Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’s
Building a home can feel overwhelming, but our goal is to make the process as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Before you get started, you probably have some questions - that’s completely normal. Below, you’ll find answers to the questions we hear most often. And if there’s something we haven’t covered, reach out anytime - we would be happy to connect with you!
Getting Started
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Your first point of contact should be your builder, followed by your designer. A common mistake we see is having plans created by a drafts-person before contacting us. These plans often don’t account for the design vision or the functional details that make a home work for your family. Starting with the builder ensures your home is deliberately planned from the ground up.
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No, you don’t need to own a lot before contacting us! If you’re unsure of where you want to build, we can recommend neighbourhoods or subdivisions that may fit your needs. We can also connect you with one of our trusted REALTORS to help you find the perfect location for your home.
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We recommend selecting your home builder about 18 months before you plan to move into your new home. This gives ample time for design, selections, and planning to ensure a smooth, stress-free process.
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Yes! We love bringing new life to established neighbourhoods, as well as building in acreage subdivisions. Acreages are perfect if your family is looking for space, privacy, and tranquility while still remaining close to the city of Saskatoon. We generally do not build in new neighbourhoods unless our client has a lot they own.
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The first step is a discovery call. This is our chance to get to know each other and understand your vision. During this call, we’ll discuss your project scope, budget, and timeline to ensure everything aligns with our approach. From there, we’ll schedule a feasibility meeting with our team and provide preliminary pricing. You’ll meet with our designer to explore selections, and finally, receive a complete, detailed proposal. It’s a thorough process, but taking the time upfront ensures nothing gets missed and the whole team is on the same page.
About Spruce Homes
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We specialize in in-fill properties and high-end custom homes.
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We offer both! Many of our pre-designed plans can be customized to suit your family’s needs. If you prefer a completely unique design, we also offer fully custom homes tailored to your vision and lifestyle.
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What sets Spruce Homes apart is our extensive hands-on experience in the construction industry. With a combined 35 years in the construction industry, Dean and Ian understand every detail involved in building a home. As a brother-owned company, we bring a personal, attentive approach to every project. We lead with integrity and have a genuine commitment to our clients.
Design & Collaboration
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Our design partner, Adria, is a talented designer with extensive experience in Saskatoon and Vancouver. We prefer to work with her, but if you have a designer you’d like to collaborate with, that’s absolutely fine.
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We are involved every step of the way! We care about your experience and want to ensure all your questions are answered. You’ll have access to our project management software for updates, as well as a group chat with Dean and Ian, so you can reach out anytime during the build.
Process & Timeline
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Building a custom home takes time so as exciting as it is, we never rush the process. Including design and planning, the entire process typically takes 14+ months, with the actual build generally lasting around 10 months.
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We do our best to accommodate change requests. However, whether a change can be made depends on where we are in the build process and the nature of the request.
Investment
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The investment varies depending on location, square footage, finishes, and other factors. We often get asked for a “price per square foot,” but because so many variables influence cost, it’s not a reliable number that we can provide.
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Yes, we offer financing options for new builds.
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We generally work on fixed pricing, however, if you prefer to work on cost plus, we can certainly accomodate that as well.
Construction & Policies
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For quality and insurance reasons, we work exclusively with trusted tradespeople we know personally. While there are many skilled trades in Saskatoon, this ensures your home meets our high standards and avoids compromising quality. Clients are not able to supply their own materials.
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Each build is protected by a comprehensive 10-year warranty through Progressive Home Warranty, one of the most respected providers in the industry. This warranty includes 1 year materials and labour warranty, 2 year mechanical systems warranty, 5 year foundation water penetration warranty, and 10 year structural defect warranty.
Renovations
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Yes, we take on large-scale renovation projects with budgets starting at $150,000. To learn more about the types of renovations we handle, please click here.