The stages of building a new home

Understanding the journey before construction: a crucial step for project success

Before building, planning is essential. A durable, high-performance, eco-friendly home that is well positioned on its lot is the result of solid decisions made right from the start. Proper preparation reduces cost overruns, prevents last-minute changes, and ensures a smooth construction process.

At Écohabitations Boréales, we support our clients from the very first stages—whether they are choosing a lot, looking for a house plan, or ready to submit a permit application. Below is a clear and reassuring guide to understanding the steps before construction begins, and how our team simplifies the process at every stage.

1. Finding and choosing the right lot

While lot selection is the client’s responsibility, Écohabitations Boréales can get involved early to help you avoid common pitfalls.

What you do:

• Browse Centris and DuProprio
• Visit different neighbourhoods
• Discover off-market lots sold directly by owners

Our added value:

• An initial list of available lots.
• A phone consultation to review key criteria such as topography, solar orientation, access and driveway length, potential constraints, and compatibility with the desired home style.
  

We help you make an informed decision before purchasing. This step will influence the entire project.

2. Lot analysis and pre-site planning: the first vision of your future home

Once the lot is purchased, we schedule a site visit with you. This is a key moment to begin visualizing the project more concretely. You share your vision and what you appreciate about the property, and together we discuss:

• the lot’s strengths and constraints
• natural light
• views and orientation
• ideal house placement
• location of the driveway, parking, well, and septic system
• areas for a spa, pool, or shed
  

Our support includes

• personalized technical recommendations
• guidance on required steps with various stakeholders (land surveyor, Hydro-Québec, architectural review committees, etc.)
  

This stage opens the discussion on costs, upcoming challenges, and ensures an optimized site layout.

3. Starting the design phase: creating a customized plan

Once the lot is fully understood, the design process can begin. 

Two options are available to you:

• Pre-designed house plans: many house plans are available online from specialized firms. You may find a plan that meets your criteria—square footage, number of bedrooms, architectural style, and more.

• Custom-designed plan: a fully customized plan created by an architect or architectural technologist. Écohabitations Boréales can recommend trusted designers selected based on your home style and available budget.

Once the approach is chosen, we conduct a site visit with you and the design professionals. This meeting ensures a clear understanding of the site and project intent. We also share our construction standards and certification requirements.

Throughout the design process, we ensure client needs are respected and that all technical aspects are fully integrated.

4. Preliminary plans and cost estimate: validating feasibility

Once the preliminary plans are completed, we prepare a detailed preliminary cost estimate along with a clear and comprehensive proposal outlining construction features and projected costs

Based on the results and your feedback, we work with the designers to make adjustments and arrive at a final plan that respects your budget. We collaborate closely with you and the designer to balance vision, budget, and feasibility.

5. Final plans, official site layout, and soil study

Once everything is approved, we give the green light for the final official plans required for permits and construction.

Écohabitations Boréales then coordinates :

• the soil study
• final positioning and orientation of the home
• on-site meetings with professionals for the placement of septic systems, artesian wells, parking areas, and more

All elements are adjusted based on your preferences, technical standards, and site constraints.

6. Municipal permits: we take care of everything

Municipal construction permits can be complex. That’s why we provide full support for this stage. We are well familiar with the requirements of the municipalities where we commonly build (Laurentians, Laval, and Lanaudière). 

We handle :

• preparation of all required documents
• communications and follow-ups with the municipality

7. LEED and Novoclimat registration: a performance-driven project from day one

Even before construction begins, Écohabitations Boréales registers your project with both programs. We also submit the energy modelling plan required to obtain the EnerGuide rating.

These costs are fully covered by Écohabitations Boréales—a rare value in the industry and a strong guarantee of quality. We ensure your home meets high energy-efficiency standards.

Wherever you are in the process, Écohabitations Boréales can support you

Our clients reach out to us at different stages: some are still searching for a lot, others own a lot but don’t yet have a plan, and some arrive with finalized plans. No matter where you are in your home-building journey, we adapt. We step in at the right moment and ensure project continuity with rigour, transparency, and full-service support.

A successful home starts with meticulous preparation. Our role is to simplify, guide, and secure each of these steps until construction can finally begin.

Ready to plan your project?