Frequently Asked Questions - All FAQs

DCANS Properties provides a 1 year Homeowner’s Warranty which includes structural and workmanship coverage. Optional extended warranties are available.

Several reasons account for this.

- DCANS Properties has access to long-term patient capital via the group's property fund.

- Our volume allows us to purchase building materials at prices considerably below what the average Builder pays. These savings are passed on to our Customers in the way of lower prices.

All of our homes are priced at near 100% complet-ion, and include such items as floor coverings, lighting, kitchen cabinets, bath sinks, tubs/showers, and closet shelving. Items not included but available at an additional cost; are septic systems, wells, tap fees, driveways, sidewalks, backfilling/landscaping, connection of water, sewer, permits, site excavation and preparation, temporary construction power and water

We include the water heater and a few others that are listed for each home type. We offer an option for an appliance package, at an additional cost, for our Customers who need appliances.

Yes, we can handle every aspect of the construction process. Items not normally included with our home can be priced and included in your contract price. We provide a listing of available options for your use in deciding what items you would want us to provide.

Verify Sewer Suitability:

Verify the existence of sewer or suitability of soil for a septic system.

Set up Plot Plan:

Surveyor develops a plot plan. DCANS Properties will give you a footprint of your home to the surveyor who will create a plot plan locating the home on your lot. This plot plan will be needed at the time of building permit application.

Engineering if required:

An engineer develops foundation plans and other required plans. DCANS Properties will give a blueprint of your home to the engineer who will create a structural review and foundation plan. These plans will be needed at the time of building permit application.

Applying For a Building Permit:

DCANS Properties will supply construction drawings for the proposed home and a surveyor will provide the plot plan, if needed, the engineer will create a structural review and foundation plan. If you need a driveway permit, apply at this time. A Health permit and/or proof of sewer may be required with the building permit application.

Site Preparation:

The lot is cleared with positive drainage and any required erosion control in place. The house site, septic area, if applicable, and driveway are made free of any and all debris. A temporary construction driveway is put in place and mud free access to the construction site is provided.

Delivery of Documents:

Any remaining contract documents is given to DCANS Properties, to include the Funding Agreement, approved construction drawings, all permits, a Plot Plan, a Certificate of Insurance, as well as, written directions to the property.

Water and Electricity Set Up:

One temporary hose bib connected to public water or private well is installed. Temporary electric service is installed by an electrician and an account established in your name at the power company.

Construction Staking:

The surveyor stakes house corners for footing purposes. DCANS Properties coordinates with the surveyor for foundation points after footing installation.

Sewer/Septic System Setup:

A sewer or septic system may be installed at anytime between the lot clearing and grading/landscaping activities without interfering with DCANS Properties building process.

Driveway Setup:

Driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping activities occur after construction of the house is complete. DCANS Properties is happy to assist you with any these activities.

This is one of the most common questions we get, and it’s a little bit hard to answer since each one of our homes is custom-built for the family that’s going to live in it. However, you can view our “list of standard finishes” by clicking here. If you have certain finishes or building materials you’d like to use, we’re very happy to accommodate you.

When it comes to “upgrades,” we don’t really have a system like production builders do where you look around inside a model home and say “I’d like this model, but with upgraded counter tops.” You’re never locked into a “standard” level of anything; you will always pick what goes into your home. That’s the beauty of custom.

Just about any style you can think of. We don’t just work off a fixed set of floor plans, and we’re not limited to certain styles that we’ve done in the past. In fact, if you really want us to get excited about your home, ask us to build a home we’ve never done before, so long as it's contemporary. See floor plans and 3d rendering samples.

Some people come to us with a very clearly defined idea of exactly what they want, including having made choices on paint colours, materials, styles, home layouts, and more. Other people walk into our office and say “I know I want 3,500 square feet on two levels, and that’s about all I know so far.”

Either approach works just fine for us. It’s our job to get to know you, and what you like, so we can work with just about anybody, no matter what step they’re at. Our very detailed design/build process will quickly uncover what kinds of finishes and design features are important to you. Contact us, and we’ll be happy to provide more insight about this process.

It depends.” Solar systems, like a custom home, are not a “one size fits all” purchase. There are a few things that need to be taken into account when considering a solar power system for your home, including:

The size of the home:

How many square feet is your home, and what kind of layout does it have? It’s not enough to just know the total size of the home—we also need to know the floor plan. As an example, there’s a difference in what we can do with a 4,000 sq ft home that’s all on one level vs a home with 2,000 sq ft on a main level and a 2,000 sq ft basement.

The number of people living in the home:

The size of your family has a direct impact on your energy consumption, so we’d need to know that in order to determine what your energy needs would be.

The lifestyle of those living in the home:

Above and beyond the number of residents in the house, how do the people who live there use the home? Does everyone leave the house at 8:00am and go to work and/or school, leaving the house empty all day? Or do you have someone who works from home, or elderly folks who stay at home during the day time? Is everyone in the house good at turning off all the lights when they leave the room, or do you let light bulbs burn all day when nobody’s home?

Your goals as a home owner:

Why is it that you want solar power in the first place? To minimize your environmental impact? To save money? To live off-grid? All the above, or another reason altogether? All of these factor in heavily not only on whether solar energy is right for you home in general, but what kind of system will work best for you, if at all. For example, if you want to live off-grid but have large electrical appliances, you may need a very large and expensive system.

The life stage of the occupants and future plans for the home:

Will this be the home you spend the rest of your days in, or are you planning on moving again in ten years? It may not make sense to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a system that only starts paying you back in 25 years if you’re only planning to live in the home for ten years.

The need for energy storage, if any:

Will you be able to sell back excess electricity you don’t need to the utility company? Will you need batteries to store it?

All of these questions need to be considered (and answered) as part of the overall design of your home’s solar system.

Having said all that, generally speaking, a residential solar photovoltaic (solar PV) system is somewhere between 2,000 and 10,000 watts, depending upon the needs and goals of the owner. For argument’s sake, an “average” home would handle most of its electrical needs with a 5KW system.