After the Move: Handling Warranty Issues during the First Year

From those first tentative steps towards purchasing a new home, you’ve come a long way! As you unpack your boxes, position your furniture and hang your artwork, you can feel this home becoming your own. You’re probably a little tired – but the exhilaration is enough to keep you going.

Ideally, this feeling is strengthened with the confidence that your home has been built to meet both building codes and your own exacting specifications. In most cases, when you’ve chosen your home builder after proper research, and completed a thorough pre-delivery inspection (PDI) as I discussed in my previous blogs, you can rest easy that things are as they should be.

Sometimes, however, items are missed during that initial inspection. When this happens, it’s important for you to understand the proper course of action to take. Ontario’s Tarion Warranty Program is structured to deal with homeowner complaints in a very specific manner; in order to take advantage of the program, it’s necessary that you fill out the appropriate forms and meet set deadlines. 

Details of the process are outlined in The Homeowner Information Package, provided by Tarion to all new home buyers. As much as I urge my clients to become familiar with this guide, the truth is that amid the flurry of your home search, purchase and move, it can be a lot of information to digest. Here are some major points to remember:

·       There are one year, two year and seven year warranties that apply to various aspects of your home.

·       If you discover a problem with your home within the first year of living there, you have two opportunities to file a warranty form. The 30-Day Form must be filed within 30 days of taking possession, while the Year-End Form must be filed within the last 30 days of the first year.

Naturally, it’s in your best interest to submit a report sooner rather than later, so I recommend paying particular attention to construction details during your first couple of weeks of occupancy. As well, some homeowners who missed the chance to hire a home inspector during the PDI may choose to do so prior to the end of the year for an added sense of security.

New home ownership isn’t without its responsibilities; but attention to detail now will pay off in the long run. Here’s to a wonderful first year!

Not buying a new home? Don't forget the Bennett Property Shop Realty offer the Bennett Home Service Warranty for all our buyers an sellers, this 1 YEAR WARRANTY pays to fix breakdowns in your home …. Instead of you using your hard-earned cash!! 

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

New vs. Used - The Difference is in the System

The first question you will ask yourself when you decide to buy a home is if you should buy a new house or an older one? When you are looking through Ottawa real estate properties, you are bound to get confused. One thought that you may think is that older homes are built better than newer ones. On the other hand, there are also many reasons that may incline you towards choosing a new home over an old one.

Better Built

One thing you should know is that new technology has helped improve the construction process as well as the building material used during construction. Canadian Building Standards have improved drastically over the years. Most new townhouses and detached houses include at least two full bathrooms on the upper storey and a powder room off the entrance hall. Improved kitchen standards and laundry areas have also made the new homes more convenient and acceptable.

The concept of central air-conditioning was not available for condos in the 1970s. Now, however, this has changed. Also, a home office is another essential room that is now available in many new homes that wasn’t available a few years back.

Less Maintenance Required

A new home won’t require much maintenance for at least the first 10 to 15 years. This is usually because the building material used is more advanced and long lasting. The presently used vinyl-clad window frames don’t require frequent repairs unlike older wooden frames. Nor do you have to worry about roof repairs with every change in weather. If you buy an old home, you will be worried about aluminum wiring and steel or lead plumbing. The brick front also adds to the durability of the new home.

Energy Efficient

Insulation standards have improved in all new homes and the furnaces installed are more energy efficient nowadays. Since 1993, basement insulation has become a common practice and the minimum ceiling heights have also been increased. The flimsy windows have been replaced with double-glazed casement windows that help keep the cold drafts out and the warmth trapped in. The new Energy Star Program has helped bring down monthly energy costs for home owners.

Tarion Warranty

This new warranty has provided an added protection for new home buyers. It helps with all repairs and corrections that are required during the initial years of the home.

All homes in Ottawa are required to meet safety standards and smoke detectors are to be wired in with the updated electric systems. Older homes will have to replace aluminum wiring, if it has not already been done by the previous home owner.

Amenities

The newer communities in Ottawa are designed to make sure that parks and playgrounds are within walking distance. Different environmental factors have also been considered during the planning of these communities. There are some builders who specialize in creating small communities where children can grow up without worry.

Even with all these advantages, you will still have to cater to the one most important fact before you buy a house – Location. You will find that most of the best locations in Ottawa already have communities built and the houses that are available are all resale. Therefore, check with your Ottawa real estate agent and find the best house for your family.

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

After the Move: Handling Warranty Issues during the First Year

From those first tentative steps towards purchasing a new home in Ottawa, you’ve come a long way! As you unpack your boxes, position your furniture and hang your artwork, you can feel this home becoming your own. You’re probably a little tired – but the exhilaration is enough to keep you going.

Ideally, this feeling is strengthened with the confidence that your Ottawa home has been built to meet both building codes and your own exacting specifications. In most cases, when you’ve chosen your home builder after proper research, and completed a thorough pre-delivery inspection (PDI) as I discussed in my previous blogs, you can rest easy that things are as they should be.

Sometimes, however, items are missed during that initial inspection. When this happens, it’s important for you to understand the proper course of action to take. Ontario’s Tarion Warranty Program is structured to deal with Ottawa homeowner complaints in a very specific manner; in order to take advantage of the program, it’s necessary that you fill out the appropriate forms and meet set deadlines.

Details of the process are outlined in A Guide to Your New Home Warranty, provided by Tarion to all new home buyers. As much as I urge my clients to become familiar with this guide, the truth is that amid the flurry of your Ottawa home search, purchase and move, it can be a lot of information to digest. Here are some major points to remember:

There are one year, two year and seven year warranties that apply to various aspects of your home.

If you discover a problem with your home within the first year of living there, you have two opportunities to file a warranty form. The 30-Day Form must be filed within 30 days of taking possession, while the Year-End Form must be filed within the last 30 days of the first year.

Naturally, it’s in your best interest to submit a report sooner rather than later, so I recommend paying particular attention to construction details during your first couple of weeks of occupancy. As well, some Ottawa homeowners who missed the chance to hire a home inspector during the PDI may choose to do so prior to the end of the year for an added sense of security.

New home ownership isn’t without its responsibilities; but attention to detail now will pay off in the long run. Here’s to a wonderful first year!

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

Compatibility Testing: Finding the Builder who Rings your Bell

You probably already suspect this, but random guesswork really isn’t the best method of choosing a Ottawa builder. (Just remember how long it’s taken you to find the right hairdresser.) So, how can you go about ensuring that you’re putting your eggs in the right basket?

First of all, you can narrow down your options fairly quickly by looking at your list of must-haves. Blogs and the Bennett Property Shop website are terrific for zeroing in on possible builders according to neighbourhood, housing type and budget. Some Ottawa builders specialize in features you may be looking for, such as wide lots, green technology or R-2000 construction. The Internet is another excellent tool for locating builders who meet your requirements.

But making the shortlist is the easy part. When it comes to actual research, the most important piece of advice I give my clients is this: don’t be afraid to be nosy!

In your day-to-day conversations with friends, acquaintances and co-workers, dig around. You may not realize it, but you have a network of important contacts at your disposal – even if no one in your immediate circle has had recent experience with a builder, they all know someone who does.

When you speak with a Ottawa builder’s sales representative, work from a list of prepared questions: for instance, how open is the builder to adapting their plans to suit your personal needs? What is the builder’s rating for after-sales service with the Tarion Warranty Program? Ask for references from previous clients.

When you tour a model home, inspect every nook and cranny: if the model can’t withstand the closest scrutiny, you can be fairly sure that your home won’t, either. If there are no models, request a tour of a customer’s home. As wonderful as the plans may look on paper, you need solid evidence of good workmanship.

Talk to people in your prospective Ottawa neighbourhood. If you’re too shy to knock on doors, stop and chat with people on the street. You’ll find that most are glad to share their stories, whether they love their builder to bits or encountered issues. Be sure to speak with more than one Ottawa home owner.

And remember: whatever may have happened to the cat, there are some situations where curiosity pays!

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

Seriously Rewarding: The Pre-Delivery Inspection

Seriously Rewarding: The Pre-Delivery Inspection

Without a doubt, it’s one of the most thrilling parts of the new home in Ottawa purchasing process – touring your beautiful, newly finished home shortly before you take possession. This is when the space you’ve been dreaming about so long is crystallized into reality.

All of the finishes and features you’ve chosen with so much care are assembled together: for the first time, you’re able to see the way the way the drawer pulls on the kitchen cabinetry complement the lighting fixture, or the way the coffered ceiling and gleaming hardwood floors create the most glamorous dining room you could have imagined.

That’s the fun part. But there’s a serious purpose to the pre-delivery inspection (PDI), which is a necessary step for Ottawa new home buyers enrolled in Ontario’s compulsory Tarion Warranty Program. This is your opportunity to go over your new home with a fine-toothed comb, the builder at your side.

This is the time to speak up if you see incomplete items, workmanship that doesn’t meet your expectations, or if one of your finishes has been substituted without your authorization. (I always remind my clients to read their purchase agreements carefully, as such substitutions may be perfectly legal once you’ve signed the dotted line.)

Tarion provides builders with a standard PDI Form that lists all the items contained in a home, from faucets to furnaces to flooring. Outdoor elements such as landscaping and driveways are all included. As you inspect the home together, the builder is responsible for noting any unsatisfactory items on the form, while you are responsible for signing each item indicated. This document stands as proof of your home’s condition before you’ve moved in, so there can be no question about responsibility.

The inspecting process differs somewhat for Ottawa new home condominiums, depending on which elements are considered “common” to the building owners. Items such as furnaces and air conditioning systems are sometimes inspected by the condominium Board of Directors rather than the individual purchaser.

If you feel hesitant about your ability to recognize properly installed work or systems, I’d strongly encourage you to hire an independent building professional to come along. Missing a deficient item isn’t the end of the world – there are other opportunities to notify Tarion. But, by my calculations, paying a little bit more for a lot more certainty is always a good investment.

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

New vs. Used - The Difference is in the System

The first question you will ask yourself when you decide to buy a home is if you should buy a new house or an older one? When you are looking through Ottawa real estate properties, you are bound to get confused. One thought that you may think is that older homes are built better than newer ones. On the other hand, there are also many reasons that may incline you towards choosing a new home over an old one.

Better Built

One thing you should know is that new technology has helped improve the construction process as well as the building material used during construction. Canadian Building Standards have improved drastically over the years. Most new townhouses and detached houses include at least two full bathrooms on the upper storey and a powder room off the entrance hall. Improved kitchen standards and laundry areas have also made the new homes more convenient and acceptable.

The concept of central air-conditioning was not available for condos in the 1970s. Now, however, this has changed. Also, a home office is another essential room that is now available in many new homes that wasn’t available a few years back.

Less Maintenance Required

A new home won’t require much maintenance for at least the first 10 to 15 years. This is usually because the building material used is more advanced and long lasting. The presently used vinyl-clad window frames don’t require frequent repairs unlike older wooden frames. Nor do you have to worry about roof repairs with every change in weather.

If you buy an old home, you will be worried about aluminum wiring and steel or lead plumbing. The brick front also adds to the durability of the new home.

Energy Efficient

Insulation standards have improved in all new homes and the furnaces installed are more energy efficient nowadays. Since 1993, basement insulation has become a common practice and the minimum ceiling heights have also been increased.

The flimsy windows have been replaced with double-glazed casement windows that help keep the cold drafts out and the warmth trapped in. The new Energy Star Program has helped bring down monthly energy costs for home owners.

Tarion Warranty

This new warranty has provided an added protection for new home buyers. It helps with all repairs and corrections that are required during the initial years of the home.

All homes in Ottawa are required to meet safety standards and smoke detectors are to be wired in with the updated electric systems. Older homes will have to replace aluminum wiring, if it has not already been done by the previous home owner.

Amenities

The newer communities in Ottawa are designed to make sure that parks and playgrounds are within walking distance. Different environmental factors have also been considered during the planning of these communities. There are some builders who specialize in creating small communities where children can grow up without worry.

Even with all these advantages, you will still have to cater to the one most important fact before you buy a house – Location. You will find that most of the best locations in Ottawa already have communities built and the houses that are available are all resale. Therefore, check with your Ottawa real estate agent and find the best house for your family.

Visit www.bennettpros.com for all your real estate needs.

Understanding Builder Warranties – Tarion: What is it?

Tarion is a private corporation that was built around 30 years ago. The company has the sole purpose of protecting the rights of home buyers and regulating new home builders. The responsibility of the company includes controlling of the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act in different cities of Ontario including the real estate in Ottawa.

The new head of the company is concerned that many new home owners are not aware of the exact amount of coverage they are entitled to. In September, he addressed the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association and reinstalled the concept that buyers had to be educated.

Tarion was built to protect new buyers and control builders by making sure that there were no signs of shoddy workmanship. New average mid-sized homes must come with a warranty. The warranty costs around $1,000 and is usually passed from the builder to the buyer. The warranty covers the first seven years of the new house.

The first year of the warranty covers all aspects of workmanship. The second year covers building code and operating systems. The remaining years of the warranty focus on all major structural defects. It is important that all new houses are registered for warranties by the builders. Any new home that is built and sold with an Agreement of Purchase and Sale without a warranty would be categorized as an illegal building, certain acceptations do exist see below. Another way that builders can trick new home buyers is that they build the house as consultants and register the building permit in the buyer’s name. This legally makes the buyer responsible for all problems they face during the initial year and they cannot do anything about it.

If you buy a home from a registered builder you still need to understand the terms of warranty that are applicable to your property. Houses are made with natural material and therefore are subject to change. The issues related to these changes are mostly resolvable and if they are not, they can be sent to conciliation.

If you are buying a resale home that was built less than seven years ago, the house is still under warranty and the previous owner has no right to withhold the warranty. Buyers are also encouraged to send their warranty forms within 30 days, for a one or two year warranty term and register themselves at MyHome section on Tarion’s website.

There are a few types of homes that are not subjected to builder warranties: condo conversions, vacant land condos, common element condos, owner-built homes, modular homes, as-built homes, model homes, mobile homes and shell homes among a few others. You must remember to ask all the necessary questions to your real estate agents in Ottawa.

The new changes in the warranty program have helped Canadian buyers and home builders improve standards and make better decisions. For further information contact visit www.bennettpros.com.