This year, Ottawa builder Richcraft is celebrating its 25th anniversary and as with all anniversaries, this one is a great time to reflect on the journey that has brought them to this point. So today, let's take a look at what the last quarter century has meant for one of Ottawa's most successful home construction companies. Kris Singhal, the millionnaire CEO and owner, says the ride hasn't always been an easy one. Singhal grew up in New Delhi, India one of eight children of a lawyer. He and his wife Manju studied and prepared for a better life in Canada, and arrived in 1974. He was the only one of the siblings to emigrate. He worked hard and continued formal studies, and in less than 10 years in his new country, he was established as a Canadian. The Singhals had an upper-middle-class income, a secure job in government service at a management level, and could look forward to an indexed pension. They could make annual trips to New Delhi to visit family, and replace the family compact car every six years. Their two daughters could attend university. What more could he want? Fateful Decision It was then that they decided to build their own home... without really knowing how. But he never lacked confidence, and always believed that if somebody else could do something, he could too. (It just might take him a little longer.) To save money, he decided not to buy from an established builder, but instead to buy a lot and build his own home on it. Campeau Corporation was selling lots around the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, so they bought one. To build the house, they hired a contractor, and Singhal was there every day, watching and learning. The land was swampy and they had the unexpected and costly problem of building on a slab. But finally, the day came when they could stand in front of their finished dream home. Sadly, however they had to sell it almost immediately. They had built a home that, with all the cost overruns, was just out of their reach. Luckily, though, it sold quickly. A Eureka! Moment When it was all said and done, they looked at their bank account and had an epiphany... They had just made a pile of money. With that realization, Singhal asked for, and was granted, a one year leave-of-absence from his government job. They bought two more Hunt Club lots and got permission from Campeau to build two copies of the popular Bennington Ultra with 3,000 square feet of luxury living. He invested in a white hardhat and went to work as supervisor. The hours were long, but the new job gave him a feeling of freedom that no 9-5 would allow. A year later the houses were sold for handsome profits, and their bank account said they were on the right track. It was 1983, and they decided to give up job security and pension plan, and ride the rocket instead. Sleepless in South Ottawa When asked to give an example of the sleepless nights of an entrepreneur, Singhal admits: "I still have them. I look around me and I can't believe I've done this. I can't believe I've got so many people dependent on me to keep making decisions. Right decisions." He goes on to point out that there are 75 people employed at their 2280 St. Laurent Blvd. headquarters, and estimated there must be about 3,000 subtrades working with them. Early on, he first placed a small ad in the Ottawa Citizen to sell his homes. He soon had as much work as he could handle, building custom homes for people who already owned the lots. That way, no large outlay of cash was needed. Then came some sleepless nights after he sat down over a lunch with Campeau vice-president Vic Whittaker, and watched him scribble out a deal on a paper napkin. Singhal went to the meeting hoping to get some building lots. He left with a huge tract of land that is now the heart of the Hunt Club subdivision. The deal on the napkin was worth $14 million. For a man who didn't have that kind of money, it was terrifying. Whittaker remembers that day, and says that's the way deals were done. His orders were to sell the land. Hardest part of the sale was convincing Singhal that the napkin, presented to the right bank manager, would close the deal. Kris Singhal now found himself steering a corporation that had just blasted into hyperdrive. He talks about being frightened then, but there's no sign of fear now as the confident CEO sits in his polished headquarters, routinely making multi-million dollar deals. Often there isn't even a napkin. He can close a deal by telephone. Richcraft homes are in singles, rows and highrises. It's getting difficult to maintain a count. Richcraft is one of the city's major players in the world of land banking, owning the majority of land in the city available for new construction. Singhal is determined to never again let himself be caught thinking inside the box, as he had been accustomed to doing in his government job. Aiming to Be Part of The Family His mind is still reaching over the walls of Richcraft to the living rooms of those who buy his homes. He thinks back to his year as a start-up contractor and says he doesn't want to ever forget what he learned from a happy customer who was impressed by his battered Chevy Malibu. It was to her a selling point that made her accept him as her builder. In her mind, home builders were a flashy lot. She wanted somebody she could trust, afford and work with. And here at New Home News, that's what we like to hear: builders aiming to create consumer trust, and that's what we're trying to help do with our free New Home Association builder-finding service, too.
"At that time, if you sent me to the store to get a two-by-four, I wouldn't have known where to look, or what one looked like," says Singhal.
"Building a home for somebody makes you almost a member of the family. There's a trust factor."
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"You'll notice the community you're moving into is a beautiful one," he said. "It's very safe and you'll feel very welcome here."
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 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: 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. 
"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."
