FAQ

If you have any questions that are not answered below email Karen Kobussen at projects@saskatoonhomebuilders.com

When is the deadline?

Entries will be accepted until Monday, November 4, 2024 at 11:59 PM CST.

Are projects/initiatives located outside Saskatoon CMA or outside the designated geographic region eligible for the Housing Excellence Awards?

No

Do I need consent from the architect and/or designer?

The competition requirements state that you confirm that architecture and design are either the product of the entrant's employee(s), or in the case of independent architects and/or designers, that their written consent has been obtained (in which case you must also provide their name).

Do I need consent from the photographer/videographer?

The competition requirements state that you confirm that the photography and video are either the product of the entrant's employee(s), or in the case of independent photographers and/or videographers, that their written consent has been obtained (in which case you must also provide their name).

Are renderings acceptable as image uploads?

Renderings are not acceptable in most categories. The only exception is the Best Renderings award. Renderings may also be found in the content of some marketing categories, but the images supplied may not be renderings (for example, there may be renderings within a company's brochure, but the images submitted to the Best Brochure/Kit category must be real pictures of the brochure, not renderings).

Do entries need to be anonymous (i.e. all logos and identifying marks removed from images, floor plans, etc.)

Product (new homes and renovations) images need to be unmarked (no logo, borders, etc). We encourage floor plans to be free of identifying marks, but it is not a requirement for this competition. By nature, images submitted to marketing categories can have logos on them.

What does square footage include?

For New Home categories, square footage refers to any finished living area that is above grade. If you have a finished basement but it is below-grade, you do not count the square footage, but you are allowed to discuss and submit images of the finished below-grade space(s).

My home has a finished walk-out basement. Does it need to be included in the square footage?

If residents are able to walk out of the basement into a yard (allowing for full-height windows, etc.), the basement is not all below-grade and therefore you must count its square footage. If residents have an egress in the basement, but it leads to exterior stairs to get to ground level, this does not count as above-grade, and the basement square footage does not need to be included.

How do I know if my home is considered production or custom?

Production Homes have floor plans that are meant to be used for more than one customer. Many production home builders give customers the option to customize aspects of the home to a certain extent. However, it is still a production home. A custom home is truly a one-of-a-kind home with a plan that was designed and built for one specific customer and is not to be repeated.

Can I enter an infill home?

Yes. Infill homes can be entered into the appropriate Custom or Production category.

If the custom home is still in the builder's possession, do I need to submit a homeowner permission form?

Yes, you do. Please write "in builder's possession" on the form for clarity.

Can I give public credit to my architect, design professional, cabinet maker, energy advisor, interior decorator, etc. involved with my project?

Yes. Builders/renovators/developers may elect to give credit to one (or more) SRHBA member company(ies) that worked on the project.

What should be included in the renovation cost?

To determine which category your renovation should be entered into, the cost of the renovation must include your estimate of the dollar value of any materials the homeowner self-supplied (e.g. kitchen appliances).

Can I enter a kitchen or bathroom renovation categories, and also enter them as part of a Whole House submission?

Yes, absolutely. The same goes for Best Exterior Renovation and Best Basement Renovation.

If my project for the Best Basement Renovation is a basement that wasn't previously finished, is it eligible?

Yes, basements that were previously partially finished or unfinished are allowed.

What can be entered in the Exterior Renovation category?

Projects in the Best Exterior Renovation category must involve a renovation of the exterior of the home, though landscaping that is connected to the project may also be showcased. Example projects may include: a major upgrade to the front of the home, an outdoor kitchen or living space added into the backyard, etc.

I am a Builder Member and we would like to enter into the renovation categories. Is this allowed?

Builder Members must be registered as a RenoMark® member, voluntarily agree to the RenoMark® Code of Conduct and pay the licensing fee in addition to their builder membership fee annually.

What constitutes a Digital Advertising Campaign?

The Best Digital Advertising Campaign category is intended to capture elements from your non-website digital marketing activity that includes paid advertising. Marketing activities for this category may fall within a broader marketing like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, emails to mailing lists, banner ads on search engines or within websites, etc.

How do I create an account?

Click here to find the "create account" form. Fill in your name, contact information, and email and password, and you're set! When you sign up, you'll be logged in automatically and can start creating your entries right away.

Where do I go to submit entries?

When you first log into your account , you'll see a "Start a new entry" form. Simply choose which category you want to enter, give your entry a title, and click the "Start" button. In the form that loads, you will find all the information you need in order to submit an entry to your selected category. You don't have to complete your entry all in one sitting. Your entry saves while you work, so you can always come back to it later.

When you're finished, tap the "Add to cart" button at the bottom of the entry form. Your entries are considered "officially entered" once payment for your entry fees has been received.

How do I pay?

2 payment options: by credit card at checkout or invoice. If an invoice is preferred click the "Invoice me" button. This will send an email to us automatically informing us that you'd like to pay by invoice. You'll receive an email, too, as a record of your invoice request. Once you have your invoice, payment can be made accordingly.

Once we've received your payment, your entries will be available to our judges. Submissions will not be judged if payment is not received.

Can I make changes to my entry after I've submitted it?

Yes, you can continue to edit your entries until the submission deadline. After the deadline, you will be able to view your entries, but the editing controls will be disabled.

Do I need any kind of special software to make my entries?

This awards system is entirely web-based. You can create your entries on your phone, iPad, laptop, or any computer. All you need is a browser.

How do you protect my information?

Your account is protected by industry-leading 4096-bit encryption, and the entire system is backed up every day.