Custom homes
From bare lot to keys.
Infill lots in town, view lots on the benches above the lake. We take a house from the first walk around the property to the day you move in, with one site lead the whole way.
The eight phases
The weeks are typical for a 2,500 to 3,500 square foot home. Your written schedule replaces them with real dates once the drawings are done.
Lot review
1–2 weeksWe walk the lot with you and look at slope, access, rock, servicing and what the zoning allows. Steep lots get a geotechnical report before design.
Design and drawings
8–16 weeksYou work with your architect or designer, or one we work with often. We price as the drawings develop, so the plan and the budget grow up together.
Permit
6–12 weeksWe prepare and submit the building permit application and answer the city's questions. Timing depends on the municipality and the season.
Excavation and foundation
4–8 weeksExcavation, footings, retaining where needed, foundation walls, drainage and backfill. Rock and steep grades are where this phase grows.
Framing to lock-up
8–12 weeksFloors, walls, roof, windows and exterior doors. Once it is locked up, the weather stops being the main risk.
Rough-ins and insulation
8–10 weeksPlumbing, electrical, heating and ventilation inside the walls, then inspections, insulation and drywall.
Finishes and exterior
12–16 weeksCabinets, tile, flooring, trim, paint and fixtures inside. Siding, soffits, landscaping prep and driveway outside.
Walkthrough and keys
2–4 weeksFinal inspections, a walkthrough with your list, and deficiencies fixed before the holdback is released.
Typical timeline
14 to 20 months, start to finish.
Most of the variation sits before a shovel goes in the ground: design decisions and the permit queue.
We start construction only once the permit is issued and the contract and schedule are signed.
What a custom home costs here
Honest ranges per square foot of finished space, for 2026 in the Central Okanagan. They include our work and our trades, and exclude the lot, design fees, permit fees and GST.
| Lot and build | Per sq ft | A 3,000 sq ft home |
|---|---|---|
| Level infill lot, straightforward plan, mid-range finishes | $475–$575 | $1.4M–$1.7M |
| View lot with a moderate slope, more glass, upgraded finishes | $575–$725 | $1.7M–$2.2M |
| Steep or rocky lot, walk-out levels, retaining walls, large glazing | $725–$900+ | $2.2M and up |
What pushes the price up
- Rock and steep grades: blasting, more excavation, engineered retaining walls
- Big glass walls and lift-and-slide doors
- Complex rooflines and long cantilevers
- Long service runs on rural or upper-bench lots
- High-end finishes picked late in the job
What keeps it down
- A simple footprint and roof
- Stacking bathrooms and the kitchen over each other
- Finishes chosen before framing starts
- Standard window sizes where nobody will notice
- Fewer changes once the contract is signed
Infill or view lot
The ground decides a lot.
An infill lot in Pandosy or Glenmore usually means tight access, neighbours a few metres away and existing services to tie into. A view lot in the Upper Mission or West Kelowna usually means slope, rock and retaining.
We look at the lot before we quote, and if you have not bought it yet, we are glad to walk it with you first. It is the cheapest hour you will spend on the whole project.
Next step
Thinking about a lot?
Send us the address or the listing. We will walk it and tell you what it means for the build, before you commit.
- Office
- 1460 Sawmill Road, Kelowna, BC
- Hours
- Mon to Fri, 8:00 to 4:00. Crews on site from 7:00.