Setting a standard of excellence
Click to view Brochure
In the late 1990s, Cardel Homes customers began providing feedback regarding a desire to help their children as young adults getting started with home ownership. Parents were looking for a more affordable housing solution and one that met the needs of a younger demographic.
Tim Logel, Cardel’s VP at the time, could see an opportunity to listen and venture into the innovative and efficient build form of multi-family housing developments of condominiums and townhomes.
Today, the new partnership between Tim Logel, CEO of Sherjen Developments, and Ryan Ockey, CEO of Cardel Homes, is leading the market in Calgary in both sales and customer satisfaction awards. Launched in 2000, the partnership named Cardel Lifestyles has succeeded in providing signature quality, innovative designs, affordable prices and attractive add-value developments in prime locations. In real estate it is always about location, and Lifestyles has consistently managed to find the best sites that include amenities like nearby restaurants and grocery stores, parks, schools and major roadways, in order to enhance quality of life. The big bonus to the new idea is that now past clients are buying condos and townhomes for themselves as they move to rightsize their homes and enjoy the carefree lifestyle these homes provide.
Both Tim and Ryan wanted to carry on an important philosophy: listen to what the customer wants and provide features they were looking for in a home. The feedback provided the basis for the perfect blend of price and product, including carefully designed floor plans, a luxury specification, exceptional architecture and well-built buildings. Our top goal is to exceed customers’ expectations, treat them like we would want to be treated, and provide a stress-free experience of satisfaction.
“Early in my life, my Dad and I built a barn on a cattle farm in Ontario and he instilled in me that we needed to build it right the first time, to do your best, and be passionate about the end result. Today, I try to instill that passion in my team, so we set high standards and goals, we measure how we are doing through customer surveys, and keep an eye on seeking excellence in all we do for the customers,” says Logel.
“In addition, right from the start it was going to be a company effort to build strong relationships, whether working with the City of Calgary, consultants, trade and supplier partners, the Lifestyles team, and of course the customers.”
Calgary’s leading multi-family builder
Over the past five years, the company’s strategy has focused on building and developing an A-team that focused on continuous improvement of all aspects of construction, and action items that supported the customer’s experience. “After years of finding ways to build better with more than 35 apartment buildings and over 60 townhome buildings completed, and 2,300 homes, a higher level of confidence was achieved by the team, and we were motivated by the positive responses from the customers to keep improving,” says Logel.
The Lifestyles team seeks innovation through collaboration with trade and supplier partners, asking how we can work as team to improve. The large volume sales provide volume purchasing power for increased value in luxury standard specifications such as signature craftsman quality kitchens and wide open floor plans with larger windows. A long-term strategy of finding the best materials for the best price, and then putting them into the hands of the best trade partners, sets the company apart from competitors. Cardel Lifestyles has sold and built more multi-family homes in the last 10 years than any other builder.
Award-winning builder
In 2014 and 2015 Cardel Lifestyles was recognized for exceptional customer service and experience with the Home Owner Mark of Excellence. This award comes from a third party surveying all customers at one month after purchase, one month after you move in, and one year after you move in. Both years, Lifestyles led all multi-family builders in Calgary for best survey results. “Our team was thrilled to win this award, we knew that we were winning an award from the satisfaction levels of our customers,” says Logel. The company also won the New Home Buyers Choice award for top monthly surveys in Calgary multi-family.
Early in 2016 the company received news that it was named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for business excellence. The award is the leading business awards program in Canada. Since 1993 companies across Canada have been submitting to a rigorous and independent process for evaluating a company’s management abilities and best practices. It was the first year the company applied for the prestigious award, “and our first time to win an award that was outside the housing industry,” Logel indicates.
“The award is a testament to our team for the constant drive to improve, innovate, and adapt to a changing market. Going the extra mile for the customers has seen exciting results. Our best practices have been validated by business experts. We now have more confidence and I can see that each day in the team,” says Logel. It also means that finding and attracting top talent is now easier.
As Lifestyles develops new multi-family communities in Calgary, and is now active in five including Auburn Bay, Cranston, Walden, Sage Hill and Nolan Hill, the company strives to make a difference by investing in Calgary. Lifestyles is committed to two investment programs, the Calgary Resolve Campaign and the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter. The Resolve program has a goal of providing housing for 3,000 vulnerable and homeless Calgarians. Lifestyles has committed to building an apartment building to house 28 of these homeless Calgarians.
For the past five years, Lifestyles has been sponsoring the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter, which is supporting victims of family violence. The effort has assisted in the renovation of the shelter, and ongoing support for the more than 14,000 women, children, youth and men who sought support of the shelter’s programs and services in 2015.
Looking forward
From the customer who is looking to get started in home ownership, or to the older demographic looking to enjoy the benefits of condominium lifestyles, Cardel Lifestyles is looking forward to designing residences for a wide range of needs and price ranges. Cardel Lifestyles has earned a place among Canada’s top home builders, and will continue to follow best practices that keep them a leader in the housing industry and set standards of home building excellence.
“We work hard, do our best, love what we do, and make every effort to make our developments a special place to live. We will continue to seek our customer’s feedback, improve, and deliver homes we can all be proud of,” summarizes Logel.
www.cardellifestyles.com
Article submitted by Cardel Lifestyles
