Inspecting New Homes
Tarion provides new home buyers with protection against unauthorized substitution, defects in workmanship, delayed closings and deposit protection. They have a maximum protection of 300,000 dollars for homes built after 2006. Many of the defect warranties touted by Tarion are not even equivalent to the premium window and doors manufactures warranties, such as some companies that offer lifetime warranty on window seals.
Home buyers in Canada rarely buy a home without a home inspection. If you decide to buy a home without a Home Inspection most Realtors will have you sign a waiver indicating your choice. This is because they know the risks involved and they are professionals. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation recommends you hire a Professional Home Inspector to inspect any home you are buying. Tarion never mentions your right to have a Home Inspector accompany you for your Pre Delivery Inspection and actually has made it harder by stating that you may have to notify the builder in writing if you want to have a "designate" accompany you.
Chris DiNovo, the New Democrat MPP for a Toronto riding tried to submit a Private Members bill to have Tarion held accountable to the Provincial Ombudsman, rather than Tarion's own Ombudsman, who works at Tarion's offices and is employed by them. Currently if you are not happy with Tarion's decisions or actions you only the expense route of going to court. Tarion operates independently of government. It is a private corporation financed by builder registration, renewal and home enrolment fees. All those fees are included in the cost of the home so Tarion is paid by the Home Buyer but receives none of the benefits.
The situation in Ontario concerning Tarion's lack of accountability has spawned groups like the "Canadians for Properly Built Homes" (CPBH) which is fighting on behalf of new home buyers for some accountability for The Tarion New Home Warranty Corporation. In 2008 they issued a Press Release: "Canadians for Properly Built Homes (CPBH) is very pleased with the Ombudsman Ontario's report "Building Clarity": Investigation into how the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services represents its relationship with the Tarion Warranty Corporation to the public:, and supports its recommendations. With Ombudsman's findings, the Government of Ontario and Tarion can no longer continue to deny the very serious issues with Ontario's new home warranty system. It is clear that the current system of home warranty in Ontario has not adequately protected may Ontario purchasers of newly built homes. This have been devastating for many Ontario families."
When buying a new home you are also incurring the cost of the building permit which is issued by your local building department prior to construction starting on your new home. As part of the building permit your home has specified inspections that are required for each stage of building. Many times deficiencies are either overlooked or the inspection is not made which allows the builder to provide a substandard product without proper supervision. Some of the items typically found by home inspectors on new home construction include: missing attic insulation, loose heat registers, drains to weeping tile left open, improper slope on furnace and hot water tank vents, damaged floor trusses, improperly nailed joist hangers, wrong nails used in joist hangers and improperly installed shingles.
Your Home Inspector and lawyer are the only persons involved in your new home purchase that work entirely for you. Everyone else that is ultimately being paid by you has a vested interest that is not with the buyers. When you attend your pre delivery inspection the home is still in possession of the builder, and is often not even finished, and this is the best opportunity for you to have deficiencies addressed and corrected. Do not listen to builders who ask that you put items on your 30 day inspection. This will only lead to disputes about who caused damage etc and can lead to endless paperwork and issues with the builder and Tarion. If you fail to produce on piece of documentation or fail to also send that documentation to both Tarion or the Builder, Tarion will disallow your claim, Bingo, you lose. Investing $300.00 for a Professional Home Inspector to accompany you on your Pre Delivery Inspection will be the best investment you make in your new home purchase.
Home buyers in Canada rarely buy a home without a home inspection. If you decide to buy a home without a Home Inspection most Realtors will have you sign a waiver indicating your choice. This is because they know the risks involved and they are professionals. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation recommends you hire a Professional Home Inspector to inspect any home you are buying. Tarion never mentions your right to have a Home Inspector accompany you for your Pre Delivery Inspection and actually has made it harder by stating that you may have to notify the builder in writing if you want to have a "designate" accompany you.
Chris DiNovo, the New Democrat MPP for a Toronto riding tried to submit a Private Members bill to have Tarion held accountable to the Provincial Ombudsman, rather than Tarion's own Ombudsman, who works at Tarion's offices and is employed by them. Currently if you are not happy with Tarion's decisions or actions you only the expense route of going to court. Tarion operates independently of government. It is a private corporation financed by builder registration, renewal and home enrolment fees. All those fees are included in the cost of the home so Tarion is paid by the Home Buyer but receives none of the benefits.
The situation in Ontario concerning Tarion's lack of accountability has spawned groups like the "Canadians for Properly Built Homes" (CPBH) which is fighting on behalf of new home buyers for some accountability for The Tarion New Home Warranty Corporation. In 2008 they issued a Press Release: "Canadians for Properly Built Homes (CPBH) is very pleased with the Ombudsman Ontario's report "Building Clarity": Investigation into how the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services represents its relationship with the Tarion Warranty Corporation to the public:, and supports its recommendations. With Ombudsman's findings, the Government of Ontario and Tarion can no longer continue to deny the very serious issues with Ontario's new home warranty system. It is clear that the current system of home warranty in Ontario has not adequately protected may Ontario purchasers of newly built homes. This have been devastating for many Ontario families."
When buying a new home you are also incurring the cost of the building permit which is issued by your local building department prior to construction starting on your new home. As part of the building permit your home has specified inspections that are required for each stage of building. Many times deficiencies are either overlooked or the inspection is not made which allows the builder to provide a substandard product without proper supervision. Some of the items typically found by home inspectors on new home construction include: missing attic insulation, loose heat registers, drains to weeping tile left open, improper slope on furnace and hot water tank vents, damaged floor trusses, improperly nailed joist hangers, wrong nails used in joist hangers and improperly installed shingles.
Your Home Inspector and lawyer are the only persons involved in your new home purchase that work entirely for you. Everyone else that is ultimately being paid by you has a vested interest that is not with the buyers. When you attend your pre delivery inspection the home is still in possession of the builder, and is often not even finished, and this is the best opportunity for you to have deficiencies addressed and corrected. Do not listen to builders who ask that you put items on your 30 day inspection. This will only lead to disputes about who caused damage etc and can lead to endless paperwork and issues with the builder and Tarion. If you fail to produce on piece of documentation or fail to also send that documentation to both Tarion or the Builder, Tarion will disallow your claim, Bingo, you lose. Investing $300.00 for a Professional Home Inspector to accompany you on your Pre Delivery Inspection will be the best investment you make in your new home purchase.
About the Author:
Buying a New Home then read the Barrie Home Inspector's 12 Common Home Defects, then visit www.barriehomeinspector.com to find the best advice on the Home Inspection Process.
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