Welcome to Lakeside Country Homes!
Lakeside Country Homes has been operating in the Bancroft area since 1999. With almost 30 years experience, we offer exceptional customer service to exceed your construction, renovation and design requirements and expectations.
THE PROCESS
Building your dream home or renovating your existing one is a major decision—one that requires careful planning at every stage. A well-structured approach helps ensure a smooth project, minimizes surprises, and delivers a finished space you can enjoy for years to come. Simply put, proper planning pays off.
1: Define Your Vision
Start by identifying what you want. This can be challenging. We will assist by breaking your ideas down into wants and needs, which makes the process more manageable. We will consider both your current lifestyle, how your needs may evolve in the future and resale value.
2: Establish Your Budget
Be realistic about what you can afford. There is little value in designing a dream home that isn’t financially achievable. A clearly defined budget will guide decisions throughout the entire process.
3: Seek Trusted Advice
Ask questions, gather input, and connect with us for professional guidance. Word-of-mouth referrals are often more valuable than advertising. Choosing to “build local” supports the community you’ll be living in and ensures you’re working with professionals who understand the area. We are always happy to provide references.
4: Begin Preliminary Design
At this stage, you should feel comfortable moving forward with initial design work. We offer in-house design services to ensure your vision aligns with your budget from the outset. While architects can produce exceptional designs, they don’t always account for construction costs and budgets.
We also coordinate with your local municipality and regulatory authorities to confirm your design meets all zoning and regulatory requirements. This step is critical—issues such as zoning bylaw amendments, shoreline considerations, environmental impact studies, or site plan agreements can lead to significant delays, sometimes taking years to resolve.
5: Review Pricing and Scheduling
We will provide a preliminary price range for your project. Final costs will depend on construction details and finish selections that are still to be determined. At this stage, we will also review timelines, availability, a preliminary schedule, and warranty coverage.
6: Finalize Drawings, Pricing, and Permits
Once you’re ready to proceed, we will complete your permit drawings. We will also obtain engineered designs and pricing for key components such as trusses, floor systems, and windows. With this information, we can present a firm price along with a detailed payment schedule.
A comprehensive contract will be prepared, clearly outlining what is included (and excluded), along with any variables or allowances. Once approved, we will proceed with the permit application on your behalf—or assist you through the process if preferred.
7: Construction and Communication
Clear and consistent communication is essential to a successful project. We will provide you with regular progress updates, and you should plan to visit the site regularly. Minor changes can be made along the way for little to no extra cost. You should also be readily available to make decisions in a timely fashion so not to hold up the project. Throughout construction, required inspections will be conducted by local building officials and we will provide you with the inspection reports to ensure any/all outstanding items are addressed.
8: Warranty and After-Sales Service
All warranty details will be clearly outlined in writing, including coverage for both workmanship and materials. You will also be informed of your responsibilities as a homeowner to ensure warranty requirements are maintained.
Our commitment extends well beyond project completion—we remain available to address any questions or concerns long after your project is finished.