Personalizing Your Sterling Home: The Journey to Making It Truly Yours 

When building a new home, one of the most exciting aspects is the ability to make it your own. With Sterling Homes, personalization is woven into the very fabric of the building process, giving you an array of options to create a space that reflects your personality, lifestyle, and preferences. 

Personalization vs. Customization: What’s the Difference? 

One question you may be thinking is: What is the difference between personalization and customization? These terms may sound interchangeable, but understanding the distinction between them, and how they apply to building a Sterling Home, is key. 

At Sterling Homes, we specialize in personalization, not customization, and we’re happy to share why! 

• Personalization: This is all about tailoring your home’s finishes and functional features to suit your unique style. From choosing pre-curated floorplan configurations to flooring and cabinetry, light fixtures, and paint colors, personalized options enable you to take a model we’ve designed and make it your own.  

• Customization: On the other hand, customization involves revising a home’s architectural design, such as altering room dimensions or building entirely unique layouts from scratch. You may have heard of “custom builders,” – we want to be clear, that’s not who Sterling homes is, and that’s OK! Here’s why – custom builders often come with higher price points and a lengthier process. At Sterling Homes, we combine design flexibility with affordability, providing highly personalized homes at a competitive price. 

What Personalization Means at Sterling Homes 

Personalization at Sterling Homes is an integral part of creating a house that reflects your tastes and lifestyle. We understand that every family has different needs. That’s why we’ve designed our process to be versatile, streamlined, and empowering. Whether you want to tailor every detail or prefer a simpler route with curated options, we ensure your Sterling Home feels truly yours. 

The Personalization Journey Depends on the Type of Home You Choose: 

1. Pre-Sale Home: 
   With a pre-sale home, personalization opportunities are the most extensive because you’re involved from the very start. You get to pick your lot, which model, floorplan options and of course select from a wide array of designs, finishes, and options to ensure your home fits your vision perfectly. This is where designQ (our in house design center) shines, as you’ll work directly with professional designers to make every decision, big or small. 

2. Spec Homes in Early Construction: 
   For spec homes already under construction but still in the early stages, there’s still room to personalize. You may be able to choose some finishes, such as flooring, countertops, cabinetry, and lighting, depending on how far along the building process is. While the home’s structure and layout may already be finalized, there’s still ample flexibility to tailor many details to your liking. 

3. Quick Possession Homes: 
   For buyers opting for quick possession homes, personalization is limited as the construction is nearing completion or already finished. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add your signature style! Again, depending on where the home is at in construction, you can still add touches of personalization like feature walls, developed basements, or handy add-ons like decks, a detached garage, air conditioning and more!  

What Can You Choose to Personalize? 

Sterling Homes brings personalization to life through thoughtful floor plans, high-quality materials, and an array of exciting features that can adapt to your needs. Whether you want functional upgrades or design details that reflect your personality, let’s explore what’s possible: 

Floorplan Layout  

Start with one of our pre-designed floor plans, crafted to suit a variety of lifestyles. Whether you need space for a growing family or a comfortable home office, Sterling Homes offers layouts designed for modern living. You can personalize certain features to meet your unique needs within this framework. Floorplan options change the structure of the home, and include things like:  

• Main floor bedroom 

• Side entrance  

• Open to Below  

• Luxury Kitchen Package  

• Extra bedrooms  

• Basement development  

• Legal Suite  
• and much, much more!

You can view and play around with floorplan layout options on our models pages; – just pick a model, and select “Floorplans” to start planning your perfect floorplan! 

Interior Finishes 

This is where the options are (almost) limitless!  

• Flooring: From luxury vinyl plank to tile and carpet. 

• Cabinetry: Colors, shelving, drawers and organizers, and degree of gloss. 

• Countertops: Choices in material, thickness, color, and profile. 

• Lighting: Fixtures that enhance ambiance and functionality. 

• Wall Paint & Feature Walls: Colors for every vibe and taste. 

• Features: Think wall detailing, fireplaces, railings, and more!  

• Pre-Curated Colourboard: for those who don’t want to pick every detail, we have a selection of colourboards that include flooring, cabinet colours, finishes, lighting packages curated by a professional designer to do the work for you! 

Exciting Add-Ons  

Personalization with Sterling Homes goes beyond interior décor, you can also add functional features that suit your lifestyle, such as: 

1. Decks: Perfect for outdoor entertaining or relaxing 

2. Gas Lines: Add barbecue hookups for summer fun 

3. Garage Enhancements: Add a detached garage, or widen a front attached garage. Turn in into a dream “man cave” with storage, flooring, and more!  

4. Appliances: Select from modern kitchen appliance packages. 

5. Air Conditioning: Enjoy year-round comfort. 

Your Partner in Personalization: DesignQ Studio 

At Sterling Homes, we take personalization seriously, which is why we’ve introduced DesignQ, our in-house design studio. DesignQ is where inspiration meets expertise, and where professional designers help you craft your perfect home. 

What You Can Expect at DesignQ 

Spend an entire day alongside a designer who will guide you through your choices, from style to functionality. Personalization options at DesignQ include: 

• Kitchen: Faucets, sinks, cabinet profiles, and more. 

• Bathroom: Toilets, sinks, fixtures, tile designs. 

• Flooring: Whatever suits your style: wood, vinyl, tile, or carpet. 

• Railings: Add architectural flair. 

• Interior Finishes: From baseboards to mantels and feature walls. 

• Tiles & Backsplashes: Available in kitchens and bathrooms. 

• Doors & Hardware: Small details, big impact. 

Why Work with DesignQ? 

• Convenience: All upgrades are included in your mortgage (no need for DIY, out of pocket renovations after you move in!)  

• Expert Guidance: Designers provide tailored advice and options. 

• Personalized Service: Feel confident and cared for in every decision. 

• Variety & Quality: High-quality materials ensure lasting beauty and function. 

Personalization Made Easy 

At Sterling Homes, we’re here to take the stress out of personalizing your space. Whether you thrive on making every little decision, or prefer curated options that simplify the process, we’ve got you covered. Our sales team is accessible every step of the way, providing support that take the guesswork out of styling your home. 

Transparency: Sterling Homes is not a custom builder, and that’s intentional. Our approach prioritizes offering high-quality, personalized homes at competitive prices, making dream homes accessible to more buyers without sacrificing style and practicality. 

Personalization FAQs:  

1. Can I personalize my Sterling Home in Edmonton? 

Absolutely! Sterling Homes offers many personalization options, from choosing flooring and cabinetry to adding functional features like decks, gas lines, and upgraded appliances. You can create a space that fits your style and lifestyle while staying within an affordable price range. 

2. What’s the difference between personalization and customization when building a home? 

Personalization refers to tailoring finishes and features like flooring, cabinetry, and lighting to match your style, while customization involves changing the architectural layout or structure of the home. Sterling Homes focuses on personalization, allowing you to design a beautiful home that’s uniquely yours at a competitive price. 

3. How does the personalization process work for pre-sale vs. quick possession homes? 

The level of personalization depends on the stage of construction: 

• Pre-sale homes: Offer the most flexibility, allowing you to pick details at DesignQ. 

• Spec homes: Early-stage construction allows for some personalization of finishes. 

• Quick possession homes: Have limited options but some personalization and add-ons still available  

4. What is DesignQ, and how does it help with personalization? 

DesignQ is Sterling Homes’ in-house design studio, where professional designers guide you in choosing finishes and upgrades like flooring, countertops, lighting, and cabinetry. It’s a seamless, enjoyable process designed to help you create your dream home. 

5. Are personalization upgrades included in my Sterling home’s price? 

Yes! Sterling Homes ensures that upgrades selected during the personalization process at DesignQ are factored into the purchase price and mortgage, giving you peace of mind and financial clarity.