The most important and expensive investment that you are likely to make in your life is buying your new home. Therefore, where do you begin? At Canyon Spring Master Builder they are able to give you the helping hand you need, with professional and expert advice to suit your own particular requirements. Having been in the business of custom home building locally for the past twenty-five years, they are well equipped to offer you their expertise to see the project successfully through to conclusion and assuring you of satisfaction from start to finish.
History and Excellence
In 1988, Canyon Spring Master Builder opened its first show home in Edmonton’s west end community of Wedgewood. With Dennis running operations in the field and Sandy taking care of everything in the sales centre, it wasn’t long before the Colwells knew they were building more than just a house – they were beginning to create a company with a long term future.
In speaking with the General Manger, Everett Kasteel and Sales and Marketing Manager Sue Carlson, it’s clear that Canyon Spring knows where they work best, and that’s operating at a volume level that allows the company to focus on the clients and their trades. Ultimately this is a builder who cares about the long term relationship and is not focused on a quick buck.
Perhaps the greatest testament to the company’s core value of being focused on what the customers really want, and delivering on that, is their astounding record of winning the Alberta New Home Warranty Service Award for 17 consecutive years!
Canyon Spring, like every other business in the country, has not been perfect in its lifetime. According to Kasteel, the company had a season where it tried to dramatically increase volume, it caused them to lose focus on what makes them the best, and that’s the quality care of their customers and their trade partners. However, as Everett went on to explain, learning from experiences is one of the core strengths of the entire team. “We’re all human; we have all made mistakes, although they are uncomfortable at the time, we learn from them and become a better organization”.
One of those lessons was learning where they fit and where they excel in the market. They offer their customers one of the best “Base Specs” in the city and a volume level that allows for their management team to ensure that each of their clients have the experience they deserve. With a desire to remain a custom estate home builder, they have chosen to continue as they always have – knowing the name of each client and providing superior, individualized service. Subsequently, Canyon Spring continues to grow with current show homes in Summerside, Lewis Estates and Stoneshire in Spruce Grove and previous show homes in Cameron Heights, Donsdale, and St. Albert. This year they had the honour of being chosen as finalists in two categories in the 2013 Awards of Excellence in Housing for the Single Family Bungalow/Bi-Level Category $350,000 – $450,000, with the Cypress IV bungalow show-home, located at Stoneshire in Spruce Grove, and the Single Family two storey/split-level category $600,000 – $750,000, with the Madison two storey show-home in Summerside. “We are proud of being a small volume builder, more concerned about getting the job done the way it should be done rather than building a large number of homes and rushing to complete them,” states Carlson.
THE PROCESS
The modern trend today is designed towards the open-plan concept with living spaces such as great rooms, kitchens and dining rooms, being open to each other in contrast to them being separate rooms. Canyon Spring Master Builder has a large selection of floor plans for you to browse through, each offering special features and details to satisfy all tastes and preferences. Perhaps you want a two story great room or maybe a larger foyer, or if you have children, you may want that second floor bonus room. It gives the kids their space as well as saving the other house furnishings from wear and tear. No matter the preferences of the client, the company is well versed in how to get the home built efficiently and of course with full client cooperation and input. In fact, they have streamlined everything down to an eleven step process:
- The Sale. Meeting with the new home specialist to discuss the home design and lot selection.
- Contracts. All paperwork prepared and walk-through with a new home sales professional ready to answer all client questions.
- Design Process. Very seldom is it a standard plan. The majority of homes are a revised version of the standard plan or specific custom design.
- Transferred to Administration. Architectural approval – permits etc.
- Pre-construction meetings with the client, their new home sales professionals, their site manager and the customer services coordinator. In these meetings Canyon Spring will go over everything from a construction point of view to make sure that everyone knows what the client wants.
- Clients meet with the suppliers for selection of specific elements. (Flooring, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, etc.)
- Construction begins
- Client scheduled walk-through during various phases of the construction.
- Pre-possession notification. Canyon Spring notifies the clients of the possession date.
- Possession! The client receives the keys to their new custom home, complete with the Canyon Spring “Complete possession package.”
- Canyon Spring also stays in touch and with the clients to ensure the completion of the 3, 6 and 12 month service packages.
Having every stage of the experience down to a science comes from years of learning the best possible ways to ensure timely, quality work and customer satisfaction. Seventeen years of consecutive service awards are proof they are doing things right! “As a local custom home builder of 25 years, we use our streamlined process to ensure that your experience is positive. Building a new home is one of life’s largest investments. You deserve choice, flexibility, and unparalleled service. Our goal is to create a custom home that enriches your living environment,” says Carlson.
IN IT FOR THE LONG TERM
Canyon Spring Master Builder truly values their Trade Partners as talented and skilled craftsman. They appreciate the superior quality of the materials their suppliers and subtrades use in the construction of the homes along with their unrivalled craftsmanship. “We are proud of our excellent, long standing partnership with our trades some of who have been with us for over 20 years.” says Carlson.
The Company President, Dennis Colwell, is proud that people viewing a Canyon Spring home consistently remark on the excellent workmanship, attention to detail and the finish of the completed homes. By keeping their team continually busy, it ensures the maintenance of high quality work.
One may not think about this, but ultimately it is the sub trades who are the ones “building” the home. Of course this is all under the management of the lead team from the builder, but day in day out every home is constructed using a team of various companies, each lending their own expertise and skill sets to the common goal.
When it comes to the Trade Partners working with Canyon Spring – it’s easy to tell that the builder’s promise of client satisfaction and quality craftsmanship starts at the top and works its way down to the last finishing nail.
Managing the relationships with trade partners is one of the keys to the on-going success of Canyon Spring. Many of their partners have been with Canyon Spring since the first home in 1988. The long term relationship allows for Everett and the management team to be confident that not only is the work being done to the highest standard, but that the client’s home is being built with the customer at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
The feeling of appreciation runs deep within the GM, he knows that the trade partners are crucial to the company, but also that the success of Canyon Spring is a great benefit to each sub trade as well. Perhaps this symbiotic relationship is why each holds the other in such esteem. When speaking of the companies they do business with Everett explains “They all step it up for Canyon Spring. I can’t think of one that doesn’t.”
KEEP MOVING FORWARD
Canyon Spring Master Builder has no plans to slow down anytime soon. Among the new developments and upcoming plans is a new show home they have just designed for Jagare Ridge, a new gold course community in South Edmonton.
You may ask why you should choose Canyon Spring Master Builder in preference to the many other quality builders in the area. When Kasteel was posed this same question his answer is best summed up with his statement, “We build each clients home as if we were building it for ourselves.” When it comes to one of the most important investments of your life, the answer doesn’t get much better than that.
Canyon Spring is a proud member in great standing with the Better Business Bureau, Canadian Home Builders Association, the Professional Home Builders Institute of Alberta, and a Certified Built Green member.