New Homes
New Homes
Gender barrier-breaking home a model for homebuilders
A home designed by and for women has made it into a book -- a book that could change the way businesses engage women consumers.
"In 2003, I got a call from Shane Wenzel, senior VP of sales and marketing for Shane Homes," says author Joanne Thomas Yaccato in her book, The Gender Intelligent Retailer.
"He was interested in having me speak to his group on how to better meet the needs of women customers. He wryly observed: 'I have never sold a house just because it had a great workshop or garage.'"
Through her Toronto-based firm, the Thomas Yaccato Group, she has worked with companies around the world to help them better connect with women consumers.
She not only came to meet with Shane Homes' staff and customers in Calgary, she helped a group of women -- Shane customers and staff -- design a home.
"He (Wenzel) knew women were the major influencers of home purchases," says Thomas Yaccato.
As a result, the Shane Homes home design project was launched. "(It) was not only going to have the floor plan designed by women from start to finish, they were actually going to build the darn thing," she says.
A workshop and a series of "listening" groups over eight months with 10 Shane Homes' owners -- all women -- led to designs of several floor plans that led to the Yaccato 1 and Yaccato 2 models, which were unveiled in 2004.
Those plans went on to win both a single-family housing award and an award for innovation at the 2005 Awards of Excellence in Housing by the Canadian Home Builders' Association-Alberta.
Shane Homes continues to utilize some of the ideas in its standard plans, or offers them as options for new home buyers.
"Some of the unique features incorporated into the Yaccato 2 include even small items that are virtually unnoticeable when walking through the home, but that make life simpler and thus, more enjoyable," says Wenzel
These include such things as spacious mud rooms with storage organizers and cubbyholes, as well as a walk-through pantry that holds an upright freezer and has plenty of room to store the small appliances.
Other features include extra storage and more work space in kitchens, including a home management centre with built-in filing cabinet.
There are also awning windows that can be left open for fresh air even when it's raining, and two extra bedrooms of equal size to eliminate sibling rivalry.
--Canwest News Service
New Homes
Purchase of a new home is a sound decision
There is no argument that we live in uncertain economic times. The market has been unstable and, on paper, most investments have fallen in value over the past four months.However, both Canada and the United States have recently held elections and there is now a clearer picture of direction and the economy appears to be responding positively. Despite what some "experts" were forecasting, the values of homes in Manitoba did not drop this year and are expected to continue to increase in value in 2009.
The doom-and -loom prognosticators make it sound like we are living in the Great Depression and that we should all stuff our money under the mattress, lock the doors and avoid all financial decisions. Nothing is further from the truth.
Cautious and smart decision-making should always be exercised, whether it be in prosperous times or not. However, if we look back a generation, we will see that times are still pretty good in Manitoba and the purchase of a new home is a sound decision.
Length of mortgage -- Many people are bemoaning the fact that the 40-year mortgage has disappeared and now the maximum is 35 years. They fear that this change reflects difficulty in purchasing a new home. If we go back a generation into the early 1980s, we see that the maximum mortgage was 20 years so, in actuality, putting together a payment plan over time today is much more accommodating to the buyer.
Down payment -- There is additional concern that the 0 per cent down payment has been replaced with a five per cent minimum, again placing more hindrances on the buyer. Going back a generation, the minimum down payment was 15 per cent. If one couldn't secure that amount up front, they had to receive approval through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp.
Interest rates -- Although very few people are complaining about interest rates that hover around five per cent or six per cent, many don't realize how good times are in relation to a generation ago. In 1981, interest rates were above 20 per cent. A $200,000 mortgage back then cost more to carry than a $500,000 mortgage today (source: Canadian Mortgage Trends).
Manitoba's employment rates and average wages compared to cost of living are among the best in Canada and are projected to remain that way. Therefore, when one looks at length of mortgage, down payment restrictions and interest rates, and then compare conditions today with those of a generation ago, Manitobans live in an economic climate that is very conducive toward the successful purchase of a new home.
This column prepared by the Manitoba Home Builders' Association.
New Homes
'Bang for the buck'
It's not often that the terms luxury and affordablility can be mentioned in the same breath.Evidence that the two opposites can co-exist, it turns out, is on display at 86 Vintage Hills Court in northeast Winnipeg's Algonquin Estates, where Randall Homes has built a 1,971-sq.-ft, two-storey show home with a walk-out basement that comes in under the magical $500,000 mark.
Randall's sales representative, Blake Vasko, says prospective home buyers will have to look long and hard to find better dollar value in a new home.
"This design allows you to get a luxury home in an upscale area of North Kildonan for under $500,000, something that's virtually unheard of," he says. "Mind you, the lower level isn't finished, but you can do it up nicely for around $30,000. That still leaves you under the $470,000 mark. That's incredible bang for the buck by any standard."
Somewhat surprisingly, Randall didn't sacrifice any key amenities or design features to arrive at such an affordable price tag ($434,900). Natural maple flooring that runs from the foyer into the kitchen, dark maple cabinets (set off by a smashing beige backsplash) and black granite countertops offer immediate -- and ample -- proof that no corners have been cut.
Not only that, but the open-concept design is at once eye-catching and practical.
"There is little in the way of wasted space in this design (The Eldridge)," says Vasko. "From the moment you walk in, space abounds. The foyer is wide and long, and the kitchen is roomy with an island (with eating nook for two) that opens on to a great room with 5-metre ceiling and cultured stone fireplace with maple entertainment unit and beige ceramic detail that goes up to the ceiling."
Then, there's the back wall of the kitchen/great room area, he adds.
"It's a literal wall of windows with two windows and a deck door surrounding the dinette and two windows that go about three-quarters of the way up the wall in the great room. There's also a south-facing (obscured glass) window over the stairwell that light streams in through all day," he says. "It's always bright upstairs or down, even on cloudy days. Not only that, but the views are great, with the lake out back."
Access to the upper level is attained via an angular staircase framed by smart medium maple trim and a maple bannister with black metal spindles. Once up top, you find yourself at a large, semi-circular landing that was conceived to accomplish two purposes: a secluded master bedroom to the right (with a panoramic view of the great room) and a loft area to the left.
"The idea was to give you defined spaces, yet have lots of room to move," explains Vasko. "The loft area (which features yet another large window) can be used for anything -- a computer room, den, play area, you name it. At the other end of the landing is the master bedroom, which literally has its own balcony. Then, the two secondary bedrooms and main bathroom are set off in their own separate wing."
Off by its lonesome, the master bedroom is everything it should be -- plenty big to accommodate a king-size bed, a large, low-slung dresser, two end tables and a window seat. The ensuite then rates as a pleasant surprise in the sense that it has a deep jetted tub -- and a separate, one-piece tempered glass shower stall. No skimping here, thank you very much.
"People have been blown away by two features -- the luxurious ensuite (which comes with a dark maple vanity topped by black granite and a high-quality textured beige vinyl floor) and the great view -- there's a huge window that lets in all kinds of light and gives you an elevated view of the water," he says. "There's also a large walk-in closet, too. You can't ask for much more in a master bedroom."
Perhaps the biggest surprise awaits downstairs in the form of a walk-out basement, which adds a whole other dimension to the home (not to mention another 700-plus sq. feet of livable space).
"The two massive windows on the back wall basically make this an extension of the rest of the house -- it's so bright, it seems like a regular space rather than a basement," Vasko says. "So now, you've got a home that basically has 2,700 sq. ft. of livable space -- with a lower level that can have a fourth bedroom, storage and a big, bright rec room/games area. The value this home offers, in my mind, is exceptional. The level of finish is incredible, there's no wasted space, and you have three very bright levels of living space that everyone in the family can enjoy."
lewys@mts.net
86 Vintage Hills Court, Algonquin Estates
Size: 1,971 sq. ft.
Minimum Lot: 44' x 190'
Bedrooms: 3 plus upper level loft area
Bathrooms: 2.5
Contact: Blake Vasko @ 294-6608
Price: $434,900 (including land, window coverings & net GST)
Web site: www.randallhomes.net