Now that sounds like the place to live, where is that please?

They promised the owner of that one that he could move in last Christmas but things just drift along here, there's no rush to anything; all recent immigrants must know that from the time it took to get their applications processed.

Hi Posi,

where in tuscany and what builder?? (the one opposite you I mean) Cos thats a lot quicker than it looks from where I'm standing!!

Butch

We are currently living in Tuscany, an area in the North West of Calgary although our new house is being built in Cochrane which is a small town just outside of Calgary, also to the North West.

The shortage of trades people is a big issue here. Our builders are crying into their beer because they are honouring the price that they quoted us. Framers have more than doubled their rates since we signed the contract last December. As an example they are now charging 43k vs 17k for a 1700 ft2 bungalow.

Once they do get started though, they get the job done really quickly. The problem is getting them started. We hope to get approval of our plans next week and a hole in the ground sometime next month. As our builders put it, "We need to get your house done as quickly as possible so that we loose as little money as possible. Are you sure we can't interest you in some more upgrades "

We're currently living in Tuscany Ridge View. The house is actually on the oppposite side of the lane behind our house but I was too lazy to type that much. Not sure which builder, will pop around the front to see when I walk the hounds tonight. We couldn't believe how quickly it has gone up.

My wife takes the rat run towards 12 mile Coulee Road to take my son to school in Cochrane each day and she just can't believe the speed with which houses are popping up along there either. Perhaps it's just our perception having watched two new houses go up opposite our house in Britain before we left. Took best part of a year, and that was for timber framed housed with just a single layer of brick on the outside.

My two penneth would be: Research, research, research. Yes it is easy to get a house built here (land availability issues aside), and the reason they are built so quickly is simple - they are quite literally 'thrown up'. It is very difficult to find quality (note I didn't say 'qualified' - that's the easy part) contracors here who really CARE about, and know what they're doing. Building codes are not only frequently not met or enforced, they are often barely 'adequate'!

Edited to add: Link to another thread on building: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359517

Have you googled ICF Insulated Concrete Forms (basically really big polystyrene hollow lego blocks. A 5 year old can lay them. They then reinforce them, with rebar and pour concrete in. Hey presto you have your shell up within a week. It is a bit more expensive than timber, but it is almost sound proof and has two layers of insulation either side and a concrete core - so tough as nails and warm as Iraq after an airstrike.

Alternatively if you want to get an instant house, look at modular home dealerships in the area. the houses are built in a factory in lorry sized bits. They then spend the six weeks or so it takes to build them to preoare your foundations etc, then on the designated day the bits turn up and by the end of the day you have your house. They then take a few weeks to finish it off, and add the bits they couldn't do in the factory. Big plus is that the factory have the same workforce, and they are inside, so no weather problems.

If you PM me I can give you some ICF manufacturers in Canada.

Yes I am aware of both of the above; but neither is of much relevance to my two existing houses The manufactured homes are built in much the same way as an on site house, so the 'building envelope' issues that are becoming prevalent now will likely still exist anyway.

I assume though, that you were directing this to Grap who started the thread.

True enough, but to go from the concrete shell to a liveable house you still need all sorts of tradespeople. It's a long way from here to there.

Thank you people, great thread and very helpful. I have heard of modular housing but do not know any manufacturers. This now looks a serious opportunity if I solve a few minor issues Getting land? Finding Contractors? Stopping leaks? Shoddy workmanship? and Cost? - other than that I am there

Seriously though, I will look up the suggestions and see what I can find out - might even post the results here for interested others?

Canadians are great, but -

Think in terms of Spain/Greece with snow - when it come to time frames etc.

Outside the cities, the culture is very much a case of - work all hours possible in the Summer to get good EI payments through the Winter (the dole!).

Construction guys whether one man bands or groups - like to have a few jobs on the go at once - if it`s raining they turn up for the indoor job - if it`s dry, the outside job and so on!

If you hire anyone - tell them you want it done by - at least 4 weeks before the real date (your secret!).

As there will be a massive over run - in Canada - it`s the norm`!

Also record THE HOURS worked by each individual each day.

Contractors will send guys in for the day, some will not return for the afternoon, they tell the boss a load of porkies and get paid, you will then be billed for hours not worked, stinging you and the boss, make sure (as I did) that this is corrected.

They will beg you to leave the keys - and you go off to work etc.

Do not allow guys to work for days on end unchecked.

It`s how they do things here, one reads that one has to be licensed to do this that and the other in the Canadian Construction Industry.

They are in general NOT - they know what they are doing - but most are unlicensed - that`s not to say they are crap - they are generally good.

Get a referral from a neighbour / friend as to who to hire in!!!

To answer your questions, having a house built is not difficult. You may choose to build a house in a existing development. You select your lot and from a list of plans offered by the builder. You may also provide the builder with your own plan. The builder with then determine his price for construction including the materials. In most new developments, the land developer either has selected a group of builders or the home builder is the developer. In these circumstances you are not permitted to select your own builder.

If you buy your own lot in town, which is often possible due to severances and so forth you can select your own builder or arrange for all your trades yourself and so self contract. In addition to the construction fees you will also pay a connection fee to the sewer and mains. You are responsible for providing all services to your lot.

You should consider construction costs, outside of your lot purchase of about $125 to $150 per square foot. The cost per foot is driven by your finishes and other lot considerations such as whether you need to have a septic system installed. If you are in the countryside, you will not only need a septic, but will likely need to have a well dug. A water treatment system to remove iron and other minerals that will gum up your water works including a water softener may also need to be installed.

Building a house yourself on your lot is often a lifestyle choice. Don't expect to spend less on building your own house then what you would spend going the builder route. You will only spend less if you are capable of completing work yourself. You would still need to have a certified gas fitter and other trades for a number of phases of the project.

I really can't believe you said a number of things you said.

It's about six months to completion here from breaking ground. Mind you, houses here are basically reinforced paper and wood.

The Builder is Bay West. I may have been over optimistic about how quickly this one is being finished since the dogs and I had a quick peek through the windows and the inside still looks rather unfinished.