All things New Homes ( subdivisions )

[m8tey]

ADT charges $29.95/month for the monitoring fee, +$3 for a centrally monitored fire alarm.

You don't have to be a student to buy a SUTP, they are sold to raise money by schools and community groups. Check your mailbox for coupon offers. I've heard funny things about Alarmforce...

Thanks for that. Anyone knows about good central airconditioner companies, apart from CARRIER? I hear Lennox is good, how much would a 2 tonner go for?

[glaswegian]

So who is closing on their new house soon, and are you excited?

[m8tey]

We are closing summer 2006. Kind of excited in a way, to be finally getting out of paying rent for a not so great service.

[alkapone]

Gulf homes Stouffville....sending out some delay letters...for closings anticipated Oct? 06.

[glaswegian]

Gulf homes Stouffville....sending out some delay letters...for closings anticipated Oct? 06.

What...they just changed your original closing date to Oct? What about the contract you signed, did it specify that that they can do that?

[Shifty]

A few points;

Tarion is owned by a coalition of builders, so don't expect much in the way of help.

Most A/C's are now made by a very small number of manufacturers, who operate under a myriad number of brand names. Ie. Keeprite is Carrier, and also several other brands.

Property taxes are not assessed on sq ft, as stated, but value.

Don't waste your money on alarm monitoring, just go to eBay and buy some ADT window stickers instead! Deterence is as good as alarms, imo.

FYI - I own a 3 year old Fernbrook, and I would have to say I wouldn't likely buy from them again. Poor customer service, shoddy workmanship, everyone on my street bitches about them. I don't know if any of the builders are really good, though, they all slap up houses as quickly and cheaply as possibly.

[alkapone]

What...they just changed your original closing date to Oct? What about the contract you signed, did it specify that that they can do that?

Gulf has various sections of a subdivision going...if all approvals are in they can proceed and hopefully make the deadline. If Approvals..land...sewers etc don't come in on time ..there is often a delay.
One has to bite the bullet. Happens all the time. Frustrating no doubt.

Not sure re contract....but in this case not a real problem.....for others could be a REAL problem.

[glaswegian]

Gulf has various sections of a subdivision going...if all approvals are in they can proceed and hopefully make the deadline. If Approvals..land...sewers etc don't come in on time ..there is often a delay.
One has to bite the bullet. Happens all the time. Frustrating no doubt.

Not sure re contract....but in this case not a real problem.....for others could be a REAL problem.

Can you believe the amount some of these builders are charging for upgrdaes? It's ridiculous really, $250 for a pot light, $500 for some faucets

[thelefteyeguy]

A few points;

Tarion is owned by a coalition of builders, so don't expect much in the way of help.

wrong, wrong, wrong.

Tarion is a private, non-profit organization. What you are thinking about is that the board of directors are mostly made up of builders. Tarion Warranty Corporation is responsible for administering the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act (as legislated by the govt of Ontario), which outlines the warranty protection that new home and condominium builders must provide, by law, to their customers. Tarion doesn't change / bend the rules to meet the needs of the builder or the home owner.

[thelefteyeguy]

Our condo. corp. is going through hell with them right now. The buildings don't have the necessary number of support studs, resulting in the building bearing load at 160%. Non load-bearing pillars are bearing load.

Tarion has ruled that most deficiencies indentified by the engineers are non-warranty, resulting in an estimated cost of $ 500,000 per building ( $ 10,000 per unit).

UGH.

before you buy any new home or condo, do your research. Go to a community or condo and ask politely what they think of the builder and their workmanship....

the home is the largest investment you potentially make in your life...i am surprised by the number of ppl that dont do more research.

What was the condo builder name if I may ask?

[Shifty]

Lefteyeguy - Tarion is fully financed by the big builders, they in effect set the rules, and those rules favour builders in the vast majority of cases. They come down hard on smaller builders who have less clout, but their rules protect themselves.

There is no government oversight of this organization, they are free to do as they see fit.

[UncleSteve]

What was the condo builder name if I may ask?

Actually, due to on-going legal negotiations between the board and the builder, I don't feel comfortable naming them publicly at this point. They are a smaller, local builder here.

[Shifty]

I'd be curious as well to know, also being a Burlingtonian!

[alkapone]

I'd be curious as well to know, also being a Burlingtonian!

....send him a PM???

[UncleSteve]

....send him a PM???

Already one step ahead of you...done.