Urban Sky focuses on its core strength as a custom infill design-builder with its corporate amalgamation into Urban Sky Construction Corp. This is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to excellence and our principles of quality, value, and relationships.

For many years, and as one of the first focus on custom infill design-build, we have maintained our presence in crafting renewable vibrant spaces that enhance lives and communities.

We continued to be thrilled in building spaces where people thrive, and we’re grateful to everyone who’s been (and will be) part of our journey.

In the bustling landscape of urban living, finding a place to call home is more than just acquiring a piece of property—it’s about crafting a space where family roots can firmly take hold. Enter custom infill homes, the transformative solution reshaping the urban fabric and redefining the concept of family identity. Let’s explore how these unique dwellings are not just buildings but catalysts for creating a sense of belonging and heritage for your family.

The Canvas of Individuality

One of the most compelling aspects of a custom infill home is the blank canvas it presents. Unlike cookie-cutter residences, these homes offer the opportunity to tailor every aspect of the design to reflect the unique personality and lifestyle of your family. From the architectural style to the interior layout, colours, type of materials, each choice made in the design process contributes to the expression of your family’s identity.

Reflecting Values and Traditions

A custom infill home serves as a tangible reflection of your family’s values, beliefs, and traditions. Whether it’s incorporating elements of cultural heritage into the design or integrating sustainable features that align with your environmental ethos, every decision made during the construction process becomes a statement about what matters to your family. Your choices not only shape the physical space but also fill it with a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.

Fostering Connection and Cohesion

Beyond aesthetics, a custom infill home’s design promotes connectivity and cohesion among family members, Through Thoughtful layouts that prioritize communal spaces That encourages interaction and bonding, while private retreats offer opportunities for solitude and reflection. By tailoring the home to accommodate your family’s specific dynamics and lifestyle preferences, you create an environment where relationships can thrive and grow stronger over time.

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Perhaps most importantly, a custom infill home is an investment in the future—a legacy to be passed down through generations. It tells your family’s story, it becomes a collection of cherished memories, milestones, and experiences. From childhood adventures to shared meals around the dining table, every moment lived within its walls contributes to the rich tapestry of your family history. In this way, a custom infill home not only shapes the present but also lays the foundation for the legacy you leave behind.

Conclusion: Building More Than a House

In this fast-paced world of ours, the concept of home extends far beyond A mere shelter—it’s where family bonds are forged, traditions are honored, and memories are made. A custom infill home offers the opportunity to create a space that is truly and uniquely yours, reflecting your family’s identity and values. From the design process to the everyday moments lived within its walls, it becomes a testament to who you are and what you hold dear. So, why settle for a house when you can build a legacy?

In partnership with Urban Sky Developments, we invite you to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation—a journey that begins with the creation of your very own custom infill home. Together, let’s build more than just a house; let’s build a home where your family’s identity can truly take root and flourish.

Infill housing projects often emphasize creating pedestrian-friendly environments. New developments are designed with a focus on walkability, providing residents with easy access to amenities such as parks, schools, and local businesses. This not only fosters a sense of community but also increases the overall desirability of the neighbourhood

To learn more contact us today!

Introduction:

As winter tightens its grip on Edmonton, the importance of selecting the right materials for Urban Sky Developments becomes paramount. In this blog, we’ll explore the key considerations in choosing materials that not only keep residents warm but also contribute to cost-effective solutions during the chilly months.

In Edmonton’s frigid winters, a well-insulated building is essential. Opt for materials with high R-values to minimize heat loss and reduce the need for excessive heating. Consider innovative insulation solutions that strike a balance between effectiveness and environmental sustainability.

1. fibreglass Insulation: This is a common and cost-effective choice with a relatively high R-value. It comes in batts or rolls and can be used in walls, floors, and attics.
2. Spray Foam Insulation: This provides excellent insulation and air sealing. It expands to fill gaps and can be particularly effective in hard-to-reach areas. However, some formulations may have environmental considerations, so it’s essential to choose responsibly.
3. Cellulose Insulation: Made from recycled paper products, cellulose insulation is environmentally friendly and has a good R-value. It’s often used in attics and walls.
4. Rigid Foam Insulation: This type of insulation board offers a high R-value per inch of thickness. It’s commonly used in exterior wall sheathing and can provide continuous insulation.
5. Natural Fiber Insulation: Materials like wool and cotton are renewable and have good insulating properties. They may have a lower R-value than some synthetic materials, but their environmental benefits can outweigh this.
6. Reflective Insulation: This type of insulation reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it. It’s often used in attics, helping to keep spaces cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Remember, the key is to balance insulation effectiveness with environmental sustainability.

 Urban Sky Developments recognizes the importance of modern design in creating spaces that inspire and captivate. Their interior designs are characterized by using a timeless approach to clean lines, open layouts, and a seamless blend of form and function. To elevate the aesthetics, we employ a wide spectrum of colors that resonate with contemporary sensibilities. From soothing neutrals to bold accents, Urban Sky Developments’ colour palettes are carefully curated to evoke specific moods and enhance the ambiance, energy and excitement of each room.

As the world embraces sustainable living practices, Urban Sky Developments continues to be at the forefront of incorporating eco-friendly elements into their infill designs. By utilizing energy-efficient appliances, sustainable materials, and implementing smart home technologies, we create spaces that minimize environmental impact while maximizing comfort and functionality. With their commitment to sustainability, Urban Sky Developments is contributing to a greener future for Edmonton.

With a strong commitment to affordability, sustainability, and modern design, Urban Sky Developments is reshaping the urban landscape and redefining contemporary living. Urban Sky Developments understands the importance of creating homes that are accessible to a wide range of individuals and families. With a focus on affordability, their infill designs prioritize cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality. From smart space utilization to efficient material selection, Urban Sky Developments ensures that your new home designs offer exceptional value for your investment.

As we move forward into the future, it’s important for us to consider the ways in which we can integrate technology into our homes. At Urban Sky Developments, we understand that designing custom infill housing in Edmonton, Alberta, requires balancing the latest technology trends with the need to keep costs low. In this blog post, we’ll explore some ways in which we can keep future technology in mind while designing your dream home.

One of the most important considerations when designing a home is its energy efficiency. As we move towards a future powered by renewable energy, it’s important to consider ways to integrate these energy sources into our homes. Solar panels, for example, are becoming increasingly affordable and efficient and can be a great addition to your home. By designing a home with solar panels in mind, you can offset your energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint.

Another important consideration is the integration of smart home technology. Smart homes are becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. By integrating smart home technology into your home, you can control everything from your lights to your thermostat with your smartphone. This not only makes your life easier, but can also help you save money on energy costs.

Finally, it’s important to consider the infrastructure of your home when designing it for future technology. This means ensuring that your home is built with the necessary wiring and outlets to support emerging technology trends. For example, you may want to consider installing outlets with USB ports, or running Ethernet cables throughout your home to ensure that you have a strong and reliable internet connection.

At Urban Sky Developments, we understand that keeping future technology in mind while designing a home can be a challenge. That’s why we work closely with our clients to ensure that their homes are designed with the latest technology trends in mind, while keeping costs low. Whether you’re looking to integrate solar panels, smart home technology, or simply want to ensure that your home is built to support emerging technology trends, we’re here to help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you design your dream home.

Buy a large foam board and pins from an art or stationary shop and collate samples, images, samples of the fabrics, wallpapers, furniture and flooring that you might want to use. Pin them on the board to see how they all work together. Don’t be afraid to add textures with flooring, rugs and fabrics such as velvet, wool, and tweed.

Refine and enhance the colours you want to use – for the painted walls or wallpaper, furniture, blinds and curtains. The third colour could be a highlight for cushions, lampshades, bed quilts and accessories such as a tablecloth or even a painting. Interior designers suggest using three colours are normally better than two – use these colours throughout the room.

Place the mood board in a room and live with it for a while.

As Walt Disney once said, “You can design, create, and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.”  At Urban Sky, we are the type of people that make it happen!

Urban Sky knows that the details make the design. Our designers work with you to understand your dream and design your home so that it is meaningful & purposeful. Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple) put it well “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

It’s not just the beauty of your house you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time. When we have an infill construction job to do, you need an experienced infill builder, preferably one that is involved with the design…one that can translate the personality of your design into the construction of your home. 

Today, more than ever, new materials are actively superseding the traditional raw materials of construction. That is why design and construction are both forms of art. The art of building is the art of construction; it is not only about forms and shapes and images, and Urban Sky knows this. 

Even the best architectural designs run the risk of not getting the green light. This is Part 2 of our Tips for Urban Residential Infill. 

• Welcome in the Light: there’s a misconception that you must sacrifice natural daylight on an urban residential infill lot. Not true! But they do require more intentional design. Consider corner windows, raised windows for privacy, and windows in stairwells to lighten up spaces.

• Don’t Forget About Storage Needs: this often gets overlooked. A small closet off a patio, attic trusses over the garage with stairs, or an access door beneath a staircase provide space for camping gear, bikes, skis, and other recreational items. 

• Include an Outdoor Space: outdoor living is a highly sought after element of urban residential infill architecture. Create an outdoor space that’s appropriate for the design and budget. Think rooftop decks, carved-out patios, or cozy courtyards with privacy features.

• You May Have To Compromise: it’s just not possible to get everything on your wish list. A larger kitchen island or free-standing soaking tub may not be feasible in order to maximize livable space in other areas of the floor plan. For many urban infill buyers, the location and lifestyle benefits will outweigh a small compromise on the architecture.

• Good Design Adds Value: good design involves knowing the local restrictions, planning early, communicating consistently, and thinking of unconventional solutions. Work in partnership with your team of experienced designers and builders – this will enhance and add value to your infill home and the existing community.

Tips for Urban Residential Infill – Part 1

As an urban infill homeowner, you have an opportunity to enhance your living experiences while becoming stewards of your community. That said, infill projects come with their own set of issues. These can be significantly reduced by retaining early on experienced infill, custom home designer and builder. Particularly someone that knows and follows best practices (like those listed below). Use these to avoid delays, manage surprises, and gain support from the neighbours. 

• Know The Zoning Limits: understanding what you can and can’t do improves your chances of getting the project approved in a reasonable amount of time. Requesting zoning variances can be a tough sell with the city and neighbours. 

• Fit into the Neighbourhood Fabric: residents have pride in their home and their neighbourhood. It’s natural for them to want to preserve and protect it. Do the work of soliciting feedback early on to get a feel for what they love most about where they live. Maybe it’s the architecture, a certain tree, a color palette, or quaint outdoor space. This information will help you create a design that fits within the existing fabric and neighbourhood vibe.  

• Get Grading Right: drainage can make or break the design, so it’s important to get it right the first time. Make sure you connect with the appropriate planners to determine your drainage requirements. Take advantage of drainage retaining wall and swales. And don’t forget knowing the lot’s building’s height restrictions.

• Be Prepared for the Unknown: It’s important to go into an infill development project with an open mind. Expect the unexpected. You never know what you’ll find once you start. 

• Look for our next Urban Sky Blog with more Tips for Urban Infill – Part 2

Solutions People – Urban Sky Developments

Residential Custom Infill Homes

At Urban Sky we DESIGN WITH & BUILD FOR YOU. 

WHO WE ARE

Urban Sky’s Tom Keogh and Ben Elzen have a combination of over 60 years in the industry. Combined with our team of designers, site managers and administrators, our focus is solely on REALIZING YOUR DREAM. 

 WHAT WE DO

We help clients develop roadmaps that are STRESS-FREE, PROPERLY SCHEDULED to minimize wasted time, and optimized to MEET YOUR BUDGET.

WHO WE SERVE

We serve families – from a very young age to a very well-seasoned age.

• We provide PRACTICAL and MODERN DESIGNS for people’s ACTIVE LIVING. 
• We GUARANTEE you get what YOU WANT for the BUDGET YOU CAN AFFORD. 
• We build QUALITY. 

EXPERIENCED ADVICE

60 years of industry experience provides you with the confidence that you get OUTSTANDING VALUE. 

RELATIONSHIPS & CUSTOMER FOCUS

We MEET WHEREVER YOU ARE and DO WHATEVER WE CAN to help ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS.

Contact TOM KEOGH for more information at [email protected]

You Too Can Design!

To develop any sort of an infill design you first need to gather information

1) The location of your site, 2) the requirements you want, and 3) its look. 

1. Site: your new infill should complement the site it is on and the area that surrounds it. 
2. Requirements: have a list of your needs and wants and be willing to separate each (particularly for your budget). 
3. Look: your requirements will bring the design ‘look’ forward, both interior & exterior (which is best suited for the site). Expand your thinking – sketch your ideas and collect photos. 

Developing the design concept from the site

The benefits and constraints of the site will help you develop design ideas. Include items like its views, natural features such as trees and rocky landscapes, the ground elevations for the orientation of the house, the sun path, weather (for example, turning the house away from strong prevailing winds), and the natural flow of amenity areas and visitors. 

Developing the design concept from your requirements

Your home is very specific to the people who use it daily, and their use is key to how you develop your design and architectural concepts. Your needs & wants come into ‘play’ here. 

• Is your priority to nail the function over the form? Or is the form over the function more important?
• How much space do you require for each area? & how do you want them to interact and flow with one another? – kitchen & dining areas, entertaining & living areas, bedrooms & bathrooms, visitor & family entrances, etc.

Developing the building type

Think about how the site and your requirements naturally lend themselves to a particular architectural structure – is it a grid form, cantilever, modern, farmhouse style, or more natural organic shapes? Your concepts will also likely favour certain building material types – concrete, masonry, metal, wood, composite, or glass.

Take your time and involve outside expertise to help weave all these elements into your design. It may be helpful to use a colour 3D format presentation to visualize your design. 

Know what is driving your decisions – do you want your design to be practical, useful, and comfortable, or do you want it to break the mould and be different? Try out many ideas before settling on one, even if you go back to the first! 

Newly built infill homes within an existing community breathes new life into these communities and provide several social and economic advantages. Infill helps make land use and existing services in these communities more efficient, with a variety of benefits.

• Infills place residents closer to their jobs and community services – less car commuting with close access to public transportation, which is better for the environment for reduced vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.
• Infill utilizes existing infrastructure and facilities like utilities, schools, fire, police, and medical clinics – lower cost to the taxpayer.
• Infills provide quick access to shopping, bistros, restaurants, and entertainment – normally a walkable distance to the city’s energy and buzz.
• Infills revitalize the area and boost the neighborhood’s economy – creating employment.
• Infills come with landscaping which increases value and reduces owner’s cost.
• Infills invest back into the community.

Perhaps one of the infill developments most significant advantages is how it creates smart growth in urban areas (rather than across large, sprawling areas like farmlands on the outskirts of a city). These urban residential communities allow workers to live nearer to their city-based workplace, making the economy more efficient and investments more likely.  

The entire goal of infill development is to revitalize existing communities in urban areas. “Breathing new life” into an existing community while building new structures that benefit these areas allows a community to economically benefit from new properties without the cost of having to build an entire matching infrastructure.

Major cities have been strategically planning for several years to increase urban redevelopment and improve the
‘balance’ and reduce the associated economic challenges of suburban sprawl. Urban Infill development can play an
active part in achieving municipalities goals. Simply put, infill development is the construction of new homes and
businesses within existing urban areas. Urban infill construction increases the livelihood of urban neighborhoods,
improves the environment, reduces traffic congestion, and dramatically utilizes under-used land better. An effective
strategy to combat climate change, conserve energy, and improve the quality of life for everyone.
Amidst everything, infill development offers a practical and viable solution that rebuilds older community amenities –
parks, street lighting, shopping, grocery stores, schools, libraries, health services, etc. Infill development restores
livability and sustainability to urban subdivisions, reduces the need for costly suburban infrastructure projects, and can
even create new jobs.

Urban Sky Developments has been a leader in urban redevelopment with several years of experience in residential
design build. Urban Sky’s projects focus on family living and at-home workers, with clean lines and contemporary
minimalism for an efficient and comfortable space. Our designs deliver aesthetic, functional and financial benefits to its
infill homeowners.

We create new cost-effective residential infill homes with lower energy costs, closer access to walkable neighborhoods
for schools, shopping, parks, public transportation (to name a few). We are proud to be part of the movement to reduce
traffic congestion and reliance on car culture, a natural buffer against climate, and restoring livelihoods to urban living.
Visit us at www.urbanskydevelopments.ca

Infill’s can be Green…from basic to advanced enviro features like energy-efficient living, high-efficiency windows, improved insulation, zoned heating and ventilation, innovative floor plan layouts, using a vast array of material types and colours…just to name a few possibilities in going ‘green’. 

Urban Sky Developments projects feature advanced designs that focus on family living and at-home workers with clean lines and contemporary minimalism for an efficient and comfortable space.

Tight building envelopes with engineered mechanical systems allow for energy-efficient large windows for plenty of natural light. Smart power systems are coordinated throughout the house to reduce energy consumption of fossil fuels that help maintain a better environment and planet. 

Urban Sky Developments are often located nearby public transportation for easy access, without you having to spend more time on long car commuter trips.

Green infills add value, socially, environmentally, and economically. 

• Green infills mean incorporating rooftop solar systems (basic system now and enhanced system later). 
• Green infills Incorporate Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) that helps make your home healthier, cleaner, more comfortable, and reduces cost.
• And how about a living wall, a green roof, or a rain garden? 

Go Green and see the appraised value of your ‘green’ home increase year over year. 

For many that select an infill for their home they likely have in mind the real estate adage “location, location, location”. They fall in love with a family-friendly central urban neighbourhood with mature trees lining the boulevard, a school within walking distance, and a short commute to downtown jobs. They compare it to new homes in the suburbs that have long commutes that would eat into family time. Yet the older homes in urban neighbourhood are too small or old-fashioned. 

The solution seems easy – build an infill house. Buy a property in a mature neighbourhood, tear down the existing house, and build a new, modern home. And the city promotes families to make that choice, too. However, while it can be a good solution for families and for the city as a whole, it is not an easy one. Infill is expensive and time-consuming. The benefits may still outweigh the costs, but it’s important to understand the costs if you choose this route.

Why the City Wants Infill

The City has a lofty goal for new housing to be infill. Creating modern homes in mature neighbourhoods slows the build-up of the suburbs, the development of which is very expensive to all taxpayers. But it’s not just individual neighbourhoods that become more sustainable with infill – the city itself benefits as people move into core neighbourhoods and rely on public transit more than their vehicles, and use more of the existing infrastructure, reducing maintenance and upgrading costs. Building in mature neighbourhoods makes them more sustainable and diverse – both culturally and economically.

Some Things You Need to Know Before Your Go Forward with An Infill

Building any house is no small undertaking, but infill brings its own unique challenges.

• If the mortgage on the old property is not be insured by CMHC it would require a larger loan deposit. And homeowners pay the difference between the existing home and the value of the new infill.
• Infill homes tend to be custom-built, unlike homes in subdivisions. That adds to the expense because each decision is unique to that infill. In new suburbs, contractors can build several houses of the same design with the same process and higher margins for each home – the risk is more predictable. From the infill developer’s point of view, infill is the opposite and is more expensive and riskier. 
• The new infill homeowner becomes part of the building process right from the start of the design stage. With the various people involved and the many decisions to be made you need to be prepared to have the time to be engaged. It’s very important to pick experienced professionals for the design and construction, as, you, the infill homeowner, is the least experienced. 
• Infill permits are costlier and take more time to go through the system than new development permits, because each property must be assessed individually, rather than as a group for greenfield development.
• The city developed the Mature Neighbourhood Overlay (MNO) in 2001, as an attempt to balance the needs in established neighbourhoods (the MNO is currently under review). The MNO rules are harder to follow than those in greenfield development, adding to the complexity and cost of infill projects. 
• One way that extends the development permit approval timeline and delays the start of construction is to request a variance to the MNO or zoning bylaw. Regardless of how large or small, a variance can have a significant effect to the time and cost of an infill. 
• One of the bigger issues facing infill homeowners, builders, and developers is lack of consistency within the City itself. There can be different approaches and ranges of personal opinion from one Development Officer to another, creating a lack of continuity and delays. 

Improvements are Happening

The City is working to improve the infill process, to make it more efficient and affordable. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the job of designing and building an infill property will be significantly easier (particularly compared to suburban built houses). 

Benefits of Infill Living Make it Affordable

Look beyond the challenges and expense and include the benefits of living closer to services. Building your infill in more central neighbourhoods allows access to transit instead of using vehicles for every errand. And, building density into neighbourhoods encourages businesses to locate there, making communities more walkable. Infill is affordable when you factor in your value of a lifestyle that you couldn’t get somewhere else. 

Whether or not you consider yourself a bit of a designer, all of us provides ideas and input into the design process about how your infill home will ‘look and feel’…its floor plans, finishings, and exterior character.  Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Floor Plans First, Then Exterior 

With the cost of infill land, you want to maximize the use of it. Your land size, orientation, and configuration will affect the entrances, layout, window locations, size, garage location, and the overall general aspects of the design for your home. List or sketch out ideas and share these with your Designer. The Designer will convert these to drawings and budgetary estimates for your approval, prior to submitting for the Development and Building Permits. 

Use Positive & Negative Space Wisely. 

Infill design allows you to be creative. Use of space is very important. A cohesive sense and combination of form and function makes your space both attractive and usable. Effectively use positive and negative space – positive space is where the actual objects are (bathtub, lighting) while negative space is the empty space around and in between everything else, often highlighting and showcasing everything next to it. And don’t forget to ask your Designer about different ideas and uses of colour and texture. 

Good Design Adds Higher Resale value

Often resale value is a consideration when designing your home. Not only is the design for aesthetic reasons but also for functional and financial. You might be surprised to learn which design ideas are more beneficial in helping your home stand out and add value to your home

• Be energy efficient. Windows, doors, insulation, LED lights, heating, ventilation…even solar.
• Kitchen Is king – you’ll get no better bang for your buck than in the kitchen.
• When It comes to storage, more the better. There is no such thing as too much storage.
• Add curb appeal – first impressions count. Select trees, shrubs, plants that are suitable to the climate and are low maintenance.

Conclusion:

By paying attention to these details, you can create a home that looks modern and stylish while also ensuring that it will increase its value over time.

It’s now everyone’s responsibility to take care of our environment. One such way is reducing our carbon emissions. Carbon emissions have a far-reaching impact on our environment by its drastic effects on climate change. Urban redevelopment and residential infill reduces the carbon impact of GreenHouse Gas (GHG) and helps to improve our environment. Read on the find out how urban redevelopment and residential infill contribute to a greener environment, at a lower cost. 

Infill development is the redevelopment of older properties and urban redevelopment focuses on developing underutilized or unused lands & properties – both in urban areas. People are now realizing the spread-out pattern of suburban sprawl has become difficult to sustain, economically and environmentally. Lengthy commutes and expensive new utilities & city services are examples of the challenges facing expansion of suburban subdivisions – most of which can be solved with an increase to urban redevelopment and residential infills. 

• Reduced Automobile Emissions 

Infill development and urban redevelopment brings people closer to their places of work, with access to currently under utilized city infrastructure & services. Both of these reduce carbon impact and increases active healthy lifestyles by riding bikes and walking to their central urban place of work (not to mention the increased use in close-proximity public transit)

• Lower Energy Consumption

Building new infill homes focuses on reduced energy consumption and the use of improved building methods & material reduces energy consumption…significantly reduced compared to the current older houses and buildings.  

• No Need for Higher Suburban Start-up Costs, Paid By Taxpayers 

All of the new urban residential infills and many of the new urban redeveloped buildings bring increased revenues to the City, in the form of increased assessed value and property tax. These additional revenues are without the substantial costs seen in suburban development that require new utilities and city services…much of which are paid by all taxpayers.  

Urban redevelopment and residential infill are good for both the environment and the local economy. Many of our urban areas are ready for redevelopment and new residential infills. Rarely is there such an opportunity where each of us can have such an immediate positive effect on our environment, at a lower cost!  

Check out Urban Sky Developments for advice on your next urban redevelopment and residential infill project.

Knowing and separating your ‘needs’ from your ‘wants’ is critical for designing and budgeting your new infill home. A simple technique of creating needs and wants into two lists will save you a lot of time and anxiety and keep you within your affordable budget. Although simple on the surface, this important step can be challenging. The suggestions below may help. 

The detail in-between the detail 

At Urban Sky Developments, we take extra time to talk and coach our clients to understand how to identify and separately list their essential needs from their desired wants. You first need to know what you need BEFORE you start with what desires influence your wants. It comes down to justifying your needs list first on fact and secondly on emotion. 

Likely your desires that make up your ‘wants’ list will quickly bring additional cost, possibly beyond your budget. Individual wants may not appear to increase cost, but experience shows these quickly add up…for example – high-end cabinets, expensive countertops, unique looking plumbing fixtures and lighting packages, exotic flooring. Developing two different lists will avoid the confusion and should help you keep to your budget.  

Creating your needs and want list will likely require a few attempts. Make sure you include everyone in your family. Once you have this list present it to your Designer-Builder, who can provide you with their input, with cost, availability, alternatives, etc.  

Listing your wants and needs: Let’s get started!

Now that you understand why you should separate these two factors, let’s look at how to separate them. First, do your own local market research. Check websites, online magazines, talk to designers & builders. Even infill owners. Build your initial list of what you like.

Now separately list your needs, then your wants, each with your reasons why. Take your time, do not rush. Share these lists with your friends to get their feedback.  

Need Help…not sure how to get started?  Give us a call or send us an email. We can get you up to speed quickly. www.urbanskydevelopments.ca 

Urban Sky is an award-winning infill Design-Builder. Contact us for a free design and advice on your infill development. Consultations are free, and we have friendly customer support ready to help. 

Edmonton’s infill association, IDEA (Infill Development Edmonton Association), is a proactive group that provides education and resources on infill development to the community and industry. Its stated mission- “To promote and advocate for high-quality infill development within Edmonton” creates a vision for Edmonton’s existing neighborhoods to flourish as communities with diverse housing and healthy lifestyle choices. IDEA supports Edmonton’s municipal plan for sustainable growth, for an integrated approach to transportation, infrastructure, community design, and land-use zoning.

Infill helps to build a city that is livable, sustainable, and affordable. The spread-out patterns of growth, which have shaped our communities for the past several decades, cannot be sustained. Problems of lengthy commutes, overextended public facilities, increased infrastructure costs, loss of farmlands and open space, and other valued community resources, and even reduced physical activity and community health are patterns of increased suburban sprawl.

Instead, an increased emphasis on redevelopment within developed urban areas, and on maximizing the use of existing public facilities is needed. Infill development is the process of redeveloping under-used parcels of land or developing vacant parcels within existing urban areas that are already largely developed. Successful infill development is characterized by residential densities high enough to support improved transportation choices as well as a wider variety of convenience services and amenities. It returns cultural, social, recreational, and entertainment opportunities, gathering places, and vitality to older centers and neighborhoods. A cooperative partnership between government, the development community, financial institutions, neighborhood organizations, and other resources is essential to achieve infill success. In the long view, the public and private costs that favour sprawl development patterns will far exceed the resources needed now to facilitate infill development.

Renovation of an older house versus demolition and building a new infill is a question often asked. Distinguishing between good older houses worthwhile upgrading through renovations versus building a new home has important considerations like scope, cost, time, and knowing what you need (versus what you want)…not to mention intangible considerations like energy efficiency, sustainability, the character of the old home and the neighborhood, and the sentimental value of demolishing the old home (one that you may have lived in for many years).

If you’ve ever watched those “house flipping” television shows, you’ve seen how quickly a $20,000 estimated budget can balloon into $50,000 once the work progresses. This isn’t to say that discovering hidden problems inside the guts of a house is a bad thing. On the contrary, it’s important to expose and address those hidden dangers to keep you and your home safe. This also isn’t to say that renovation is the inferior choice to demolition and building a new house; it varies case by case. The key is taking the necessary precautions during the planning phase before the first sledgehammer is swung. Don’t go into the renovation project blindly and hope to stay within budget; it’s just not realistic. Instead of finding surprises during a home renovation project, do a full inspection to check for things like asbestos, mold, cracked foundations, and more.

Some other key considerations in your decision making:

• Trying to cut corners to save money on a home renovation—particularly when trying to sell the home—can leave you in a sticky situation if the quality isn’t up to code, and you’ll most likely have to pay to have the house repaired to get it up to appropriate building code.
• Living in the home during a renovation project can be harmful to the health of anyone with allergies or asthma.
• You can reuse parts of your old house such as timbers for a rustic look using open beams or for the fireplace mantel.
• Poor planning can lead to expensive renovation costs. If you’re a bad planner and don’t have a significant amount of time to be hands-on with the renovation, a demolition-and-rebuild may be a better option.
• You’ll almost always have a better warranty on a new home compared to a renovated one.

Whether it’s a renovation or building a new house, cost and time are directly connected to scope (the type and amount of work to be done). Spend the time to develop a written list of items for your needs and wants (make sure you separate these 2 lists). Do your research and develop a comprehensive list, add sketches with dimensions, and describe the types of preferred material (e.g. windows, exterior doors, insulation, heating, lighting, plumbing, flooring, cabinets, countertops, etc.). And get quotes (with references)…minimal two, ideally three.

A pre-demolition/renovation inspection can make the decision much better and save you a ton of money and headaches in the long run.