Build from the ground up
Custom homes
A one-of-a-kind home, planned so you have clarity on cost, schedule, and quality.
We manage the construction of custom homes for people building a one-of-a-kind home from the ground up. We get involved early, before the drawings are final, so design decisions are grounded in real budget, real site conditions, and a realistic schedule.
Written by Mark Van Ek, Venture Pacific
How it works
- 01
Early involvement
We join before the drawings are finalized, so we can guide decisions while they are still easy to change.
- 02
Feasibility and design coordination
We run feasibility reviews and coordinate with your architect and designer to align the design with your budget and the site.
- 03
Permitting and pricing
We manage permitting and refine pricing using real input from our trade partners, not rough allowances.
- 04
Clear plan before we build
We set a clear construction plan, scope, schedule, and budget, before work begins on site.
- 05
Construction management
We manage scheduling, quality control, site logistics, and safety through the whole build.
- 06
Full visibility
You follow progress, budget, and milestones in Buildertrend, our online project portal.
Why early involvement saves money
The cheapest time to change a decision is before it is drawn. When a builder joins only after the design is complete, the drawings often assume finishes, systems, or structural choices that the budget cannot carry. Fixing that means redrawing, re-pricing, and lost time.
We prefer to be at the table while the design is still forming. We give budget guidance, flag buildability risks, and help you and your designer make choices that fit both the vision and the number you are comfortable with. That early alignment is the difference between a plan that gets built and a plan that gets shelved.
Construction management and delivery models
Most of our custom home projects begin under a Construction Management model, also called cost-plus. In this model our fee is transparent and we sit on the same side of the table as you: you see the real cost of the trades and materials, the schedule, and every decision as it happens.
As the design and selections become fully defined, the pricing can convert to a Guaranteed Maximum Price (a cap you will not exceed) or a Fixed Price, if that gives you more certainty. This is often set out under a CCDC contract. The right model depends on how complete your drawings and selections are, we help you choose.
Frequently asked
When should I involve a custom home builder?
As early as possible, ideally in the planning and design phase, before drawings are final. Early involvement lets the builder give budget guidance, flag risks, and keep the design aligned with your investment range before decisions become expensive to change. Joining after the drawings are complete usually means redrawing and re-pricing once the real construction cost is known.
Do I need completed drawings before we talk?
No. Many homeowners reach out before drawings are complete, or even before design has begun. Involving a builder early helps shape the design, improves cost accuracy, and reduces revisions later, since budget guidance can be built into the plan while it is still easy to adjust rather than applied after the design is locked in.
What warranty comes with a new custom home?
New homes in BC carry the standard 2-5-10 Home Warranty: two years on labour and materials, five years on the building envelope, and ten years on the structure. We manage the warranty enrolment and the handover process, so the coverage is in place and documented by the time you receive the keys.
What is the difference between Construction Management and a Fixed Price contract?
Under Construction Management (cost-plus), our fee is transparent and you see the real cost of trades and materials as the project proceeds, which suits a project where design and selections are still being finalized. A Fixed Price or Guaranteed Maximum Price sets a cap you will not exceed, and works best once the design and selections are fully defined. Most of our custom home projects start under Construction Management and can convert once the drawings are locked in.
What is a Guaranteed Maximum Price?
A Guaranteed Maximum Price, often set out under a CCDC contract, is a ceiling on what the project will cost, even if actual trade and material costs run below that number, you pay the lower amount. It gives you the cost certainty of a fixed price while keeping the transparency of seeing the real costs underneath. We convert to this pricing model once your design and selections are complete enough to price accurately.
How do you keep the budget from growing once construction starts?
By resolving as many decisions as possible before the drawings are final, so the budget is built on real trade pricing rather than allowances. When a change does come up mid-build, we price it and show you the cost and schedule impact before proceeding, so budget growth is a decision you make, not something that appears on an invoice after the fact.
Who manages the trades on a custom home build?
We do, as the construction manager on site. We schedule and coordinate the trades, run quality control at each stage of the build, and manage site logistics and safety through to completion. You track progress, budget, and milestones through Buildertrend, our online project portal, rather than coordinating trades yourself.
Can I make design changes after construction begins?
Yes, though the cost and schedule impact depends on how far into the build the change comes. A change to a finish selection is usually straightforward; a change to a structural or systems decision made after framing is more disruptive and costly. We flag which decisions become expensive to change once construction starts, so you know the real cost of a later change before you make it.
Where we deliver this
City-by-city multiplex rules
The permitting process and what the zoning allows varies meaningfully from one Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley municipality to the next. See how this service applies in each area.
Let's talk about your property
A conversation, not a commitment.
Whether you're curious about the multiplex value of your land or looking to partner on a missing-middle build, we're here to start the conversation.