For over 20 years, Avonlea Homes has been creating the benchmark in Lethbridge living. In that time, they have earned a reputation for delivering award winning developments that include single-family homes as well as multi-family town homes and condos designed for today’s families. President John Wickey joins us to discuss Avonlea Homes commitment to bringing together the right people for each of its projects that ensures a positive and reliable experience.
Collaborating as a team is essential in every aspect of life, especially in construction where it is of utmost importance. How are you improving teamwork to aid in the development of your communities?
First and foremost we have a tremendous team that works well together. To contribute to your team’s success, effective communication, a positive attitude, and strong hands-on skills and technical abilities are essential. It is crucial to combine individuals with the right personalities and technical skills to create a successful team. Instead of having everyone with similar skills, a diverse team allows for a naturally balanced and effective collaboration. We’re very fortunate to be surrounded by a great core of like-minded individuals who share the same passion for the industry. Working together in an atmosphere of trust and accountability and working towards a common goal enables us to focus on three major bottom-line benefits – build every home like their own, earn customer loyalty, and anticipate their customer’s needs. Our vision is to create value for our customers, and even though the ‘work hard, play hard’ mantra may sound cliché, it really is something we believe in. Building a home is a complex and detailed process, and our team strives to always provide exceptional value with high quality standards to ensure our customers are satisfied.
Customer experience—for home builders or otherwise—is something that continues to become top-of-mind. How does Avonlea Homes set itself apart from competitors through your customer experience across every interaction in the home buying process?
Certainly, the goal is to ensure a positive home buying experience that is both seamless and stress-free. Customers who are satisfied with their home buying journey have clarity on their location, destination, and how to reach it. A well-thought-out customer journey strategy guides them effectively, ensuring their contentment at every touch point. Creating an outstanding customer experience involves recognizing the importance of customers feeling acknowledged and appreciated by the brands they support and implementing strategies to showcase that your brand accomplishes just that.
For us it’s all about the customer experience. That’s what we strive for each and every day, through every department, through every person that’s on the team, for the right fit on the team. That’s basically what we’re all about. We try to bring the best customer experience, new home buying experience to Lethbridge.
Innovative Styles.
What are some of the innovative style designs and features that put Avonlea Homes ahead of other builders in Lethbridge?
The team of architectural and design professionals at Avonlea Homes have an exceptional knowledge of their field and also understand the importance of listening to the homeowners. This ensures that a strong grasp of the clients’ needs and wants is built into each floor plan. An immense amount of thought and detail are put into creating up-to-date and popular floor plans that are functional, unique, and highly recognized within the industry.
Our models have a strong emphasis on modern lines and form – two essentials of good and modern design. They are marked by simple, angular shapes, and expansive, unadorned windows designed to maximize light and call attention to interior details. Structural features and distinctive inclusions found in every Avonlea home create a lasting impression and separates Avonlea from the rest. Our included finishes are typically seen as upgraded additions for many other home builders, and we cater to providing home options for all phases in life, from a first- time home buyer, to a growing family or for those downsizing.
All in the Details.
Building a home is one of the most significant decisions that we make in our lifetime. How are you ensuring the client is top-of-mind when building through the various stages of production?
We understand the importance of transparency throughout the building process. Scheduled walk-throughs are provided by a professional Avonlea representative during the various stages of construction to address any home buyer questions and to provide progress updates during this exciting process. Upon possession, the next stage of the journey begins. Homeowners receive a Preliminary New Home Orientation one week prior to their possession date and complete a detailed walk-through of their new home with the Service and Warranty department to cover the many functions of the home and to review the completion of any outstanding items so that the home is move in ready on closing day. The Service and Warranty department are there to assist clients throughout their first year in their new home and to provide scheduled appointments during the year to address questions and concerns should they arise.
One major key component the Avonlea team focuses on is taking the time to really listen to our clients. Customers want a builder who understands their needs and wants, asks the right questions of their homebuyers, understands their client’s style and most importantly, is responsive and considerate throughout the entire experience. With keeping these important factors at the top of the list, the Avonlea team creates strong rapport with many of our clients and has created lasting relationships with families throughout the Lethbridge area.
Award Winning Partnerships.
Since 2008, the Avonlea team was won more than 65 awards in various categories: including Builder of the Year, Best New Home Design, and Safety Leadership honours. Do you see this as a testament to the trust and respect that Avonlea has earned?
Yes, it’s always great to be honoured like that – and as great as receiving those awards are, the real recognition is what our customers and industry peers think of us. We’ve worked with our trades since our inception. We always bring our trades in for meetings to see how they can help us, and what they can recommend. We really try to go back to the grass roots and we try to engage them on all levels because we need their knowledge.
What exciting communities is Avonlea Homes currently developing, and what can clients expect?
We recognizes that every homebuyer has particular tastes and needs, and have created a unique purchasing process to ensure their homes are built to individualized customer specifications. We offer several developed communities, each with their own look and feel. In addition to changes in design, each community is located near unique resources and recreational opportunities.
Our current new home projects in the new north of Lethbridge include the community of BlackWolf, and in west Lethbridge, the Skye Condos. BlackWolf has an interesting architectural style that includes everything from Colonial and Greek Revival to Prairie-Style and English Cottage, and more contemporary styles as well.
Skye Condos in perfectly situated in a walkable urban setting, with a combination of public parks with mixed use living, working, entertainment, and lifestyle experience integrated into one community. Both BlackWolf and Skye are three time award winning developments, so that’s something we are also very proud of.
Another project with distinctive flair is Legacy Ridge, a development located at the north end of Lethbridge on 43 acres of beautiful green space. This exclusive bespoke collection of homes is designed to exude elegance and sophistication that will turn the area into a thriving urban living centre.
Riverstone, a master-planned community comprised of single family homes, is situated on lots next to a community park on Riverpark Boulevard in west Lethbridge. These expansive homes offer attractive interiors, large floor plans, gourmet kitchens, and natural green heritage spaces with a collection of parks and trails. With Riverstone, you can appreciate the relaxed lifestyle of small town living and still enjoy the conveniences of big city amenities. Lethbridge is home to all of us here at Avonlea. We all live here, so for us to create communities where we would want to live is very important.
Giving Back.
Bringing these communities to life is so much more than providing a house or a home, it’s about creating a sense of community. How does Avonlea give back in the neighbourhoods and the cities you work and live in?
Avonlea Homes believes in supporting and serving the communities in which it operates by being a strong corporate citizen. By donating time, effort, and dollars to various organizations, we have been able to assist a vast range of foundations, including St. Michaels Health Centre, Lethbridge Regional Hospital, Cancer Society, and Big Brothers & Sisters.
Our philosophy of giving back to the community is also reflected in their annual Play it Forward Hockey Tournament which raises funds for Steps for Life; a charity that supports families suffering from workplace tragedies. Because we’re a longtime Lethbridge builder, we feel it’s essential to give back to the community that has given us so much. I have to tip my hat to our team that dedicates their time to several worthwhile causes.
Avonlea Homes recognizes that their achievements would not have been possible without the support of their community and they take great pride in giving back for old and new causes close to home. Our STARS Lottery Home, The Clarkson, in Legacy Ridge is very special to us. We are the longest standing lottery builder in the province, and that really says something. For us, it’s our biggest push every year.
Forging Ahead.
With the right team in place, where do you plan on steering Avonlea Homes for the future?
We are mindful of the future, and are always attentive to upcoming trends and market conditions. The company’s current goal is straightforward – to be the home builder of choice in Lethbridge. We plan to do this through emphasizing our absolute professionalism, creativity, commitment to the client, and our dedication to producing effective results. The short term plan is to stay true to our company values, having them at the forefront of everything we do, and constantly listen to our customers. Long term we would like to go back to Grand Prairie and continue to build there. We’ve also acquired a new parcel of land on the north side of Lethbridge near our BlackWolf community so we’ll continue to push there as well.
