2014

When my husband and I started looking into purchasing a home I had always entertained the thought of building, while my husband was strongly opposed to the idea. We had been looking on and off for over 5 years and literally saw almost every show home from every builder in the city of Winnipeg and beyond. My husband was always opposed to the idea of building because of the many horror stories we heard from friends who had built homes over those years and because of what my husband amounted to poor craftsmanship and structure. Although the thought of building a home that was just ours, the way we wanted and no one had ever lived in it was appealing, I had to agree with him that the very idea of spending the kind of money it takes to own a new home, on something that would need repair right after possession, was daunting and disheartening.

That all changed when we met Jeff Baertsoen, from Paradigm Custom Homes, on a cold day in the beginning of December 2013.  Instantly we knew that this builder was different. Something about the show home showed a quality of construction we had yet to see in the many other "custom" homes we had visited before. Plus, it was so refreshing to meet with the actual builder/owner and not a realtor trying to sell us a home. Jeff went through details of what Paradigm Custom Homes means and how the company came about. You could tell that building was his passion, and he wasn't doing this because he wanted to make money and sell homes. He was extremely knowledgeable and even answered some of our questions before we could ask them. And unlike most show homes we had seen, you could tell this home wasn't only about the cosmetic features. You could see the home was well built. Jeff spoke of many materials they use to make the structure better, above and beyond what normal code requires, making us realize that this builder was in fact very different from the rest. When we left the home that day, we were barely in the car when my husband turned to me and said.. "Now THERE’s a builder. Looks like we are building a house."

The process of building a home with Paradigm Custom Home is nothing short of a dream. And everyone my husband and I met throughout the entire process was equally a joy to work with. Klaus Schneider took our vision and made it a reality as though it was effortless to draw plans for a home. Gerry Martel, the site supervisor, was always two steps ahead in the process and communicated constantly each week. We literally never expected to be able to call, email or text anyone and get responses as rapidly as we did because we knew they were be busy. They all literally made us feel like we were the only ones building a home with them, which was obviously not true. It was a deeply personal relationship and you felt instantly like you became a part of the Paradigm family. They took enormous pride and care to ensure you felt as though your voice was being heard. The patience they have showed through the entire process was admirable.

It was truly a custom home. We were provided with allowances for almost everything and it was easy to stay within our budget. The trades and suppliers they work with are top notch and you get to meet with each supplier individually. Paradigm works with an interior designer, Michelle, which is an ingenious idea. She is amazing! She has an exceptional talent for knowing what the client wants and making the home flow seamlessly with colours and decor. Plus, you know your cost up front. No surprises down the road. Jeff is very accurate with his numbers and we came in exactly where he said we would by the end of the build.

Paradigm Custom Homes and their entire team have exceeded our expectations at every turn. Gerry's attention to detail is unmatched and he works tirelessly to make the home perfect, as if he was building his own home. He was always a step ahead and if you tried to call him about an issue, he had already found and addressed it. Jeff's ability to explain every intricate detail of the workings of the home (from windows, furnace, HRV etc..) in simple terms proves that he truly understands the importance of how a home should work for it to be the most energy efficient. We even completed our house and took possession 2 months early! Every time we tell our family and friends (or anyone who will listen) about that they are in disbelief. We cannot brag about them enough and feel like they should be a frontrunner in the custom home building market. In fact, we are surprised that more builders are not following their lead.  Every penny you spend is absolutely worth it and we guarantee if you build a Paradigm Home you will get more than value for the money you put in. You truly get a home, not just a house.

Thanks so much for making our dream a reality!