Enhanced Everyday Living for an Eston Family

Posted by BBHomes on May 5, 2019

The Milton’s spent at least two years researching before they committed to building their new custom RTM home. It was essential, for their peace of mind, to make an informed decision before proceeding with something as significant as designing and building their forever home.

Deciding to go RTM vs Renovating

“For several years now, we have enjoyed television shows such as Holmes on Homes, Holmes Inspection, Holmes and Holmes, House of Bryan, and Bryan Inc., for example. Early on, we recognized that we were not interested in renovating. More importantly, however, we discovered that we wanted to build new because it would allow us the opportunity to ensure that our home was built to our satisfaction, literally from start-to-finish.“

-Penny Milton, Eston

What do you like most about living in your new RTM home?

We love the security of knowing that B&B Homes assisted us in designing our RTM home for Aging-In-Place. Knowing that our new home is also supported by a foundation, as well as crawl space, specifically engineered to withstand our soil type, is something that makes us feel most confident about preserving the structural integrity of our new RTM home. We are thankful that B&B Homes consulted with an engineering firm in order to make that happen.

What were you looking for in an RTM builder?

We were focused on identifying an RTM builder with a reputation for using quality materials and meticulous construction practices. The fact that B&B Homes is a family owned and operated, second-generation company, also played a role in our final decision.

What was important to you in the layout of the home?

It was essential that we were given the opportunity to custom design our own floor plan, and basement layout, to best suit our current as well as anticipated future needs.

What is one piece of advice you would share with anyone planning a custom RTM home?

Keep an open mind. No matter how well informed you may feel coming into the project, be willing to listen and learn. Seek plenty of advice and input, before and during the various stages, from the B&B team and ask for clarification, whenever needed. Doing so will bring you, the home owner, greater confidence in the outcome.

What did you like about working with B&B Homes?

“The word impeccable comes to mind whenever we reflect on the quality of materials and diligent craftsmanship of our new RTM home!”

-Penny Milton, Eston

There are countless aspects that we appreciated about working with B&B Homes. So many, in fact, that we hesitate to mention specific names for fear of overshadowing others who may have had a more behind-the-scenes type of role. Everyone with whom we had contact, whether through Co-Construct, telephone, email or in-person, was always friendly and professional.

We feel it is noteworthy to mention that Travis, president of B&B Homes, personally contacted us on various occasions throughout the build process. We believe that Travis’ personal interest in our build project and his hands-on approach, such as operating heavy equipment to ensure proper preparation of our lot, attest to his work ethic and contributes to the ongoing success of B&B Homes.

What a fabulous asset B&B Homes has in their onsite designer, Katia. Not only does she possess the appropriate qualifications and experience to fulfil her role, but Katia does so in an exceptional manner. We found her to be positive, patient, and engaging. Katia made the design process pleasurable and we are grateful that she confidently guided us through the finish selection process.

The time and attention to detail that Darwin put into pricing and sourcing for our project alone is unfathomable. We found him to be highly competent, personable and forth-coming. Indeed, Darwin was instrumental in encouraging us to keep an open mind throughout the journey.

As project manager, Adam ensured that our construction project was completed in a timely fashion, making the project go surprisingly smoothly. The flow of the trades that Adam organized was extremely efficient. It is obvious that he makes every effort to bring in quality sub-contractors who take pride in producing meticulous work.

Want to Get Started Planning Your Own RTM Project with B&B?

Working with our on-site designer can help you bring a vision to life that you didn’t know was possible for a new RTM home. Contact B&B Homes today to coordinate a complimentary consultation with our designer here.

Preparing for Moving Day for Your RTM Home.

Posted by BBHomes on April 3, 2019

Congratulations, the process is winding down and your brand new RTM is about to arrive on your property! In preparation for this important day, there are a few steps to take for a smooth day and brand new home delivery. A few things that they require before the home arrives on your lot are:

Details on specific road numbers with precise directions (noting any bridges, trees hanging on the road, soft roads, highwater, train tracks etc) and any other obstacle that may impact the home delivery routing and planning
You will need to contact your local RM/town to get permission if you require trimming/cutting any trees on the route (you will also be responsible for clean up afterwards as well)
There may be unforeseen variables that can affect costs during the actual move, these include: construction, re-routes from utility companies, rural municipalities or counties denying road usage due to condition, size or weight or obstacles mentioned above. You might also need to look into dumpster rental in preparation for the delivery to efficiently remove any waste.

An important consideration, if you require line lifts, we are unable to accurately predict what the exact utility charges will be. The utility estimates we provide, are based on past moves of similar size in the same area. This cost can get affected by re-routes, weather, road conditions and utility rate changes.

B&B Homes will invoice for the utilities after the move. We can provide an estimate in advance so you can technically have no balance owing at that time this bill arrives. Utility companies reserve the right to bill a customer up to and including two years past the original utility bill date.

In most cases the estimates provided are fairly accurate unless any of the above variables occur. If you have any more questions about the RTM moving process, email info@bbhomes.ca

Planning a Mudroom for an RTM Home.

Posted by BBHomes on March 14, 2019

The mudroom is a common design element that farmers and ranchers incorporate into their RTM homes as this side entrance is a popular entryway point into the home.

With smart planning and design, you can keep these areas neat, organized and styled to your lifestyle. Whether you want to put the laundry in this area with a sink for a double function, or a convenient half bath, the mudroom area can help the rest of your home stay clean and organized.

planning a mudroom for an RTM Tile floors keep the area easy to clean and maintain.

RTM Mudroom

Lockers, drawers, hooks and benches are also commonly found to help keep everyone’ outerwear and accessories tidy.

laundry-ironstone

If you do not want to commit to a half bath in this area of your home, you can always add a sink to a connected laundry area to clean up in after working outside.

To start planning your own RTM mudroom in your design, contact B&B Homes.

Features that Add Value to Your Home

Posted by BBHomes on January 31, 2019 with 1 Comment

Your home is not just your personal sanctuary, it is also an investment! Whether you are planning your own custom home or preparing to sell your existing residence, there are some upgrades that will appreciate the price of your home when you are ready to sell. Below are a few ideas:

Upgrading flooring in bedrooms from carpet to laminate flooring.
Tile showers, as well as tile flooring in bathrooms.
Upgrading your countertop from laminate to quartz or granite.
Adding a fireplace (gas or wood burning).
Installing LED pot lights throughout the home.
Using vinyl siding to fiber cement board siding and/or adding stone to your exterior.
Upgrading from stipple ceiling to either painted or pine.

Whether it is your forever home or you know you will sell down the road, it is important to consider how the home will maintain it’s value over the long run.

What’s Trending at B&B Homes

Posted by BBHomes on November 20, 2018

Here at B&B we have been seeing a big demand for cozy, rustic style homes.

The Redburn RTM

Warm brown tones, paired with distressed wood features and dark metal accents create this well sought after look.

The Redburn RTM

Adding in a stone clad fireplace and pine ceiling is another way to develop the rustic style.

Pine Ceiling

Features

And finally complete the look with the little details.

Ensuite features

Features

Whatever your style may be, the B&B team has the knowledge and expertise to pull it off. Visit our Facebook page, Instagram, and website to see more inspiring pictures. Contact B&B Homes to get started on your own custom home build.

Introducing The Chesapeake and The Hudson Floor Plans

Posted by BBHomes on August 6, 2018

If 2019 is the year you want to be living in your brand new RTM home, it is time to start planning! One of the first steps of the process is to determine the size of the home and the layout that will work best for your family and budget. It is never too early to start, but it can easily be too late when you start putting the various pieces of the process together. Start design early and check out these new inspirations from recent B&B Home’s projects!

The Chesapeake utilizes 1640 sq ft of functional living space that includes three bedrooms. With an open concept design and a high vaulted ceiling in the front entry, this home leaves a grand, open feeling for families to relax and prepare meals in. A double sided central fireplace is a statement piece for the entrance, dining and living room areas. The side entrance is kept tidy with the mudroom lockers and laundry room only steps away. The Chesapeake includes a walk-through pantry that adjoins the mudroom to kitchen for organization and extra storage. This home offers a comfortable living space while utilizing each square foot of space.

The Hudson boasts over 2100 sq ft of functional space for a growing family. With four bedrooms and a study, everyone has a space to call their own. Whether preparing meals for the family or hosting a dinner party, this spacious kitchen is a culinary haven. With custom cabinetry built into the design, there is plenty of room for storage to stay organized. Cozy up by the fireplace during the cold winter months and enjoy ceiling details created to fit any style. If you are looking for a beautiful custom RTM home with carefully planned features and generous square footage, The Hudson is the one for you.

Want to Get Started Planning Your Own RTM Project?

If you have any questions about the RTM process, want to book a site visit to tour some of our current projects or wish to start the process of drafting your own custom design plan, contact us here.

Delivering the Ironstone to Central Butte for a Young Family

Posted by BBHomes on July 13, 2018

The Peterson’s spent about a year thinking about what they wanted for their future RTM home and met with various builders before they came across the layout of the Ironstone and decided to work with B&B. The deciding factor for them was having the kitchen and dining room off the back of the home, a layout that was very difficult to find when they were looking at floor plans.

Everything else in the Ironstone design seemed to fit with what they were looking for, from the fireplace to the tray ceilings; they felt it was truly beautiful home, and one they wanted for themselves. Rachel and Brennan knew immediately that the Ironstone was exactly what they wanted for their future home.

What do you love about living in your new RTM home?

“Seeing the way everything came together blew us away. We always say to each other, can you believe this is our home? It’s such a great feeling to see all of our choices come to life to create the home we had always dreamt of.

There were so many things that drew us to B&B Homes as our builder. Great service, great people, great craftsmanship. Every detail of our home was well thought out and nothing was missed with B&B.“ – Rachel Peterson

What advice would you give to someone planning an RTM project now that yours is completed?

“Our advice to anyone looking to build a new home would be to enjoy the process! It can be stressful and seem overwhelming, but it is worth it. Take your time and have fun with all of the choices along the way. We have such a sense of pride seeing everything we picked turn into a beautiful home.” – Brennan Peterson

What did you like about working with B&B Homes?

“B&B Homes was great to deal with from start to finish. They were so accommodating meeting with us when it worked with our schedule and making any changes we decided on. Everything was built and finished with great quality which was such a weight off our shoulders knowing we could trust B&B to do the job right. They made what could have been a stressful time in our lives easy and fun. We can’t thank them enough! “ -Rachel Peterson

Want to get started planning your own RTM project?

Working with our on-site designer can help you bring a vision to life that you didn’t know was possible for a new RTM home. Contact B&B Homes today to get started on designing your own custom floor plan here.

Delivering an RTM Onto an Existing Foundation Outside of Moose Jaw.

Posted by BBHomes on May 4, 2018

When Mandi Odynski and Jesse Corcoran originally first engaged with B&B Homes, they wanted to know what their options were to put a new RTM home on an existing foundation on some farm land they own just outside of Moose Jaw. Travis, B&B Homes’ President headed out to their farm to take some measurements so B&B’s on-site designer could draft what would be possible for a pure custom home design to fit the foundation.

Building a Custom RTM on an Existing Foundation outside of Moose Jaw

Once it was determined that their existing foundation was usable for a new RTM home, Mandi and Jesse worked with Katia, B&B Home’s designer to plan a custom home that suited their lifestyle. In late 2015, B&B Homes delivered a completely custom RTM home covering 1427 sq feet to their land, and that would also utilize existing plumbing and include some new ICF insulation in the foundation for a future DIY basement. The design of the basement allowed for bedrooms later on down the road if needed.

B & B Homes was able to move up our delivery date and hired an amazing crew that immediately eased my worries regarding the placement of our home on the foundation!

-Mandi Odynski

Colors and Unique Custom Selections for Entertaining

When picking colors and making customization decisions, Mandi liked the warmth that brown brought into the home. Since they regularly entertain guests, it was essential to have both a functional kitchen with a big island and an expansive eating ledge, and room for the pool table to fit between the kitchen and living room. Other features they included were a wine rack above the fridge, a pull out garbage, a study/guest room and a walk-in closet en-suite.

Choosing the Right Builder for their RTM Project

Mandi and Jesse heard about B&B Homes through their friends. They chose to work with B&B Homes over other builders because they liked the product, price and finishes they saw in their friend’s home. They heard B&B Homes was really good to work with, which they were able to confirm themselves after a few site visits and agreed.

“Thank you B & B Homes for walking us through the building process, answering all our questions and concerns, and providing us with our beautiful home – we love it!”

-Mandi Odynski and Jesse Corcoran

Getting Financing & Timelines for an RTM Project

Posted by BBHomes on January 24, 2018

There are a few different phases of an RTM project before the exciting moving day when a brand new RTM arrives at your foundation location. One of the most important aspects that need to be in place in order to kick-off a project is securing financing from a lender.

When you are pursuing financing for an RTM project some things that they may ask for include:

• You often must own the land you plan to build on or need to coordinate the mortgage around this purchase (changing land titles can delay a project so start asap if you need to do this)
• You will need a contract or purchase of sale with terms spelled out by the builder including obligations for each party
• Some lenders will request a copy of your blueprints for the project
• Homeowners will need to purchase insurance for when the home is on the foundation (B&B Homes and the moving company insure you before the RTM arrives)
• RTM homeowners often require a building permit to ensure your project complies with local and national code (this can be done through your local municipality and can also cause delays so reach out to them early in your planning)
• A water test is often a requirement for a mortgage (be prepared for them to ask you for one)
• The home must be anchored to a foundation (not placed on a slab)
• The lender will need to release funds before the home is delivered on-site

B&B Homes requires different payment draws at different stages of the project that will need to be approved by your lender. For example, a deposit is due to commence the project, a schedule of payment draws will follow with a final payment due before the home leaves the yard. Contact Suzanne to learn more about B&B Home’s payment draws or to request an introduction to our preferred mortgage specialist.

Please note: Some lenders (such as FCC and others) may ask you to show proof of insurance from the builder and moving company. We are happy to provide this information at your request.

Once you have your estimate and blueprints prepared and financing in place, the build itself will begin to move very quickly compared to the planning phase of the project.

For more information on the different stages of the project, visit the RTM Project Timeline Roadmap.

Considerations When Designing a Kitchen Island

Posted by BBHomes on November 10, 2017

The kitchen island is one of the fun parts to plan when designing your own custom RTM home. When visioning your layout, you need to be conscious that there is enough traffic space so you can be comfortable doing multiple tasks at a time in the kitchen, making the space functional. You also need to think about space for things like seating; you might need to leave a good amount of room for chairs. We would recommend for you to buy barstools for this as it will take up the least amount of space and make sitting at a kitchen island easy.

Don’t forget about lighting either! The right sort of lighting can make or break a kitchen island – we usually recommend some sort of long hanging pendant for this although spotlights are also very popular. However, there are plenty of lighting options to choose from. When the right lighting option has been chosen, it’s important to ensure it’s installed by a professional electrician so that it’ll last a lifetime in the kitchen but also so it’s installed securely. See, there’s a lot to think about isn’t there? Let’s review some more ideas for designing a kitchen island when planning a custom RTM home project.

Double sink in the island area while allowing for enough space from the range to move around the space for the busy multi-taskers.

You may prefer prairie views when doing this dishes and opt for family meals on an easy to clean and maintain quartz countertop. It’s well known that custom quartz countertops bring a certain elegance to one’s home which is precisely why it’s such a popular choice.

No wasted space if you plan for storage in advance.

Create an ambiance based on your personal style and preferences to prepare daily meals. A rustic look can be achieved with custom cabinetry and lighting fixtures to compliment.

Plan your own custom RTM dream home with B&B’s Dream It, Build It, Move It process. Contact us to get started.