From builder grade to custom beauty

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Ontario realtor says it pays to work with your developer from the get-go

Buy a fixer upper and you probably won’t think twice about financing renovation costs to bring your interior vision to life. Purchase a builder grade home in a new community, however, and you’re more likely to settle for the design options presented to you.

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But it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, having been through the process several times himself, realtor Justin Bock says most people would be surprised by how easy and affordable it is to make small changes to a builder grade home that deliver big impact.

“Most builders will sit down with you and work with you,” said Bock, a real estate agent with Bosley Real Estate, who believes it’s not only possible to achieve a custom-built look but also less expensive when you plan strategically from the beginning.

When he recently purchased a new home in Windfall at Blue Mountain, for example, Bock didn’t hesitate to talk with developer Georgian Communities about adjustments he knew would add luxury and charm.

He says in his experience, most builders will allow you to change walls, move doors, customize kitchen and bath layouts, and make changes to the electrical plan. He also suggests it’s worthwhile to take the time to make additional modifications after taking possession, before moving in.

There are builder limitations and you will pay for the changes you request, but in the end you get an elevated look that’s your own. “We spent almost three hours on the lighting layout alone … going over where we wanted sconces, light fixtures and outlets,” said Bock. “It makes such a huge difference.”

For his Windfall home, Bock worked with Georgian Communities to design a custom kitchen layout that included sconce lighting over the window and on either side of the stove, and replaced builder-grade light fixtures over the island with gorgeous oversized pendants. A shiplap feature wall was also added to surround the oven vent.

In the master bathroom, he chose an upgraded vanity and tile from the builder, extended the depth of the shower by one foot, chose a free standing tub and added a custom shower class enclosure all the way up to the ceiling.

Then, after closing on the property, he hired his own contractors to go in and replace the standard laminate countertops in the bathroom with a gorgeous quartz countertop, adding a backsplash with ledge and wall-mounted faucets.

His contractors also added a stunning panelled feature wall going up the staircase that can be viewed from all angles of the ground floor.

All in all, Bock spent roughly $100,000 on upgrades from the builder and another $75,000 on changes after closing. If had waited a few years and made the changes on his own, or tried to purchase a similar lot in the area and do a custom build, the cost would have been much higher, he said.

“We would never be able to build this house and get a lot in the location we did for our price point,” said Bock. “It never would have happened.”