Customizable new home near Hampstead: your options before construction

Choosing a new semi-detached home near Hampstead that's still to be built means deciding on your house before it exists: where a mezzanine goes, how high a ceiling rises, what style the cabinets take. Once the walls are up, those choices are made, and the house feels like yours from day one.

A customizable new home near Hampstead answers a reality of the town: transforming an existing house there takes time and several approvals. This article first looks at that process in Hampstead, then at the options BÉAcité offers before construction, in Sainte-Julie. Only options confirmed by the builder are included.

Transforming a house in Hampstead: the town's process

In Hampstead, a permit or certificate is required for any construction, renovation, landscaping or exterior project: an addition, structural or exterior changes, a fence, a hedge, a low wall, a pool, a spa, grading, solar panels. The town aims for a turnaround of no more than 14 days for minor work and no more than 30 days for major work.

Some projects also go before the planning advisory committee before a permit is issued, in particular an addition or changes to the exterior façades. The committee meets behind closed doors, and town council makes the decision. An addition, an accessory building or a pool also requires a site plan. Finally, noisy outdoor work is banned on every Saturday and Sunday in August.

This framework is part of a long tradition: as early as the 1920s, the town adopted strict building rules and an architectural advisory committee to protect its character. It turns an addition into a multi-step project that needs careful preparation.

Larger families, changing needs

Hampstead households are larger than elsewhere. In the 2021 Census, 14.4% had five or more people, compared with 7.1% in Sainte-Julie and 6.1% across Quebec, and the average household size was 2.8 people. In a family that size, one more office, guest room or playroom makes a real difference day to day. In an existing house, those rooms come from reworking the layout or building an addition; in a customizable new home, they're planned on paper from the start.

The options available before construction

In a customizable new home near Hampstead like those at BÉAcité, the options are chosen before the house is built. Here are the ones the builder confirms.

The Duo cottage mezzanine

The Duo cottage offers 2,018 sq ft of living space: 858 sq ft on the ground floor and 1,160 sq ft upstairs. The optional mezzanine adds 338 sq ft, bringing the living space to 2,356 sq ft, and the total to 3,506 sq ft with the basement and garage. At 405 Geoffrion Street, one of the four turnkey homes, the photos show a mezzanine set up as a work corner under a high ceiling.

The rooftop terrace

A terrace built on the roof is one of the options. Number 405 has one, so you can judge on site how much outdoor space it adds.

A cathedral ceiling in the dining room

Ceilings on the ground floor are 9 feet high. In the dining room, a cathedral ceiling is available as an option, to give more height to the room where you entertain.

Interior finishes

Several interior finish choices are part of the standard features. The ready homes give you a preview: white cabinets and a light countertop at 405, a wooden island at 408, a white kitchen with an island bar at 423.

Pool and spa

On the lot, a pool and a spa are possible. In Sainte-Julie, as everywhere in Quebec, a pool must meet government standards, and it also needs the City of Sainte-Julie's approval.

Bungalow, Duo or Urbain: the three models

Before the options comes the model. The semi-detached bungalow, all on one level, has 1,006 sq ft on the ground floor, a basement of the same size and a 294 sq ft garage. The Duo cottage spreads its 2,018 sq ft of living space over two floors, with an 858 sq ft basement and a 292 sq ft garage. The more compact Urbain model offers 1,622 sq ft of living space, with 652 sq ft on the ground floor and 970 sq ft upstairs, plus a 652 sq ft basement and a 260 sq ft garage. The sales director will give you the plans for each level and tell you which models are still available for the homes left to customize.

Customizable new home near Hampstead: what timeline can you expect?

Twenty homes are still open to customization, as cottages or bungalows: these are the ones where you choose your options. Several other customizable homes can be ready in about four months; and if you'd rather move in right away, four turnkey homes are available for immediate sale. No delivery date is set here: it's discussed with the sales director, depending on the home you choose.

Whatever the timeline, a new home sold by a builder must be covered by the mandatory guarantee plan for new residential buildings, and the upkeep is then handled by an all-inclusive program. To see what that program changes day to day, read our article on the maintenance-free home near Hampstead.

Planning for the kids from the start

If the house is going to be home to children, some options take on a new meaning: a mezzanine that can double as a playroom, a basement, a garden-level backyard, a private garden. Among the ready homes, 423 even has a finished basement. Our article on moving from Hampstead to Sainte-Julie with kids covers schools, parks and backyards.

To see these options for real, head to the sales office at 435 Geoffrion Street, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the evening and on Saturday and Sunday, visits are by appointment: 514-812-9633 by phone or text, or ventes@beacite.com.

Conclusion

In Hampstead, transforming a house means permits, a committee and town council. A customizable new home near Hampstead takes the opposite route: you make your choices on paper, before construction, from a list of confirmed options, from the mezzanine to the pool. Twenty homes are still open to customization, and a visit to the sales office on Geoffrion Street is the simplest way to get started.