Custom Build & Build Project Management

Ideally, Construction Planning should begin before you finalize architectural designs or hire contractors, typically 3-6 months before your anticipated construction start date. This early engagement ensures your vision aligns with practical realities,s including budget constraints, zoning regulations, and site limitations. Starting the planning process early allows time for thorough site evaluation, regulatory research, and financial analysis. In Toronto’s competitive construction market, this head start is particularly valuable as it provides time to secure necessary permits (which can take 2-8 weeks for standard approvals) and address any zoning variances through the Committee of Adjustment (adding 1-3 months if required).

Construction Planning typically reduces overall project costs by 8-15% through several key mechanisms:

• Preventing design revisions: Identifying zoning and building code issues before finalizing designs saves $10,000-$30,000 in redesign fees and permit resubmissions.
• Accurate budgeting: Detailed cost forecasting prevents the common 15-25% budget overruns that occur when projects are inadequately planned.
• Strategic material selection: Early planning allows for strategic material procurement, often saving 5-10% on finish materials.
• Optimized construction sequencing: Proper timeline development prevents costly trade scheduling conflicts and delays.

For a typical $1.5 million Toronto custom home, our planning process saves clients $120,000-$225,000 on average, far exceeding the planning service investment.

Construction Planning services for Toronto home projects typically range from $5,000 to $15,000, representing approximately 1-2% of your anticipated total project budget. This investment often saves 8-15% on overall project costs by preventing expensive mid-construction changes and delays. The exact fee depends on several factors:

• Project scope and complexity
• Property location and any special considerations (heritage districts, ravine properties)
• Timeline requirements
• Extent of regulatory challenges

For a standard 3,000 sq ft custom home in Toronto, planning services average $8,000-$10,000. Renovation projects typically range from $5,000-$8,000, depending on scope. We provide a fixed-fee proposal after our initial consultation once we understand your specific requirements.

No, our Construction Planning service stands independently from our construction services. While many clients choose our Design + Build or Custom Build & Management services for a seamless experience, you’re free to take our planning insights to any contractor you prefer.

The planning documentation we provide is comprehensive and transferable, giving you valuable leverage when negotiating with any builder. If you do continue with our construction services, the planning fee is typically credited toward your overall project cost, effectively making the planning process free when you build with us.

Construction Planning is a strategic pre-building phase that evaluates your project’s feasibility, budget requirements, timeline expectations, and regulatory compliance before any physical work begins. For Toronto homeowners, this critical step prevents the common pitfalls that lead to budget overruns and timeline delays.

Our structured planning process examines everything from property constraints and zoning requirements to material selections and contractor coordination. In Toronto’s complex building environment, where permit approvals can take 2-8 weeks and Committee of Adjustment hearings might add 1-3 months to your timeline, proper planning often reduces overall project duration by 15-20% while preventing costly mid-construction changes that typically add 10-15% to project costs.