Coventry Homes

Robin Nasserdeen

Partner Coventry Homes

What are the biggest challenges facing the industry in 2022 in Edmonton? And how does Coventry Homes plan to cope with them? The biggest challenge that I see facing our industry in 2022 are continued supply chain impediments, which will be compounded by the availability of skilled labor. These factors were definitely an issue this past year and all indications are that this trend will continue for 2022. It goes without saying, the pandemic is on the forefront of all our minds and will be a factor as we head into the new year and all of us will need to be quick to respond to the changing landscape.

One of our organizational strengths is being flexible. As a locally owned and operated company, all the key decision makers are under one roof; as a result, we truly do cut out a lot of otherwise wasted time and can produce dynamic and impactful results.

I feel that we are proactive by highlighting some key challenges from a supply chain perspective and working with our internal and external partners to ensure we mitigate any impact to our homeowners. As with any year, 2022, will undoubtably have its challenges, but we are committed to getting in front of these challenges.

2020 and 2021 seemed to have been a boom for the new home market contrary to predictions. Was there anything that surprised you on how those lockdown years went for you? Any insights? As a home builder based in Edmonton, and solely servicing the Edmonton and surrounding area, we have a different appreciation for how resilient the Edmonton market is. From a sales perspective, we anticipated 2021 being a strong sales year, but must admit we didn’t expect the uptick we encountered.

One of the major surprises, brought on by the pandemic, was how quickly people realized their current living space did not work for them. For any of us, a major motivation when purchasing anything is addressing a “pain point” and I was surprised in the immediacy that homeowners decided to make the move.

As the pandemic progressed and we started to see a little more clarity, the market reacted as predicated. We have low, sustained interest rates, strong industry, and a great foundation in the Edmonton market. The Edmonton market is one of the most affordable housing markets of any metropolitan city Canada.

A big take away from the events of last year is that people clearly see the value in home ownership, and this is indicative of how well our market has preformed. Edmonton has and will continue to be a very resilient marketplace.

Do you see any new design trends in homes this year? Is the multi-generational design trend of homes going to continue? Are you seeing any new design trends like more emphasis on study areas and home offices? At Coventry, I feel we have a real time perspective on this, due to the amount of customization we allow. We interact with our clients daily and see “real time” trends and implement these into our standard offering.

We have seen a major uptick in study and office spaces requirements. What I find interesting is how these spaces are being incorporated into the home. We are seeing built in workstations in lieu of designated offices, multi use rooms that can convert between an office and daily living space. The fact that you are wireless and connected throughout the homes no longer confines our clients to one space within the house. Essentially, we have incorporated “mobile workstations” within the home. We appreciate the importance technology in the home, not just as a trend, but a standard offering

What would be your advice to prospective new home buyers in these times? What should new homebuyers be aware of or expect? No two buyers are alike, so take the time to ensure you are working with a builder that can meet you and your family’s specific needs. Design, community, product type, these are all things that need to be really thought of when buying a home, so make sure you and your builder are aligned.

I think it is fair to say that the home construction will just take longer in 2022. As a large volume builder, we can work to secure products and supply, but need to acknowledge that there are factors that will affect build times. Make sure you and your builder are having the transparent conversations upfront, making sure everyone is on the same page. Open lines of communication is key.