Now that you’ve worked hard to achieve your financial goals, it’s time to indulge in the lifestyle you truly deserve. If you’re considering purchasing a luxury home in a prestigious estate-style community, here are a few must-know tips to help you along your high-end home buying journey.

1. Start With Your Wants and Needs

The sky’s the limit when it comes to customizing your luxury home. While this is the primary perk in opting for a brand new build, it can also be overwhelming due to the number of features, finishes and miscellaneous other design options available. That’s why we recommend considering what features and finishes will best suit your wants, needs and lifestyle ahead of time. For example: 

Wants:

• A wine cellar
• Home theater system 
• Formal dining room 
• Home gym
• Games and entertainment rooms 
• Etc. 

Needs: 

• Location
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Square footage 
• Home office space 
• Etc.

Your lifestyle will also factor into your wants and needs. For instance, if you’re a large multi-generational family, you may want to incorporate additional amenities such as an in-law suite. If you’re an active couple with pets, an oversized lot, a home gym and proximity to parks and pathways may be important to you.

See also: 12 Cool Must-Haves For Your Brand New Home

2. Find the Perfect Community

When it comes to quality of life, the community you choose is every bit as important as your luxury home itself. From proximity to work to nearby schools, your new neighborhood may need to meet several criteria to ensure your overall happiness and comfort. Estate-style communities, especially, are noted for their semi-secluded atmosphere and accessible amenities, including: 

• Professional and medical services
• Boutique shops and big-box retailers 
• Restaurants 
• Recreation and leisure centers 
• Entertainment venues
• Parks, green spaces and walking trails 
• Golf courses 
• Major commuter roads
• Etc. 

Here again, affluent communities like Sherwood Golf and Country Club Estates will offer the perfect combination of quiet elegance and all the amenities your family needs to thrive. 

3. Consider Your Luxury Lot Options

Yet another perk in opting for a luxury-style home is having your choice of lot. From expansive pie and corner-shaped parcels to walk-out lots offering scenic waterfront views, there are plenty of options to suit your unique tastes. When choosing the right lot for your needs, think about how much yard space you’ll require (remembering that more yard = more maintenance) as well as factors such as: 

• Your home’s overall footprint (the larger the home, the larger the lot) 
• Proximity to neighbors (neighbors on one or both sides) 
• Your view (i.e. parks or green spaces, ponds, treed areas or pathways) 
• Your lot’s orientation (i.e. your home’s sun exposure) 

In addition, many developing luxury communities in and around Edmonton offer public lot options. Rather than buying your lot from a builder (as is the case in most growing neighborhoods), public lots are purchased directly from the developer. This gives luxury home buyers more freedom when choosing the right lot for their needs AND bringing their own builder (more on that below).

4. Partner With the Right Custom Builder

In addition to oversized public lot options, some luxury estate developments give you the exclusive opportunity to bring your own custom builder. Here’s how finding your own builder works: 

1. Do Your Research: Do a Google search, check online reviews and testimonials.

2. Visit Builder Show Homes: See the builder’s work in person to get a feel for their workmanship and quality.

3. Interview Your Top Three: Make sure you connect well with the custom builder you choose. (See also these 10+ Important Questions to Ask a Builder When Buying a New Home.)  

4. Check References: Ask your top three builders for references. If they hesitate to provide you with any, this is a red flag. 

If you don’t already have a custom builder in mind, we recommend choosing your lot first, as this will help you zero in on the right contractor for your needs. You may also review our detailed list of preferred builders. 

5. Prepare for the Process

Now that you’ve chosen your lot and partnered with the right builder, it’s time to start realizing your new home vision. As exciting as this part of the luxury home building process is, there are a lot of decisions and selections to be made. Here is where your wants and needs list will be exceptionally handy, as you’ll already have an idea of the basics (i.e., number of bedrooms) and luxury amenities you’d like to include (i.e. a butler’s pantry or spice kitchen). Additional tips for avoiding custom home overwhelm: 

• Ask your builder plenty of questions. They will help guide you through the decision-making process 
• Remember you have plenty of time to make decisions, and not all at once. 
• Research potential selections online for more information. 
• Keep track of all the decisions you’ve made to keep everything straight. 
• If you have doubts, talk to your builder. They will be able to make changes within reason.

6. Be Part of the Process

You can help simplify the home building process by making yourself available to your builder as much as possible. Making your selections on time and regularly communicating with your contractor and their design team will also help expedite construction. Remember, a good builder will provide regular updates on your new home timeline and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have along the way. 

Sherwood Golf and Country Club Estates is an exclusive estate-style community where residents can enjoy the finer things in life. High-end custom homes, picturesque views and easy access to amenities are just a few of the many great perks this prestigious luxury neighborhood has to offer. You can learn more about Sherwood Golf and Country Club Estates by clicking the button below.