My name is James Zeleznik, and I have been a home builder in the residential construction industry for over 25 years. I am the Owner and General Manager of Jazel Homes. I’ve been living in West Kelowna, and building within the Okanagan Valley for most of my life. It’s hard to picture my business being anywhere else. My company means everything to me, and I am eternally grateful for all the hard work and dedication my crew has put into our projects over the years. I’ve started this blog to share my industry knowledge with the general public. As a West Kelowna home builder, I find myself fielding certain questions quite regularly. In this post, I hope to answer some of those frequently asked questions, and provide some answers for people looking to gain a little more knowledge on the subject of home building.
Should I Become a Home Builder?
Home building is a lot of work, but if you have the passion, then yes, you should absolutely become a home builder. However, first understand that home building is not just physically building the house. There is a lot of organizational and administrative work that needs to be consistently maintained. An individual at the top of a small-scale company may be quite hands on during construction, but delegation to trusted individuals becomes key in company growth. If you are completely new to the world of trades, then I suggest gaining experience one of two ways: on the job training, or post secondary education. Many schools offer apprenticeship programs, or degree’s in architecture and building engineering technology. Otherwise, with on the job training, one would typically start at a low level labor position, and have to work up through the company.
Economic Outlook on Homebuilding?
I’ve seen the home building industry go through many transitions from thick to thin. Jazel Homes has been extremely fortunate to have had the work through the years. Our clients have meant the world to myself and everyone else at Jazel Homes. But as to Canada and the home building industry, a recent release from Statistics Canada states that B.C “became the second largest provincial contributor of investment in new housing construction in January, as spending rose 14.3% compared with the same month a year earlier to $695 million. This increase was mainly driven by investment in apartment and apartment-condominium buildings. Investment in single-family dwellings and row houses also contributed to the advance, while spending on semi-detached buildings declined” (“Investment in new housing construction, January 2016” 1). For a West Kelowna home builder, any raised spending is good news. So at least for the somewhat foreseeable future, the home building industry looks to remain lucrative.
What Does it Take Day to Day?
To run a business you need to be able to handle a lot of stress. Simplification in all aspects of the process are good goals to try and achieve, but more often than not, things can get complicated. Being able to think quickly and having strong organizational skills are an absolute must in home building. A head for mathematics is a good asset. Estimating materials, calculating dimensions, and the ability to read blueprints all pertain to applied mathematics. Some of the work is quite labour intensive, and can be very physically demanding. Building materials are heavy, and certain weather conditions, like the Kelowna summer sun for example, can be taxing on an individual throughout the work day.
Ultimately, to succeed in home building requires the same amount of hard work and dedication as in any other industry. Being a West Kelowna home builder offers both challenges and rewards, which are present in equal fashion. I truly love my home in West Kelowna. I am so grateful to build homes for others, and to help their lives flourish in the Okanagan Valley.
Works Cited
Investment in new housing construction, January 2016 (2016, March 21). In http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/160321/dq160321c-eng.htm. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
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