We are still waiting to get a house and our experiences so far...
Builders
The most important is to choose a house built/to be built by a reputable builder with lots of transparency.
So, who's a great builder in Calgary? We are currently visiting and exploring a potential house build with Shane Homes and they seem alright too. Last week, we visited Trico Homes and they were very impressive. Next month, we will check Sterling Homes and Jayman. We do not know much about Mattamy nor Excel yet, but when we looked at some homes in the second hand market, their houses were alright.
In summary, the quality and delivery are the 2 things you must prioritize. Of course, aesthetics and flexibility count a lot too, but you need a builder that builds good solid houses and know what they are doing.
Electric boxes
These are large pale green boxes that house a transformer for the neighborhood. They are harmless but if you damage them, you are liable to replace them. So, if you can avoid those when you buy a house, it's to your advantage.
Corner
The great thing when your house is in the corner is you have a clear view of that side. You don't feel squeezed in between 2 neighbors but you also have 1 fewer friendly neighbor to chat with though.
Noise levels
Most detached houses are well insulated, but even road noises can be invasive, especially if you stay close to a busy road. You would be better off if the house is not close to a busy road. Close to parks and open areas would still be fine as the noise level don't pervade into your home.
Water sources
If you stay close to a river or well, you must be aware the soil is prone to holding water and it may stagnate around there (eg after snow melt). It's not bad, but if the water table rises, your property can get flooded. Either you avoid places around the river or lakes or wells, or you install a sump + pump. We never knew about this but it's interesting to see the different tech when house hunting.
Lot layout
If you could choose between a pie lot or a standard lot, the pie lot would normally be better, because even it is oddly shaped, it has more space all around. Only if you like the layout an positioning of your house.
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