Design and Build the Home of Your Dreams With Dharma Developments' New Custom Home Building Service

A New Direction

With one successful multi-lot development under their belt and another underway, Ottawa builder Dharma Developments has announced that they will be bringing their eco-conscious, high-quality building style to the custom home market starting this winter.

Dharma impressed many with its first development, Powers Enclave, a 29-home neighbourhood in Stittsville, just minutes from Kanata Centrum, because of the quality of their construction and the durable products they use, as well as for their innovative approach to sustainable building. 

A new loft-style homes development called Orville Station is set to break ground next spring and has attained the lofty environmental designation of LEED Silver for its eco-friendly design. 

And this reputation for quality and innovation is exactly what is driving Ottawans to enlist Dharma's help in building their custom dream home, now that the service is being offered. 

"The feedback we've gotten so far from clients about why they're choosing us is because of our quality workmanship and our focus on green technology," says Dharma Sales and Marketing Manager Wendy Bissonette. "One potential client who viewed Powers Enclave recently was really impressed with the finishing detail and the attention we pay to the quality of products used in the home." 

   

The move into custom homes does not signify a shift in priorities for Dharma, says Bissonette. The company will continue to plan and execute innovative communities like Powers and Orville Station in the future. Instead, the new division is meant to complement their existing work, and help home owners who may already have their own lot or would prefer to live in an area outside Dharma's current communities to achieve their vision. 

"A lot of people have this dream of building their own home, but when they get to the point of actually doing it, they realize they don't know how," says Bissonette. "We want to be there as a partner for them and help them through the process." 

For Dharma, this business transition is partly about expanding their reach and keeping busy between major multi-lot projects, but it is also about making a contribution to the Ottawa community, a value that Dharma has always espoused (evidenced by their commitment to charity and the local arts community.) 

"Offering custom homebuilding for us is about being able to pass on the knowledge that we've gained with Powers Enclave  and Orville Station, in terms of LEED and green technologies," says Bissonette. "We want to help build smart homes that are efficient and as green as people want them to be - we always look at new technologies to be able to relay those options to our customers. With our custom homes, the client really has a blank canvas."

LEEDing The Way

This commitment to green building has set Dharma apart from other builders in the Ottawa market. While some smaller local homebuilders have been afraid to experiment with eco-technologies for fear that homebuyers wouldn't willing to pay the necessary premiums, Dharma has consistently led the way in offering stylish, environmentally friendly and affordable homes, proving that the combination is indeed possible.

And as is often the case, daring to be different has paid off for Dharma. Bissonette says more than half of the inquiries they are currently receiving for custom home quotes involve requests for green technologies, so it is clear that their reputation precedes them.

On every build, Dharma considers a strict set of eco-criteria in planning, design and construction, including but not limited to: 

• Use of building supplies that are locally available, contain recycled material and/or are themselves salvaged and recycled; 
• Use of durable products that won't end up in landfills in the near future; 
• Low toxicitiy in indoor materials; and minimal emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) during construction.
  

But perhaps more importantly, "green building" isn't just a glorified checklist for this builder, it's a company mantra. 

Not only does Dharma try to make each and every project as environmentally low-impact as possible, but every employee is committed to the cause as well. As Bissonette says, it's the little things that make the difference. 

"We always recycle in the office, we power down lights and computers when not in use, we don't use paper plates or napkins unnecessarily, we all drive fuel-efficient vehicles. Each employee is very conscious of their impact, we all do our part for the environment in our own lives, and we bring that commitment to work, too."

For more information any of Dharma's developments, or about their new custom homes service, you can visit them on the web at www.dharmadevelopments.com, leave a comment on this post or send me an email and I will be happy to put you in touch with the custom homes team. 

For a detailed look at the few lots still available in their Powers Enclave community or to pre-order for Orville Station lots, head over to NHA.ca and take a look.