Construction Drawings For Your New Custom Home or Addition

Are you wanting to build a new cottage or put an addition on your cottage on the Bruce Peninsula but don't know where to start?

Are you asking yourself "do I need to find a contractor or do I need to get my plans created first and then find a contractor?"

In a tight construction market where it is hard to find contractors and tradesmen you should never stop looking for your contractor, as they are hard to find. But if you don't have plans when you find the contractor then they might not be available to you as they will already be to busy and booked to far in advance.

You really should have your construction drawings created, created as soon as possible in fact, getting your drawings created is the least expensive thing you will be doing if you are wanting to build or add to your home/cottage. Construction costs have risen dramatically in the last decade.

Getting your drawings created even years earlier then you need them will not be a waste of money, your drawings will always be relevant.

Busy contractors will take you as a client more seriously if you already have drawings, it says to them that you are committed to a build project and you are not just kicking tires.

Sometimes if your lucky you can find a contractor that can help you not just build your project but also get your drawings created.

Great Lakes Custom Homes Inc. is one of those contractors that can help you do that. We work with a variety of Architects, Draftsmen, Architectural technologists and interior designers to help you get your dreams put down on paper.

Clients that ask us to help get their plans are kept on file so that when they are ready to build there is always a spot made available for when they want to build.

So when you are wanting to build that new home or addition and you also need someone to help you through the creating of your construction drawings then email us at greatlakescustomhomes@gmail.com

Rob Abbott
Great Lakes Custom Homes Inc.

Never Hire A Contractor On Price For Your Cottage Renovation

What's more important when hiring a contractor, their price?or the confidence in them to work in your cottage when you are not around for long periods of time and still give you what you want and do it in an appropriate way?

If you said the price then you really are setting yourself up for disappointment as the job will most likely turn into a renovation nightmare.

What I have found in the renovation end of the construction industry is that there is a reason for some companies to be a lot cheaper then others and its not because one company is making a lot more money then the other, here are some of the main reasons;

1. They Simply Don't Know How To Estimate. Estimating takes time, energy and a lot of thought, those are 3 things that a lot of contractors do not have or want to have. A lot of contractors want to return you a quote quickly because they believe that is the way to win a job. So they put some numbers together and send you a price. This means that they actually don't know what the cost of doing your renovation actually is, they are guessing that they are putting enough money in it to do the job and to make a profit.
2. Omission. This is one of the classic things that low bidders do,they omit things on the estimate. You ask for a bathroom renovation and they price you a new bathroom. What they don't include is any of the bathroom fixtures like the toilet, sink, vanity or tub. When you ask about it later they say that it is up to you to supply them.
3. No detail on the estimate. Your estimate is short, it doesn't have any detail other then a rough outline on what you are getting in your estimate. It doesn't tell you what fixtures your getting or what your tile allowance is. This is how they can give you bill for extra's later or force you to settle for something that you don't want.
4. A verbal estimate with a full cash option. There's a reason that things are written down in an estimate, its so everyone knows what everyone gets, because of this you pay tax, to avoid tax you don't write anything down and all transactions are in cash. Sounds great until your realize that your tax avoidance plan also leaves you with no way to prove what you paid for or if you ever had hired the contractor at all. In fact engaging in an all cash deal to avoid paying tax is illegal.
5. Being A Legal Contractor Costs Money. Being properly insured, paying your taxes, paying your employees, paying your suppliers, paying your WSIB, giving warranties on your work, creating proper estimates cost money. That means that the best companies will be more expensive, it doesn't mean that they are making more money, it means they are doing everything legally and properly.

So when you are calling contractors to come and look at the work you want to be completed at your cottage (while you are not there) don't just look for the best price. Look past the price and find the contractor that you can trust to do the job right, legal and provide you with a warranty for the work that they do.

Pick security and a job done right over the bargain basement price.

Rob Abbott

Great Lakes Custom Homes Inc.

Winter Is The Best Time To Renovate Your Cottage

Winter is not the nicest time to be at the cottage for you, especially if the cottage is older, drafty and lacks a proper heat source. This doesn't make for an ideal time to enjoy yourself, but it is an ideal time for you to have your cottage renovated.

The best time to renovate is when you are not there, not needing to use the place, this allows your contractor to get in and fix, repair or renovate everything they need to without you in the way. It actually cuts down the cost because they don't have to remove all their material and equipment every time you come up to use it on the weekend. The job can start and finish without a lot of delays.

Now sometimes in the winter, work can be slowed or delayed because of the extreme weather but because you won't be using the place until the spring it won't affect you the homeowner.

With modern technology of text messages, pictures, videos, phones calls and emails there's no reason that you can't monitor what is happening at your cottage.

Tile and flooring can be purchased anywhere and shipped to the site along with plumbing fixtures and windows. There's almost nothing that can't be done on the internet or through email to help plan and choose your finishing's for your cottage.

But you are running out of time to secure your contractor for this winter, if you don't do it soon you will miss the winter window and have to settle for a spring renovation when you want to use the place.

Start calling around for those cottage renovation contractors now.

If you are looking to renovate your cottage email me at greatlakescustomhomes@gmail.com

Rob Abbott
Great Lakes Custom Homes Inc,.

Building Cottages On The Bruce Peninsula

I hear people talking about how they can't find a cottage builder on the Bruce Peninsula, well let me put this as simple as I can, "WE BUILD COTTAGES AND HOMES ON THE BRUCE PENINSULA".

Great Lakes Custom Homes builds new cottages and new homes on the Bruce Peninsula. Who is Great Lakes Custom Homes you ask, it is me! I am the owner and operator of Great Lakes Custom Homes.

We build custom homes and have been in the construction business since 1980, me personally since the 1990's. I am a second generation of custom home builder.

I don't only build cottages and homes on the Bruce Peninsula but I also own a residence up in the Northern Bruce Peninsula. I have a place in Bradley Harbour on the Lake Huron side of the Bruce Peninsula.

Being a second generation builder, I learned everything from my father in a family run business that I worked in since I was 12 years old. We prided ourselves on building high end quality homes while giving our clients the best building experience possible.

I would love to be your Contractor on the Bruce Peninsula,

email me at greatlakescustomhomes@gmail.com

Looking forward to talking with you.

Rob Abbott
Great Lakes Custom Homes Inc. 

I Can't Find A Contractor On The Bruce Peninsula

"I can't find a contractor on the Bruce Peninsula," this is something I hear from people everywhere I go on the Bruce Peninsula, especially the northern Bruce Peninsula. The limited permanent population compared to the much larger summer population means that the contractor that are working in the area are fully booked.

Well, look no further. Great Lakes Custom Homes does operate in the area of the Bruce Peninsula as I personally own a place there, this allows me to service the summer population that requires good, quality contractors.

Great Lakes Custom Homes doesn't just build new homes and cottages we also construct garages,addition and renovations.

Fully licensed and insured we are hear to help you with your next project.

If you would like to chat about your next project or you would like me to come out and give you and estimate send me an email at greatlakescustomhomes@gmail.com

Rob Abbott
Great Lakes Custom Homes Inc.