Rococo Homes stays ahead with core principles

Knowledge, quality, affordability, and customer engagement guide their way

Driven by a pursuit of knowledge, high quality builds, affordability, and a focus on customer engagement, Rococo Homes’ path has been guided by these four key principles. For over 12 years, Rococo Homes has earned a reputation as an accomplished builder. While they’ve received multiple Excellence in Housing awards from the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Edmonton Region, the greatest testament to their customer satisfaction is that within a highly competitive market, customers are building their second and even third homes with them.

“The knowledge, experience and professionalism they provided alongside their willingness to want to work with us within our budget and timeline, was what made choosing Rococo as our builder easy... Their attention to detail in all aspects of our dream house, while coming in on budget is why we would recommend Rococo to anyone looking to build a new home,” according to Andrew Brady.

In this particularly challenging economic time for the building industry, and the larger economy, Rococo Homes remains focused on affordability and quality. In fact, they may offer a guarantee on a customer’s existing house to help the customer secure financing for their new Rococo Home.

At the heart of Rococo Homes is Rick Lystang, the founder and president, a formally trained Architectural Technologist and a Certified Master Builder whose ongoing quest for knowledge has led the company to garner a reputation for innovative designs and quality construction. They are committed to staying ahead of changing building codes, regulations and efficiency standards. “We want to be proactive, not reactive,” says Lystang who has instructed at the Professional Home Builders Institute and served on the Canadian Home Builders’ Association Government Relations Committee—formerly on its Board of Directors—as well as being a member of the Spruce Grove Rotary Club.

Over the last few years, Rococo Homes’ commitment to their key principles has led them to certify their builds through Built Green Canada—a non-profit organization with building programs addressing energy efficiency, materials and methods, indoor air quality, ventilation, waste management, water conservation, and business practices.

“Sustainability doesn’t have to increase costs,” says Lystang; “it’s about making informed decisions on products and new ways of doing things.” Meanwhile, they’ve prioritized staying on top of building technologies, which has allowed Rococo to integrate innovative approaches. The result is a more sustainable home that’s built on budget.

When they started with the BUILT GREEN® home certification program, they were 80 percent there. Working with their long-standing suppliers and trades, and making minor adjustments, they were able to affordably label their homes to BUILT GREEN® Gold and Platinum levels. “Certifying our builds is the icing on the cake and further differentiates our homes from others in the marketplace,” says Lystang.

Rococo educates the customer to ensure they understand how different components work together for a higher performance home. It’s this customer engagement that underpins a cornerstone of the company. “Customers can end up being vulnerable if there’s not sufficient engagement and information-sharing throughout the process.” Lystang actively engages with the client through the design stage to product selection, in meetings with the trades and through pricing transparency, while offering the flexibility to make changes during the process.

Lystang has found there is a lot of misinformation out there, and so they provide several tools accessible through their website, further helping their customers make informed decisions and understand the process, including: Ask the Builder, Build Process, and a Home Planning Toolbox. 

All of this has contributed to Rococo Homes’ high standards. “For us, its about quality, not quantity,” says Lystang, who chooses not to exceed 15 builds per year, whether that be custom, renovation, or infill projects. “When I started Rococo, I wanted each customer to have a rewarding experience of building their dream home with the same attention to detail and care that I would expect when building my own home. I take pride that each home is built with true craftsmanship that focuses on quality construction at a reasonable price.”

Herein lies Rococo’s success: an authentic, predicable approach enacted through their four key principles that have guided the business since their beginnings. It is this that ultimately keeps Rococo Homes a stand-out from others in the industry.

Bits & Pieces:

• The name “Rococo” was inspired by one of Lystang’s Greek instructors while taking his Architectural Technology training, who liked this “late Baroque” ornamental or theatrical style of architecture.
• Rick and the Rococo Group of Companies are involved in the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Santa’s Anonymous, Breast Cancer Society of Alberta, Broxton Park & Muir Lake Playground projects and the Parkland Food Bank.