What is the Process of Building a Home in Winnipeg?

By Reid Boles, Realtor

Building a home from scratch can be one of the most stressful but also one of the most rewarding things you can do. This isn’t something that very many people have the privilege of doing, and many people are curious about what the process looks like from start-to-finish.  

Keep in mind that there are many different builders and each one has different timelines and different ways to get to the finished product.

This is a step-by-step description of the process of building a new home in Winnipeg, Manitoba with Discovery Homes, a custom builder that I have represented through hundreds of builds, but the process may not be exactly the same with other builders.

What are the steps of building a house in winnipeg?

The first meeting is usually at a showhome which may or may not be the same as the plan that you are considering building. Here, you notice the finishing work, the quality, and the upgrades. It’s very important to understand what is standard and what is an upgrade. For example, a fireplace can run anywhere from $2000 to well over $20,000 and you need to know which one you’re looking at when you’re exploring the show home and starting to envision what your home will look like.

The next steps are to determine the lot, plan and approximate price.  Your budget will determine the size and location of the lot, and the size of the plan. The size of the lot will determine the options for the plan.  

Once the lot and plan have been picked it’s time to decide what may be the most important for you to add into your custom build. Will you be here for 3-5 years or is this the final house you will build?

If it’s going to be a short-term home for you, then it’s very important to balance your preferences with the potential resale value. You might think that having the laundry in the kitchen is a great idea—but 99% of buyers will disagree with you! In that case, best to place the laundry where most people want it.

If this is going to be your ‘forever’ home, then it’s very important to add the balcony, the spice kitchen or the built-in fireplace because these are not easy to do once the house is built.

Things like stone countertops and durable flooring add the most value immediately and for the long run. Adding a deck, custom tiling or a backsplash can be done later or even done by yourself if you are so inclined. Builders will not usually include appliances or an air conditioner, but sometimes one or the other can be negotiated.

Once the upgrades have been agreed-upon, and the customizations settled, you are ready to move to the next stage.

The builder will apply for the permits and then you move to the fun part-- the selections stage. This is when you will choose the colors, the cabinetry, countertops and all the way down to hinge colour on the doors. Most builders provide a designer to assist with this process.  While some people love it, many find it stressful and having a professional to assist means that you’ll be happy with the results.

How long does it take to build a house in winnipeg?

Once this has been completed then you wait a little while for your first walkthrough, which is an electrical walkthrough. This is where we plan things like placement of televisions, appliances, and lighting, meaning that you will need to have planned your furniture placement prior to this walkthrough. 

The builder carries on with the build, and your tasks are to purchase your appliances, AC, and make a plan for your landscaping. You can hire a company to handle the landscaping, but laying sod, or even growing grass from seed are both fairly simple, and lots of people do it themselves. Of course, the timing for the landscaping depends on your possession date. If you move into the home in January, obviously you will have to wait until spring to complete it. Some exterior finishes (including the stucco) also cannot be completed in the winter, so if you take possession in the winter, the builder will return once the weather allows to complete the final touches.

Closer to possession you will have second walkthrough with the builder, to create a list of the final touch-ups required before possession date. This is so exciting as you can see your vision coming to life! You will also have a firm possession date now, so your next task is to set up movers, and book TV/phone/internet installation. You will also want to call the City of Winnipeg and order your garbage and recycling cans ahead of time, as they can take a couple of weeks to arrive. 

Finally, possession day comes. Landscaping won’t be complete, so you’ll have mud in the front and back. Like any home, take meter readings for hydro, gas and water, and then call to set up new accounts. Then move in, unpack, sit back, and enjoy!

If you have any questions about building a home in Winnipeg, feel free to call me anytime at 204-799-3951.

You can also check out our current listings of to be built homes by Discovery Homes Ltd.