Going out to buy a new home can be a daunting task, and it is usually also very exhilarating. Often, when a new homebuyer is looking for the right home, they can overlook some of the important details. It’s easy to get distracted from some of the items that you need to remember, particularly if the house has a couple of really stand out features. We’ve compiled this checklist for you to take with you as you go out looking for new homes: keep it with you, and check each item off or write comments as you look. It will really come in handy when you get back home and go for a cold analysis of what you saw!
Pen and paper. You will want to have the details of the home you looked at in your head later, and even the best memories don’t register everything. Bringing a pen and paper will help you to record how you really felt about the home. One thing that always seems to happen is that homebuyers will notice a smell when they walk into a home, but forget about it as they grow accustomed. Even faint smells may indicate a problem, so make sure and write that down so you don’t forget!
Note the condition of the home. Dirty homes or ones with obvious maintenance issues on the surface probably have the same issues with their systems. A house that isn’t well kept up in terms of cleanliness likely will not have had regular attention to the electricity or plumbing either.
Check the systems! By the same token, make sure that you check all the plumbing, heating, and electrical systems as thoroughly as possible. House value is often decided on aesthetics alone, and you don’t want to buy a house that is nicely staged to cover up some issues with the systems. Check to see how old the furnace and hot water tank are so that you don’t have to replace them right away.
Do you have time? A huge number of first time home buyers will go for a house they term a “fixer upper". The cut in price for these houses can make them very appealing, but you need to be very honest with yourself; between work, hobbies, and family, do you really have the time it will take to make all the necessary changes? It’s really hard to stay on track once you have moved in!
So remember, keep your eyes open when viewing your potential new home for any flaws no matter how small.
Grants For New Home Buyers
Here are some quick figures for you to think about:
1. Deposit coverage is limited to $20,000.00 in event of non-completion; and
2. Maximum coverage on any housing unit is $300,000.00.
Home owner is responsible for notifying builder and TARION in writing of any complaints within 30 days of possession and within 30 days prior to the one year anniversary date.
Note: When submitting any form to TARION you should always add an update list of defects etc to your form. This keeps your file current and up to date. TARION might assume anything not on last submittal has been rectified and consider it completed.
There web site has both Customer Service Standards and Construction Performance Guidelines which are explained below.
Customer Service Standards which include mandatory requirements for builders in terms of after-sales service. These standards include the introduction of a standard Homeowner Information Package, a required Pre-Delivery Inspection, and specific timelines within which builders must provide necessary after-sales service.
Construction Performance Guidelines which provide factual information to assist with the resolution of warranty-related issues and help new homeowners understand what is and is not included in their statutory warranty coverage.
Some Coverage's Include:
Water seepage, leakage through the building envelope, defective plumbing, heating or electrical systems, and the doors, windows and exterior cladding are all protected for TWO years.
Major structural defects are covered for seven years. Home built prior to 1990 are covered for five years.
Download complete book on TARION's coverage from tarion.com, this will guide you through all the details and prepare you for completing the necessary forms. This is highly recommended, as a home inspector I have seen many contractors trying to rush their buyer through their inspection so that the initial report doesn't contain many items. They then have been known to stall repairs until warranty runs out. Ensure your pre-delivery inspection is complete to the most minor defect. This is where a home inspector can really help you find every item that requires fixing.
I cannot stress the importance of insuring that TARION's Certificate of Completion and Possession (CCP) contains anything and everything you are not satisfied with. This is a legally binding document you are signing and saying you didn't know or didn't notice will not help you getting the builder to fix anything that is not noted. I am not saying every builder will not fix things that are not written down, but the majority will not.
Both Robert Parker & Inspector are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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