The first thing you will need to build your new home are Building plans. You need to contact a Building Designer in your area to  get the ball rolling. You can reach out to local Building Designers via the forums page. Describe what you are looking to build and the location and a Designer should reach out to you, or help you get on the right track.

An Architect or Building Designer can both design your home. A Building Designer can build homes up to 600 square meters in footprint and maximum 3 stories. If your home is less than 600 square meters both, and Architect or Building Designer can design your home. 

Since the level of service can differ greatly with any Architect, or Building Designer I suggest you interview a few to ensure you find the right one for your needs. The best place to start is a Building Designers. They will be able to tell you if an Architect is required. 

See our articles for more information on Building Designers and Architects.

For a typical custom home build the typical required professionals required are the Structural Engineer, and Energy Advisor. Depending on the area of your lot you may also require a Geotechnical Engineer and a Land Surveyor. 

See our articles on “What it takes to Design a Custom Home” here: https://thebuildhub.ca/home-design-process/

Purchasing a property may seem straightforward, particularly when no obvious issues are visible: sign the paperwork, and the property is yours. In many cases, the process is indeed that simple. However, complications can arise when buyers are not fully informed of all relevant details. Based on our experience, some common issues include the following:

• The property's disclosure statement being inaccurate or incomplete
• The lot description failing to reflect the property's actual condition
• Marketing materials omitting important information

For example, Jordan purchased a property from Kyle. The seller's disclosure statement indicated that "all services" were available at the property line. After the purchase, a neighbor informed Jordan that properties in that area required a septic field, since municipal sewer service did not extend to the location. Understandably, Jordan was frustrated with both the sellers and the realtor involved.

In a narrow sense, the disclosure statement was accurate: the services that were available did, in fact, reach the property line. However, the statement did not clarify that the lot required a septic field, a detail that significantly affected the placement and size of any future home. This omission may have been unintentional on the seller's part, but it illustrates an important lesson: buyers should take care to fully understand exactly what is and isn't included when purchasing a property.