REAL ESTATE PROFILE
A Q&A with Sylvain Chartrand
Sylvain Chartrand is president of Groupe Charplexe but prefers to identify himself as “a member of the Charplexe family.” Sylvain grew up in the Fabreville district of Laval with his parents and younger brother, Stéphane. When the boys were teenagers, their dad bought a piece of land and built a house with his own hands. It became Sylvain’s goal to do the same.
We met at the Charplexe office, in Laval.
How did you become a builder?
After high school, I got a job at Gillette, where my mom worked. I figured out that I needed $5,000 to become an independent builder, like my father. Saving money was hard. After a few years (in 1988), Gillette decided to move its operations to the U.S. Each employee was offered a severance package equivalent to six months pay. Many were very sad when they heard the news, but I was thrilled. That day I knew my dream would be fulfilled.
With $12,000 I was able to acquire two tracts of land in PointeCalumet, Que., and began building houses with help from my brother and our close friend, Guy Desjardins.
When did Charplexe come to be?
Stéphane, Guy and I launched the company together in 1995. Our specialty was custom-made homes. People would come to us and describe the house they wanted or simply show us a picture in a magazine. We would bring the idea to an architect who would create the plan. Then we would build it ourselves.
People often assume the company name, Charplexe, was taken from my family name, but in fact we chose it because “charpente” is the French word for the frame of a house.
How did the company grow?
At first we were general contractors. I was the salesman, accountant, project manager and secretary. I also continued to do most of the carpentry. Stéphane and Guy did the finishing work and took care of after-sales service.
A few years later, we met a developer who was building homes in the Ste-Dorothée district of Laval. We launched a joint venture with him. The number of houses we were creating grew, year to year. Slowly, we invited additional family members and close friends to join the company.
By 2006, Charplexe had fully transitioned from being a builder to a developer. Today, we are 18 full-time employees.
What is the difference between developing and building ?
A developer is someone who buys a piece of raw land and has a vision. He must work with government officials to resolve zoning issues and get permits. He is responsible for paving the streets, putting in sewers as well as water and electric lines. A builder is someone who erects a structure on a prepared lot. Some developers are also builders.
What are you working on now?
We have a few projects, in varying stages of development. One I am very excited about is Mont-Laval. It consists of three highrise condo buildings adjacent to a huge nature park with a lake, for canoeing.
We will be building other types of homes in this area — single-family, semi-detached, townhouses and quadruplexes.
In recent years, we noticed a shift in residential development, from condos to rental properties. I learned about a company, Le Logeur, which specializes in property management. We bought shares in the company and currently manage more than a thousand rental units.
Why would someone rent when they can buy?
I will offer the example of an empty-nester couple downsizing from a suburban home. They want to simplify their lives and may prefer a dwelling without stairs. They no longer want to worry about lawn care and snow removal.
With the money they get for their house, they could buy a nice condo. Or, they can rent a beautiful apartment and invest the money from their home sale. This will generate income, allowing them to do more of what they enjoy.
Apartment living carries no condo fees or tax bill, and moving is easy. You just walk away at the end of the lease.
What do you enjoy, in your spare time?
I work a lot, but spend free time with my son, who is 21, and my daughter, 19. Travel is a favourite pastime. But even when I am away, I continue to work.
What puts the spring in your step?
I get very excited whenever I start something new. Ground-breaking is my favourite part of a building project. It is also thrilling to see a project evolve from a drawing to a three-dimensional structure.
I fell in love with the idea of building, as a teenager, watching my father turn a vacant piece of land into a house. What we do at Charplexe is on a larger scale but the thrill is the same — it feels like making something from nothing.