Kelly Kustom Homes

5 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 10 KELLY KUSTOM HOMES as being “custom,” but have only limited options, Carter observes. She and her father go out of their way to ensure their clients are comfortable and happy with the finished results. Wenstrom extols his daughter’s level of commitment and meticulous work. She works closely with clients, assisting them in selections, colors, interior decorating, space design, and more. Carter says the company’s average bungalow house features some 1,700 square feet. Two-story counterparts may have as much as 2,100 square feet. A real family affair Being a small, family-owned business has its advantages. For Wenstrom and Carter, it’s just the two of them. As with many homebuilders, subcontractors handle everything else. Unlike many of their Stateside counterparts, Canadian home builders often have a necessarily abbreviated building schedule, re that wintry weather in the Great White North. Yet Kelly Kustom Homes is different. “We go year-round,” Wenstrom informs, “but if it gets too cold, we have to stop. The one thing with the Calgary area is that the weather changes dramatically fast.” This can delay exterior work, Wenstrom allows. Relatedly, Carter notes some aspects of the building process may cost more, vis-à-vis the time of year. “A lot of times,” she adds, “we will hold off and wait for better weather because it’s going to save the client some money.” Speaking of America, Wenstrom says the largest difference between homebuilding in the States versus Canada is labor costs. The costs of some materials are also factors. For every $100 American builders spend, their Canadian counterparts spend an additional $30, as Wenstrom reveals. It adds up. “Our lot costs are a lot higher here,” he adds,