The RTM Process After You Sign

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Once you have signed the contract it is time to start building your home. With design, quoting, and sourcing a mortgage behind you, this is when things start to pick up and get really exciting when the actual build begins. Below are the different stages you will go through when building an RTM home once you have passed through the initial planning and quoting stages:

Selecting the Home Features

Once you have your floor plan finalized, you will have a selection meeting with our onsite designer Katia just before you sign the final contract to start. We like to be as transparent as possible working with clients so that they adjust their home features according to their budget and know their final price before the project starts so there are no surprises later. Prior to this meeting, you can share your inspiration images with Katia so she can help guide you through the decision-making process to help you create the look and feel you are after, that will suit your preferences for your family’s custom home. You are still able to make adjustments to your home throughout the progress, however, the majority of the decisions are made at this time.

In-Person RTM Project Milestone Site Visits

You will be asked to come to the site at the beginning and again at the end of the project for your final walk-through approvals. At these stages you will release funds from your mortgage provider in parallel. At your first walk-through the framing will be complete (floor, walls, roof) and you will confirm the electrical and plumbing rough-in locations before the home is insulated. You will monitor the following details and stages of the project in Co-Construct remotely until the final walk-through prior to the home leaving our yard. You are welcome to come anytime throughout the build to view the progress of your home in person.

Moving Day and Keeping Track of Warranty Items

On this exciting day, you are at the site location to confirm any details that the movers may need as your home arrives.  Once the home is delivered onto the foundation, you will need to make a note of any warranty work in Co-Construct that needs to be completed. Next, you will need to have your mechanical & electrical hook-ups completed. B&B Homes will come to do service work prior to you officially moving in roughly 6 weeks later.

At the One Year Anniversary of Your Project

At the one year anniversary of your home being delivered, B&B Homes will come to your home to do any service work that may have come up in the first year of you living in the home. All B&B Homes new builds are covered by our own guarantee that we will take care of any potential damages or malfunctions that may have happened to the home within the first year.

For more information on the process or to get started planning feel free to reach out to B&B at any time. Book a visit for a one-on-one consultation and to tour our current projects.

Planning Artificial and Natural Light Through Design for an RTM Home

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When planning a custom RTM, an important component of the overall design is planning for natural and artificial lighting in the home that reflects the lifestyle and personality of your family.

One of the great things about working with B&B Homes on a brand new custom RTM, is that we have an on-site designer to walk you through the planning stages of this process to help you uncover the ambiance you wish to achieve through lighting. Below are the three main types of lighting:

Accent lighting: creates the mood/atmosphere of a room
Task lighting: highlights a specific function of a room (Eg: home office area or in the kitchen)
Ambient lighting: provides the general illumination of a room

Window Positioning With Natural Light Considerations in Mind

For example, the south will allow for the most natural light so you may want to position your living room windows in this direction but perhaps not the bedrooms. Other things to consider include: What kind of lighting do you like and are naturally drawn to? Are you considering using solar energy? What do you want to see when you look out your windows? Have you thought about what window coverings you want? This can make a huge difference to the light in your room. There is a wide variety of options; curtains, blinds, smart glass or shutters for home interiors, meaning you have lots of choice to tailor it to your preferred style. Maybe do some research and see what you like the look of in preparation for your home.

Incorporating Contrast Between Rooms

Contrasting light to dark between rooms sets the tone for each transition as you move throughout the home. Do you want more drama between high and low contrast? Or another way of putting it, do you want strong or soft lighting in different rooms? Contrast will set the energy of a space, whether you want it to be more low key or exciting depends on what you plan to do in that area of the home.

Knowing the function and mood you want to create in each room will help you create a lighting scheme you will love over the course of the lifetime of your home.

Work with B&B Home’s designer Katia and plan a lighting scheme within your budget for your once in a lifetime investment to enhance your everyday living. Contact us to get started planning.

Foundation Options for an RTM home.

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An important decision to make when planning a new home is deciding what type of foundation to place the RTM onto. Whether you want a crawl space to keep the costs down or want to invest in a basement down the road, this decision will impact your budget and project planning. B&B collaborates with third party contractors and also provides foundations services as well. Below are a few considerations for this choice:

*Planning Tip: the foundation needs to be completed three weeks before the RTM move date.

Crawl Space of Full Basement?

An RTM home can be placed on a crawl space or on a full basement. Depending on your budget and needs, a crawl space may be an appropriate choice for you. Consider the soil and lot size. There are a lot of options out there when it comes to planning a basement. You can decide if you want an additional guest room, laundry facilities or another bathroom downstairs. If you are a DIY family, you can plan the development in the future yourself. With enough square footage on the main floor of the home, you may decide that the basement is an unnecessary function for your family’s needs.

Planning Tip: Generally speaking, it is more economical to finish a basement than it is to expand the main floor for materials costs.

Planning a Basement for an RTM Home

Planning a basement for an RTM home requires lifestyle, function and budget considerations. What is the space going to be used for? Home office, kids play room, bar, storage or home theater? The possibilities in this process allow you to customize your home based on your individual requirements. Depending on your land, you may want to invest in a walk-out basement. Knowing the size of home you want to have and your lifestyle preferences will help you navigate this stage of the planning process.

ICF, Wood or Concrete

The choice is yours. Insulated concrete form (ICF) foundations are common due to their energy saving efficiencies. B&B Homes recommends ICF as a primary option for this reason and also because we can take this style of basement to dry wall ready. It does cost slightly more than a traditional wood-frame, but the long term return on investment outperforms both concrete and wood in value. ICF material provides good insulation and does not rot or decay and has strong resistance to water.

Contact us today for more information on foundations or to discuss getting a project started.

Planning a Dream Ensuite for an RTM

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One of the most popular rooms to design and plan in a custom RTM project is the ensuite. Considering you will be using this space daily, carefully planning what you want for features, function and layout will allow you to create a space made specifically for your lifestyle with a little luxury added in.

Below are a few considerations that will help you decide your ensuite “must haves” for you and your spouse:

Do you like to take baths to unwind after a long day or is a double shower more practical for your daily routine? Heated floors will keep you cosy but may not make the budget, making heated towel racks a great substitute.

Having different low level lighting options is something to think about if you or your partner have different work schedules. Alternatively you can brighten up a designated makeup area if you don’t value the function of having two sinks.

Deciding on a short list of requirements will help you narrow down the endless options of what you will want to incorporate from the wide range of materials at your disposal for this special room. Don’t worry though, you don’t need to figure this all out yourself if you are working with the right design team.

RTM Ensuite

The ensuite is a space you can customize to your preferences with different features and materials to showcase your personal style in a space you will be using every single day.

The Churchbridge RTM

One of the perks of planning a custom RTM over a home that is ready made, are the endless options you have at your disposal to create your own sanctuary made exclusively for you.

RTM Homes Saskatchewan

Custom shelving allows you to make smart use of your space with practical storage for organizing your toiletries and linens.

The Hudson RTM

Working with our on-site designer Katia will help you to discover your style and feature preferences so you end up with a dream ensuite, without the pressure of having to figure it all out on your own, or settle for something you don’t love.

Contact B&B Homes today and start planning your own daily ritual oasis!

 

 

 

 

Planning a Kitchen Design for an RTM.

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Selecting cabinets is one of the biggest decisions to make when planning a custom RTM. The kitchen also happens to be one of the most expensive rooms to finish in a new home. Before deciding on species of wood and countertop materials, consider your lifestyle and what functions you will need to determine the appropriate durability, gadgets and storage necessary for your family into the future.

RTM Homes Saskatchewan

Trendy or Traditional?

Are you the type to renovate your home when you are ready to make a change? Picking classic finishes may be more advantageous for timeless longevity and prevent your cabinets from looking dated. Depending what your personal style is, you will want your cabinets to match accordingly. What is the look and feel of the space you want to prepare daily meals and entertain in?

Cabinet Science: The Structure and Components

There are three basic structural components to a cabinet: the box, the shelves and the drawers. Each can be constructed in a number of ways.  At B&B Homes, we build all of our cabinets custom to the dimensions of the floor plan  and design them to fit the individual needs of all our customers.

Finish and Function

Cabinets are one of the most visible aspects of your kitchen design. At B&B we will make any home with the materials you wish. If you are looking for our advice, we recommend working with maple doors. These specs we use as a minimum standard in our RTM kitchens. This durable species adds warmth and elegance to both traditional and contemporary settings without blowing the budget or sacrificing quality.

Bringing It All Together with Appliances and Countertops

Creating a vision with a designer helps you plan your cabinetry colors,  countertops, backsplash tile, plumbing fixtures and appliances, to pull off the look and function you are aiming for. Often B&B clients make the investment in new appliances and granite or quartz countertops since their custom RTM will be their forever home. The kitchen is the space you will need to plan for the most diligently in an RTM project.

The Hudson RTM

RTM Homes Saskatchewan

how to select cabinets for an RTM

For more information or to start planning and designing your dream kitchen, contact B&B Homes to get started.

 

Preparing for Moving Day for Your RTM Home.

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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 [email protected]

Features that Add Value to Your Home

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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.

Getting Financing & Timelines for an RTM Project

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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

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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.

Framing the B&B Homes Way

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When planning to build a custom RTM home, building methodology matters. We have built almost 90 homes and have discovered the B&B Homes formula for success when framing an RTM home to last a lifetime. Below are some of the steps that we take to frame the “B&B Homes way”. Feel free to reach out and ask any questions you have about the process.

All B&B floors are constructed using a double 1 ¾” LVL (laminated veneer lumber) on the both the front and the back of the floor system. They are glued and nailed together forming a strong 3 ½” perimeter for the floor system. LVL’s are a high-strength engineered wood product. One of the main advantages is that it can be manufactured, to almost any length, avoiding joints which lead to weak spots. LVL’s are comparable in strength to solid timber, concrete, and steel. This helps minimize floor movement during loading and unloading of the home, as well as during the move. In adding this wood product to our methodology, we have found our floor systems to be sturdier and more durable.

framing RTM

In any spot where we will be installing bath hardware (eg. hand towel holder, toilet paper holder, & bath towel rod), we install backing in the wall during the framing stage. This requires planning ahead on our part, but is well worth it! Who likes to have a loose hand towel holder, or worse yet, have one that continually falls off the wall?

We use high quality acrylic bath and shower fixtures. They all come as one piece units and get installed during the framing stage. They also come with a protective film to eliminate any damage to the finish during the build. The major benefits of using these one piece units, is that you will never have a problem with moisture getting behind the tub or shower, that could create mould in your wall.

For more information on B&B Home’s RTM process, visit here.