FAQ

BUILT GREEN® Canada is a national non-profit industry-driven organization that promotes, encourages, and supports the construction of environmentally responsible homes.

The programs address seven key areas of sustainable building: energy & envelope, materials & methods, indoor air quality, ventilation, waste management, water conservation, and building practices.

This third-party certification program allows us to assess the environmental performance of the homes we build. It also ensures the authentication of a high-performance home, giving both credibility to us as the home builder and peace of mind for you, the home buyer.

1. 25% Mortgage Insurance Rebate
2. Annual Cost Savings through Increased Energy Efficiency
3. Increased Resale Value
4. A Healthier Home With Reduced Environmental Impact
5. A More Durable Home
and MORE!

There are various certification levels in the BUILT GREEN® program including Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum with Sterling Homes certifying as Gold or higher in 95% of homes. Unlike other builders, Sterling Homes certifies every single house we build – not just a select few.

Single-family new homes certified BUILT GREEN® Gold, BUILT GREEN® Platinum, or have under 11.4 tonnes per year of greenhouse gas emissions are eligible for a partial mortgage loan insurance premium refund of 25%.

No – their is no premium cost to the homebuyer for buying a BUILT GREEN® certified home. We have made it our mission to built quality, durable, and energy efficient homes for our home owners.

BUILT GREEN® homes are often more affordable than traditional homes, due to the fact that they use less energy and water, and produce less waste, meaning annual savings in energy costs.

No – their is no premium cost to the homebuyer for buying a BUILT GREEN® certified home. We have made it our mission to built quality, durable, and energy efficient homes for our home owners.

BUILT GREEN® homes are often more affordable than traditional homes, A number of building practices are evaluated by BUILT GREEN® Canada and given a point value. From there, the property is awarded a tiered rating according to their scores. The higher the total points achieved, the higher the level of BUILT GREEN® Certification awarded to the home.

The primary building practices that are evaluated include:
– Building Envelope and Energy Efficiency
– Resource Conservation via Sustainable Materials and Methods
– Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation
– Waste Management
– Water Conservation

One of the main factors that differentiates our homes and achieves us our high certification levels is through air-tight building practices. Our airtight design is pivotal in maintaining an optimal indoor climate, thereby conserving energy and reducing costs. To quantify this, we use Air Changes Per Hour (ACH). Imagine your home like a balloon: when air escapes through uncontrolled gaps like the seals around windows, it’s like a balloon with a slow leak, leading to more frequent refills (or in the case of your home, more heating or cooling).

The standard building code allows up to 2.5 ACH, meaning significant air leakage. In contrast, Sterling Homes achieves an impressive average of only 1.0 ACH. Our air-tight building practices symbolizes our superior control over air circulation, ensuring that every breath of air in your home is managed efficiently.

An HRV, or what we like to call a “Fresh Air Machine”, provides the best of both worlds, continuously introducing filtered, preconditioned fresh air, while simultaneously reclaiming heat from the outgoing air.

This innovative system guarantees a healthier living environment, noticeable savings on utility bills, and a reduced environmental footprint.

Levels the ground to create smooth surface prior to concrete work.

• Ground must be fully thawed, dry and no extreme weather forecasted for the next 24 hours.
• Preparation includes cutting of the clay, laying a base of rock/sand and installation of rebar reinforcement and forms.
• Allow 24 hours for the concrete to cure before walking on it and 28 days before driving on the driveway.
• A clear concrete sealer is applied approximately 28 days after concrete has been cured.
• Some cracking is expected; control joints help direct cracks; however, they can still occur outside these lines.

• Exterior painting takes place once the permanent stairs and skirting are installed.
• Painters will arrive without prior notice and may use a man-lift to safely access higher areas of your home.
• Deck boards and pressure-treated rear railing are not painted.
• Parging is the spreading of a thin layer of cement around the home’s exposed foundation as a decorative application. It is typically done before Rough Grade, however, can be completed any time in the season.

• Rough Grade is scheduled after concrete work has been completed and cured.
• Ground must be fully thawed and dry.
• Task involves staking the lot, shaping the clay to ensure proper water drainage, land surveying and submitting surveyor certificate to the municipality for inspection and grade approval.
• Obtaining the Rough Grade Approval may take several weeks, at times longer. Sometimes, the city will issue grading failures, which means repairs are needed, and the approval process must begin again.
• Once Rough Grade Approval has been issued by the municipality, you will be notified, and both the surveyor certificate and approval letter will be made accessible to you.
• Do not move forward with landscaping, deck work or other lot enhancements such as concrete walkways or sheds until Rough Grade Approval has been obtained. If these tasks are undertaken before Sterling secures this approval, the homeowner will then be solely responsible for meeting and obtaining all necessary drainage compliances from the city.

• Do not move forward with landscaping until Rough Grade Approval has been obtained. If the homeowner completes the landscaping before Sterling secures this approval, the homeowner will then be solely responsible for meeting and obtaining all necessary compliances from the city.
• Landscaping is to be completed within 1 year of Rough Grade Approval, or extension arrangements made through the Seasonal Department.
• Task involves spreading of topsoil- also known as Final Grade work, installation of sod, tree and shrubs as per the community guidelines and obtaining Final Grade Certificate from the surveyor and Final Grade Approval from the municipality. Developer guidelines for your community can be found above.
• Once landscaping is completed, the Final Developer Inspection can be requested and upon approval, security deposit returned.

• When landscaping is completed and Final Grade documents have been sent to you, request for your Final Developer Inspection by filling out the application form.
• The Developer enlists 3rd party consultants to inspect and ensure that the design plans for the community are met.
• Sterling does not design the landscaping plan, conduct inspections or determine inspection results.
• Landscaping failures requiring a re-inspection request may incur a penalty fee stipulated by the inspecting agent. Incurred fees are deducted from the Landscaping & Architectural deposit refund.
• Upon Final Developer Approval, the Landscaping & Architectural deposit less any incurred penalty, is mailed as a cheque to the address listed your application form.
• Cheques are made out to all buyers and co-buyers listed on the original Purchase Agreement. To make amendments to this, please reach out to Sterling’s Seasonal department: customerseasonal@sterlingedmonton.com

• Driveways, sidewalks & rear parking pads
• Exterior Painting
• Parging
• Rough Grade / Final Grade
• Landscaping – topsoil, sod, trees & shrubs
• Final developer inspections & homeowner deposit refund

• Seasonal work takes place when the snow has completed melted and frost has left the ground. The season concludes at first frost and snowfall. Typical timeline is between May and October.
• The first 4-6 weeks of the season is focused on completing outstanding work from the previous year.
• An email is sent to listed Property Owners at the beginning of the season and before beginning Driveway and Grading tasks to ensure site readiness.
• To ensure maximum efficiency, certain tasks may be carried out area by area instead of by possession date.

• We strive to complete seasonal work within the first summer season after possession.
• Delays may arise due to long periods of rain, extreme temperatures, neighboring construction damage or challenges obtaining municipal approval.

• In short YES. Rain is the leading contributor to most delays in the seasonal schedule.
• For every 1 day of moderate to heavy rainfall, 3 consecutive dry days are required in order to resume work. Each reschedule adds to a growing back log.
• We are committed to delivering Sterling quality for years to come. By waiting until the ground is in optimal working condition, we proactively minimize the risk of costly issues in the future.
• Wet clay and soil can damage the equipment of our valued trade partners, resulting in costly maintenance, repairs or replacement.

• As your neighbors’ homes are being built, damage to your lot or completed landscaping can happen. Sterling is committed to addressing at-fault damages to your lot and restoring it to its original state.
• Repairs are carried out when the neighboring construction stage reaches a point where likelihood of further damage is minimized.
• Fill out the Lot Damage Report form (button above) to have your concerns processed and placed in the que to be addressed.

• Factors such as site readiness, accessibility and trade schedule determine task timelines.
• To ensure maximum efficiency, certain tasks may be carried out area by area instead of by possession date.

• After rough grade work is completed on your lot, it will be surveyed and inspected by the municipality for compliance.
• Typical completion timeline for survey and municipal inspection is approximately 4 weeks.
• Survey and inspection timelines are outside of the control of Sterling Homes.

• To ensure proper drainage controls are met, your lot must achieve rough grade compliance prior to proceeding with landscaping and other lot enhancements.
• Disruptions to your lot while awaiting rough grade inspection may cause changes to the ground’s elevations, resulting in municipal failure.
• Failures that are a result of groundwork prior to receiving rough grade approval will void Sterling’s obligation to meet drainage compliance and it then becomes the responsibility of the homeowner to address the deficiencies and reapply for approval.

• If your grading inspection has failed, a notice is sent to Sterling’s Seasonal department and logged to be addressed at the earliest opportunity, contingent on weather, readiness and accessibility.
• Trade and builder deficiencies are rectified, and a reinspection is called.
• Failures that are a result of groundwork prior to receiving rough grade approval will void Sterling’s obligation to meet drainage compliance and it then becomes the responsibility of the homeowner to address the deficiencies and reapply for approval.

• Upon approval, you will receive notification that your Rough Grade Certificate and Rough Grade Approval have been uploaded into your document’s portal.

• Your rough grade is the base for your topsoil and sod. Your finished landscaping will raise the grade and allow water to flow off your lot.
• Water can still pool on your lawn after extended rainfall or snowmelt.
• It could take time for it to flow off your lot, depending on the drainage pattern for your property.

• Landscaping guidelines for your community can be found at the top of this page.

• The landscaping requirements listed on the plot plan are established by your municipality during the initial stages of community development.
• Your Landscaping & Architectural deposit is paid to the Developer, therefore, the Developer’s landscaping requirements are the ones that need to be met in order to receive your refund.

• Once you have received your rough grade approval and rough grade certificate you may proceed with spreading topsoil and installing landscaping.
• When topsoil has been spread, you must contact a Professional Land Surveying firm of your choosing to survey your lot and generate the Final Grade Certificate.
• Typically, the company you use will then apply to your municipality on your behalf to have your final grade inspected to obtain Final grade Approval.
• When the Final Grade Approval and Final Grade Certificate are issued to you, follow your community guidelines to complete the rest of your landscaping installation.
• Apply for Final Developer Inspection for deposit refund.

• When landscaping is completed and Final Grade documents have been sent to you, request for your Final Developer Inspection by filling out the application form.

• The inspection and deposit release process typically take 6-8 weeks from time of initial application.
• Failures resulting in re-inspections may increase this timeframe.

• Sterling does not design the landscaping plan, conduct inspections or determine inspection results.
• The Developer enlists 3rd party consultants to inspect and ensure that the design plans for the community are met.

• The inspecting agent has noted that your landscaping and/or home’s exterior architecturals did not comply with the minimum community standards.
• A report outlining the deficiencies will be emailed to you and you will have an opportunity to address them and request a re-inspection. Note that a re-inspection fee may be incurred. Fees are established by the individual Developer and if applied, are deducted from the security deposit refund.
• Review your community’s guidelines and ensure the landscaping has met the minimum requirements in material, size, and health.
• Do not make any exterior enhancements prior to obtaining Final Developer approval, such as painting your door, or other architectural changes.

• Plant material must be in a healthy state in order to pass inspection. Dead or dying trees and shrubs will not pass. Sod that is patchy or dying will also not pass.

• The plant material installed on your lot is of high quality, chosen for its ability to adapt and thrive in Alberta’s climate when given the proper care.
• The main factor to dying or damaged plant material is insufficient watering, maintenance and adequate protection from elements such as extreme weather or wildlife.
• It is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure they are following the care and maintenance guide that is left with them after landscaping installation.
• Replacements to dead or dying trees, shrubbery and sod as a result of insufficient watering, weather or wildlife is not warrantable by Sterling.

• The inspecting agent endeavors to apply the requirements consistently and objectively. An effort is made to consider all elements in relation to the minimum standards set out in your community’s guidelines.
• Inspections conducted on properties other than your own will not be discussed.

• Extension considerations may be grated on a case-by-case basis.
• Contact Sterling’s Seasonal department to request an extension.

• Failure to meet the minimum requirements within the allotted timeframe will result in your deposit being forfeited.

• Fencing is encouraged to be of a similar design and color to the fencing style already established in the community by the Developer.
• Fencing does not have to be completed prior to your landscaping inspection, however if it is present prior to the inspection, it may be required to be painted in the color approved by the Developer.
• Refer to your community’s guidelines for more information.

• Additional documents are required in order to legally endorse the security deposit refund to you.
• Prior to deposit release you will be required to provide:
• Title – showing the updated names registered to the home.
• Signed Deposit Release letter – this letter can be generated by your appointed closing lawyer. It must indicate that the sellers endorse the release of the deposit refund to you, and it must be dated and signed by them.

• Please reach out to our Seasonal Customer Care team by emailing: customerseasonal@sterlingedmonton.com
• High volume during our busiest season may increase turnaround time, we request and appreciate your patience.

A Homeowners Association (HOA) is a legal entity designed to manage common or shared property, protect owners’ property values, provide services to residents, and develop a sense of community through social activities and amenities. This is all done in exchange for a small yearly fee charged to each homeowner in the community.

Some of the more common conditions you can put on your home are: financing, third-party inspection, and family approval. You can add other conditions but keep in mind they would all be subject to approval by our office.

We can go over the blueprints together in detail, review the renderings online, show you what finishes you’ll be getting in the home, and show you a show home that’s most similar to the model you’re interested in. If you’re a more visual person you can also wait until a show home or home of that model is built so we can show you in person.

If you’re purchasing a home from Sterling Homes, then yes, you will need to put down a deposit. We’ll need to take a $1,000 deposit with the initial contract. Upon condition removal we require a 5% down payment (less the $1,000). If you’re paying cash or would like to put down a higher down payment we can discuss a payment schedule.

If you want to find a Realtor®, you can connect with one of our Area Sales Managers and they can connect you with a trusted real estate professional we work with.

The first step to buying a house is getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Connect with us today so we can refer you to one of our trusted mortgage specialists to get you started.

A target date letter is something our team provides to you after closing. This letter gives you an estimated window of time that your possession date will fall within, based on current construction schedules. A target letter is different from a possession letter, which is issued 45 days before your possession date.

Typically from the drywall stage, your home will take 3-4 months to complete. If you added a basement development or legal suite it will take longer. Keep in mind construction delays happen and this timeframe is just an estimate.

Unfortunately, no. A GST rebate is only offered to purchasers who will be living in the property as their primary residence and if the purchase price is less than $450,000.

Yes, you do need to let the Sterling Homes rep know if you have a Realtor®. Your best option is to take your agent with you on your first visit to a show home or when meeting with a sales representative. Otherwise, Sterling Homes does have the right to refuse to honour them on the contract.

Yes, an area representative shows homes in other areas! In fact, our sales representatives are able to help you find a home in any community Sterling Homes builds in.

Yes, you can buy a Sterling home online. Learn more here: How to Safely Buy a Home Online with Sterling Homes

Sterling Homes requires a $1,000 deposit. This is very similar to any other type of home purchase you’d make. Once you’ve found the home of your dreams, we recommend putting a deposit down. That deposit “holds” the home for you so that no one else can buy it.

No. We don’t negotiate on EVOLVE homes, regardless of whether you’re using a realtor or not.

When you buy an EVOLVE model you can feel comfortable that we’ve accounted for every nail, board and piece of trim. In turn, we confidently quote our prices and are upfront about clearly explaining expenses to homeowners – there’s no need for promotions or discounts.

Many clients ask “can I pick my elevation?”

Yes – you can totally pick your elevation! If you’re building new, you can choose from one of the elevations approved by the developer for your specific home model selection. Keep in mind there are architectural guidelines that must be followed and there may be restrictions depending on your lot selection and what’s already planned around it.

This is determined by the land developer. Some communities have stricter restrictions based on many factors including location, community design, city requirements etc. These guildlines must be followed to build on their land.

Unfortunately, no. Sterling Homes isn’t a custom builder and we don’t offer this option.

We don’t offer back stairs in our standard specification as we can’t have these installed at time of possession due to grading.

Laned homes typically include a 2 car garage pad, but not the garage itself. The cost of a garage depends on a variety of factors including community, lot, and model. Speak to an Area Manager for exact pricing details.

A zero-lot-line (ZLL) house is a piece of residential real estate in which the structure comes up to, or very near to, one edge of the property line. This means one of the house’s sides is on the edge of its neighbour’s property line. Because of this “on the edge” configuration, it uses less lot space to build the house.

Purchasing a ZLL home means instant savings for you as the home buyer since smaller lots are generally more affordable. A ZLL home also enables buyers to construct a bigger home on their lot – generally for less money than a regular lot line setup would allow.