Beyond The Story Podcast: Talking Custom Homes, Risk, And Starting From Nothing

I recently joined Sebastian Rusk on the Beyond The Story podcast to talk about how I went from high school shop class and tiling jobs to leading Versa Homes and coaching other builders.

In the episode, we get into my path through the trades, the years I spent touring as a musician, coming home flat broke with $87, and how that eventually turned into building custom homes and estates here in Greater Vancouver. If you’re thinking about building and want to know who you’re trusting with your project, this conversation is a good place to start.

What We Talk About In The Episode

I won’t spoil the whole thing, but here are a few highlights:

• How a high school construction teacher pushed me toward the trades.
• Taking over a tile business without really knowing what I was doing (yet).
• Selling the company to tour in a band, then having to start again from scratch.
• Tiling a 9,000 sq ft estate I later came back and bought.
• Why I enjoy “scary” projects like a 16,000 sq ft home on a cliff and a 55,000 sq ft estate.
• How coaching other builders fits alongside running Versa Homes.

Underneath all of it is the same theme: show up, do the work properly, and build systems so the work gets better over time.

Why This Matters If You’re Planning A Custom Home

If you’re looking at a custom build, you’re not just comparing floor plans and finishes. You’re deciding who you trust with a big chunk of your life and net worth.

My path has taken me through almost every role on a project: labourer, tile setter, renovator, builder, and now business owner and coach. That mix means I care about two things equally:

• The craft: getting the details right so the house feels solid and timeless.
• The process: fixed‑price contracts, pre‑booked trades, clear communication, and a team that isn’t held together by last‑minute heroics.

That’s the thinking behind our work as a Vancouver custom home builder and the custom homes and estates we build across Greater Vancouver.

Listen To The Beyond The Story Episode

If you’d like to hear the full story and get a feel for how I think about risk, growth, and building, you can listen to my episode of Beyond The Story with Sebastian Rusk here:

It’s about half an hour, and it will give you a clearer picture of the person and philosophy behind Versa Homes than any “About” blurb ever could.

Thinking About Your Own Custom Home?

If this conversation resonates with you and you’re planning a custom home or estate in Greater Vancouver, I’d be happy to talk.

We build with a fixed‑price contract, a detailed schedule with pre‑booked trades, and a client portal with daily logs and photos. We back your move‑in with a date commitment and long‑term coverage through our Versa Shield warranty.

If you’re ready to explore what that could look like for your lot and your timeline, reach out and let’s start with a straightforward conversation.