Partnering with your builder is essential

By Jayson Schwarz
July 05, 2019

Many of our clients worry and ask us questions such as: Will my builder take advantage of me? Will my home be delivered on time? Will the quality of my home be as promised? Is the sales agent truthful, or will they deceive me later? What can go wrong?

The real answers are as follows:

When purchasing a new home, the purchaser and the builder are really entering into a partnership, not in the legal sense, but on a moral and common-sense basis. Like life, there may be good and bad purchasers and good and bad builders, but on the whole, you have two distinct entities coming together for the accomplishment of a common goal. You, the purchaser, want your home to be completed on time and in accordance with the standards represented, while the builder wants the same thing. Not only does the builder not need the aggravation of missing a deadline, they want to maintain a good relationship with you. The builder is concerned about quality, too, both as a matter of pride in workmanship and from a referral standpoint. Builders also worry about labour quality and availability and cost increases, and hope the purchaser will have the money on time for closing. Keep in mind, every day the home does not close, a builder loses money on interest.

YOU BOTH HAVE THE SAME GOAL — QUALITY COMPLETION OF YOUR HOME!

So, what can go wrong? Some problems can arise over which the builder has no control. Problems such as trades not showing up or showing up late, labour strikes, materials being delayed and a shortage of critical experienced people — these are matters that cannot be solved by waving a magic wand. All of these items can and do cause delays, and delays cost everyone. The builder wants your home or condo to be completed more than you do. Keep in mind the builder’s financing costs and deadlines. They make no money until your home is finished and is as perfect as possible. Even after closing, after-sales service is an additional expense to the builder.

Today, the demand for trades in the highrise sector and the lack of experienced people may be problematic to some builders. Although a purchaser may deem this “not our problem”, the common sense answer should be it’s everyone’s problem. Aim to work with the builder, and after closing, explain any deficiencies to get them corrected. Generally speaking, material quality and workmanship quality are high, and builders really do care.

Related Reading

Buying a new house? What happens if it goes wrong?

About Jayson Schwarz

Jayson Schwarz LL.M is a Toronto real estate lawyer and partner in the law firm Schwarz Law Partners LLP. Visit the website at schwarzlaw.ca or email your questions about real estate to info@schwarzlaw.ca

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