HAPPY HOMEOWNERS: ANDREW’S HOME SUITE HOME

The proud owner of our very first Quality Homes Suite, Andrew, moved into his new home in Spring 2024 in Alma, Ontario. He was happy to share his story with us to talk all about the possibilities that an ADU suite can unlock.

When it comes to affordability, even rural areas have outpriced many locals. Young people like Andrew grow up on farms across Ontario, but when it comes time to leave the nest, homes in the area price them out of the market at over $1 million.

As a 28-year-old wanting to get ahead in life, Andrew had 3 main goals—“A roof over my head that is mine and not rented, a space to use as a long term investment that will help with my capital management, and a space that is my own to return to to unwind after a long day.” With simple criteria including close proximity to work and family, space for his computer setup, and a reasonable price, finding a home of his own was a considerable challenge.

Andrew’s solution was to think outside the box, and look into building a secondary suite on his parents’ property to give him the independence he needed. Andrew explained, “Since in my area there was nothing under $1 million that didn’t need to be torn down and rebuilt, it made the most sense to build a custom model that was small, easy to clean and take care of, and had space for the activities I enjoy like gaming.”

But how did he get from concept to a suite new reality?

ANDREW’S JOURNEY

“During the build process, I first started designing and planning on building my own design with approval of the township,” Andrew explained. “It was very difficult to get approval from the township, and they had put a ton of roadblocks in my way while attempting to do it with my own design. So many roadblocks in fact that I decided I was not going to do my own design, and instead I was going to work with an approved prefab home builder.”

And so with permits in hand and no more roadblocks in his way, Andrew started his homebuilding journey with Quality Homes. His ideal home had not just a space for him to live and entertain friends and family, but also to have an extra room for his computer setup. After visiting our Kenilworth Sales Centre and touring our model suite, it was clear that The Foxboro B was the perfect match for his lifestyle, with two bedrooms, one bathroom, plus a beautiful open concept main living/dining space.

After choosing his model, it was time for Quality Homes to get to work. We detailed the building and delivery processes in our first blog, as well as our video, Andrew’s Story – Part 1 – A Suite New Milestone.

“The entire buying, build, and permit process was exceedingly easy to go through. So easy in fact that I will continue to recommend it to people who are either building a new house, or adding an ADU (Addition Dwelling Unit) to their property. Working with Quality Homes will save them the hassle of doing it alone, especially considering how many design options they have for different models of housing. For my original design, I spent nearly 1.5 years in both design and back and forth with the township over permitting. Once I switched to working with Quality, I went from signing the agreement in early January, to the house delivered on the foundation at the end of May.”

Having settled into his new Foxboro Suite, Andrew was kind enough to meet with us one year later to tell us all about what life is like in a Quality Homes Suite. Because the true beauty of our Suite Collection is in the lifestyle it provides. A secondary suite on your existing property—in this case, Andrew’s parents’—offers multiple households to live together on the same land without compromising on their independence. Andrew’s story shows exactly that: a young man starting a life for himself without the challenges of purchasing your own property, or losing your equity by renting. And with designs created to provide everything residents could need, it’s an incredible way to experience modern living without compromise.

SIZE ISN’T EVERYTHING

Andrew shows us that life in his new ADU isn’t like living in a tiny home. “It’s just the right amount of space for me,” he explained, “It’s a 636 sq.ft. house, two-bedroom, and has just enough space for me to have an office, my bedroom, and a living space that I can have guests over as well, and enjoy making a meal for everyone.” This compact size is perfect for one or two people, and is even bigger than many big city condos.

And when it comes to storage in a small space, The Foxboro has plenty of room for everything he needs. “I’m very happy with the storage space I have. I have a lot of cupboard space, more than I was expecting. And that’s thanks to the pantry at the side of the hall there. That has been a significant benefit because it pretty much doubles the kitchen cabinetry space for food storage.” This design also includes a coat closet in the foyer, plus the added benefit of in-suite laundry tucked away within a closet for all the convenience without losing the clean modern look.

Q: Why did you choose the Foxboro design?

A: I chose the Foxboro B design because it had a beautiful modern finish while also giving me the additional space to have a separate room for my computer setup, as well as the full size bath/shower combo. The open concept living plan also helped because it made the smaller space feel so much larger while being in it.

Q: What is your favourite part of the home?

A: Currently, my favourite part of the home is the electric fireplace with mantle. I say this because in the winter months, even without it heating, the simulated fire just makes the space feel that much cozier and comfy.

Having spent over a year in his new home, Andrew has settled into the routine of life in his very own home. He loves to spend the winter by the cozy electric fireplace, have a drink on the patio with friends or family in the summer, and spend time in his new home office with its amazing computer setup. With the flexibility of the Quality Homes Suite Collection, he finally has the life he’s been dreaming of.

Watch Part 2 of Andrew’s Story in our latest video, and see just how bright and beautiful life can be in a Suite of your very own.

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