in mind and determine what is within your reach. Each type of floor has a different cost, and depending on the surface area in your home, the cost can greatly vary. However, you should be wary to sacrifice quality for cost. More affordable flooring options are easy on the wallet, but may need to be replaced anyways in a few short years. Focus on the flooring that suits your needs as well as your budget.

Choosing the right flooring comes down to your taste and style, functionality, and your budget. However, if you need help, know you’re not alone in this. At Shane Homes we offer our homebuyers our expertise in the Expressions Design Studio. Over the years it has been continuously expanded and updated to become what is now a world class design studio. Our designers will walk you through every step of the process, sharing all the latest trends and finishes to help you realize your vision.

While some parts of a pre-owned home may meet your needs, it’s important that its colours and materials are enjoyed, as well.
This is what makes the selections process at the Shane Homes design studio such a valuable asset.
Once someone buys a pre-construction home through Shane Homes, they’ll make exterior selections and interior selections.
The exterior selections happen first and are necessary to receive approval to start construction on the home.
These selections may include the colour of siding, trim, stone, exterior door, and if the home has a garage, the garage door.
The colours of the exterior of the home must fit within the architectural controls of the community, which members of Shane’s design team can provide information on.

Before making these decisions, Tricha Hamstra, of Shane’s design studio, suggests exploring full-scale examples.
“If their house is the first one on their street, go a couple of streets over and take a drive in their community to see what’s been approved and get some ideas that way,” she says.
“I find that really helps people visualize, because it can be very tough when you’re looking at a small sample to picture that colour being on four sides of your house,” Hamstra says.
For interior selections, there are two parts to it.

Buyers will meet cabinet, plumbing, and appliance suppliers directly, who can expertly guide them on their choices for these items.
Meanwhile, picks for interior finishings are done at the studio.
This is where Hamstra and other members of the design team work with buyers on their selections of features such as flooring, countertops, wall tile, paint, interior doors, floor tile, wall tile, backsplashes and the fireplace.
 “Pinterest is a good place for inspiration,” says Hamstra, of the social media platform, adding Shane’s design team will do its best to recreate what they see with what’s available through the studio.
“Another great tool is to go through our show home because that is product that we have and that is available to the customer,” she adds.
If they go into a show home and say ‘we love that countertop,’ chances are we are going to have that same one or something very close to it in our own design centre.”
This is a process that can be done from the comfort of one’s own couch through virtual tours of show homes on the Shane Homes website.

The approach to the selections process varies from person-to-person.
“I have people who open their laptop and have everything budgeted out, they have every serial number for everything that’s going in their home,” Hamstra says. “Then I have customers that come in with a picture on their phone and say ‘I like this but I don’t know how to do it.’
“We get both sides of -- neither is wrong or right, it’s just a matter of how people plan.”
Drawing from their experience and expertise, the design team may also suggest alternatives.
“If we see something where it’s not quite complimenting each other, like if they pick a flooring that does not quite go with their cabinet colours, we will tell the customer that and will be able to help and suggest other options that will make their vision come to life,” says Hamstra.  
“At the end of the day, it’s their home,” she adds. “I can create a palette that I love, but it’s about the home owner and what they love.”

The design team can also make suggestions on factors such as the material’s level of maintenance.
“People want to live their lives and not worry about the products put in,” Hamstra says, pointing to luxury vinyl plank flooring as one of its durable products.
On current design trends, warmer tones are on the rise.
“People are wanting to use colour,” Hamstra says.  
“White on white is always going to be a timeless kitchen and look, altogether, but what I am seeing is people want to add vibrancy to their homes,” she adds. “We are also seeing some throwbacks to mid-century retro, like a revival of those eras but with a modern twist.

“You can always go timeless and it will last for decades but I am seeing people take more risks.”

 

Years of Service Awards

Shane Homes rewards years of service at 3 years, 6 years, 10 years, and 20 years with a choice of gifts for our staff to select from.  We also reward them every 2 years after they celebrate their 10 year anniversary with a small gift.  Congratulations to each of our recipients and thank you for your commitment, dedication and hard work!  Presented by Shane and Cal Wenzel.

Cheryl is Sales Associate in Hillcrest in Airdrie.  Paul is in charge of our Showhomes, Sales Centres and Head Office Maintenance.

Glenn is an Intermediate Estimator

Brenda is Marketing Team Lead.  Mohamad is Construction Assistant in NW Calgary.

Corinne is our Receptionist Extraordinaire

Brenda is Marketing, Sales and Social Media Associate (and Blog author);  Gae is Cost Control Estimator – Tile Purchasing;  Damon is Team Lead Drafting.

Daryl is our Safety Officer

Gerry is a Home Service Technician;  Dwain is Purchasing and Cost Control Manager;  Don is Production and Construction Manager.

Duane is a Project Manager in Nolan Hill in NW Calgary.

Ron is Director of Special Projects and next to Cal Wenzel, our longest term employee

And lastly,

At the company meeting our VP of Finance does a fun contest.  This year the question was:  At Shane Homes, in total, in the office and out in the field, how many computer monitors do we own?  Email your guess to [email protected] if you would like to try your luck on the right answer.

Did you miss Part I of the blog?  View our Blog Archives to read it.

When buying a new home, nobody wants to compromise on their needs -- nor should they.
But when a home builder is restricted to their lineup of floor plans with little to no ability to make changes, sometimes the finished product doesn’t tick every box.
“At Shane Homes, there’s no need to settle on a home that doesn’t capture what’s important to you and your family,” says Melanie Gowans, general manager, sales and marketing.
The builder’s offer “Love It or Customize It,” opens the door for home buyers to make significant changes to nearly 40 of its single-family floor plans.
Varying degrees of customization are available in Shane’s other home styles, as well.
“Shane Homes builds many product types, from condos, townhomes, paired and laned homes to front-drive single-family homes, bungalows and estate homes,” says Gowans. “We offer different levels of customization for each product.
“If you are interested in finding out what we can do for you, contact an area manager to learn more.”

What you want

“We can basically do any kind of customization,” says Mark Albertin, Shane Homes’ drafting and design manager, of its flexible single-family options.
“Anything from picking a different kitchen faucet to changing every cabinet -- even the configuration and location of your kitchen. We’ll make it happen.”
This sets Shane apart.
While picking tile, flooring, and cabinet styles is a common opportunity for people building a home from scratch, big moves to the floor plan itself, certainly aren’t.
“It comes down to having the right knowledge base and being able to accommodate any requests,” says Albertin, adding his entire team is trained on how to customize.

Popular changes

“A big one, especially in certain communities, is to add a full suite on the main floor,” says Albertin.
This is a favourite among multi-generational households.
“Anyone who wants, for example, to have grandparents living in the home and don’t want them walking up an down stairs, we can provide a bedroom on the main floor, an attached full bathroom, walk-in closet, the works,” he adds.
Kitchens are another hot spot for home buyers choosing to add their personal touch.
“A change to the island, adding wall ovens, going for a bigger fridge,” says Albertin. “You can add different banks of drawers, do a built built-in cabinet pantry -- the sky is the limit.”
This includes mixing in a secondary kitchen, commonly known as a spice kitchen.
These are enclosed spaces, typically attached to the conventional kitchen, that hide the mess left after preparing a meal, and restrict aromas created by strongly-flavoured cuisines from drifting to other parts of the home.
“They range anywhere from a five-foot area where you’ve got a small cooktop with a sink to almost a full-blown second kitchen hidden behind a pantry door,” says Albertin.
On the second level, common changes include moving the bonus room, and adding or subtracting bedrooms.
“We can even add bathrooms to every bedroom so everyone can have their own ensuite,” adds Albertin.

Bring in the design you want

Has a home outside of Shane’s floor plan lineup won you over? By customizing an existing plan, they can make it happen, says Albertin.
“If you find a plan that you like, whether it’s our plan, someone else’s plan -- something you liked while travelling over seas --  and want to have it, or make a couple of modifications, bring it in to one of our sales centres and we’ll make sure you get your dream home,” he adds.

What are customers saying?

When a home purchase with another builder didn’t work out, Lisa Morgan-Gray approached Shane Homes to see if they could build something similar.
She was impressed with how the builder started from one of its floor plans and reconfigured it to “make it look like the home I wanted.”
“They nailed it,” adds Morgan-Gray. “I am so happy with Shane Homes.”  

It’s Affordable

The word custom is often times closely associated with being high-cost. Not the case at Shane Homes.
“Adding square footage is an added cost, but if you want to move walls around in your existing footprint, we don’t charge anything for that,” Albertin says. 
 

*We love building your perfect home. For some of our homestyles, like our Street Towns and Paired Homes, we're limited with customization. Please see an Area Manager to learn more. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

35 years ago Shane Homes was established with two simple goals in mind: to build enough homes to be able to make a living while at the same time being able to golf as much as the owners wanted to.

On Friday, March 27, 2015, we will be celebrating this milestone with our staff and some of our trades, partners, suppliers, and developers.

Here are 10 things you may or may not know about Shane Homes:

10.  Cal Wenzel started Shane Homes with business partner, Barry Balsillie.  Barry retired in 1999, at which time Cal purchased his share of the company.  Cal is still far away from retiring.

9.  Cal’s first customer was his wife, Edith.

8.  To our knowledge, Shane Homes was the first builder in Calgary to have a website.

7.  Shane Homes first significant contribution was in 1988 to the Ronald McDonald House from ‘the sale that never was’ in which 71 homes sold in 3 days.

6.  In 1989/90, Shane Homes entered into a partnership with Homes by Jayman to form Excel Homes.  Shane Homes and Homes by Jayman later started Apex Land Development.

5.  On Sunday, October 29, 2006, Shane Homes was featured in the New York Times for their women designed home, the Yaccato. 

4.  Shane Homes was featured in a book, The Gender Intelligent Retailer, based on their women designed home. 

3.  3 generations of the Wenzel family work at Shane Homes – Cal, his children, and his grand children.

2.  Shane Homes has built over 10,000 homes in over 100 communities in Calgary, Okotoks, Chestermere and Airdrie.

1.  Since 1979 Cal has made a point of visiting job sites in his new home communities on Saturday mornings.  Cal still does this and loves this opportunity to check on what’s going on in the field, catch up with managers and Shane Homes staff that accompany him on his trips and quality check on his homes.

 

Positive customer experience has always been a point of emphasis for Shane Homes.
Now, with a newly-created position, the award-winning builder brings this element into even sharper focus.
Liz Lipton, who has worked in the residential industry since 2007, has stepped into the role of customer experience manager for Shane Homes.

“Shane Homes is an established company that is incredible at what they do and have something really special here. I’m excited to show that off more,” says Lipton. “I think there’s a cool opportunity to build deeper relationships with the people who trust us to build their houses and I am excited to explore what that looks like for the company.”

Lipton will oversee Shane’s service team and collaborate with the builder’s other departments to look at customer experience holistically.
 “I get the exciting opportunity to look at our homeowner’s journey from beginning to end,” says Lipton. “My personal goal is to really create raving fans, create customers who want to be with us for life.”
 “We have a really unique opportunity in this industry to connect with people when they build their first home and build a relationship that will make them think about us when they buy their last home,” she adds.
 Lipton will play a role in assessing how the company interacts with customers from the moment they step into Shane’s show homes.

“That continues all the way to one, two, three, five years after they have moved into their house, and let them know that we are here for them and consider that relationship an important one regardless of how long they have been in their house,” she says. “It’s really about assessing where our touch points are right now, how we get to know our home owners and build those relationships and how we can make that even better.
“I get to look at that experience from a high-level perspective — not just taking care of issues as they arise, but how we interact with and embrace our customers.”

It’s important to touch base with customers, when possible, even when they don’t expect it.
“Giving them a call after they've moved in to see if they are happy or giving someone a call on their anniversary date to congratulate them,” Lipton says. “I want it to be moments where I get the chance to get to know them and see how they are doing at times beyond when they come to me.”
 

Shane’s Spirit of Giving

Last year our talented and creative team at Shane Homes came up with a Christmas initiative which touched many people, some whom we discovered could certainly use the helping hand, and for others it was simply a cool surprise that made them smile and perhaps made their day!  Some of the recipients even ‘paid it forward!’

We called this Christmas initiative ‘Shane Homes 4 Days of Giving’. We purchased $5,000 in gift cards from Walmart, McDonalds, Toys R Us, No Frills grocery store and Tim Hortons.  Over the course of 4 days our Shane Homes teams distributed the gift cards at various store locations in Airdrie and Calgary.

Feedback was so incredible that we decided to do it again!  We will be hitting the streets December 18th and 19th!  #ShanesSpiritOfGiving

Here are some comments that were posted on Facebook:

Day 1

Day 2

Thank you Shane Homes – you spotted me at Walmart with my 2 kids.  I still couldn’t believe its real.  Thanks so much for the wonderful gift for my family … Ow Nin

Day 3

Day 4

 

There are few ways of getting to know what a builder can do for you better than visiting their showhomes.
This is where their craftsmanship, sense of space, and quality of standards and upgrades take centre stage.
Shane Homes recently raised the curtain on showhomes in four beautiful communities in Calgary.

Here’s a look at what was released and where to find them:

CORNERSTONE
In this northeast Calgary community, Shane is displaying three different styles of homes.
Earmarked for the city’s first Major Activity Centre, Cornerstone offers residents the convenience of quick access to Deerfoot Trail and Stoney Trail.
For people interested in a front-drive single-family home, Shane is presenting a showhome of the 2,637-square-foot Jaspur.
Featuring a custom deluxe kitchen and separate spice kitchen, it’s located at 316 Corner Meadows Ave. N.E.  Shane’s front-drive homes are selling from the upper-$400,000s.
For laned single-family show homes, Shane has the 1,484-square-foot Aries II and the Vidora, which is 1,868 square feet.
These homes are at 643 and 647 Cornerstone Drive N.E. and are starting in the upper-$300,000s.
At 131 and 135 Corner Meadows Ave. N.E., Shane is demonstrating paired homes; the 1,587-square-foot Eden V and the 1,664-square-foot Cascade. This home style starts from the mid-$300,000s.

REDSTONE
Also in the northeast, Redstone boasts extensive pathways and green space, including parks with outdoor fitness equipment. Like Cornerstone, it provides a quick connection to Deerfoot and Stoney.
Here, Shane is selling front-drive single-family homes from the mid-$400,000s.
Its showhome, displayed with a spice kitchen, is the 2,600-square-foot Saffron. All four of its bedrooms have a walk-in closet.
The Saffron is located at 168 Red Embers Place N.E.

THE HAMPTONS
Move into a new home in an area that’s been maturing since the late 1980s. The Enclave at the Hamptons is a new stretch of development in the established Hamptons neighbourhood.
Located in northwest Calgary, the Hamptons features an 18-hole golf club and quick access to a range of built-in amenities.
Upscale front-drive single-family homes by Shane in this community start in the upper-$800,000s.
The showhome is the 3,908-square-foot Fairway. It is highlighted by four large bedrooms, a spacious central bonus room, office on the main floor, and a spice kitchen.
Find the Fairway at 310 Hamptons Drive N.W.

LEGACY
This scenic southeast Calgary community has won the Community of the Year award in Calgary multiple times.
In Legacy, Shane has laned homes for sale starting from the mid-$300,000s. Its showhomes in the community are located at 15 and 19 Legacy Glen Row S.E., respectively.
Shane is showcasing the 1,634-square foot Vilano and 1,493-square-foot Aries II, which boasts a neighbourly, full-width front porch.

All showhomes mentioned above are open 2 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Christmas is a time for giving and receiving.  As Shane Homes annual Spirit of Giving enters into its third year, we give thanks that we are able to continue this initiative.

For the past three years, Shane Homes has donated $5,000 per year to purchase gift cards and spread cheer over the Holiday Season.  Our staff donate to this fund as well.

On Tuesday, December 13th we had a team of 8 head out into the community.  Then on Friday, December 16th we had a team of 12 head out, this time with some family members as well who were in the spirit of giving and wanted to see how it felt to make an impact in someone’s life in this way.

 

Our Team shared some photos of people that they gave gift cards to and let us take their photo.

Our Team shared that one couple that they randomly gave gift cards to at Superstore “were doing a community dinner for 30 people in memory of a family member” and that another gentleman they gave a gift card to phoned his wife and was overheard saying “we can now buy a few gifts for the kids”.  To randomly reach people that show such generousity and others who can use a helping hand at this time of year, made the experience even more heart touching and rewarding for our staff volunteering.  They said “everyone was extremely grateful and appreciative for the unexpected gifts”.

At Shane Homes we are very grateful that we are able to give back to the community and that we are able to help spread some cheer at this time of year.

Thank you for reading this blog.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Shane Homes!

To read more about our first trip to spread holiday cheer, click on our Blog Archive from 2015.

#CommunityMatters #ShaneInvolvement #spreadgoodYYC

On Friday, May 26th, 2017 a naming ceremony was held at the new YMCA in Northwest Calgary.  At this time it was announced by YMCA that, a $3.5-million investment in YMCA Calgary by Shane Homes means the new City of Calgary-built recreation facility currently under construction in Calgary’s northwest is getting a new name. The new facility will be called the Shane Homes YMCA in recognition of Shane Homes’ investment in wellness.

One of two new City-owned, YMCA-operated facilities currently under construction, the Shane Homes YMCA will provide opportunities for recreation, leisure and learning through aquatics, fitness and sports facilities, arts learning and performance spaces as well as multipurpose areas, a licensed childcare and a Calgary Public Library.
 
“We are tremendously happy to partner with Shane Homes to bring this transformational gift to life in service of Calgarians, particularly in the northwest, “ says Shannon Doram, President and CEO of YMCA Calgary. “The Shane Homes team has really stepped up to help YMCA to ensure more Calgarians belong, grow, thrive and lead in this amazing new facility.
 
Shane Homes is thrilled to support health and wellness resources for families in Calgary’s northwest and in the surrounding communities.  “We are strong supporters of causes that promote health, wellness and education, and that help change people’s lives for the better,” says Shane Wenzel, President of Shane Homes. “YMCA Calgary is a perfect choice to invest our support to help Calgarians thrive in a safe, active and welcoming environment.”


Here is some exciting "behind the scenes" footage from the naming ceremony:

Construction is still under way and actually continued throughout the naming ceremony, with construction workers walking and driving by.  The building is scheduled to open in 2018. 


When we arrived, our curiousity was peaked by this red box so prominently displayed behind the podium, front and centre during the ceremony.  We needed a little patience before all would be revealed.


MC:  Ken Lima-Coelho, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, YMCA Calgary
Ken provided a warm welcome and was a masterful MC as each presenter came up to speak.


Joe Magliocca, City of Calgary, Ward 2 Councillor


Kyle Ripley, City of Calgary, Director, Recreation


Howard Shikaze, YMCA Calgary, Chair of the Board



Shannon Doram, YMCA Calgary, President & CEO


Shane Wenzel, Shane Homes, President


The Big Reveal!


It's official, the new YMCA in northwest Calgary is named Shane Homes YMCA

 From Left:  Shane Wenzel, Shane Homes, President, and Shannon Doram, YMCA Calgary, President & CEO

Group shot of some of the key people involved in this fantastic partnership! 

Above - From Left :  Shane Wenzel, Shane Homes, President; Kelly Smith, YMCA Calgary, Chief Operating Officer; Joe Magliocca, City of Calgary, Ward 2 Councillor;  Cal Wenzel, Shane Homes, CEO/CVO; Howard Shikaze, YMCA Calgary, Chair of the Board; Evan Hazell, YMCA Calgary, Co-Chair, Power of Potential Campaign; Kyle Ripley, City of Calgary, Director, Recreation;  Shannon Doram, YMCA Calgary, President & CEO

Some of our Shane Homes team who were at the event.

Above - From Left:  Shane Wenzel, Brenden Montgomery, Kevin Taylor, Dave Rickett, Rob Maleschuk, Cal Wenzel


CTV interviewing Shane Wenzel

 

Do you have a smart home? If you don’t, you might want to upgrade. The future is now—and what we can do with smart home automation is pretty neat!

Wi-Fi changed the way the world connects and smart home automation is changing the way we live. We can schedule appointments, turn on music, and search the web just with the magic words Okay Google. We can dim the lights, increase the volume on our televisions, and program appliances from our smartphones. It’s like having an automated personal assistant with us at all times.

Smart home automation can be as simple as programming light switches or be a little more in-depth like home security systems. The best part is the range of tools available to customize your home. Here are a few categories of smart home tools. Just think of the possibilities!

Hubs and Controllers
These are technologies like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomePod or Bluetooth voice-command speakers that act as the hub of your home with the ability to connect to other smaller systems. Each has a handful of subsequent options to further customize your smart home experience.

Surveillance
This is self-explanatory, but any security surveillance camera falls into the surveillance category. These cameras can be indoors or outdoors, watching over major points of entry. They can also be as simple as motion-sensor pet cameras. Some are only cameras, while others are complete home security systems that notify homeowners and their service providers of intruders. There are even video doorbells to see who rang without having to open the door.

Entertainment
Smart TVs mean that we don’t watch Netflix on our laptops anymore! Integrate your Netflix account directly into your TV so that it becomes an option to scroll through just like the cable guide. The same is possible for music and movies. Everything with the touch of a button on one cohesive system. Your smartphone can probably double as a remote control too!

Temperature Control
Automated temperature control allows for homeowners to remotely control the heating and cooling of their home without having to walk over to the thermostat. That means you can turn up the heat on chilly mornings before getting out of bed.

Cooking and Cleaning
Automatic crock pots and broilers are the latest cooking gadgets we can control remotely. As for cleaning, Roombas and other robotic vacuums are much better than their first-generation versions. Outside, automatic sprinkler systems eliminate the need to remember to water the garden and robotic pool cleaners allow more time for playing than cleaning.

Smart Home Tips
Amidst all the excitement, we have a few tips for first-timers when it comes to smart home gadgets.

First off, many of these systems require Wi-Fi connectivity, which will detract from the bandwidth available for your computers. Depending on the complexity of your smart home system, you might want to consider upgrading your internet package to suit your new needs.

Another tip: plan around your power sources. Some smart home gadgets are battery powered, while others will need to be set up close to power outlets. This could change the efficiency of the larger system you are trying to create!

Choose what works for you and your family. The best system for you might not be the best for your neighbour! With so many great options, it’s just a matter of preference for homeowners. Do a little bit of research and expect some trial and error to find a complete system that works for your home.

What smart home tools do you already use? Which ones do you want to incorporate?
 

It’s that time of year again: Spring cleaning!
Before you get started, we want to remind you that you don’t have to do it all in a day! After a long winter, spring cleaning is a daunting task. Give yourself a couple days to do the job so that it doesn’t feel so overwhelming.

Our next tip: Make a list.
There’s probably a few spots in your home that have been overlooked all winter. For example, did you know that your dishwasher should be cleaned? Your oven too! And what about the baseboards behind the couch? When was the last time you vacuumed under the bed?

Write a list of all the places that are typically out of sight and out of mind, so no dust bunny is forgotten.

Here’s our list to get you started.
 
Dishwasher
Yes—the dishwasher needs to be cleaned. It’s just like cleaning the sink after you do the dishes! Don’t just use a regular dish pod, though. Purchase a proper cleanser and run a clean cycle.

Counters, cupboards, and the pantry
When was the last time you wiped down your shelves? It was probably last spring! Remove anything in your cupboards, pantry, and clear the counters to reach all the little nooks and crannies. Don’t forget the cupboards around your stove—that’s where grease might be trapped in the corners!

Fridge
You would think your fridge is supposed to be clean because that’s where you store fresh food, right? Wrong. Take a close look at the shelves inside and you will probably see quite a few spills that slipped through the cracks while your family was busy.

Bed
Not just the sheets, but any pillows and comforters that are machine wash safe as well! If some delicates need dry cleaning, make a special trip. Don’t forget to vacuum under your bed and spot clean your mattress. We spend so much time sleeping that a freshly cleaned bed is worth the hassle!

Closet
Make room for spring to arrive by freshening up your closet. Put away your winter clothes and donate everything you no longer wear. You would be amazed by what can accumulate in a year!
 
Tile and grout
The little cracks are where the grime hides! Spend some time freshening your tile and grout, especially the corners that are often overlooked. Your bathroom will be sparkling again in no time.

Shower curtains
When was the last time you threw your shower curtain in the wash? It’s about time! The bottom edge can collect a lot of dirt. If you have a plastic liner, wipe it down and lay it outside to dry.
 
Windows
Inside and out! Clean all the winter grime and dust so spring sunshine can warm your home. Choose a cloudy day for this task so the sun doesn’t dry the cleaner on your windows while you work.

Railings, doors, and light switches
This one is easy. Essentially anywhere that sees fingerprints on a regular basis deserves a wipe down!

Carpets and area rugs
Home service carpet cleaners are also able to clean your area rugs when they visit. Certain fabrics might need to be taken away to be cleaned properly, but for the most part, this is a job that can be outsourced and checked off within a few hours.
 
Are you about to start your spring cleaning? What’s on your list?

 

 

Thanks to Cody and Jesse, some of Shane Homes’ valued new homes purchasers, for sharing photos of their new home with us and for answering some questions on their building experience.

Cody and Jesse built a Fiesta II model home in the southwest Airdrie community of Hillcrest and moved in July 2015.

Shane Homes:  Was this your first new home build?

Cody:  This is actually the second house we have built with Shane Homes.  Our first home we built with Creations by Shane Homes and it was a duplex in King’s Heights in Airdrie in 2013.

Shane Homes:  Do you have any advice you’d like to offer for people building a new home?

Cody:  My advice would be to ask LOTS of questions of everybody involved, this will help make sure you get what you want. Anything is possible you just need to ask and your Area Manager is a huge asset so make sure you utilize them. Also stop by your home as often as you can throughout the process, this will help you spot things that may not be right so that things can be corrected before its too late and you won’t be to disappointed.

Shane Homes:  What is your favourite part of your house?

Cody:  I would  say our favorite part of the house is our master ensuite shower.  We designed a custom steam shower with lights, music, steam and aroma therapy.  It was a bit of a pricey upgrade but so worth it for the relaxation you get.  I would also say our loft style bonus room with built in surround sound.

Shane Homes:  What is your beagle’s favourite part of the house?

Cody:  My beagle’s name is Fred.  Anywhere there is food, so the kitchen specifically where his food bowl is.

Cantilevered hutch with built-in cabinetry to match the kitchen, lower wine rack, upper shelving with centre open shelving flanked by cabinets with glass doors.

 

The Appeal of Owning a Street Town
Street town living is almost as turnkey as you can get with homes in this market. There is nothing easier than just being able to move into a home and start doing your thing! Delivering a modern, and trendy style, comfort, performance, and easily customized to your taste, street town homes allow flexible living and luxury to satisfy the needs of you and your family. Designed for urban lifestyles, street town homes are a fantastic option for those who want a high-quality of life with ease and without having to break the bank!
 
What is a Street Town?
What is a street town home, you ask? A street town, simply put, is a fee-simple townhome. These homes resemble conventional townhomes, however the buyer owns, and is responsible, for the exterior of their unit and the land it sits on. As a result, there’s no need for a condo board or condo fees (good news for your bank account). At some street town developments, landscaping, a patio, and a fence are included in the initial offer.
 
In a street town you may share a wall with a neighbour, but you can be sure that noise between homes these days is strongly reduced with noise-reduction materials in the wall. Now, this doesn’t mean you can practice with your heavy metal band at 2am and no one will be the wiser… this means that you can still maintain your privacy, even with a shared wall!
 
What’s the appeal?
For many attached homestyle communities there are Homeowner Associations or Condo Boards that essentially manage the property, and as a result, you could incur extra fees and costs beyond your control. Luckily, with Shane Homes, this is not the case. At Shane Homes you will receive no condo fees, and there will be no condo board or homeowner’s association. This is fee-simple street town living!
 
With a Shane Homes street town, you will enjoy low maintenance landscaping complete with a quaint backyard and beautifully installed rock in the front yard! Forget about any real lawn maintenance almost altogether as there is no need to cut any front yard grass. Think street towns would make you sacrifice family and friend hang out space? Patios are included for that BBQ and outdoor furniture set that’s perfect to hang out with the whole gang. If you have younger kids, they can easily use this pad to play outside and get some fresh air during the day!
 
Fencing that encloses your property is typically made up of low, or no, maintenance materials. So you can put that can of paint down. These fences are also great for privacy with the added benefit that the pets can go outside without any issues of getting lost.
Another cost-saving benefit that some don’t think of, is that a townhome generally costs less in utilities than a single-family home. Especially if you are in a middle unit with shared walls on either side, you can expect to save on heating costs during the cold winter months.
 
These simple features, low-maintenance landscaping and chain-link fence, will save you money down the road in maintenance costs.
 
Finally, most Shane Homes street towns come with a big-sized, double-detached garage that lets you park and store your seasonal equipment with room to spare.
 
Whether you’re just starting out, or looking to downsize, street townhomes let you control the way you want to live, without the added expense!
 

Have you ever seen a home that would be ideal if only a few things were different?
Maybe you want an extra bedroom, the main floor re-configured, or the addition of a spice kitchen.
Typically, that means the potential home buyer needs to move on to other builders to try to find something that ticks the other boxes.

At Shane Homes, the conversation continues. The builder’s “Love it or Customize it” offering allows home buyers to make substantial changes to most of the floor plans it has available.
“We always say, ‘if you can think it up, we can come up with it for you,’” says Jeff Luif, area manager for Shane Homes in northwest Calgary’s Hamptons community, of the builder’s ability to customize. “That’s our niche in the market.”

If people in the market for a new home find a single-family floor plan by Shane that generally works for their needs, the builder can make adjustments to that plan, making it perfect for your family.
This includes carrying over features or design traits from other floor plans.
“People will come in and say ‘I prefer the main floor to this one and the upstairs to this other one,’” says Luif. “We can accommodate that sort of thing.”

While many builders can make minor tweaks to a model, Shane Homes has the ability to make substantial changes.
“We can literally redraw the whole upstairs,” he adds. “I’ll sit it down and make notes on what you and your family want and literally redraw that house for you, price it all out for you and have a quote for you upon our next meeting.”
Most large-scale builders do not have processes in place to support significant custom changes.
If someone likes a home in an area where Shane Homes builds “we can always come up with a plan,” Luif says.

Common changes include the addition of a main floor bedroom accompanied by a half bathroom converted into a full bathroom. This is popular among people who have elderly relatives living in the home.
The builder will also provide feedback and expert guidance to the homebuyer around whether or not the changes they request function well within the rest of the home.
For example, not all second-floor layouts can support both a bonus room and four bedrooms. The area manager you’re working with will flag this concern and recommend alternative routes to achieving what you need.

Anyone interested in learning more about custom changes available through Shane Homes is encouraged to contact the area manager in which you’re interested in buying a home. They are listed here: https://www.shanehomes.com/about-us/the-team/sales-team/
 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… no, not Christmas, football season!

Calgary is fortunate enough to host the 107th Grey Cup this year on November 24th and our city couldn’t be more excited. 

While there are lots of exciting Grey Cup festivities happening around the city, why not avoid the crowds and parking hassles by hosting your own Grey Cup party? With a little planning, you can make it the most epic, memorable afternoon for your friends. Here’s the game plan:

Send your best buds a Save-The-Date for Sunday, November 24th (texts work just fine for this) then follow up with a written invitation, e-vite, or Facebook private event. Get your invites out nice and early so that you can ensure that your group doesn’t make other plans. Not all of your friends are into football? That’s alright too, having a mix of experts and newbies makes it that much more interesting.

Grey Cup kick-off is at 4:00 pm Mountain Time, so time your party so that arrivals aren't interrupting gameplay.

The best party of any party is, of course, the food! You can have some fun with your menu choices: embrace the spirit of Calgary by grilling up some Spolumbos sausages! Or set out toppings for a make-your-own pizza station. Making a big pan of nachos with lots of cheese and toppings can also be a fun choice. Whatever you pick, make sure there is a good amount of food and adequate choices for vegetarians or picky eaters- such as veggies and dip, chips, fruit, or desserts. You can also make it a potluck style and ask your friends to bring a dish.

In addition, having a selection of beer, wine, and soft drinks is a great idea as well. Some people like to make a rum punch or a sangria to serve. Just remember to have something for designated drivers or non-drinkers.

Obviously, our Stamps will be in the final (fingers crossed) so let's cheer on our guys by decorating with red and white! Have your guests choose their cup can be a fun activity to get everyone in the spirit of friendly rivalries- red for Stamps, green for the Riders fans, or BC Lions orange!

Our Lady Peace is the halftime act this year- get your guests grooving with a 90’s Canadian Rock playlist! That is, while the game isn’t in action.

Whether you love football or just love to entertain, throwing a Grey Cup party can be a blast. Luckily for those who get tons of joy from hosting, Superbowl is just around the corner in February and the Stanley Cup isn’t that far off! Mark your calendars for more get-togethers!

With the shorter darker days, we tend to spend more time at home.

Here are some tips to add some pizzazz to your home compliments of Shane Homes’ Interior Design Team

Kitchen Backsplash Features

One of the benefits of the popularity of front control slide in ranges, is the vertical wall space freed up behind  it to create a feature in the kitchen. Use a contrasting tile from the backsplash to create an eye-catching  focal point or use the same wall tile but play with the patterns for a more subtle feature.

Photo:  The Arbor II Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Photo:  The Tryon Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Half Bath

Create alot of interest in a small space like the half bath by removing the standard oval mirror and replacing it with a  framed mirror and creating a feature wall with decorative wall paper.

Photo:  The Manhattan Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Dining Table Ideas: Accessorizing

You don’t always have to set a dining table with cutlery and plate settings. Why not change it up with a ladder shelf that holds the plate set, glasses, and napkins.  Also, add a free standing chalkboard menu and some candles that you can light during dinner.

Photo:  The Halston Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Dining Table Ideas: Bench Seating

Create a more casual feel in the dining nook area and allow for extra seating, by adding a bench rather than the standard four chairs. You can also create a focal point to your dining space by using 4 traditional chairs and 2 non traditional chairs that are larger in scale and stand out from the rest.

Photo:  The Orion Showhome in Midtown in Airdrie

Photo:  The Sienna Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Black Finish Lighting

Lighting is key design element in a home.  Dramatically change the way a room looks and feels with black finish lighting.  Its a bold color that stands out from its surroundings.

Photo:  The Galea Showhome in Legacy in southeast Calgary

Photo: The Galea Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Photo:  The Arbor Showhome in Legacy in southeast Calgary

Coloured/Patterned Furniture

The sofa tends to be at the center of any family room living space.  Match the sofa to the rest of the decor or add a pop of color matching the accessories or artwork in the space.  Blue is a timeless color which was used in the decorating scheme in our Midtown in Airdrie street town showhome.

Photo:  The Monroe Showhome in Midtown in Airdrie

Photo:  The Orion Showhome in Midtown in Airdrie

Ottoman

Ottomans are becoming the focal point of rooms.  Add  a pattern to this piece of furniture to create interest and have fun by adding pillows of different sizes and textures and layering them.  An added bonus is the extra storage space created to tuck away spare blankets and bedding.

Photo:   The Wysteria Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Bedroom

Are you tired of your bedroom décor?  Add a pop of color in the heardboard, pillows and/or drapery.  Changing your headboard is an afforadable way to add a huge impact to the bedroom and also softens the room when it’s next to all the hard goods such as the nightstands and dressers, creating a more relaxing environment to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Photo:  The Verve Showhome in Hillcrest in Airdrie

Photo:  The Ventura Showhome in Redstone in northeast Calgary

Creations by Shane Homes is excited to announce that we have a new community to add to the list of communities we are proud to build in:  Redstone in northeast Calgary!

Redstone by Qualico Communities is a revolutionary community in Calgary’s northeast designed with careful attention to what matters most. Featuring two new school sites, a commercial development, a future LRT station and easy access to Stoney Trail. Active families will appreciate the thoughtfully designed parks and pathways that include fitness equipment the whole family can enjoy. In Redstone you’ll find homes designed for families at every stage of life.

Redstone is located just North of Skyview Ranch, off of Metis Trail and Country Hills Boulevard.  Click here for a map and driving directions.

Creations by Shane Homes is opening 2 new showhomes on Saturday, Sept 5, 2015 – the Wysteria and the Ventura.

Here is a sneak peak of the Wysteria showhome:

The central kitchen has stainless steel appliances, a central island and a corner walk-in pantry. Granite countertops come standard.

The rear family room has a wall centred fireplace flanked by windows to allow in natural light.

The rear mudroom is adjacent to the kitchen, handy for outdoor living.


The owner’s suite has a private three piece ensuite and a separate walk-in closet.

One of the two secondary bedrooms is decorated as a home office with unique book wall art.

These homes come with Celebration (Zero Lot Line) Standard Appointments which include:

• Tile flooring in kitchen, nook, hall, front entry and half bath (as per plan)
• 9′ main floor ceiling
• 3/4″ granite countertops in the kitchen and full baths
• Stainless steel appliance package including a self-cleaning smooth top range, over the range microwave with vented hood fan (as per plan), 3-cycle dishwasher and 21 cu. ft. fridge installed
• White side by side or stacking front load washer and dryer (as per plan) installed

The showhomes are located at:

Wysteria:  49 Red Embers Row NE, Calgary
Ventura:  45 Red Embers Row NE, Calgary

Visit creationsbyshane.com to learn more about Redstone, the two showhome models – the Wysteria and the Ventura and available lots or call 403-536-2313.

With most things in life, a strong first impression is important. This extends to our homes, as well.
Your home can put its best foot forward with the right exterior elevation.
An elevation refers to the architectural design on the home’s exterior.
This can be reflected in the pitch of the roof, size and placement of eaves, batten detail, brackets, rafters, columns, and porches, among other features.
Here are three things for home buyers to know about exterior elevations.

Selection Process 
Each master-planned community has its own look and feel. Part of this esthetic is dictated by architectural controls. The elevations offered in each community are guided by these controls.
Models are typically offered in multiple exterior elevation options.
For instance, the Fiesta II model by Shane Homes is available in Tudor, Soft Urban Modern, French Country, Shingle, Craftsman, and Arts and Crafts designs.
Aiming to create a diverse streetscape, most communities have restrictions around the number of elevations with the same colour palette on the same street.
“We have to try and make it different to the home next door or two houses down from the home on the lot the customer choses,” says Duc Le, senior architectural designer/technologist at Shane Homes.
“If you are the first buyer on that street you won’t have a problem selecting any of the elevations that are allowed to that area.”

Timeless
The most sought-after architectural designs were developed decades ago and have stood the test of time.
Despite being classic looks, they can usually benefit from modifications that reflect current tastes.
“The balance is important,” he says.
“For example, we’ll keep the prairie style — which is still traditional but we can add a modern flair to it. It brings it up to date.
“Balance is a key for all the Shane Homes elevations,” adds Le.
Timeless characteristics are a priority, says Le. These help the home hold its value, which is important when it comes time to put in on the resale market.

Love it or Customize it 
Depending on the home style, Shane Homes lets buyers make significant changes to the interior of the home so that it captures their personal preferences.
The builder allows for changes to the outside of the home, as well.  
“If the customer likes the layout but the elevation is not suited to their liking, they can bring in a picture or any element that fits their elevation and we will try to work our layout to get the elevation they want,” says Le.
Currently, The Enclave at the Hamptons, an upscale community in northwest Calgary, is the most common location for customers of Shane Homes customizing their elevation, says, Le.
 
 

Understanding gas appliance venting

Compliments of Damon, Senior Architectural Technologist

New homes have an amazing number of penetrations on their sides. On the side of a typical Shane home you will find a combination of windows, doors, furnace vents, hot water tank vents, fireplace direct vent, bathroom fan vent, hood fan vent, dryer exhaust, electrical meter, gas meter and air conditioner. These vents, meters and appliances must be carefully spaced to prevent fires, keep exhaust gases from entering the home and maintain proper appliance function.

Understanding that the placement of these elements in relation to each other is tightly regulated is important as it could affect the design and cost of your new home.  For example, a gas meter requires clearances of 36″ radius to all vents, venting windows, gas appliance vents as well as no gas appliances 15′ above the regulator. (A regulator is a safety valve that closes when natural gas supply is interrupted). The gas meter clearances may have a conflict with lower main floor windows or a man door on the side of a garage. Electrical meters on the other hand are only restricted by proximity to gas appliance vents and the gas meter so they may be located closer to windows. However what they do affect is the location of your electrical panel inside your home.
What this means is that the cantilevered box out you added in your mudroom could cause the electrical meter and electrical panel to be moved which will affect future basement development.  Moving the electrical panel farther away from the meter outside is an additional construction cost.  Often customers will relocate their furnace for future development; this affects the furnace and hot water tank vent locations which in turn could affect the location of the gas and electric meters as well.  Moving a furnace also affects the locations of the dropped heat runs in your basement ceiling which will affect your basement development and basement window locations.

The elements on the side of a home seem like a tertiary concern handled on site and made to work but in fact they should be carefully planned to reduce frustration on site, save money and build a better home.

For more information:
Enmax Shallow Utilities Joint Provisioning Guidelines
Atco Gas Homebuilder Guide to Natural Gas Service Installation
 

In November of 2014 we launched our Urbana in Nolan Hill street town project – the first street town project from Creations by Shane Homes.  We are now over 50% sold out of the entire project!

All of the units are in varying stages of construction and visitors to our Presentation Centre in Nolan Hill are now able to take a tour of each of the 6 floor plans that we offer, including the Deco , but please keep in mind that they are construction zones and you need to be dressed appropriately in order to tour them.

To view the additional models you can build in Urbana, the Aldyn, Ardis, Milan, Turin and Verto , either click on the model name or go to the community page.

The Deco features:

• 1510 sq. ft.
• 3 bedrooms
• 2.5 baths
• decorative niches flank the entrance to the foyer
• foyer features dual closets for storage
• TV niche in great room
• owners suite features an over sized walk-in shower and a separate walk-in closet
• second floor laundry

To view the specifications that this home is built with please visit our model page.

Here are some photos we took July 15, 2015.  The floorplans that we designed for our street town homes are modified versions of our most popular Creations home styles.  The Deco model is a modified Revel floorplan.  To give you a better idea of how this floorplan will flow, we have also included some photos of our Revel showhome in Legacy:

Niches flanking the entry add an attractive touch. The handy TV niche saves the space of furniture and is perfect for a wall mounted flat screen TV.



 

This home has an open main floor layout with a rear kitchen and central dining area. A door leads from the kitchen to the backyard and the half bath.

All of the street town homes come with a double detached garage, front and rear landscaping including trees and shrubs in both the front and back yard, a patio or deck and a maintenance free chain link fenced back yard.

Visit Deb and Jamie for more info at 519 Nolan Hill Drive NW, Calgary.

Phone Number:  403-536-2318

Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]

We are now into week 3 of the renovation of our Expressions Design Studio and the pendant lighting is hung, walls are painted and things are starting to take shape.

If you are not familiar with our Design Studio, it is located at our Head Office location in NE Calgary just off Deerfoot Trail and 64 Avenue and is 5,000 sq. ft.  In our Expressions Design Studio we offer an elaborate assortment of hardwood flooring, tile and carpet selections, granite countertops, cabinets, hardware, railing and stonework options and much more – all displayed throughout the design centre so you are able to see what your choices look like installed rather than trying to imagine them.

Our customers receive the assistance of one of our professional Interior Designers to assist them with the design process to help them to personalize their home, inside and out, to suit their lifestyle.

Our one-stop-shop allows customers to make many of their selections at our Design Studio, rather than having to drive all over the city to multiple suppliers.

Our customers still have to visit some of our supplier showrooms as we are not able to showcase all the options here for items such as lighting (Carrington Lighting), plumbing (Canyon Plumbing), appliances (Coast Appliances or Trail Appliances) or fireplaces (Mr. Fireplace).

 

Our Design Studio is still a beehive of activity with people working, ladders and supplies all over!

Plenty of pendant and track lights will make our Design Studio feel bright and spacious while illuminating display cases underneath to better view samples.

As you will notice, we will have multiple fully designed kitchens showcasing an assortment of cabinet styles, countertops, flooring and appliances.

This kitchen photo illustrates the popularity of combining contrasting cabinets within one space.

Our fully finished kitchens make it easier for our customers to see what products look like installed rather than having to try to imagine what they look like.

Behind the kitchen you will notice an area that looks like the outside of the home.  In this area our customers will make all of their exterior selections.

More updates to come next week!

Can you believe it is October?

We asked our Interior Design Team to share some of the latest trends in Home Decor and they shared an excerpt from this article compliments of Stockhom Furniture & Light Fair:

Natural elements
The natural world is one of the greatest influences on the coming season. Inspiration comes from the Nordic landscape with its endless vistas. Natural materials, such as stone, wood and glass, dominate this style. Natural elements, represents a contemporary feeling in design and form, with natural materials in furniture and permanent fittings. It’s an exciting mix of wood, metal and leather (which is making a comeback, but in a new way). Basket weave and other plaited details will be appearing on furniture. Expect to see pre-patinated surfaces on both wood and textiles, and a lot of washed linen ahead of next season, both on sofas and bedding. Natural colors will be prevalent. Cold shades of brown, in combination with granite, and with hints of leafy green in nature’s color scheme.

Here is how our Interior Design Team interpreted and incorporated natural elements into some of our showhomes – enjoy!

Tofino Showhome in Nolan Hill: Leather and grass cloth



Andorra II Showhome in King’s Heights, Airdrie: Rich Wood Flooring and Marble Fireplace



Fiesta II Showhome in Hillcrest, Airdrie: Rock Wall in Secondary Bedroom


Fiesta II Showhome in Hillcrest, Airdrie: Tile Wall in Bonus Room

Part of the home buying process is reviewing all of your options. You need to explore all possibilities because you’d never want to miss out on something that catches your eye. 

When narrowing down your options, you may have to decide between a condo, laned home, paired home or a single family detached home. At Shane Homes, we’ve helped hundreds of buyers determine their needs and preferences so they could make a thoughtful, educated decision. If you’re having a difficult time deciding between a detached home model or a condominium, here are a few things to consider! At Shane Homes, we have a variety of home models to choose from in communities across the Calgary and Airdrie area.  

Benefits of Purchasing a Shane Home Detached Home Model 
At Shane Homes, we know that every buyer we encounter has unique needs and we’re committed to offering them several unique living spaces to choose from. 

Living in a detached home allows you to completely redesign your home’s interior and exterior. Furthermore, if you ever decide to upgrade or renovate major components in your home, you will not be required to seek approval from the condominium association. 

Living in a detached home offers you optimal privacy. You will not be sharing walls with your neighbours which is beneficial if you’re sound sensitive. Furthermore, the yard of a detached home is solely yours, so you can use it as you please. Also, if you’re pretty handy, you can do the maintenance yourself and not have to wait for a contracted repair! 

Benefits of Purchasing A Mark 101 Condo
Buyers that have no will or intention to manage their property should strongly consider investing in a Mark 101 condo. Maintenance is taken care of by the property manager, completely taking those homeowner responsibilities off of your plate. When an issue arises at your condo, your property manager will ensure a repairman is contacted and assigned to your condo to correct the problem. 

The price is right when purchasing a Mark 101 condo, starting from the mid $100’s! Purchasing a condo also comes with fewer expenses than detached homes do. For example, all of your utilities are included in your condo fees. This includes your water service, garbage services, and natural gas supply. Read more about condominium living here.

If you decide to purchase a condo, you will be living in closer proximity to your neighbours. You’ll be living in the same building as your neighbours and you’ll be sharing amenities with them. Furthermore, around-the-clock security will ensure you, your family, and your belongings are kept safe and secure.

If you’re torn between a detached home model and a condo, reach out to the customer representatives at Shane Homes today! We’ll help you assess your living needs and requirements to determine which property best suits your living situation. For more information, give us a call or visit our website today! 

OR 

TAKE THE SHANE HOMES QUIZ

 

Wisdom Wednesday – Tips from our Shane Homes Staff

Who better to ask for tips on building a new home, than people who have built multiple new homes and who also have a passion for interior design?!

Natasha has been with Shane Homes for over 5 years and she is on her second build.  Her first home was a condo.  She is in the process of building a narrow lot line home in the northwest community of Nolan Hill.  Natasha is on our Interior Design Team.

We interviewed Natasha about her new home build.

Shane Homes: How did you select your new home community?
Natasha: We picked Nolan Hill as that is where I currently live and we really love the area, the amenities, proximity to major roads, plus an added bonus of being only a short 45 minute drive to the mountains.

Shane Homes: How did you select your floorplan?
Natasha: We decided to buy a narrow lot line home. The lots are a bit smaller so they are more affordable, but you can still fit a spacious model on it. We purchased the Fiesta II and modified it to what fit our lifestyle best.
We picked a floorplan with an open main floor design with the optional kitchen layout that includes all the built-ins with a bump out nook as we enjoy entertaining our family and friends a lot so having an open plan was definitely a requirement. The upper floor already had a fantastic good sized bonus room over the garage with two spare bedrooms which was a requirement as we needed a room for our guests but also a separate area for working out.

Shane Homes: Did you make any changes to the floorplan to customize it to better suit your lifestyle?
Natasha: Yes, two changes that we made that were very important to us were to make the kitchen and ensuite larger. These are the two rooms we spend most of your time in so we made sure they were designed perfectly to suit our lifestyle. We like to entertain so having a larger kitchen with space to cook and for a lot of friends and family to converse in comfortably is important to us. In the ensuite we not only increased the size of the shower but we also added in two shower heads. Storage in a bathroom is important so we changed the vanity to have double sinks with drawers down the middle.
We also like the look of having one cohesive flow of flooring from the front door to the back door on the main floor. We upgraded our entire main floor to hardwood (other than the mudroom). By eliminating the transitions between each room we can get a more open feel to the floorplan and visually it is more pleasing.
We not only moved the laundry room that was originally beside the family room but we also increased the size of it and located it next to the owners suite as it is just me and my other half so it was more convenient to have it next to our room versus on the other end of the hallway.
We like a more modernized plan with straight lines versus angles so we got rid of the corner pantry and straightened it out. We also moved the fireplace from the corner wall to the side exterior wall. This allows for better furniture placement around the fireplace and creates more of a feature wall in the living room that everyone can see when they walk in.
The one requirement from my partner was to extend the garage. In order for his truck and my car to fit in and still have room to comfortably walk around we needed to widen and lengthen the garage.
As you can see from the list above, even though we bought a narrow lot we could still make many adjustments to our new home.

Shane Homes:  What were your top upgrades? How about your partner’s top upgrades?
Natasha:  My top upgrades:
1. Large ensuite shower with 10 mil frameless glass
2. Built-in wall oven/microwave with cook top in the kitchen
3. Large walk-in closet
4. Maple railing
5. Hardwood flooring throughout the main floor

My partner’s top upgrades:
1. Larger ensuite shower with 10 mil frameless glass
2. Larger garage/concrete pad
3. Hardwood flooring throughout the main floor
4. Adding windows for more natural light
5. Tall kitchen cabinets with riser and crown to take it to the ceiling (no space above cabinets)

Shane Homes: Any advice you and your partner would like to share with other couples looking to buy?
Natasha: Building a new home can be very overwhelming, take the time and do your research, make a list of what is important to you both and really think about what you want and how you are going to use the space. Talk about it with your partner. Make sure you both are open and straight forward with one another so when it comes down to the appointments you both are on the same page.
We weren’t able to afford everything we wanted but we chose what was important to us and what makes the most sense in increasing the value of our new home. When you factor in upgrades into the length of your mortgage, the monthly difference is not really significant.

One of the most popular reasons that we hear from people, of why they buy from Shane Homes, is their ability to customize the floorplan.

Shane Homes listens to our customers and we often make popular customizations into options that our customers are able to easily select on the floorplan.

One of the options you can select on our Tofino model is a built-in hutch in the nook.  Natasha, provides some advice on further customizing this area:

“I recently designed our Tofino II showhome in Redstone.  I completely altered the hutch area. The more storage the better, so I extended two thirds of the upper cabinets to the countertop and added in glass cabinets to the middle upper cabinets to showcase “decorative” pieces, plus I added a tile backsplash matching the kitchen.

Altering the hutch gives it a completely different look from the rest of the kitchen and turns it into a focal point.  By cantilevering the hutch you also free up space for living and entertaining.”

Here are some photos of other showhomes we have open with built-in hutch areas:

Hillcrest in Airdrie Tofino II Showhome

Tofino III Showhome in West Grove in southwest Calgary.

When you’re looking at buying a new home, there are so many things to think about. From the community to the style of the home and everything in between, the choices can get a bit overwhelming. By the time you’re deciding on customizations for your home, you’ll have already made so many choices that you might not feel up to making many more. To help you with this, we’ve put together a list of the things to consider that will help you make the best decisions for your home.

Number of Rooms

To figure out how many rooms you need, you’ll have to think about your future. The number of rooms in a dream home for a retiree and the number in a dream home for a family are going to be very different. Envision what you want your life to look like in the future and do your best to plan for that scenario. Also consider if you have a large family or do a lot of entertaining. Sometimes home buyers will only consider the number of rooms they need on a daily basis, and end up having to create makeshift bedrooms when guests come.

Size of Rooms

Think about where you spend the most time in your current home. Is it relaxing in your bedroom? Cooking in your kitchen? Watching TV in the living room? With the ability to increase or decrease the size of various spaces in your house, you’ll want to make the rooms you spend the most time in feel very spacious. And make sure not to forget about the bathroom! Size and planning can make a big difference in the luxury and effectiveness of your bathroom. Fitting the family in during bath time can be chaotic in a space that’s too small. You’ll want to make sure you feel comfortable in every room of your new home.

Living Space

Typically, the most amount of time spent in the house is in the kitchen-living room-dining room space. Whether you’re cooking for the family, entertaining friends, or just spending a relaxing night at home, your living space needs to be suitable for every occasion! If you need to see what your kids are doing in the living room, you’ll need to make sure you have a clear line of vision from the kitchen through to the living room. Or if you have a large family that loves to cook together, you’ll want to have plenty of space to maneuver around those family members to get to your dishes.

Storage

People have a tendency to accumulate a lot of stuff as they go through life, and it all has to go somewhere. Make sure you have enough space in your home to store both the items you use daily, and the items that may have less use. A bigger mudroom can be helpful for families, or built in bookshelves can be great for an avid reader.  Don’t forget about cabinetry in your kitchen and bathrooms too!

Home Layout

When you’re looking at floorplans, imagine yourself walking through your future home. Picture your furniture and decorations in the home, and consider your typical day. You’ll want to make sure that the layout of your home suits your needs. Do you want your guests to sleep on the same floor as you? Or in your basement? Do you want your children’s rooms to be close together? Or maybe they need some extra space between them? Maybe you need some extra space from them! When you’re imagining your day, make sure that you have extra space where you need it, and the flow works for you. Maybe you need to move a whole room, or move a staircase – there are so many options.   

Paying attention to the ways you use your current home will help you plan your new home. Look at many show homes, but make sure to keep in mind that homes are customizable - you aren’t forced to live in any particular floor plan! From redesigning your kitchen, to adding rooms, or even widening your whole house, Shane’s Love it or Customize it program allows you to have everything you want in your home.  
 

Have you heard?

Creations by Shane Homes is expanding our product line and soon will be offering street towns in Nolan Hill.

What are street towns you ask?  Are they similar to town homes?  Yes, they are in that they are attached homes – each of the 16 buildings will have 6 units side by side.  Here is an image of the rendering:

What makes them different than your traditional town home is that they are ‘fee simple’ which means – no monthly condo fees!  Plus no condo boards.

We will be offering 6 models to choose from with features varying per model:

• Aldyn:  1365-1378 sq. ft. featuring dual owner’s suites with walk-in closets and 3 piece ensuites – perfect for a roommate!
• Ardis:  1463 – 1473 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths.  Special feature:  open main floor layout.
• Deco:  1510 – 1542 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths.  Special feature:  foyer with dual closets and spacious walk-in pantry and island in the kitchen.
• Milan:  1553 – 1580 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths.  Special features:  central kitchen with a walk-in pantry and spacious island plus a main floor lifestyle room.
• Verto:  1525 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths.  Special features:  open main floor layout.

All models will feature:

• second floor laundry
• owner’s ensuites with walk-in showers
• front and backyard landscaping
• patio / deck
• rear detached garage
• fenced back yard

Which means less work after you move in and more time to enjoy your new home!

We will start pre-selling in November.  Our sales centre is scheduled to open November as well.  And to make it even more convenient for our purchasers, we will have a design centre on site and our customers will be able to make their selections without having to visit Shane Homes’ Expressions Design Studio – saving time, adding convenience, and speeding up the process!  We know how busy people are between their careers, family, friends, and other commitments, and we are trying to make the purchase process super easy and convenient for our street town purchasers.

Purchasers will be able to personalize the interior of their street town to suit their personality and taste.  Our interior design team has created 3 standard options for each home and within those three options buyers can select and mix and match upgraded options. So if a purchaser loves the standard flooring but wants to upgrade cabinets they can do that and vice versa.

 

At Shane Homes our in-house Interior Design Team pick the selections for our showhomes, pouring over home and design magazines and  searching websites for the newest products, most attractive designs and sought after finishes to showcase in our showhomes around Calgary and Airdrie.

Shane Homes is honoured to be one of the supporters in the construction of The Famous  5  Centre of Canadian Women at Heritage Park.  The Famous 5 Centre will open this June, 2014 as part of Heritage Park’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

This new exhibit is a replica of Nellie McClung’s house and will be used as a platform to feature a group of formidable ladies and their achievements but also to take a more personal look at Nellie and in the future, to share the stories of other famous women in Canadian history.

To learn more about the Famous 5 Centre of Canadian Women, please read this press release.

Shane Homes started construction of the home in April 2013 and it is really starting to take shape inside, with the exterior being nearly complete.





The finishers have completed the first stage of finishing and painting is in progress and almost complete.  There is an abundance of woodwork on this home which was entirely custom built on site to imitate the original woodwork from the early 1900’s, so we anticipate that painting will take approximately 3 weeks to complete in order to do properly.





Once painting is complete, then the flooring will be finished, followed by the finals on such things as baseboards, window screens, door and cabinet hardware, and so on.
Shane Homes is expecting to complete the house by the end of March 2014.  The landscaping should be complete in April or early May 2014, depending on weather and other seasonal factors.

Get to know our Shane Homes Staff

When you build a new home you develop relationships with your Sales Team, Interior Design Team, Construction Team and Service and Warranty Team.
Shane Homes has many long term staff who have been with our company for 5, 10, 20, even 25 years, who are experienced and passionate about their jobs.  But they have other passions as well.

Learn more about Natasha, one of our Interior Designers whose passion extends beyond design to travel.

Natasha’s Passion beyond Design … Travel
By Natasha

The love for travel has always been a part of my life. Growing up I was lucky enough to enjoy the lifestyle of traveling with my family. After high school and into college whenever I had the chance I was able to do small trips here and there, mostly the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. At that time in my life it was great, I felt fortunate to be able to get out and experience these wonderful places. However, I knew there was more out there for me to see and I was starting to become anxious to see more, I was young and had nothing holding me back.

I had been an employee with Shane Homes at the time in the Interior Design Department for about 2 years. I knew with 100% certainty that this was the career path for me and that my passion for creativity and working in design was not a whim, but forever. I had a gut feeling if I didn’t travel now I would never get this opportunity to do it again because I would eventually get distracted with work and other responsibilities. I remember the day like it was yesterday when I made the drastic decision to quit my job. My friends and family knew this was something I not only wanted but needed and they fully supported my decision.
Thursday, September 1, 2011 was the day it all began. This was the beginning of an exciting adventure, to explore the world, meet new people, experience other cultures and grow as a human being. My life was about to change from a Monday to Friday 8-5 job to a full time backpacker on the road not knowing what tomorrow was going to bring.
My around the world destinations:
1. United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

 

 

2. Thailand

3. Australia

4. New Zealand

5. Indonesia (Gili Islands and Bali)

6. South America (Peru and Argentina)

7. Central America (Costa Rica and Nicaragua)

I was able to experience so many things while traveling to all of these beautiful countries.  Some of the highlights for me included:
– skydiving over the Great Barrier Reef
– hiking for 5 days to Machu Picchu
– snorkeling in the beautiful waters of Australia with jellyfish and stingrays
– climbing Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand
– watching the sunrise from Borobudor Buddist Temple in Indonesia
– kissing the blarney stone in Ireland,
– feasting on foreign foods and street meats
– relaxing in my hammock in Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park

The list is endless of all the different things I enjoyed. I cherish these experiences and enjoy the memories. I am often asked what was my favorite part or favorite destination and it’s something that to this day I never have an answer to. Every country, every city or small town that I visited each had something unique about it. The people I met along the way, locals and other backpackers, are what made my around the world adventure that much more amazing.

I traveled for a total of 10 months with over 30+ flights and 1000 bus and train rides.

I made the decision to come home in July of 2012. The long flight back home was one of those moments where you look back at the past 10 months and realize what an amazing and life altering experience you just had. I simultaneously experienced tears of happiness, that I was coming home and had such a great experience, but also tears of sadness that it was all coming to an end.

Traveling and exploring and having no structure was becoming a way of life that made sense but at the same time it felt good to be home and back to a life full of new beginnings. Travel will forever be a part of my life, and I have learnt to never hold back from something you want to do because this is your chance to do it.

Fall and winter is a perfect time to tackle those home projects you’ve been thinking about all year, but didn’t have the time to do.  One project that is fairly simple but can reap great rewards for you and your family is to convert seldom used spaces into functional purposeful rooms that your family members will be keen to use.

Here are some ideas compliments of our Interior Design Team that we have implemented in some of our showhomes.

Yoga Room/Exercise Room

Have a spare bedroom that is used infrequently?  Convert it into a yoga room or exercise room.  This calm space away from the hustle and bustle of a busy home environment will have you yearning to practice yoga or your fitness routine more regularly.

Photo:  The Orion Showhome in Midtown in Airdrie

Home Office

Convert a spare bedroom into a home office.  This is a great idea for the adults in the home while creating a quiet space, away from distractions, for kids to do their homework in as well.  Include a sofa bed to quickly convert it into a spare bedroom for overnight guests.

Photo:  The Sienna Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

 

Photo:  The Tryon Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Photo:  The Wysteria Showhome in Redstone in northeast Calgary

Photo:  The Samara II Showhome in Legacy in southeast Calgary

Photo:  The Tivoli Showhome in Hillcrest in Airdrie

Lounging Area or IT Centre

Main floor lifestyle rooms are popular on some of our Shane Homes floorplans and are often used as a formal dining room or a home office.  Another idea for this space is to convert it into a room where you can kick back and relax, read a book or hangout with your guests, as we did in our Tofino II showhome in Redstone.  Add stripes to create an illusion of a larger space;  this is also an inexpensive and fun way to decorate a wall versus purchasing artwork.  Or create a dual IT centre as we have done in our Tofino II showhomes in Hillcrest and Midtown in Airdrie.  Alternatively you can use the lifestyle room as a formal dining room as pictured in our Manhattan showhome in Cornerstone.

Photo:  The Tofino II Showhome in Redstone in northeast Calgary

Photo:  The Tofino II Showhome in Midtown in Airdrie

Photo:  The Tofino II Showhome in Hillcrest in Airdrie

The Manhattan Showhome in Cornerstone in northeast Calgary

Summer vacation is here! You’ve packed up the car and the kids and you’re ready to hit the road, hop off that flight, or pitch your tent at your favourite campsite. But have you taken into consideration what steps you can take to keep your home and property safe while you’re away? With a few simple preparations at home, your trip can be worry-free! 

 

The key to keeping your property safe is to try your best to not appear to be away; the number one tip is to not post on Facebook about jetting off. It's tempting, I know! But unless your privacy settings are completely locked down, undesirable acquaintances-who-are-friends-of-friends may be tempted to check out your place after seeing your cousin wish you happy travels. 

 

Hire a housesitter to mow your lawn, water your plants, and check on your property every few days for safety. Or how about swapping house sitting duties with a trusted friend or neighbour while they are out of town? Not only do you want to dissuade intruders, but having someone with access to house keys can check for flooding, burst pipes, or mitigate other disasters. Leave valuables out of sight, both in your yard or garage, and visible through windows.

 

Why not consider the Shane Homes Smart Home Advantage System: this state-of-the-art home automation package is now standard in all newly constructed paired and single-family Shane homes. Doorbell cameras are a popular and easy-to-install addition to homes, especially as a deterrent to “porch pirates” who want to help themselves to your packages and deliveries. But Smart Home Systems, like the Nest, offer so much more than just a doorbell photo. With 24/7 streaming you can check who is at your door any time of the day and even scroll back to review footage over the course of the day. The Nest camera delivers video in crisp HD images, even at night. It’s designed to show you everything at your doorstep - visitors from head to toe or packages placed on the ground, even your sidewalk or street if your stoop layout allows. In addition, all notifications are sent directly to your smartphone and you can communicate with the person on your porch via the Nest app.

 

Also included is The Nest Yale Wi-Fi Smart Lock: If you’re sitting at your airline gate concerned that you didn’t lock the doors properly, all you have to do is pull out your smartphone and lock them from the app!

 

As well, the Shane Smart Home Advantage System also includes the Lutron Caseta Kit, which allows you to remotely control the lighting in your home. With a simple press of a button on your smartphone, you can flick on any number of lights in your home to deter anyone potentially casing your place with the illusion of activity inside. Or set up a schedule in the app to have the lights turn on and off at specific times.

 

Returning from a relaxing, memorable journey to learn that something has gone seriously wrong at home can be devastating. But running through a quick checklist as you’re on your way out - doors locked, windows shut, garage locked up, garbage taken out, etcetera - and a Smart Home system in place can give you wonderful piece of mind to fully enjoy your trip!

 

Hi, and thanks for taking the time to read our Shane Homes Blog! I’m Brigitte and I work in the Drafting & Design Department.

I will be going over items we commonly show on our second floor plans and why it is important that they are there.

Second floor components

The typical second floor plan that Shane Homes offers will consist of the owners suite, owners ensuite, main bath and children’s bedrooms. Some of our plans are large enough that we will include additional features such as a family room, family room wet bar, laundry room, and IT centre.  To view our Shane Homes floorplans, please visit our Home Models page. 

1. Owners suite

Typically the owners suite is located at the rear of the home. It is the largest bedroom, has larger windows to allow for abundant natural lighting and is connected directly to the owners ensuite. The windows are usually located at 7’ header height unless noted otherwise.

Variations to the owners suite may include a vaulted ceiling which adds to the feeling of spaciousness and added space in the bedroom to accommodate a seating area for relaxing or room for exercise equipment or to do your morning yoga.

Some of our Creations by Shane Homes floorplans are designed with dual owner’s suites on the second floor to accommodate multiple owners – such as the Verve.  To view our Creations by Shane Homes floorplans, please visit our Home Models page.

2. Owners ensuite

The owners ensuite is the largest bathroom in the house and it is typically located above the nook.  This is where we create an oasis for the home owner. The owners ensuite will have the largest closet of the three bedrooms and will usually be a walk-in with built-in shelving. The shelving can be personalized to fit your needs by selecting different shelving styles, finishes, quantities, layouts, and so forth. The closet will either be accessed through the ensuite or it may have a separate entrance. You also may find the roof attic hatch access in the ensuite if it can not be located in a more private and out of the way area.

Sometimes double walls are placed at the exterior wall locations; these are mainly used for plumbing and sometimes for the medicine cabinet.

Shane Homes offers several options for ensuites:
• The standard ensuite will be the simplest version. Typically it will include linoleum flooring, a single sink, a 3’ x 3’ shower, walk-in closet, and a soaker tub.
• Option 1 ensuite includes all of the features included in the standard ensuite plus a separate rectangular or corner tub, over-sized 3’ x 4’ shower, double sinks, bank of drawers for storage, separate make-up counter, private water closet, and additional square footage to accommodate all of these extra features.
• Option 2 ensuite includes all of the options in option 1 plus a larger square footage, larger walk-in closet, double vanities with bank of drawers or long vanity with tower in between, private water closet with a door, and it may include a coffee or juice station with a bar fridge and upper cabinets.

Shane Homes customers are able to customize the ensuite to reflect their personal style when they make their selections with their Interior Designer (the services of a professional Interior Designer is included with each house purchase).  They will be able to select from an array of:
• Cabinet door styles
• Cabinet stain color
• Door and drawer hardware
• Countertop material
• Wall paint
• Backsplash tile
• Tile flooring
• Grout colours
• Tile install patterns

If customers choose to upgrade, the options are endless. Popular upgrades include:
• Change from single sink to double sinks with a bank of drawers between (typically 3 drawers) although any amount can be added
• Vanity height
• Countertop material (quartz or upgraded granite)
• Upgraded tile flooring and wall tile

If you are building a new home or renovating, check out homzz.com for ensuite ideas from Shane Homes or go to houzz.com.  You will also find many ideas for your ensuites in our showhomes as well which you can tour in person, on You Tube or view photos on our website with Interior Design Selections noted as well. 

Watch for part II of our III part blog coming soon.

If you missed the blog on our main floor, please visit our Blog Archives for Part I, Part II, and Part III.

Brandy, one of our Interior Designer’s is working on a new Andorra II showhome in King’s Heights and she is taking us through her journey from design to completion.  This week Brandy will talk about lighting:

Brandy:

Our lighting supplier is Carrington Lighting.  They supply all of the lighting for our showhomes and our customers also make their lighting selections at Carrington.  The assortment of lighting available is so vast, that we do not display this in our Expressions Design Studio.  Our customers need to go to Carrington to make their selections.  This way they are able to see everything that is available from Carrington and make the selections that best suit their tastes.

Even as an Interior Designer, the options can seem overwhelming when you walk into their showroom.  We hear this from our customers as well, when faced with so many outstanding options to pick from.  I find it best to arrive a half hour before your appointment. This way you can take some time to walk around and view the different types of fixtures, see the finishes they come in and look at price points.  I suggest you pick out a few that you like either the style of, the type of finish or the overall size. Most of the fixtures on display come in a series which means they might be available in a different finish or size.

I then pull out my plan and figure out what type of lighting is specified in my showhome and where it is located.  Keep in mind the interior finishes you just selected with your designer and consider the shape of things you selected.  It is best to keep all of the finishes as similar as possible.  So if you have selected everything in chrome, then stay with chrome on the light fixtures.

For this particular showhome I have selected black metal spindles, black cabinet hardware and black handles on doors throughout the house but I selected  polished chrome plumbing fixtures.  I also did shaker style cabinets, eased edge counter tops and shaker baseboards and casings.  In this case, I need to look at a light fixture that is either black or chrome and that is generally square or straight lined.  I also want an arts and crafts feel to the light fixture.  I also want something large in the dining room that is almost sculptured like a piece of art but that complements its surroundings.  While walking around I found a large fixture that would work perfect in the dining room.  This was my starting point:

From there I met with my lighting consultant and we discussed the fixture I had found.  It came in a series of different sizes and types.  Keep in mind your budget.  I was able to upgrade some fixtures in the house but not all of them.  When designing showhomes we have strict budgets that we must adhere to, much like our customers when they build their homes.

Next up:  showhome furniture shopping.  Stay tuned!

Showhome Design Process To Be Continued ...

Never saw the first blog?  Then check it out in our Blog Archives:

The Showhome Design Process – Inside a Designer’s Head

A warm welcome to the Shane Homes Family to some of our newest home owners, Marissa and Josh and their family of 4 and soon to be 5!  They are currently building a home in King's Heights in Airdrie and will take possession in July 2017.  We asked Marissa and Josh some questions about the building experience so far.

Shane Homes:  Is this your first new home build?
Marissa & Josh: Yes, this is our first new home build.

Shane Homes:  Which home model did you purchase?
Marissa & Josh:  We purchased the Andorra II -- 4 bedroom + bonus room up. we fell in LOVE with the floor plan as soon as we first looked at it! 

We have 2 boys, a 4 year old and a 2 year old and a baby girl arriving in May. -- All the reason we purchased the new home; everything needed to be on our want list and be perfect for us to move.

Our Area Manager, Karen, is amazing and hit all of our wants.The green space behind us, walking distance to the school that our kids will attend, walking distance to their grandparents home, quiet street,  4 bedroom, bonus room, and an amazing kitchen and dining room to entertain and host family gatherings in.

Shane Homes:  Did you customize your floorplan?
Marissa & Josh:  There wasn't much that we wanted or needed to change, it was pretty much exactly what we were looking for.  Josh did make the garage as big as our lot would allow, which ended up making our bonus room, and one of the kids bedrooms bigger! We also made the deck bigger, with a little nook to tuck away the BBQ. I also made the kitchen island as big as I could, it always seems to be the gathering spot.

Shane Homes:  How have your experiences been with our Shane Homes staff so far?
Marissa & Josh:  All and all so far, we have had a pretty good experience with the Shane Homes staff, we are set to take possession some time in July. 

Thank you to Marissa, Josh and their family for being in our blog.  We hope to be able to share more photos as they go through the building process.
 

Midtown: Inner-city living in the heart of Airdrie
 
In a city with a growing population, location and accessibility are of the utmost importance to maintaining a desirable lifestyle. Midtown in Airdrie, the first community from Wenzel Developments developed in partnership with Apex Land Developments, provides residents with the ideal location: right in the middle of the city. With a population soon to grow beyond 65,000 people, Airdrie is a city growing at a rapid rate averaging nearly 5% growth per year. This fast population growth has developed a rich and vibrant city that has plenty to offer its residents. Inner-city living in Airdrie brings with it a plethora of benefits for residents. From walkable access to amenities such as shopping and parks, to financial benefits such as property appreciation, it can all be yours in Midtown. With its central location in the heart of Airdrie, the urban oasis of Midtown brings all of Airdrie to your doorstep.
 
Amenities
Schools, shopping, restaurants, and transit are amenities that are important, but not always accessible to everyone. In Midtown, everything you need is within reach. Families at any stage in life can find comfort in Midtown as there are schools nearby for children of all ages and daycare facilities for little ones. If food is your thing, Midtown has you covered. With Sobeys, and Subway just down the road, and Cora’s, Original Joe’s, and other restaurants around the corner, the choice to eat in or dine out is yours! Not to mention, the abundance of retail outlets at Midtown Plaza such as Tim Hortons, Panago Pizza, Co-op Convenience Store, dental office, Jack’s Classic Nails and Spa and much more.
 
Anything you may need is easily accessible in Midtown! With Midtown’s central location, nothing is ever outside of walking distance. Located to meet residents’ needs, there is never a shortage of options in Midtown.
 
Parks & Recreation
Airdrie is rich with plenty of parks, green space, and outdoor recreational facilities, and many of these special community amenities are located near the city’s core. Airdrie’s Iron Horse Park, Nose Creek Park, and Gwacheon Park are all easily within walking distance of Midtown for an evening stroll with the dog or a weekend picnic. A few kilometers to the west of Midtown, the Airdrie Community Garden is also close for connecting with the community and getting to know your neighbours. Not to mention, the construction and finalization are underway for the promenade, right in the center of Midtown!
 
With access to so many parks and recreational facilities, residents are able to feel a sense of openness while still realizing the benefits of inner-city living in Midtown. From open areas and playgrounds for kids, to quieter areas surrounded by trees for adults, it’s easy for everyone to fall in love with Midtown’s access to gorgeous outdoor spaces.
 
Walkability
The accessibility to the multitude of green spaces, parks, schools, restaurants, and other amenities is in no small part due to Midtown’s desire to put walkers and cyclists first. Midtown’s focal point is its central pond, promenade and pedestrian bridge, and from the pond the entire city is accessible! Airdrie has a unique regional path system that can reach nearly every corner of the city. Midtown offers easy access to this pathway system leading to more parks, open areas, neighbouring communities, and the downtown core; it brings the whole city within reach for pedestrians or cyclists.
 
Not only does the regional pathway system make the city and community more accessible for pedestrians, it’s safer too! The fantastic pathway system keeps pedestrians and cyclists away from vehicle traffic, adding to the convenience of Airdrie’s community pathways. Whether it is your child walking to their friend’s house, or you’re going downtown for a night out with friends, you can rest assured that the safe pathway system will get you and your family back safely to your home in Midtown.  
 
Live more, commute less
For many people, suburban living offers peace, quiet, and relaxation...at least until Monday morning rolls around! Whether you are commuting to work, driving the kids to school or simply going to the gym, suburban living typically means you are spending a lot of time commuting from place to place. In some cases, people spend up to two hours a day commuting around the city! The conveniently located, inner-city community of Midtown erases the hinderance of commuting; allowing residents to spend less time commuting and more time living their life.
 
If you don’t work in Airdrie, it’s still easy to commute to Calgary! With quick access to the Queen Elizabeth II highway, getting to Calgary for work can take the same amount of time if you lived in Calgary suburbs. Whether you’re walking, driving, or using public transit, Midtown’s central, inner-city location makes it easy to get where you need to go faster. By spending less time commuting, living in Midtown affords you the opportunity to spend more time doing what you love in life.
 
Property appreciation
The benefits of inner-city living branch out far beyond the lifestyle benefits outlined above. One of the most notable, but often overlooked, benefits is the impact that the inner-city location will have on the resale value of your home. In most cases, the farther away your home is from the center of the city, the lower the home value tends to be. This is based on the fact that the inner-city land and location is higher in demand than suburban communities that are away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown core and often further away from amenities.
 
Midtown’s inner-city living in Airdrie has financial benefits beyond many other inner-city developments. Currently, Airdrie is still developing at a rapid pace. In Airdrie, inner-city living is more affordable than it will likely ever be again. This is due to the fact that as the city develops, the inner-city property, such as homes in Midtown, will become more and more desirable.  
 
One day, you may choose to upsize or downsize your home based on lifestyle changes. Maybe your kids have grown up and moved out, or maybe you got a big promotion and need to move elsewhere. If that day comes, inner-city living will once again prove to be a great decision as you will move on with more money in your pocket!
 
In the booming city of Airdrie, the benefits to inner-city living are multiplied. From access to amenities and walkability, to the financial benefits that can be realized decades down the road, Midtown in Airdrie brings a lifestyle that anyone could fall in love with. With so many advantages, the open, urban, oasis of Midtown presents residents with a new experience in Airdrie living. Bringing the suburban lifestyle to the inner-city!
 
Come experience the unique experience of urban lifestyle and village charm for yourself! With street towns, paired homes, and single family front-drive homes available, there is something for every stage of life in Midtown. Visit our showhomes Monday to Thursday from 2:00pm-8:00pm and Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 12:00pm-5:00pm.
 
For more information on how you can call Midtown home, visit www.midtowninairdrie.com

In order to stay on top of new product offerings in the ever changing marketplace Shane Homes headed to LA this month to visit its up and coming communities.  Members of our team from Drafting, Interior Design, Estimating, and Sales/Marketing toured through endless communities and showhomes on the search for the latest and the best in new home design.  Here’s a sneak peak of some of the design elements they found were innovative and trending in the LA market in mult-family home design.

Now of course Calgary’s climate isn’t quite like LA’s, especially when touring in the middle of winter, but one reoccurring theme was to combine the indoors with the out. This smooth design transition from inside the home to the backyard made the living space appear to be much larger than the actual square footage of the home’s plan. A great way to allow the homeowner to increase their living space when nature allows for it! There are many unique ways that homeowner’s are able to accomplish this, whether it be through almost full glass walls, sliding patio doors with large windows on either side or walk-outs with full width windows. While having a glass wall helps bring the outdoors in, outdoor finishings such as furniture, lighting and finishes selected for the exterior wall also plays a crucial part in making the outdoors appear in unison with the inside of the home.

Built-in cabinets are popular filling every available niche and even at times taking away coveted closet space.



Popular in kitchen cabinets:  pull out garbages, glass doors on upper cabinets, light valences, and full height pantries in lieu of walk-in or walk-through pantries.

The kitchen is the heart of the home …. or is it? The kitchen island is now making a big splash in the home’s centerpiece. It’s no longer your average rectangular square in the middle of your kitchen, but instead can act as the hub that gives your kitchen a unique flair. Whether it is replacing your kitchen table or going to stand on its own, the island has taken on many unique design styles that gives your kitchen a character all of its own.

 

In order to be able to provide more information on what is happening in our new communities, Shane Homes is seeking community correspondents to let us know what is happening in the community. Information such as new stores opening in community strip malls, community events such as Stampede breakfasts or lunches, community clean ups, community meetings and more.

Rachel has graciously agreed to be our “ear to the action” in SkyView Ranch.

To get to know Rachel better, she has shared her story with us, which we would like to share with you:

My Story by Rachel


“One day in the spring of 2012, my husband and I decided to start looking at getting out of the rental market and started seriously looking at purchasing our first home. We met with our mortgage broker to see where we needed to be, and that was all it took for us to start house hunting.

One sunny Sunday a few days later we drove up to Skyview Ranch. I have a friend who had purchased a townhome in Skyview and she loved it there, so we wanted to go see for ourselves. We had an appointment with a realtor selling a “pre-owned” if you will, semi-detached from another builder in Skyview. Before that appointment we stopped in to see Belal who was selling the single family laned homes in Skyview. Our timing was pretty tight, as our lease was up within 2 months, so we needed to purchase a quick possession home as we didn’t have the time to wait until the Fall to see a full build all the way through the project. We toured those homes and liked what we saw. He also suggested we go see Satwinder with Creations by Shane for homes in the semi-detached price range and floor plans.

We stopped in to quickly see Satwinder and walk through the showhomes before going to our appointment with the realtor to see the other semi-detached home from another builder. We were very underwhelmed by the layout and quality of home compared with the Shane homes we had just looked at. The kitchen, in particular, which is a major selling (or not) point for me and it was not what I was hoping for, especially compared to the well laid out and large modern kitchens in the Shane homes. The builder in question also builds their semi-detached in a mirrored fashion to your neighbors, while Shane pairs a different floorplan across the shared wall. Master bedrooms are opposites, for example. This was a major selling point for us, as we had lived in apartments and condos previously and knew how easy it was to hear your neighbors at all hours of the day and night. We had previously not even really considered the semi-detached model because of this reason, but the foresight into the semi-detached model by Shane Homes changed our mind.

After our meeting with the realtor, we went back to see Satwinder. We told her our favorite floorplan (Galea floorplan) and she happened to have a quick possession Galea available. She gave us the key, we went in for a tour, and we loved it. There was nothing about it I would have changed if I had been able to pick interiors myself. My husband and I had a little moment and decided this met all of our needs as a couple and as a future family. Satwinder informed us that that specific floorplan was selling like hotcakes and if we wanted that home… well, we needed to sign and give a partial deposit right away. We looked at each other and said, “Let’s do it.” She was kind enough to stay after closing time to finish up all of our paperwork and we left feeling excited, albeit a little bewildered that we went in to “just look” and left with a home! (Conditional to financing!)

Fast forward about 11 months, and that brings us to today. We are just as happy with our home today as the day we moved in. We love being a part of the Shane family and living in a community like Skyview Ranch. I love being able to see the stars at night, not hearing sirens every hour, feeling safe, feeling part of a community, being well enough removed to not hear traffic, but still being so close to major thoroughfares like Stoney Trail, close to CrossIron Mills and Country Hills Blvd. amenities, as well as having parks and open fields close by, and we’re definitely looking forward to raising a family there. We will soon be having our one year walk-through to make sure everything is still up to the “Shane standard” at the 1 year mark, and if it isn’t they will make sure we are satisfied 100%. We look forward to spending many happy years in our first home and when the time comes to upsize we definitely know who to contact!”

Photos of Rachel in her new duplex home in SkyView Ranch:

Could you use an extra $2,000.00 for the holidays?  For a limited time, Shane Homes will give you $2,000 for referring a friend or relative who purchases a Shane or Creations by Shane home.

It is as easy as one, two, three!

One:  Print the Referral Rewards Certificate and complete the form in its entirety. 

Two:  Have your friend or relative present the Referral Rewards Certificate to their Shane Homes or Creations by Shane Homes Area Manager before signing the offer to purchase.

Three:  If your referral results in a sale we will present you with a cheque for $2,000.00 for your referral.*

*Some conditions apply.  Purchase must be made before Monday, December 23, 2015 for referrer to take advantage of this conditional offer.  Offer may be amended, withdrawn or extended by Shane Homes without notice.

Conditions:
The referral letter must be presented to the Area Manager prior to the offer to purchase.
Shane Homes agrees to pay a $2,000.00 referral fee provided the following conditions are met:
1. You, the referrer, must make contact with Shane Homes referring your friend/relative prior to your friend/relative contacting Shane Homes.
2. Your friend/relative must be a customer we have not had previous contact with.
3. The referral letter must be completed in its entirety.
4. $2,000.00 is payable to you, the referrer, on removal of conditions and payment of the full deposit as per the contract.

PLUS Help us spread the word on Facebook and you will be entered for a chance to win a $150 VISA gift card.**

Simply:

1. Like Shane Homes on Facebook
2. Share the “Refer a Friend or Relative and Receive $2000” post

** One entry per person per day.  Draw to be made the week of January 4th, 2016.  Please note that if your privacy settings on Facebook do not allow us to see your shares, we will not be able to enter you in the contest.

To view the list of communities we build in in Calgary and Airdrie and for showhome locations click here or for more info on a specific community go to these links:

Calgary:

NW:  Sherwood;  Nolan Hill Semi-Estates, Nolan Hill, Urbana in Nolan (Street Towns)

NE:  Redstone

SW:  West Grove Point

SE:  New Brighton;  Cranston;  Legacy (Shane), Legacy (Creations),  Stonehedge in Legacy (Duplexes)

Airdrie:

SW:  Hillcrest (Shane), Hillcrest (Creations), Urbana in Hillcrest (Street Towns);  Midtown (Shane), Madera in Midtown (Street Towns), Midtown (Duplexes)

SE:  King’s Heights

 

 

Brandy, is taking us through her journey from design to completion.  This week Brandy will talk about furniture:

When it comes to selecting furniture, I start with seeing what is out there. I visit suppliers websites and look for items that stand out to me and that I think would pull the look together.  Then I print off spec sheets for each item.  For this showhome I am looking for something with a rustic feel, something with texture or shape to it and warm in colour.

I then pull samples of the interior palette that I have already selected (flooring, paint, wall tile and so on) and put the furniture spec sheets that I printed with the interior palette so I can start to picture how the different rooms will look. If I have a sample of the actual piece of flooring or wall tile I pull it from our Expressions Design Studio, but most of the time I have to use a picture  of the sample I see online and hope it looks the way I picture it.  When it comes to showhome selections we often select the newest products available, which we may not even stock in our Design Studio yet.

I then narrow down the options and keep what I think looks best.  As a designer this becomes quicker and easier the more times you do it.  For non-designers this can be a bit daunting.  I suggest going through magazines or researching online to find clips of rooms with furniture you like.   Pinterest, Houzz, Homzz and Google Search are just a few to suggest to check out.  This can help when you go shopping as you have seen an item in a room setting and know you liked it.  More advice:  don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for a second opinion and don’t rush the process.  Give yourself time to mull over decisions so that you can have some confidence that you are making the right ones.

When designing showhomes,  the opening date can get pushed back or move up just like a possession date.  The opening date for this particular showhome was moved  to Saturday, March 1.  Therefore, my next step once I selected a few options of furniture for each room is to check stock and pricing.  Anything that is not in stock is out as furniture needs to get ordered right away as delivery times on furniture can range from ? weeks to ? months. Once the items in stock are left I put my favorites out on the palette and add up the budget.

Often the first choices are over budget.  Yes, we are given a furniture budget per showhome that we must follow.  As a designer you decide which items are unique and really push the concept.  It is those items you might want to spend the money on and other items may be your second or third choice which are less expensive.  I then start ordering the furniture and wait for its arrival!

Our next update will be next week when Brandy will talk about drapery and wallpaper.

Never saw the previous blogs?  Please check them out in our Blog Archive.

The Showhome Design Process – Inside a Designer’s Head

The Showhome Design Process – Blog 2

At Shane Homes communication is very important – with our customers, with our trades and suppliers, partners, and with our staff.

In order to keep our staff well informed on what is going on in the company today, how our company is performing historically, and share our vision for the future, we hold bi-annual company meetings with all of our staff.  We also take this opportunity to reward our staff for their years of service.

Here are some of the highlights that we would like to share with you, and give you a ‘sneak peak’ of what goes on behind the scenes:

Shane Homes first condo project launched!

Nuovo by Shane Homes, Shane Homes multi-family division, launched The Mark 101 in Sage Hill with a fully furnished show suite and a Grand Opening Party that attracted over 400 people to check out this great condo project – the first from Shane Homes!

Community Involvement – RESOLVE campaign

Shane Homes is part of the RESOLVE campaign to help end homelessness in Calgary.  Shane Homes is one of a growing list of Calgary homebuilders that has pledged $15.4 million to build a series of apartment buildings to house vulnerable people who have nowhere to live.  Each homebuilder is pledging a Visionary donation which together with provincial funding will build eight apartment buildings of similar design in different locations around Calgary, as well as additional projects for homeless families and singles. Shane Homes will tentatively be starting construction of the “Prelude in Radisson Heights” on May 1, 2016, with construction scheduled to be completed March 1, 2017.

Community Involvement – The Peanut Butter Golf Classic

Shane Homes will once again be major sponsor of the annual Peanut Butter Classic Golf Tournament, now in its 13th year, on Monday, June 13th.  98% of the proceeds from this ladies only golf tournament goes to Alcove Recovery Residence for Women (previously called Youville Recovery Residence for Women).

Land Development

Wenzel Developments Inc. is part of the Shane Homes Group of Companies and specializes in land acquisition and development.  After years of planning and hundreds and hundreds of hours of work, Wenzel Developments launched their first community, in conjunction with Apex, Midtown in Airdrie.

Looking ahead, Wenzel Developments is working on land development in SW and NW Calgary and is constantly on the lookout for new land opportunities.

Service and Warranty

Dave Rickett, previously Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Shane Homes, recently took over managing  Operations and Cost Control.  In his new role as Senior Vice President of Operations and Cost Control, Dave has implemented a number of changes with some very positive results including:

• A decline in deficiencies upon move in due to process improvements in pre-occupancy inspections.
• Increase in customer satisfaction in our service department as we now follow up with the customer within 24 hours after each service call to ensure that the service is done to our customer’s satisfaction.

Sales, Marketing, Interior Design & Drafting

In the building industry, Spring is a very popular time for showhome openings, this spring was no different with Shane Homes opening:

• 2 street town showhomes in Urbana in Nolan Hill
• 3 single family showhomes with front double attached garage in Midtown in Airdrie and Redstone
• 4 furnished duplex showhomes in Legacy in SE Calgary and Midtown in Airdrie

But that’s not it!  We have more scheduled to open in the upcoming months:

• Hillcrest – Street town – April 30
• Midtown in Airdrie – Street towns – May 5
• Cornerstone in NE Calgary – Duplex and laned single family homes – July 2016 and single family homes with front double attached garage in August 2016

In Part II of this Blog we will announce the Years of Service Awards

“It all began over a cold tuna fish sandwich.”  That is how Alan Norris, Chair of the RESOLVE Campaign, and President and CEO, Brookfield Residential Properties, tells the story of how 11 Calgary home builders got together and decided to help RESOLVE build 11 residences to house the homeless in Calgary.

And Cal Wenzel, CEO/CVO of the Shane Homes Group of Companies was one of the first ones to put up his hands and say “I’m in” when Alan asked a group of builders who wanted to collaborate on an initiative to help the homeless.

From Left:  Alan Norris and Cal Wenzel

Fast forward to May 16, 2017, when the grand opening of Prelude was held, almost one year exactly from the ground breaking ceremony held on May 18, 2016.

Prelude is a permanent supportive housing development that will provide homes for 23 formerly homeless and vulnerable Calgarians. The apartment was built by Shane Homes Ltd., and NUOVO by Shane Homes as a part of their ‘Visionary’ donation to the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) through the RESOLVE Campaign. The Alex Community Health Centre will provide client supports for the new residents, with HomeSpace Society as the property developer, owner and manager.

Plenty of attention to detail was built into Prelude to make it energy efficient, safe and very comfortable for the residents.  Some of these features include:

Energy efficient:

• Double pane windows
• Boiler/radiant system that heats every suite and office as opposed to forced flow heat
• The building has a make-up air (MUA ) unit to transfer and recycle the air in the building as well as keep the common areas warm in the winter and cool in the summer
• 2 large hot water tanks with re-circulating pumps
• Fully automatic irrigation system

Safe:

• Plenty of interior and exterior cameras
• Shatterproof windows
• 24 hour monitoring and control of resident access to the building
• Automatic shut off of stoves in resident suites after 3 minutes of not being used
• Multiple suites for accessible access for those in wheel chairs
• Grab bars installed in place of towel bars in the bathrooms, allowing dual usage as a towel bar and as a strong handle to grab if you need assistance getting in and out of the shower
• All of the suites have showers as opposed to tubs, creating a more accessible space for residents of all mobility
• All windows have limited opening ability for safety purposes (3-4″)
• Electrical panels are designated per floor instead of each suite for resident safety
• Custom elevator for easy barrier free access to each floor
• Built in fire sprinkler system

Comfortable:

• Luxury vinyl plank flooring
• 23 Private bachelor suites with a three piece bathroom, kitchen with cooktop and fridge and a dining and sleeping area
• Common room with comfortable couches for get togethers
• Community kitchens with industrial strength dishwashers
• Bike storage area on in the basement

Additional Features:

• Designated resource spaces on each floor
• Community garden in the backyard
• Community laundry room

Residents will start moving in on June 1^st.

“We are grateful to have been able to be part of the RESOLVE Campaign and participate in the worthy cause of building homes for Calgarians experiencing homelessness, “ says Cal Wenzel of CEO of The Shane Homes Group of Companies. Prelude is a partnership between Shane Homes, HomeSpace Society, The Alex Community Health Centre, RESOLVE and Calgary Homeless Foundation and is a great representation of what can happen when we all come together to get things done. The result of this work is that another 23 people have a place to call home. We know that this building really is a ‘prelude’ to something great for Calgary.”

The Shane Homes Group Team at the Opening:


Wheel Chair Accessible Units:







Typical Bachelor Suite:





Common Rooms

What an interesting time it is to say the least. The past few weeks have been unbelievable and so much has changed. COVID-19 has pushed many businesses to change how they operate, including us.
We have put new measures in place in many areas of our business to ensure the safety of our customers and employees.

Our sales centers and showhomes are open; however, most homebuyers are making appointments – this allows us to ensure only one group is in at a time and that we are adhering to social distancing.

Going virtual – If you are self-isolating, we can still connect in other ways. Our Area Managers & Interior Designers can FaceTime with you, walking you through the showhome, reviewing lots, and help you make design choices. There are also 3D tours of our showhomes available on our website. Many of our vendors are also working with customers virtually.

What about our current builds?  We are doing our best to keep everything on track, while keeping our employees and customers safe. We will continue to operate and build homes as our business is deemed an essential service. Some selections may not be available or could be delayed so we suggest choosing a couple back up options with your interior designer.

Why would you buy a new home right now? There is a unique opportunity tobuy a new home right now since interest rates are so low. We will see the rates start to rise shorty so there is a limited time to take advantage. Some people are only thinking about the immediate future, investors are looking ahead and recognizing the ROI over a longer time frame.

Spreading positivity throughout the community - We just launched a fun contest to give our community a good laugh, spread positivity and support 3 lucky winners with local prizes for things families need!
We encourage people to share their comical family experiences with us! From home schooling to baking disasters, working from home fails, creative games and videos your children have made - the options are endless! Tag @shanehomes including the #stayhomewithshane on Facebook, Tik Tok, Youtube, or Instagram to enter.

What are we doing to ensure our customers and employees are safe? We are sanitizing before and after we have visitors and asking those who wish to come in the below questions. When people arrive, we ask that they wash their hands and to not touch finishes.
We ask that you refrain from visiting our showhomes or Design Studio in person if you answer 'YES' to any of the following questions:

1. Have you traveled from one of the areas where there is a high risk of COVID-19?
2. Have you been in close contact with someone who has returned from one of the countries that is high risk for COVID-19 and/or are you feeling unwell?
3. Are you experiencing any symptoms including: headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever?

We hope you take care and we look forward to working with you.
 

Shane Homes Jerseys Make their way to Ghana, Africa

Tuesday, December 13th, 2016

Saturday, April 18, 2015 was the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) – Calgary Region 2014 SAM Awards.  For those unfamiliar with this event, for Calgary Home Builders, Renovators, Developers and Partners, it is the Academy Awards of the Calgary building industry, culminating in a star-studded (of the building industry!) gala at the Telus Convention Centre.

The SAM Awards celebrate innovation and excellence in Calgary and area’s residential construction industry.

Companies submit entries for 58 awards in 10 categories, including sales and marketing awards and new home awards (single and multi-family).  Three finalists per category are selected from industry judges, and the awards are presented with over 1600 in attendance at the Telus Convention Centre with guests wearing their finest formal attire at a beautiful gala, complete with a fabulous meal and entertainment.

Competition is fierce with everyone entering what they consider to be ‘the best of the best’ according to their customers and sales and marketing teams!  Their best showhome, their best sales centre, their best sales team and more are entered.  Unfortunately there can only be one winner per category.

Shane Homes was honoured to be a finalist in three categories and to take home the award for Best New Home in the $295,000 – $334,999 category for our Fiesta II showhome in Hillcrest in Airdrie.

Our Nolan Hill sales team also placed third for Sales Team of the Year – Single Family based on sales volume!  Congratulations to Deb Gearey and Jeff Luif!  Way to go Team!  They are actually family – brother and sister.

It is always fun for our Shane Homes staff to get dressed up for this fun event.  Here are some photos from the evening.

From Left: Shane Wenzel, President, Brenda Kasianiuk, Social Media/Sales/Marketing Associate, Myke Thomas, Calgary Sun, Homes Editor

Kevin Taylor, General Manager Nuovo by Shane Homes, and his wife Patty

 

Last year we wrote a Blog about Natasha, one of our interior designers, who was in the process of building a narrow lot line home in the northwest Calgary community of Nolan Hill.  Read more here.

Natasha and her finance have now moved into their new Shane home.

Our purchasers continue to say that one of the top reasons to buy from Shane Homes is the ability to customize their floorplan, whether they are a staff member or non staff.

Natasha said that her and and her finance “decided to buy a narrow lot line home. The lots are a bit smaller so they are more affordable, but you can still fit a spacious model on it. We purchased the Fiesta II and modified it to what fit our lifestyle best.

“We picked a floorplan with an open main floor design with the optional kitchen layout that includes all the built-ins with a bump out nook as we enjoy entertaining our family and friends a lot so having an open plan was definitely a requirement. The upper floor already had a fantastic good sized bonus room over the garage with two spare bedrooms which was a requirement as we needed a room for our guests but also a separate area for working out.”

 Natasha says that “two changes that we made that were very important to us were to make the kitchen and ensuite larger. These are the two rooms we spend most of your time in so we made sure they were designed perfectly to suit our lifestyle.”

Here are some photos of their new home along with some of the customizations that they made to the floor plan:

Customization:

Natasha:  The one requirement from my fiance was to extend the garage, as we purchased a narrow lot home. In order for his truck and my car to fit in and still have room to comfortably walk around we decided to widen and lengthen the garage.

Customization:

Natasha:  We like the look of having one cohesive flow of flooring from the front door to the back door. We upgraded our entire main floor to hardwood (other than the mudroom). By eliminating the transitions between each room we can get a more open feel to the floorplan and visually it is more pleasing.

Customization:

Natasha:  We like to entertain so having a larger kitchen with space to cook and for a lot of friends and family to converse in comfortably is important to us.  Also, we didn’t want to have open space above the upper cabinets so we added tall kitchen cabinets with riser and crown to take it to the ceiling.

Customizations:

Natasha:  We moved the fireplace from the corner wall to the side exterior wall. This allows for better furniture placement around the fireplace and creates more of a feature wall in the living room that everyone can see when they walk in.

Customizations:

Natasha:  In the ensuite we not only increased the size of the shower but we also added in two shower heads. Storage in a bathroom is important so we changed the vanity to have double sinks with drawers down the middle.

Natasha says that “Even though we bought a narrow lot we could still make many adjustments to our new home and we LOVE IT!”

Shane Homes – The Better Way to Build.

#betterwaytobuild

It takes the talents, skills and dedication of a variety of experts to build a home.

Relationships must be cultivated and maintained with developers in order to be able to offer a selection of communities to build in, layouts designed, floorplans drawn, homes plotted just right on the lot, exterior selections made, architecturals approved, basements dug, concrete poured, walls framed, interior colours selected and so on and so on and so on …

Plus, in the mix, an experienced, knowledgeable Sales Team is required to help our customers select and customize their floorplans to suit their unique tastes and lifestyle, an Interior Design Team to help turn our customers visions for their dream home into a reality by helping them with all of their interior and exterior colour and finishing choices, and a Service Team to help out after move in if there are any issues!

At Shane Homes we have around 120 staff who work in the following departments: Drafting and Design, Sales & Marketing, Accounting, Estimating, Interior Design, Service, and Construction.

Every month we will be profiling a different member of our Team so you can get to know us better plus you will have the chance to learn more about our industry.

This edition of “Get to Know Shane Homes” features a member of our Sales Team:  Deb Gearey

10 things you may or may not know about Deb:

#10  Deb Gearey is our Area Manager in SkyView Ranch. She has worked in a variety of communities including SkyView Ranch, Panorama Hills (yes – we purchased some lots there and will be building for a short time in this community) and Crestmont in Calgary and King’s Heights in Airdrie.

#9 Deb has 2 children and loves being a wife and mom.
(Below with her daughter in centre volunteering at Shane Homes Family Fun Day in 2008)

#8 Deb enjoys  her home filled with family, friends, music and dogs!

#7 Deb is known for her enthusiasm and is passionate about the process of planning a new home, guiding clients through the building process with professionalism, knowledge, kindness and sincerity.

#6 The love of making customers new home dreams come to life runs deep in Deb’s family with her father, Bob, and brother, Jeff, both having long term careers in new home sales and being great role models. Deb’s husband, Dave, also is an Area Manager for Creations by Shane Homes in Nolan Hill!

#5 Deb is much loved by her clients!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1LOM1hbE7I&list=PL3jpgyxXkU8Gf5vhDFojJAr3vuEglmxOl&index=11

#4 Deb’s favourite part about her job:   “Building a customer’s dream home is an 8 month endeavour in which you get to know the customer quite well and quite often you become a psychologist and a confidante.  I love helping people and building relationships with people.”

#3  A memorable experience that stands out to Deb:  “I worked with one couple and fudged the possession date with the husband so he could enter the home a day earlier and decorate it with dozens of red roses and balloons.  Then the day of possession he had a limo pick up his wife and friends and family were waiting in the house when they arrived.  Telling that story always makes me tear up as they didn’t think they’d ever be able to afford a brand new home.”

#2 Does Deb live in a Shane home?  “I do.  We bought a Capilano model 10 years ago and were just planning to stay there for a couple years but we are still there!  We are thinking about building a new home one day but we live in Valley Ridge and are very happy there!  The kids, my husband, the dogs, they all love our house.  Would be hard to move!  My brother and parents live really close by as well so if we did ever look at buying a new home, we’d want to stay close to my family still.”

#1 Deb has been helping our customers build their dream Shane home since 1999.

Go to our list of Showhome locations to see where Deb is currently working and please stop by to meet Deb and say hello! 

So, you’re looking into buying your first home — congratulations! This is a huge milestone and we’re so excited to help you embark on this journey. 

Your first home is often the place where you grow your family, start new traditions and make memories that last a lifetime. It can be an incredibly exciting chapter of your life but it can also be overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. 

Fortunately, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re giving first-time homebuyers like yourself everything you need to know about buying your first home. We believe that buying your first home shouldn’t be stressful. Let us walk you through everything you need to know so you can enjoy this exciting new experience. 

Deciding Whether You're Ready to Buy a Home

Before we get started, let’s figure out whether now is the right time for you to start your home buying journey. There are a few variables you might want to consider to ensure that you’re setting yourself up for financial success. 

If you meet all of these recommendations, you’re in great shape for your first home purchase. If not, don’t worry! Homeownership is not necessarily out of reach. For example, you might just need a bit more time to pay off your current debts or you might decide to move ahead with becoming a homeowner anyways. In this case, there are a few benefits for first-time homebuyers that can help. We’ll discuss these later in the article. 

Your Income

When looking to purchase a house, there is no set income requirement. However, it is important to consider whether your income sources are steady and reliable. 

Another consideration is deciding how much you can afford based on your income. Even if you get pre-approved for a large mortgage, you may choose to purchase a home for a lower home purchase price. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) recommends your monthly housing costs be less than 35% of your gross monthly income. Housing costs include your mortgage payment and other costs associated with owning a home, like property tax and utilities. Keep reading to find out more about homeownership costs. 

Your Current Debts

Although it is often possible to get a mortgage with current debts, this depends on your total debt service (TDS) ratio. This number represents your mortgage lender or bank’s assessment of your ability to make monthly payments on your debts. If your mortgage broker or bank determines that you are incapable of making monthly payments, you might be out of luck when it comes to getting a mortgage right now. 

According to Investopedia, here is the formula for calculating your total debt service ratio: TDS = (annual mortgage payments + property taxes + other debt payments) divided by your gross family income. 

If your TDS ratio exceeds 43%, you may have trouble finding a lender who will give you a qualified mortgage (Investopedia). 

Your Credit Score

When buying a home, lenders often use your credit score to determine your ability to handle financial responsibility. Although lenders will have varying requirements for your credit score, most lenders will not approve you for a mortgage if you have a credit score under 650. 

Your Savings

Recommendations on how much money you should save prior to buying a house can vary greatly. Some people recommend you save at least 5% of the cost of your house, while others recommend you save enough money to cover two months of mortgage payments. Note that these savings are in addition to the amount you save for your down payment! 

Saving Up to Buy a Home

After reading the section above, you might have determined that you need to save a bit more money before you’re ready to buy a home. If so, don’t fret! There are a few ways you can approach this, which we have outlined below. You can also check out our previous blog post for more tips on saving money for your first home purchase. 

Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)

A TFSA is a savings account that allows you to save money and withdraw money tax-free. The money you contribute to your TFSA or money earned in the account is not deductible for income tax purposes. 

Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)

An RRSP is another type of savings account in which you can deposit money to save in the long term. Contrary to its name, the account can be used to save money for more than just retirement! With this account, you’ll only be taxed when you withdraw money from the account.

The Home Buyer’s Plan (HBP)

Although you typically have to pay taxes when withdrawing money from your RRSP, there is a caveat. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, the HBP allows you to withdraw up to $35,000 tax-free from your RRSP to purchase your first home. 

Understanding & Planning for Expenses 

As we’ve already discussed, your monthly mortgage payments and down payment aren’t the only costs associated with buying a home. Here are a few costs, fees, and expenses that you need to consider when saving for your first home. 

Closing Costs

Closing costs are the costs that you will need to pay to close the purchase of your home. You can typically expect to spend between 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price of a resale home on closing costs. Here are some of the closing costs that you can expect when buying a home:

• Land transfer tax
• Legal fees
• Title insurance 
• GST on a new home purchase

Insurance

In Canada, you need home insurance in order to get a mortgage. Here are two types of insurance you will likely need when purchasing your first home. 

Mortgage Default Insurance

If you buy your home with a down payment that is less than 20% of the cost of your home (which most first-time homebuyers do), you will need to purchase the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) mortgage default insurance. This insurance protects lenders in case you default on your loan.

Property Insurance

Unless you purchase your home in full (which is extremely rare for first-time buyers), you will need property insurance when owning a home in Canada. The cost of home insurance will vary depending on the location of your home, your house type, and other risks. However, most homeowners in Canada can expect to pay around $960 per year on home insurance (Ratehub). 

Taxes

As discussed some taxes such as land transfer tax and GST are included in your closing costs. You should also be prepared to pay property taxes when owning a home. Most municipalities have their own property tax calculators to help you understand the property taxes required based on the value of your home. For example, here is the City of Calgary’s property tax calculator. 

Homeowner Association Fees

When purchasing a home it’s also a good idea to find out whether there is a homeowners association (HOA) in the community. HOAs can set their own mandatory fees and these fees can vary greatly. If you don’t pay your homeowner association fees, you could face legal action. 

Condo Fees

For those purchasing a condo, condo fees are a monthly expense that need to be considered. Look into the condo fees associated with your desired condo building before making your condo purchase to ensure you can afford these costs on a regular basis.

Getting Pre-Approval for Your Mortgage

Before you start shopping around for your first home, it’s a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage. That way you don’t get your hopes up for a house that you simply can’t afford. 

If you’re looking to build a home, you’ll need pre-approval before you start the home building process. Real estate agents may also require you to be pre-approved for a mortgage before they will spend time showing you houses. 

Lenders will look at factors like your current debt and income in order to decide how much they will give you to purchase your home. 

When deciding on a lender, it’s always a good idea to use a mortgage calculator to compare interest rates and get a better idea of your monthly mortgage payments. However, your true mortgage calculation will come down to the lender’s decision. 

Making a Down Payment 

Saving up for a down payment can be a real challenge for first-time homebuyers, especially when you realize you need to save for a wide range of other costs as well. 

Fortunately, you have a few options when it comes to making a down payment. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to save for a 20% down payment in order to buy a home. In fact, most people don’t! Although there are benefits to putting down a larger down payment, such as reduced interest costs and lower monthly payments, you can purchase a house with a down payment as low as 5% of the purchase price. 

Benefits for First-Time Home Buyers

If you’re getting a bit worried about all of the costs associated with buying your first home, there is light at the end of the tunnel. First-time homebuyers in Canada are fortunate to have a number of tax credits and other incentives that can make home-buying more affordable. Here are some benefits that you should know about before buying your first home in Canada: 

• First Time Home Buyer Incentive 
• First Time Home Buyer’s Tax Credit
• GST/HST New Housing Rebate

 

Buying vs. Building a Home

Finally, before you start the home buying process, you need to decide whether you want to buy a home or build a home. For many first-time buyers, building a home is a dream that seems out of reach. At Shane Home, we’re here to help you make that dream a reality. 

With our new Build and Price tool, you can design the home of your dreams and find out exactly how much your dream home will cost. 

There are many benefits associated with building a home: 

• You don’t need to pay for any renovations.
• New home builds in Alberta are covered by the New Home Buyer Protection Act. 
• You can often customize your home to make it exactly what you want. 
• You don’t have to worry about losing a bidding war. 
• You can often take advantage of better security measures and smart home features. 

 

Shane Homes Can Help You Build Your Dream Home

At Shane Homes, we take pride in being your partner through the home buying journey. We’re honoured to help first-time homebuyers throughout Calgary and Airdrie build houses that they’re proud to call home. 

Let us help you make your first home buying experience rewarding and stress-free. Take a look at our stunning home models and the fantastic communities where we’re currently building, or use our Build and Price tool to start pricing out your new home today. 

Shane Homes is a major sponsor of the Peanut Butter Classic charity golf tournament.  They first started sponsoring this event in 2010 and since then have committed to being a major sponsor until 2015.

The Peanut Butter Classic is a ladies only charity golf tournament that was created by founder, Heather Forsyth, MLA for Calgary – Fish Creek  in 2003.  Who knew back then that 10 years later, the idea she conceived of while having coffee with the girls would flourish and evolve into a major event involving over 250 people and raising over $930,000 in 10 years – not to mention generating thousands of jars of peanut butter!  (Each golfer is required to bring a jar of peanut butter!)

My name is Brenda and I am in charge of Shane Homes’ Social Media plus I am one of the Directors on the Peanut Butter Classic volunteer committee, along with Rhonda Halyn, our Vice President of Finance.  Rhonda and I became involved with the Peanut Butter Classic through Shane Homes major sponsorship and we are both proud to be involved with this event.  Our 10th anniversary tournament took place on Monday, June 10th – 1oth anniversary tournament on the 10th of June!

The tournament is organized entirely by volunteers and the chosen charity receives 98% of the funds raised.  As a committee we keep our expenses down to a bare minimum!

Since Shane Homes has become major sponsor for the PBC our recipient charity has been Youville Recovery Residence for Women.


  As a committee member, I thought I’d share a behind the scenes look at this tournament.  The volunteers start planning the tournament soon after the June tournament ends as the golf course needs to be booked almost a year in advance.  Once the final figure is determined that will go to the recipient charity, a cheque presentation takes place at one of the residences operated by the Youville Recovery Residence in September or October.  The committee has approximately 20 members and meets monthly starting in December, then weekly starting in May, the month prior to the tournament.  We have sub groups within our committee responsible for sponsorships, marketing/communication, registration, on course activities, golf course, prizes, and silent auction.

The volunteers on our committee are from a variety of companies and industries.  The ladies on the committee are as diverse as the industries … we have one MLA, one alderperson, a lawyer, a bank manager, a stay at home Mom, and more.  Companies include law firms, plumbing company, Calgary Board of Education, pharmaceutical companies, and more.
This year the PBC broke a lot of our previously set records:
 

1. Raised most money ever with over $200,000;  over $930,000 raised in 10 years!
2. Generated 636 jars of peanut butter;  over 2636 jars presented to Calgary Interfaith Food Bank since our inception!Calgary Interfaith Food Bank accepting the peanut butter that each of our golfers was required to bring – otherwise a $20 fee!
3. Over 228 golfers on a 27 hole course rather than our normal 144 golfers on 18 hole course!
4. Heather Forsyth was interviewed prior to the tournament by a local radio station – Kool 101.5
5. 3 media sponsors – The Calgary Sun, The Calgary Herald, New Home Living
6. 20 members on our Volunteer Committee:  Heather Forsyth, Diane Colley-Urquhart (Alderman, Ward 13), Ann Logue, Anne Christopoulos, Franca Best, Traci Laliberte, Wendy Keegan, Janice Tiberio, Rhonda Halyn, Brenda Kasianiuk, Fatima Remtulla, Donna Carson, Cathy Spackman, Cheryll Nandee, Deb Solberg, Janey Chupik, Jeaninne Zanewich, Susan Mauro, Jennifer Wainwright and Linda Carlson.
   
   2013 Peanut Butter Classic Executive & Organizing Committee
7. 10^th year anniversary
8. First ever online auction
9. Over approx. 200 companies involved!  That’s 44 sponsors, 76 prize donors, 52 silent auction donors, and over 31 special thanks!
10. Most men on course ever!  This year we had 12 Calgary Firefighters participate on 6 holes selling drives to our ladies!  Plus Ken McCurdy Photography who photographed our event!
    
    
    One of the Calgary Firefighters, 10 year supporters of PBC

The Calgary Firefighters have been involved with the tournament since the tournament’s inception.  They help liven things up on tournament day and happily pose with golfers as well as generating money for our chosen charity by selling drives.

As a committee we are already making plans to meet at the end of the month to debrief, then in September we will have our cheque presentation with Youville.

For more info, please read our Press Release issued just before the tournament.

To view a photo gallery from the tournament please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/PeanutButterClassic

For more information on Shane Homes’ Community Involvement please visit:  http://www.shanehomes.com/shane/About/CommunityInvolvement/3

PS  On a side note, after Rhonda first toured one of the Youville residences that was  in need of repair, she conceived the idea of possibly helping them with maintenance and repair during our less busy times as a company and we are proud to say that we have committed to helping them as much as possible to keep their expenses down.  What happens if we have a spare fridge or dishwasher?  It goes to Youville …

Fatima, one of our committee members made this gorgeous 10th Anniversary cake!

Are you building a new home or looking at renovating your bath?  Want to add an extra touch of flair to your bath to really give it that spa-like vibe?

Natasha, one of our talented interior designers, has a design tip to share:

“I designed our newest Shane Homes showhome in Redstone, the Tofino II.

To add extra pizzazz to the five piece deluxe ensuite I chose pendant lights rather than the standard wall mounted vanity lights, plus I extended the backsplash tile to the ceiling.  This creates the illusion of a “higher” ceiling while the pendant fixtures are a beautiful way to add a piece of “jewelry” to your décor.  This style of lighting also adds a glow that will compliment the lighting around it by reducing shadows and glare and for ladies doing their make-up in the bathroom, they will appreciate this detail.”

Natasha also used the backsplash tile as a border around the corner tub.

For more photos of this showhome please browse the photo gallery.

Since 1979, Shane Homes has been deeply rooted in Calgary and the surrounding communities. With over three decades of homebuilding experience, Shane Homes knows the importance of listening to customers, and continues to approach each new project with the same enthusiasm as the first. Over the years, we have developed and changed multiple programs and offerings to ensure our customers always receive the home they deserve. To help you envision the magic of building your Shane Home, we have put together a list of the top 10 reasons why building with Shane Homes is the right choice for you:

Quality, Local Craftsmanship, and Service
At Shane, our experience has made us the perfect choice to build the home you’ve always wanted. As Calgary owned and operated company, we have over 30 years of homebuilding experience. We are proud to provide industry leading quality craftsmanship, and a personalized approach to each and every new home we build. Building with Shane means you get an experienced, expert touch!

Community Involvement & Variety
Since Shane’s inception in 1979, co-founder Cal Wenzel has had the philosophy that the company would do more than build quality homes. In addition to giving our all for each customer, Shane Homes works hard to help the Calgary community grow and flourish. Shane Homes builds in a wide variety of highly sought after communities within Calgary and the surrounding area, and we are devoted to contributing to a number of charitable endeavours that support health and wellness within those communities. When you choose to build with Shane, you can rest assured that your home will be in a nurtured and cared for community.

Love It, or Customize It!
At Shane Homes, we understand that there is no “one size fits all” approach to homebuilding. We have a wide selection of innovative and efficient home plans with multiple floor plan options for customers to choose from. Though many new homebuyers are able to find the home that suits their needs, others would like to see a modification or two to the plans we offer. That’s fine with us! We believe in ensuring our customers get exactly what they are looking for in a new home. Customers can redesign the kitchen, add a bedroom or even increase the width of the home. Building with Shane takes your vision and makes it a reality!

Expressions Design Studio
We believe that it is important for customers to see every option available, and have help along the way to bring their ideas to life. The Expressions Design Studio has 5000 sq. ft. of design options offering a wide variety of interior and exterior selections all in one location, saving you time and allowing for immediate pricing in many instances. The studio also has browsing days with flexible hours during which customers are welcome to come in and view selections. When you purchase a Shane home, you’ll have a professional interior designer at your service to create the home that perfectly suits your lifestyle.

The Shane Difference
When you choose to build with Shane Homes, you are getting so much more than a quality constructed home. Throughout your journey, you will have a dedicated team to help you through the entire building process. We engage in ongoing dialogue with our customers before construction begins, during the building process and after you move in. We provide customer orientations; encourage personal meetings with the project manager prior to start of construction; and conduct three customer surveys at the time of the sale, at occupancy and at the one year anniversary. We also have “listening groups” with our customers to collect feedback which allows us to further refine our programs and services. When you build with Shane Homes, you get a team committed to working with you during the entire process.

Piece of Mind Guarantee
Building your new home is a big commitment and we want you to be comfortable with your choice. At Shane, we guarantee the price of your home once the agreement has been signed, and we guarantee your possession date at framing walk-through to allow for peace of mind. This means you can confidently make your move-in plans without having to worry about any date changes or roadblocks along the way. Building with Shane provides you with the piece of mind to be confident in your choice to build a new home.

Quality Trades & Suppliers
The success of Shane Homes is due in no small part to our loyal trades and suppliers. At Shane, we believe that our staff, trades, partners, and suppliers are the “backbone” of our company. Our staff create a culture that is consistent and caring, ensuring our long-term trades and suppliers are not on a “revolving door”. They are selected because they are talented experts in their field, who offer high quality products and a commitment to the highest level of customer service. When you build with Shane, you’re getting the best we have to offer.

Shane’s My Home Secure Customer Login
From the pre-building phase to move-in day, building with Shane allows customers the opportunity to stay up to date and involved throughout the entire homebuilding process. Our secure customer only login section of our website called MYHOME provides customers with online access to all of their documentation and important timelines. Nowhere else can a customer take such a hands-on approach to their new home build!

Dedication to Bringing You the Best
Average doesn’t cut it at Shane Homes. When you purchase a new home, you want it to be reliable, safe, and able to last for generations to come. That is exactly what we provide customers with! Our specifications are well thought out and are above industry standards. Our dedication to surpassing standards is shown in our certification as a Master Builder and our affiliations with the Canadian Home Builders Association and the Alberta New Home Warranty Program. Building a Shane home means that you are getting a safe and dependable home backed by a reliable team.

Shane Family Rewards Program
Shane Homes is excited to show their appreciation to everyone who buys a home from us! When you buy from Shane Homes, you automatically receive a “Shane Homes Boom Rewards Card”. As a valued homeowner, you will receive preferred pricing and value-added promotions from a variety of quality merchant partners of Boom Group. Whether you want to purchase a weekend getaway, car and home insurance, tickets to local entertainment or spa services, this program will help you save money.

When you choose to build with Shane Homes, it’s easy to find or create the home of your dreams. From start to finish, the Shane Homes team is there to work with you to deliver exactly what you are looking for in a new home. When you choose to build with Shane Homes, you are guaranteed to create the home you deserve.
 

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!  And who can’t use a little help coming up with ideas on how to surprise your sweetheart on this special day?  We asked some of our staff here at Shane Homes for ideas.  Hopefully one of these ideas will inspire you to do something special for your significant other.

Top ten romantic things to do on Valentine’s Day:

1. Have a romantic dinner at Heritage Park’s Selkirk Grille.
2. Have a romantic dinner at the Calgary Tower at Ruth’s Chris Steak House or SKY 360 Restaurant.
3. Couples massage at Riverside Spa.
4. Skating at Bowness Park with hot chocolate after.
5. Book a room at a local boutique hotel such as the Kensington Riverside Inn for dinner and an overnight stay.  Check out their Valentine’s Day special menu on Feb 13 and 14.
6. Go snow tubing at Mount Norquay for the day and then warm up in the Banff Hot Springs after.
7. Propose to your fiancé at one of Calgary’s famous landmarks.
8. Enjoy a snowshoe  excursion or cross country ski trip in Kananaskis Country and then stay overnight at the Kananaskis Lodge.
9. Go for a dogsled ride in Canmore, then for dinner and  stay overnight in Canmore.
10. Watch 50 Shades of Grey at your favorite theatre.

We couldn’t resist adding just one more idea …

11. Take a tour of one of Shane Homes’ Showhomes and fantasize about your dream home and future together.  :)

Creations by Shane Homes first Street Town project, Urbana in Nolan Hill, will be opening Saturday, Nov. 15 at 12 pm!

Here is a sneak peak at our Presentation Centre and Selections Studio:

Our customers will be able to pick their design selections at the Selections Studio at the Presentation Centre, saving them time and adding convenience:

Check out the 5 floor plans we are offering varying from 1368 – 1580 sq. ft. :  the Aldyn, Ardis, Deco, Milan and Verto.

Specifications include:

• stainless steel appliances
• ensuites with walk-in shower
• high efficiency furnace
• granite counter tops in kitchen and full baths
• detached double car garage
• fenced backyard
• patio or deck
• 9′ main floor ceiling

For more info visit our Presentation Centre at 519 Nolan Hill Drive NW, Calgary, call Deb or Jamie at 403-536-2315, or email them at [email protected]

Creations by Shane Homes is proud to have recently launched our first Street Town project with no condo fees – Urbana in Nolan Hill!

In November of 2014 we launched our Urbana in Nolan Hill street town project – the first street town project from Creations by Shane Homes.  We are now over 50% sold out of the entire project!  Construction is coming along nicely and our new homeowners and potential homeowners are now able to take a tour of each of the 6 floor plans that we offer, including the Verto, but please bear in mind that they are construction zones and you need to be dressed appropriately in order to tour them.

To view the additional models you can build in Urbana, the Aldyn, Ardis, Deco, Milan, and Turin, either click on the model name or go to the community page.

The Verto features:

• 1525 sq. ft.
• 3 bedrooms
• 2.5 baths
• owners suite features an over sized walk-in shower and separate walk-in closet
• second floor laundry

To view the specifications that this home is built with visit our model page.  Here are some photos we took July 15, 2015.

All of the street town homes come with a double detached garage, front and rear landscaping including trees and shrubs in both the front and back yard, a patio or deck and a maintenance free chain link fenced back yard.


Looking from the kitchen to the front living room.  The 9′ main floor ceiling adds to the feeling of spaciousness.

This home has a good sized kitchen for the square footage.  Finishings include granite counters and a stainless steel appliance package.


Notice the handy rear mudroom with a closet for storage plus the pantry closet in the kitchen for extra storage.  The door at the front left is to the main floor half bath.


Oversized walk-in shower in the owner’s suite

Visit Deb and Jamie for more info at 519 Nolan Hill Drive NW, Calgary.

Phone Number:  403-536-2318

Email:  [email protected]   [email protected]

 

Kal Macdonald, interior design supervisor for Shane Homes and Creations by Shane Homes

Source:  New Home Guide, Dec. 5, 2014 – Jan. 2, 2015 Volume 17 Issue 13 Page 16

Q: Do you have any tips for warming my home’s decor during the winter and holiday season?
A: “During the winter you want to add warmth to your home by bringing in rustic elements to make it cosy,” says Kal Macdonald, interior design supervisor for Shane Homes and Creations by Shane Homes. “Adding faux fur blankets, throws and pillows on sofas and beds will make those rooms feel warmer and we’re seeing a lot more hand-knit pillows and cushions that add warmth and look great.”

“You can also add warm metals like copper, bronze, and rose gold for accessories such as lamps, vases, and wall art,” he says. “In the winter I also fill my home with candles. Battery-powered candles with mini LED lights have come a long way; some are even made of wax so they look very realistic and some even give off a scent.”

If you want to get rid of that stark feeling in a room, Macdonald suggests using grasscloth wallpaper, “which is making a comeback. It can really make a room feel cosy; you can put in on all walls in the bedroom and the effect is outstanding.”

As for winter colours, he notes, that “gone are the days of burgundy and hunter green, a lot of people are warming their home with deep navy, camel and cashmere colours that look warm and updated.”

For the holiday season, Macdonald sees two new trends in decorating developing. “The first is the vintage 1920s look with a lot of art deco, hurricane lamps, mercury glass ornaments and vases, beaded table runners and ornaments.

“The second is the rise in non-traditional Christmas colours so we’re seeing hot pink and apple green, oranges and rust colours, and white and sky blue.”
Macdonald also notes a trend toward using table runners instead of table clothes this year, and “the newest trend in outside decor we’re seeing is adding permanent Christmas LED lights in the eaves that remain out of sight most of the year.”

And, while outside, he says, don’t forget to dress up the front porch by filling empty flower pots with willow branches and pine boughs and adding a festive mat and wreath.

For more tips from Kal on Interior Design visit our You Tube channel:

Tile Trends

Carpet Trends

Trends in Countertops

Tips for Interior Colour Palettes

Our Expressions Design Studio is complete!

Our first customer Browsing Day was Sunday, October 6th, 2013, and early response from our Interior Designer who was on hand to help our customers was that “customers had less questions and were able to more easily find samples”.  And those who saw our Design Studio previously said we weren’t kidding when we said we were renovating as the space looks completely different and fresh!

Some of our favourite features:

10  Two spacious bright consultation areas for our Interior Designers to meet with customers.

9  Media room for kids to watch a movie while Mom and Dad are making selections.  Great space to keep the kids occupied and happy!

8  Insulation, hot water tank and programmable thermostats:  who puts these in their Design Studios?  We do.  They may not be the prettiest, but they play an integral role in making sure you are comfortable in your home.  We have dedicated a portion of our studio to these selections.



7  Abundance of lighting from artificial and natural light and heaps of interior and exterior samples including rail, stain, cabinets, carpet, hardwood, laminate, tile, granite, quartz, fireplace mantles, door hardware, stone, siding and more!  Plus we have expanded our finishing options to include more base/case packages, ceiling mouldings, mantles and interior doors.

6  The colour, style and trend displays featured at the entry help our customers to quickly identify their style, colour preference and see current trends.


5  Well thought out displays such as these tile boards which display different tile patterns to make it easier when determining how you would like your  tile installed.  Also, the neutral colour isn’t distracting so all you see is the install pattern.


4   Another well thought out display:  Our exterior display has the door samples aligned to where the door is so you can actually see how an alternate door will look installed.


3  Two complete kitchens showcasing contemporary versus traditional finishes appealing to varied tastes.








2  One complete bathroom


1  Our Expressions Design Studio is designed as a one stop shop where you can make your selections in one place and see all of your samples together.  Our new Studio features plenty of well lit counter space to lay out your selections on (tile, carpet, hardwood, paint chips, granite, cabinet choice, etc) with the clean white counter tops providing the perfect backdrop to make your selections really pop!


We hope that our Expressions Design Studio will provide our customers with the inspiration they need to design a home that is award winning to them!
 

We are into week 2 of our Expressions Design Studio renovation.

Everyone is working hard to complete the reno as soon as possible so that our customers can start using the studio again for Browsing Days and for interior and exterior appointments.  Trust us, the wait will be worth it when you see our renovated Design Studio!

What do you think of the white ceiling?  This use to be black and just this simple change has really brightened up the Studio already!

More updates to come next week!

 

Shane Homes is now building in the estate community of West Grove Point.  Take a tour of our newest showhome – the Tofino III.  Our Area Manager in West Grove Point, Jack Kushner, who has been with Shane Homes for over 18 years primarily in our estate communities including Aspen Point, New Discovery and the Ridges of Cranston has remarked that “this is possibly the nicest showhome that we have ever done”.  Kudos to our construction and design teams in particular and all of the rest of our great Shane Homes Team!

Two storey home with Tudor style exterior and double front attached garage with stone detailing on the garage, stone veranda columns, and smooth acrylic exterior with batten detailing.

Spacious front foyer with 8’ front entry door with side windows for added security and visual impact, white oak stone coloured hardwood flooring, and corner closet with bi-fold door providing convenient storage.  The open to above highlights the stairwell.

The open main floor plan with 9′ ceilings creates a bright open environment that is perfect for entertaining and just hanging out at home with family.

The deluxe kitchen features shaker bevel cabinets with upgraded stain colour, built-in upgraded stainless steel appliances (wall oven, electrical cook top, built-in microwave, and bottom freezer fridge), diamond patterned marble tile backsplash, upgraded hardwood flooring, and upgraded exotic granite countertops.  One wall features a built-in cook top, wood hood oven to match the cabinets and clear glass doors on stacked upper cabinets above.  The opposite wall features floor to ceiling cabinets with pantry style full cabinets and additional cabinets extending to the ceiling above providing plenty of storage for the resident chef.  The large breakfast bar-styled island features a dishwasher, dual sinks, and additional storage.  The walk-through pantry features a built-in IT centre and upright freezer.

The bright atrium nook creates the ideal space for entertaining with a built-in hutch matching the kitchen cabinets with glass doors on the upper cabinets, a built-in wine rack and an ideally situated wine fridge below.  French doors off the nook allow easy access to the backyard.

The rear living room features upgraded white oak hardwood flooring and a wall centred gas fireplace with ceiling height marble, mantle and flanked by wainscot detailing.  Dove grey wall accents add to the visual appeal.

The second floor family room offers additional living space with 9’ ceilings, upgraded carpeting, windows to allow in natural light, and a built-in wall to wall entertainment center.  The room’s location provides additional privacy between the owner’s suite and secondary bedrooms.

Large owner’s suite with feature wall, abundant natural lighting and a four piece spa-like private ensuite.

Large owner’s suite with abundant natural lighting and a four piece spa-like ensuite featuring plenty of tile accents including ceiling height tile in shower, granite countertops, marble flooring, 66” x 36” free standing soaker Jacuzzi tub flanked by windows, dual vanities, make up counter, coffee/juice bar, over-sized 76” x 42” two sided tile shower with tile bench and rain shower head, private water closet and large walk-in closet.

Two additional bedrooms:




Spacious secondary bedrooms both include a walk-in closet.  Bedroom #3 includes a large window bench, ideal for lounging on with a book.

For more info go to our showhome page to view the:

• Floorplan
• Video tour
• Specifications

Additional features not pictured:

• Half-bath with pedestal sink and two feature walls with floor to ceiling marble.
• Mud room includes a closet, lockers and functional bench for additional storage.
• 2′ extension to the outside width of the home widening the garage & second floor to provide more storage space & additional living space.
• Second floor laundry room with upper cabinets for storage and laundry sink.
• Three piece main bath is conveniently located close to secondary bedrooms.

For more information on this showhome please contact the Area Manager, Jack Kushner, at 403-536-2304, email [email protected] or visit his showhome Monday to Thursday 2 pm to 8 pm or weekends and holidays 12 pm to 5 pm at 38 West Grove Point SW, Calgary.

The day has come; it’s time to buy your first home! The thought of being a first-time homebuyer can be exciting, but it comes with a huge responsibility--a financial responsibility.

Understanding mortgages can be quite a task. That’s why we’re here to break down vital information that will help you get approved and be able to purchase the home of your dreams. Discover what a mortgage is, how it works, how your finances affect mortgages and more.
Read until the end to learn how to transform from a first-time homebuyer to a first-time homeowner.

What is a Mortgage?

If you’re looking to purchase a home, you will most likely need to obtain a mortgage. A mortgage is a loan from a bank or private mortgage insurance company used to buy or maintain a home or real estate property. Paid overtime, this loan is commonly issued in a series of monthly payments that include the total cost, principal, and interest. If you inquire about a loan, you will be known as a “borrower” requesting money from the “mortgage lender”.

How Does a Mortgage Work?

Many different components play into how a mortgage works. Some key terms that you may hear about from your lender, real estate agent or various supports may be:

1. Taxes - You will typically pay 1/12th of your annual property tax bill monthly based on your neighbourhood or the city market assessment.
2. The Principal - This is the equity that you are investing in your home.
3. Interest rate - You will pay interest to your lender depending on the length of your payment plan and the overall cost, along with various determining factors.
4. Insurance - Lenders require you to pay homeowners insurance as they will “own” the home until the mortgage is paid off.
5. Amortization - This is the length of time it takes to pay off the mortgage in full. The longer this period is, the lower your payments may be, but the more interest you will pay.
6. Amortization schedule - the breakdown of your loan payments. It shows the amount of principal and the amount of interest that each payment includes until the loan is paid off at the end of its term.

The Difference Between a Mortgage and a Personal Loan

When it comes to buying a home, there is a ton of information that can help you create the best payment plan that suits your needs and requirements.

You may be wondering: why would I get a mortgage if I could get a personal loan instead? For starters, mortgages are specifically designed for real estate, whereas personal loans can be used for various individual needs. While you could purchase a home with a personal loan, taking out a mortgage has greater benefits. A mortgage is secure, it can be paid out over a longer term, it is tied to your property, and you will likely get a lower interest rate.

Different Types of Mortgages

There are four main types of mortgages: conventional, adjustable, fixed, and variable, plus a bonus fifth type - a hybrid mortgage. Before visiting your lender, take some time to understand each loan and decide which one might work best for your situation.

Conventional Mortgage Loan

This type of mortgage loan is a loan for no more than 80% of the value or purchase price of the home. Qualifying for conventional loans means your down payment must be at least 20% of the purchase price. The advantage of this type of loan is that you borrow less money, and you will likely get a reduced interest rate.

Adjustable Loan

An adjustable-rate mortgage is a mortgage that changes as interest rates change. This adjustment is based on an index of what the lender is borrowing from the credit markets. The advantage of an adjustable loan is that you know you are always getting the lower rate, but use this loan with caution; when interest rates go up, so do your payments.

Fixed Loan

Fixed interest rates are rates that stay the same for the entire payment term. This rate will never fluctuate and can help you know exactly how much your monthly mortgage payment and your annual percentage rate will cost. Fixed rates are generally higher than variable rates. The advantage of this loan is your payments are consistent and predictable.

Variable Loan

A variable rate mortgage is where the interest rates may adjust with the market, but the payments are always the same. This impacts the amount of principal you pay off each month. Commonly, the interest rate is lower with a variable rate rather than a fixed rate.

Hybrid or Combination Mortgage Loans

Hybrid or combination mortgages can be adjustable, fixed or variable interest rates. There are many different ways to have your payment plan, as you may have a fixed interest rate, but after your five-year renewal, you may switch to a variable rate. Another typical hybrid is to have an adjustable payment plan with a variable interest rate. By creating a combination of mortgage types, you can benefit from lower interest rates while still having a plan that works for you.

The Process of Obtaining a Mortgage

Now that you have a better understanding of mortgages, it’s time to get approved. We’re excited for you; you’re one step closer to your first dream home!

You can either go through a bank or private mortgage insurance (PMI) for this process to get a mortgage. Here is a step-by-step of how your trip(s) to the bank or PMI may look:

1. Pre Approval

Once you understand where you sit financially and how a mortgage may work for your lifestyle, it’s time to see how much you may be able to borrow from your lender. This is a process of filling out a lot of paperwork regarding your financial history and various personal information that will help determine whether or not a mortgage is suitable for you.

Here are a few criteria that are considered in your mortgage application:

1. Current assets
   • Car
   • Home
   • Financial (TFSA, RRSP etc.)
2. Current liabilities
   • Recent loan requests
   • Current expenses
3. Other
   • Credit history
   • Credit score
   • Credit utilization

After your application and your documents have been reviewed, the mortgage broker or lender will provide you with a loan amount that they believe best fits your criteria and provides you with a valuable loan-to-value ratio using a professional estimator. When you become pre-approved, you can use this unofficial amount on your house hunt.

Fun Hint: check out a mortgage calculator to obtain an idea of what you can afford.

2. House Shopping

The fun begins here, but don’t get too attached to your dream home idea just yet. It’s time to shop for the home that fits the budget that your lender has given you based on your unique history.

You can begin your house shopping from the comfort of your home. Use our build and price tool to plan, design, and price your dream home. Once you have your floorplan picked out visit our showhomes and tour our communities.

Touring showhomes that you can see yourself or your family enjoying is one of the best ways to decide what is essential for you in a home. This is your opportunity to experience all of the options - to look into cupboards, feel the countertops, and sit in the large, luxury bathtub. Visiting showhomes will help you understand what features are important to you, learn more about the different purchase prices, and allow you to talk to an expert advisor.

House shopping allows you to dip your toes into the process of buying and seeing what you can afford and what you appreciate in homes based on that price. Once you’ve fallen in love with a home, it’s time to take your business back to your lender.

3. Application Process

This process is your final application process before you get approved. Your lender will complete your application based on the information about the home you would like to purchase and any additional personal information they may need. Here are a few things they will need to know on top of the information you provided in the pre-approval step:

• Basic information - name, address, SIN, phone number
• Employer and income
• Number of dependents
• Your assets, including RRSP’s, mutual funds
• Credit cards or lines of credit, including a loan or lease
• Home equity lines of credit--if that is something you want
• Property information
  • Description of property
  • The Market value of your home
  • Property taxes
• Mortgage information
  • Type of mortgage
  • Mortgage term (2 - 30-year contracts)
  • Mortgage loan amount

Each mortgage application varies based on the individual, so you may have to provide more or less information to your lender to have a successful application process. On average, this process takes approximately two weeks but can take as little as 24 hours -- although this is rare.

4. Approval

So now you’ve been approved, congratulations! You are currently on the final step to moving into your first home.

The exciting time has come, and now it’s time to pay some more fees... Once you have been approved, lenders will charge you an origination fee. The lender charges this fee as additional compensation for assisting and processing your loan application. Typically, this fee is 0.5%-1% of the entire loan amount. Treat this as a thank you tip for your lender!

After your lender has approved you, he will send it off, and then there are a couple more background steps that your bank/lender will take to obtain your final mortgage loan.

• Lender Underwriting: A second expert will ensure that your lender is treating your application fairly and accurately.
• Conditional Commitment Processing: The underwriter has agreed with your lender and sends your application to a lawyer.
• Pre-Closing: Your lawyer and lender will send the application to the Land Titles Office, and you can begin signing the lawyer's additional documents.
• Closing: You have successfully passed all of these steps, and you can now sign the final document and obtain the key to your new home, as well as your new mortgage.

If you decide to build a home, you will also need to understand these four steps that work directly with your home builder:

• Pre-approval: The homebuilder requires pre-approval from your lender that ensures you are qualified for a mortgage.
• Pay your builder a deposit: This payment is not part of your mortgage, but it is part of your downpayment and needs to be funded from an additional source. Examples include savings, line of credit or parental gift just to name a few.
• The builder builds your house: As your dream home is being built, you must pay the remainder of your down payment (5-20%) prior to moving in.
• Your house is built: Once you have paid your down payment and the home is built, you may now move in.

Happy move day! Once you have completed this process you will now have a mortgage and a beautiful home for you and your family.

Shane Homes is With You Every Step of the Way

Now that you've made it to this part of the article, it's your time to transform from a first-time homebuyer to a first-time homeowner!

Buying a home is an investment for your future. At Shane Homes, we make this process stress-free and rewarding for you. Use our build and price tool to determine what home best suits your needs, and then visit us at one of our locations to discuss how we can help you make your home buying dreams a reality.

Visit one of our show homes today, and let's work together to buy and build your dream home. Start your home-building journey with Shane Homes today!

Shane Homes has a team of four talented interior designers – Marion, Brandy, Natasha and Catriona.  They are responsible for designing and decorating our showhomes and they also meet with every one of our Shane Homes purchasers to help them with the exterior and interior selections for their new homes at our Expressions Design Studio.  Marion took a break from her busy schedule to share her thoughts on what’s new and currently popular:

1.  Kitchen islands:  Wing walls to more clearly define the island and a furniture toe kick to make it look like a piece of furniture.

Photo:  The Ladera showhome in Nolan Hill in northwest Calgary with wing walls.
2.  Wood hood fan matching the cabinetry

Photo:  The Tofino III Showhome in West Grove Point in southwest Calgary with a toe kick and wood hood fan.

3.  Fireplaces:  Tile facing with shaker style modernized columns and mantles.  This frames the fireplace creating a focal point.

4.  Stand alone tub

5.  Floor tile installed on the shower and tub walls, with a decorative band in the shower to create a focal point.

6.  Subway tile for backsplashes

7.  Luxury vinyl plank flooring.  Advantages:  ease of maintenance, durable, waterproof, looks like hardwood.  This flooring is being used in Nuovo by Shane Homes first condominium project, The Mark 101.

8.  Shaker style paneling adds a modern touch and creates a wonderful feature on a larger wall.

9.  Sectionals – comfy design allows for more relaxed family living.

10.  Bar carts

According to a study by Mortgage Professionals Canada, buying a new home is the second most stressful life decision that Canadians make in their lifetime.

If you're a first-time homebuyer, you might feel overwhelmed or stressed out by the construction process and the steps you need to take before moving into your home, and that's okay! You're not alone.

In this article, we're providing you with 7 essential tips that most people don't know when building a home. We hope to answer some of your questions and relieve some of those stress points that you have about the home-building process.

1. Getting Pre-Approved Can Speed Up Your Purchasing Process

Pre-approval is not an essential part of purchasing a home, but it sure helps! This process involves visiting a bank lender who checks your financial records and provides you with an estimate on the amount of money you can borrow to purchase a new home.

The documentation that you will need to provide your lender is:

• Assets
  • Home, vehicle, and financial.
• Liabilities
  • Loans and expenses.
• Income Report
  • Debt to income ratio and credit report.

Once your lender looks over your financial records, they will provide you with an estimate of the construction loan amount that you can obtain. Here’s why getting approved is so important:

• Increases the chances of getting your dream property.
• Helps builders manage expectations and build you the perfect home that is right for you and your budget.
• Gives you a solid estimate of how much you can spend.
• Proves that you are serious about purchasing a home.

If you're interested in learning more about the importance of pre-approval, the process, and how to get pre-approved, check out our detailed blog, How to Get Pre-Approved to Buy a House: The Ultimate Guide.

2. It’s an Investment Journey

According to Reviewlution, over the last 15 years, the Canadian housing market has had an average annual appreciation rate of 6.11%. So, when you build your dream house, it's important to remember that it's an investment journey.

If you're building a home, there are several investment advantages. Newer homes in new communities generally increase in value more than those in older neighbourhoods. It's important to note that this is entirely dependent on various factors. Although every home may not appreciate, purchasing a home in a new area before it's fully developed is typically a great investment.

Since buying a new construction home is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make, it’s important to understand how appreciation and depreciation work. Typically, houses go up in value over time, but you will see some fluctuations in the market, which is normal, and not always something to worry about! Just remember that this process is all a part of your journey.

3. Design Your Home for the Future

When you're planning the design elements of your home, try to aim for a timeless design. Flooring, paint colours, and more, can affect the longevity of your home design. If you want to maximize the resale version of your home, it’s important to consider that trendy design elements may not be desirable to buyers 10-20 years down the line.

Examining how design has changed over time, can help you understand how important it is to design your home for timelessness rather than based on current design trends.

In a study completed by 50 Floor, in 2022, 48.14% of people preferred hardwood flooring, 16.87% voted laminate, 12.87% voted carpet, 12.2% voted luxury vinyl, and 9.91% for tile. But, in 2015, Continental Flooring claims bamboo and cork flooring was the most popular, followed by large tile and vinyl, with hardwood being the last choice.

So, suppose you built your house in 2015 and installed bamboo or cork flooring. When you go to sell your home 6 years later, in 2022, the trending design style has essentially flipped. Potential buyers may think your home is dated due to a lack of timelessness. When you build your house, think about past design trends, upcoming trends, and what you can do to meet in the middle.

4. Take Advantage of Tax Credits

Before committing to your home, double-check to see if you qualify for any tax credits. In Canada, there are a couple of tax credits that you can use that will benefit you financially.

First-time home buyers credit: The Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) is a designated program for first-time homebuyers. This program allows you to withdraw funds from your RRSPs to buy or build a home. You are then able to pay back your withdrawn funds within 15 years.

Home accessibility tax credits: This tax credit is a non-refundable HATC for qualifying expenses incurred for work performed or goods acquired.

Home buyers' amount: The Home Buyers' Amount is a non-refundable credit that allows first-time buyers to claim up to $5,000 when they purchase a home.

Moving expenses: If you move from your existing home to work or run a business in a new location, you may be eligible to deduct your moving costs.

There are a variety of home tax credits that may benefit you greatly. Visit the Government of Canada website to learn more about these benefits and to discover if you qualify.

5. Don’t Shy Away From Upgrades

According to New Homes Up, home buyers spend around 20-25% of their home price on custom home upgrades. When you're budgeting your home, it’s important to decide what upgrades you want and need. At times, the determining factor about whether or not to invest in home upgrades is the cost.

Let’s take a look at four popular 2022 upgrades for your home:

• Spice kitchen
• 9 foot basement ceilings
• Side door entries
• Legal suites

Upgrading your home doesn’t mean you’re paying thousands of dollars to completely alter it (it can, but it doesn’t have to be this way). When you go to build your new home, take a peek at what upgrades are in the showhome, and write down which ones are a necessity for you.

6. Some Home Builders Have Value Added Programs

Homebuilders often offer various incentives that show they support your home-building journey. For example, Shane Homes has a value added program with various programs and services that can be used before and after moving into your home.

Here are the programs that Shane Homes offers:

• Referral rewards program: After purchasing a home, you have the ability to receive $1,979 every time your family or friend purchases a Shane Home.
• Family rewards program: If you’re a second-time Shane Homes purchaser, you will receive a 10% discount on upgrades and purchases made at our design studio.

Here are the services that Shane Homes offers:

• Translation services: Shane Homes offers up to 85 languages for verbal translation services.
• Home care services: Shane Homes has a dedicated team of home care coordinators and technicians to meet all of your home care needs.
• Home safety services: Shane Homes implements many safety policies and procedures to ensure the job site is a safe work environment and a safe place for you to visit while your home is being built.

When you’re choosing your home builder, be sure to take a look at their website to see if you can take advantage of any of the perks they offer.

7. Ensure You Choose the Right Home Builder

Finding your dream home is one thing, but finding the right home builder is just as important. Having a builder that stands by you and understands your wants and needs throughout the entire process of building your home is key to a successful home build.

When choosing a home builder, ask yourself these questions:

• Will they let me customize my home?
• Do they have high-quality standard features?
• Do they use quality building materials?
• Do they have a warranty policy?
• What’s their overall building experience?
• Do they have a good reputation?
• Do they have any referral/rewards programs?

Many of these questions can be answered through some research and by chatting with friends who own property, but some of these questions may require you to go to the showhomes of builders to determine the answers. Ensure you are working with a home builder who respects your wants and needs and stands by you in making them a reality.

Experience the Building Process With Shane Homes

When you build with Shane Homes, we will support and guide you from the moment you step into our showhome to your move-in date.

Instead of asking yourself the aforementioned questions about home builders, we thought it would be easy to answer them about Shane Homes:

• Will they let me customize my home? Yes! Shane Homes are completely customizable–we want you to love it or customize it.
• Do they have high-quality standard features? Of course. We have a variety of high-quality features that you’ll love. Many people even think that our standard features are upgrades.
• Do they use quality building materials? Yes! We take pride in using high-quality materials in all of our homes.
• Do they have a warranty policy? We do! We offer a 1 year and 10-year warranty program.
• What's their overall building experience? We have over 40 years of experience custom building homes for growing families like yours.
• Do they have a good reputation? Yes! We have a long history of building quality homes.
• Do they have any referral/rewards programs? Absolutely. We have a variety of referral rewards programs.

When you're ready to find a home for you and your family members, check out our build and price tool. This tool will help you find out what the home of your dreams will cost, based on the home type and the community. Stop by one of our showhomes today, or contact us. We can't wait to help you move into your perfect home!

PS: If you're looking for more tips, we've compiled a list of 101 must-know home buying tips that can help you with every step of your home buying and building journey.

Purchasing a home is one of the largest purchase decisions that you will ever make.

At Shane Homes customer service is of upmost importance.  We are strong believers in keeping in close touch with our customers throughout the building process and after they move in to their home.

At Shane Homes customer service is of upmost importance.

New structures being built need to abide by certain building codes and bylaws.  The size, type and location of the new structure dictate the specific requirements.

The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) publishes five National Model Construction Codes, and they are on an approximate 5 year cycle.

1. National building code (NBC) addresses the design and construction of new buildings.

• The NBC is concerned with health, safety, accessibility and the protection of buildings from fire or structural damage.
• The NBC is an objective-based code which provides additional information that helps proponents and regulators determine the minimum performance that must be achieved

1. National Fire Code of Canada (NFC) provides minimum fire safety requirements for buildings
2. National Plumbing Code (NPC) covers the design and installation of plumbing systems
3. National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) provides minimum energy efficiency requirements for the design and construction of all new buildings
4. National Farm Building Code (NFBC) provides relaxations of the requirements in the NBC to address the particular needs of farm buildings

The provinces then adopt these codes (with or without changes) and issue to the public.

The NRC continually works on updating and improving the codes and have regular processes where stakeholders have opportunity for review and input before the next code is published.

What do building code changes mean for Shane Homes’ customers?  It means that they will take possession of a home that is up-to-date with processes and requirements generally based on construction practices and safety concerns.

There are several different levels/sections of the code and they relate to the type of building from garages to single family homes to multi-family units and into commercial buildings and high rises.

Bylaws:

Bylaws are unique to each Municipality and although they do not generally affect the building code, they do add additional requirements. Some of these would be:

1. Lot size:  lot coverage bylaws dictate what size of home can be built on a lot
2. Bylaw setback requirement from property lines on the front, rear and side of the home, all affect the size of the home which can be built on a lot
3. Building height by-laws are individual to lot zoning and/or type of structure and will affect the design of a building
4. By-laws will designate all property types and these will have specific building requirements

Bylaws affect how the code items are applied to an individual home or building.

Our Shane Homes customers don’t need to worry about bylaws and codes as our experienced staff make sure our homes are constructed in accordance with all governing bylaws and codes.

Blog by Lyle Faas, Drafting & Design Manager

If it's time to purchase your first home and you can't decide between a house and a condo, we've got you covered!

You're probably renting or moving out of your current home and looking for a lifestyle change. If that's the case, congrats! Purchasing your first home and having a real estate asset is a very exciting process, but it requires a lot of time, money and effort. 

Deciding between a condominium and a single-family house or a duplex can be difficult. That's why we've created this blog to help you understand the truth behind owning both of these properties.

Condo Vs House

Let’s get right into it. Condo or house? Before you can answer, let’s dive into some pros and cons of both property types.

Pros of Owning a Condo

Owning a condo may be a good investment for you. Depending on your “must-have” features, you might find yourself falling in love with the condominium life. Here are five perks to owning and living in a condo.
 

1. Lower Cost
   Purchasing a condo tends to be more affordable than buying a house. As a result, condo owners may pay a smaller down payment and pay less on their monthly mortgage payments.
2. Condo Fees
   Condo fees are a payment you pay to the homeowners association that helps maintain the building. For example, you won't have to shovel the sidewalk in the winter, and you won't have to mow the lawn in the summer.
3. Amenities
   Most condos have shared amenities. These can include anything from parking garages, common areas and gyms to tennis courts or even pools.
4. Cheaper Insurance
   Since you only have to be concerned about the interior of your condo, you only need insurance for your specific condo (in a house, you will need insurance for the entire property).
5. Extra Security
   Most condo buildings have excellent security. For example, your security may include surveillance cameras, and you may be required to have a pass that allows you to get to your floor, which protects you from trespassers or individuals who don't belong in your building.

Pros of Owning a House

On the other hand, living in a house may better suit your needs. In Canada, 53.6% of individuals live in single-detached houses. Here are the advantages of living in a house.
 

1. Convenience
   Owning a house can be more convenient than owning a condo. For example, if you drive, having a private garage or a parking pad is a lot more convenient than having to go all the way downstairs or down elevators to your vehicle. If you are a pet owner, letting your dog out into the backyard is a lot easier than having to walk her multiple times each day.
2. You Own land
   Owning a house also means you own the land that the house is on. Land is a valuable asset and it does not typically depreciate - meaning, it can be a lucrative long-term investment. As well, when you own the land you have flexibility in how it will be used. You can build a fire pit and enjoy having a fire on the weekend, or you can add a hot tub. You can design your backyard in a way that meets the needs of your family, and increases your enjoyment of your home.
3. No Fees
   In some communities you may have to pay HOA fees, but there are many others where there are no community or association feeds.
4. Resale Opportunities
   Homes on private property are typically in higher demand. This is because houses are entirely customizable, private and convenient for owners.
5. More Space
   In Calgary, on average, condos are 842-850 square feet, whereas the median square footage of a house is 1,504. Having this additional space allows you to have more room for a growing family and allows you to customize your house with little to no restrictions.

Cons of Owning a Condo

Let’s take a look at the opposing team. If a condo sounds like your ideal place, here are some things you may want to consider.
 

1. Proximity
   With neighbours right beside you and across the hall, you may feel as though you’re too close.
2. Fewer Customization Options
   If you purchase your condo prior to the building being built you may have some opportunity to customize your unit. But, there are common standards that each condo building has to adhere to. Moving walls is not common in condo buildings like it is in single family homes, this may limit your ability to customize your home the way you want.
3. Pet Restrictions
   Though pets are becoming more and more accepted in buildings, many condominiums still have rules on types of pets, the size of pets and the breeds of pets.
4. Condo Fees
   Condo fees may be frustrating to pay as it may feel like you are paying for a service that you don't necessarily use. Unwanted expenses will creep up on you and may add a lot to your monthly payments. (don't worry, we will dive into these fees shortly!).
5. Condo Bylaws
   Bylaws are often put into place such as decoration restrictions, maintenance standards, noise policies, parking rules, home occupancy limits and more to try and improve the comfort of each homeowner!
6. Mortgage Qualifications Considerations
   Acquiring a mortgage for a condominium may be more complex than for a house. Typically, mortgage rates for condos are higher due to the risk of the dependency that lenders have on condo boards. Meaning, if a condo has lousy management, minimal reserve or improper insurance and the building falls into a lawsuit--the bank owns a worthless property. With a mortgage on a house, the bank has more control over the property as a whole. Due to this, mortgages on condos typically have interest rates that are ⅛-¼ more than a house.

Cons of Owning a House

Now that we know the downsides of condos, let’s look at the cons of owning a house. Ensure you are correctly analyzing both sides to determine which option is best for you! Here are five reasons why owning a house may not be the best move for your lifestyle.
 

1. Repairs
   Repairs that may need to be serviced to your interior or exterior environment are left entirely up to you. Typically, if a pipe bursts in a condo, it's in the hands of the building owner, but if a pipe bursts in your home, you will need to fix it or pay someone to fix it for you.
2. Maintenance
   Regular maintenance is your responsibility. Examples include maintaining your yard, removing leaves or debris from downspouts, window washing, changing out the furnace filter and more. This personal maintenance is essential when owning a house, which is why some people enjoy living in condos and not having to worry about this maintenance.
3. HOA fees
   Single-family homes may have HOA fees that cover parks, greenery or other neighbourhood costs. Although paying these in a house is less common, these fees depend entirely on the neighbourhood.
4. Price
   The cost of buying a house can be much more than a condo. In Calgary, the average price of a house is $476,041, whereas the average cost of a condo is $289,538.
5. No-to-Few Amenities
   As a first-time homebuyer, it is unlikely that you will have a pool or tennis court on your property. You may have community amenities, but these will need to be covered by HOA fees.

Homeowner Costs That Are Often Overlooked

Becoming a homeowner means that you will have more expenses than you would as a renter. These fees range in prices and are relatively similar between houses and condos. Although, there are still various fees that differentiate the annual costs that come with being a homeowner.

Costs to Own a House

Owning a house comes with some alternative costs than owning a condo. Here are standard fees that come with owning a house:
 

• Property taxes: This tax depends on your property value assessment and the residential rate.
• Homeowner's insurance: This is typically around $800-$1200/year - this insurance can fluctuate depending on the location, your age and the risks.
• Maintenance fees: These fees are personal but come at a cost for homeowners. If there is an issue within your house, you must cover all expenses.
• Mortgage payment: This payment depends on your credit history, home price, and many other factors.

Costs to Own a Condo

Owning a condo comes with fees that you may not see when owning a house. Here are some of the most common costs associated with condos:
 

• Monthly condominium fees: Typically $0.50-$1.00/sqft. These fees commonly cover part of your electricity and water fees, contribute to your reserve fund and pay for maintenance or common areas within the building.
• Property tax: This depends on your property value assessment and the residential rate.
• Condo unit insurance: Typically $30-50/month - this basic insurance can fluctuate depending on location, age and risks.
• Mortgage payments: This payment depends on your record and your property’s price.

Get the House or Condo of Your Dreams with Shane Homes

It's decision-making time! Hopefully, the difference between owning a house versus a condo is now more clear.

Regardless of whether you think you are a better fit for a condo or a house, Shane Homes is here for you every step of the way. Allow us to make your home buying experience positive and stress-free. If you’re beginning your house hunt, use our build and price tool to help you find the home of your dreams. With a variety of single-family homes, duplexes, townhomes and condominiums to choose from, we are destined to have a home that you will love.

Start your home building process with Shane Homes. Contact us today!