We tell our clients that SevernWoods Fine Homes are created according to the traditional standards of craftsmanship. What we mean by that is that our luxury custom homes are built to last. Each custom home is made from quality materials that endure for decades, if not centuries. The true test of a home is the way it looks and how it wears years after it's been lived in and loved. Our homes are built to withstand the test of time.

As you consider building a custom luxury home for your household, it's important to educate yourself about the building process, and ultimately, why it's important to choose a custom home builder that understands the importance of creating a structure that exemplifies quality and craftsmanship. This is what we'd like you to know before you get started with the process. Contact us to start the conversation on how we can build your dream home.

How Long Does A Custom Home Take To Build in the GTA?

Building a custom luxury home takes time - often, a lot of it. The reason this process takes so much time is that your home is customized to your lifestyle, your family, and your needs. Every decision that you make will change the course of the home building process, to eventually create a custom luxury experience that you can enjoy for a lifetime. Below are some approximate timelines that you can anticipate from the home construction process:

Design creation - Your chosen architect will take anywhere from 3 months to a year to create a custom home design. However, the timeline fully relies on the complexity of the designs, the architect you choose, and their availability.
Find a builder - Because a custom home build will be a long process that can take up to two years, you want to ensure you have a strong relationship with your contractor. Since this can be a lengthy process, we suggest interviewing three-five contractors and choosing the company that aligns best with your values and that you trust. You want your contractor to be engaged or hired early in the design phase, as assembling a team allows a collaborative effort to be made to budget the project early, and any necessary adjustments and suggestions can be made to keep the expenses within the expected range.
Zoning and permitting - This process can take many months, depending on the details of your home construction.
Construction - Once the materials are ordered, the permitting is complete and your design is approved, construction of a luxury home can take well over a year, depending on the size and complexity of the project.

Want a more detailed picture of how long it takes to build a custom home? See our online guide for more information.

Larger homes, homes with a modern architectural style, and homes made from higher-quality materials cost more. Want more information? Download the SevernWoods Fine Homes Custom Luxury Home Cost Guide.

The most important to remember is that your home is an investment that you could be living in and enjoying for years to come. Cost is important, but ultimately, it's even more important to build a home that provides a return on your investment. Whether you're planning to live in your home forever or sell after a few years of occupancy, it's important to build a home that meets your unique needs.

Select the architectural style - The finer neighbourhoods of Toronto are full of homes built with classic or traditional design, but if that doesn't suit your needs, your luxury custom home can be designed in the style that you like most.
Build for energy efficiency - Many innovations in sustainable building materials have occurred in recent years, and many Toronto homeowners are opting to go green. By renovating an older home, you can dramatically increase its energy efficiency and enable sustainable living. When we design for sustainability, we create a more comfortable living environment. While building a sustainable home will save you money every month, the real value comes from the increased comfort in all areas of your home in all seasons.
Choose features that match your lifestyle - What features are important to you? Are you seeking a fireplace? Home office? Extra bathrooms? A large eat-in kitchen? When you work with luxury custom home builders in Toronto, you can have all those features and more.

Should You Demolish And Build A New Custom Home?

This is a multifaceted question that you need to ask yourself. It is common for homes in Toronto to be 100 years or older. Since the ages of homes in the area are significantly older, it may be smarter to demolish your home and rebuild from a blank slate as opposed to renovating. However, there are several key factors that you should consider before making this decision.

How Is The Current State Of Your Home?

Assessing the structural soundness of your home is crucial first. If only specific components need to be changed, such as new windows for improved insulation and usability, renovating will be more cost-effective for you. However, you might want to think about a complete demolition and rebuild if your house has extensive damage, such as a shaky foundation, inadequately insulated walls, or water damage in the basement or roof.

For a more in-depth breakdown of the cost to demolish and rebuild, the timeline it will take in comparison to a renovation, and the benefits, learn more in our recent blog article - Renovate Vs. Demolish And Rebuild.

Modern contemporary exterior home at dusk with floor-to-ceiling windows

Dining room with floating glass staircase in custom luxury home

Quality Work & On Budget

When we bought our home in 2006 we knew there would be a ton of work and that we needed a real pro to help us out. Tom Cumming and SevernWoods Fine Homes were an invaluable resource for us, offering help in all stages of our planning, and working closely with us to ensure that we were always informed and aware of how the ever moving target of home renovation might impact us. His pragmatic approach and approachable manner helped make the experience of renovating a full house from top to bottom and complete pleasure. Having worked with many of his team, I can also attest to how great all of his staff are as well. If you are looking for quality work that is on time and on an agreed upon budget - I would highly recommend SevernWoods for your next home building project.

- Kelly S.

Attention to Detail

This was our first major renovation and we were under a tight timeline with the sale of our previous home. SevernWoods provided a detailed quote and even suggested some smart enhancements beyond what we were envisioning. Right off the bat we had a great level of comfort and confidence in their team. The work started right away and they managed to meet the promised deadline so we could move in on time (even with some "unexpected" discoveries along the way). Their attention to detail and consistent communication put us at ease and allowed for a great deal of input into our new home. We can't say enough good things about the team at SevernWoods and we would recommend them to anyone considering work on their home.

- John-Paul F.

Guidance & Expertise Were Invaluable

SevernWoods is a top notch, five-star construction company. While smaller projects aren't typically in their scope, we were thrilled that they agreed to take on our 'little' laneway house project. We benefited from their roster of loyal tradespeople who did outstanding work and managed to stay on time and on budget despite the pandemic. Their crews were kind and courteous - we actually enjoyed seeing them in our backyard every day! Laneway housing is somewhat new in Toronto but they were patient as we navigated the process and we are thrilled with what we built together.

- Nikki B.

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