Milestone Builder Group: winning awards, hearts and minds

2020 was a year unlike any, to say the least, and not many will look back on it with fond memories. But at Milestone Builder Group, the past year was a testament to its fortitude, resiliency and strength in overcoming long odds. In many ways, they mirror exactly how the Edmonton new home industry -and the city itself – is winning through adversity.

For one thing, Milestone achieved in 2020 the rarest of trifectas in the homebuilding industry, winning the top builder awards in the national, provincial and local levels in the same year. That’s like winning the Stanley Cup, World Series and Super Bowl at the same time, and they are the only builder in Canada ever to have done it.

Milestone won Builder of the Year – Large Volume at the last CHBA Edmonton Region’s Awards of Excellence in Housing, then came the double Pinnacle Awards at BILD Alberta in September (a year after clinching the top BILD award under the Marcson Homes banner).Capping it all off was its big win last June at the national stage when it took the 2020 Design Excellence Award at the Canadian Home Builders’ 2020 National Awards for Housing Excellence.

“Winning the trifecta of home building was a real motivator for our employees during a year that has been so unpredictable,” says Carla Weinmeyer, Milestone’s Creative Director. “For years, our crew focused diligently on creating the most distinctive floor plans and ensuring we offer them at a fair price. Then constructing them to deliver our customers what we shook hands on.”

She says their hard work has so far resulted in seven consecutive Builder of the Year wins. “You could feel the sense of achievement throughout our team when we became the first and only builder to win local, provincial and national Builder of the Year.”

Milestone’s General Manager, Colin Wilson, says they are not in the business to win awards, but rather winning the hearts and minds of their customers. And for 2021, they have taken the steps that will give them the opportunity to continue serving their customers the only way they know how – through award-winning innovation and style.

“If you haven’t visited our showhomes in a while, you can check them out using our fabulous virtual tours on our websites!Our Marcson showhomes feature classic and timeless luxuries, while our new Park Royal showhomes offer a contemporary boutique hotel feel,” he says.

Weinmeyer adds that there is even more to look forward to in 2021. “Rolling into next year will be the recent addition of our newly incorporated ‘Foodologist Kitchens’ and ‘Relaxologist Ensuite’s.’We also launched a new Personalized Specifications that’s been well received by our customers.It allows them to create specifications tailored to include features they want, so they aren’t paying for extras they don’t want.”

Formed as Milestone Builder Group in 2018, the Edmonton-based company founded by Miles Kohan gathers Marcson Homes and Park Royal Homes under its banner.

The Milestone Builder Group has built its reputation in offering some of the most original and stylishly designed homes with a particular attention on form meeting function. They offer a wide array of homes that covers the entirety of the homeowning cycle – from starter homes, to family homes, estate homes and downsizer homes. “We have big walkout homes from the $600,000s to townhomes and duplexes. The majority of our homes are in the $450,000 range.”

Marcson Homes and Park Royal Homes build in 10 of Edmonton’s most popular residential communities and produce between 100 to 150 homes a year. “Our numbers may be affected by the pandemic this year, but curiously enough, we have been enjoying strong sales through the shutdown,” Wilson says.

But anywhere they build, the mission remains the same: To be Edmonton’s most respected and preferred builder group, who maintains the best resale value, by exceeding customer expectations and taking pride in what we do.

“Our homes have become known for their distinctive look and uniquely crafted designs. Customers have often remarked that we offer non-cookie-cutter designs, but for cookie-cutter prices. That’s the initial attraction for our clients,” Weinmeyer says.

“We’ve all experienced trying a new restaurant that looks fantastic. Still, when the food is sub-par and the service is lacklustre, you aren’t going back! Our dedication to constructing lasting homes and treating our homeowners well is what has proven successful.”

Next year, however, will be a time for reflection and an in-depth examination of the fundamentals that got them to the pinnacle of success, Wilson says.

“In 2021, one concentration will be to step back and reflect on the fundamentals that got us to this point.Pinpoint any shortcomings and improve upon them,” he points out, adding that while they love the awards’ excitement and what they represent, entering local, provincial and national awards has been an intense, engrossing, non-stop process.

“We’ve confirmed a tough decision to take a hiatus from awards for now.We want to focus our attention on improving the customer experience even further.Stay tuned as we will soon be releasing some intriguing new floor-plans which you won’t want to miss!”