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.
In Canada hardly anyone buys a home without having a Home Inspection performed by a trained professional. This is to protect the buyer from buying a home with defects or problems that he or she would probably not have found themselves. CHMC says, "One of the best ways to see if a home is in good condition, livable and safe is to hire a professional home inspector. A properly trained home inspector will review your house as a system, looking at how one component of the house might affect how another component works or how long it will last." It is strange that an organization which receives its money from the home buyer, as the fee is added onto the cost of the home, does not recommend a Pre-Delivery Inspection by a Qualified Home Inspector. One would think that maybe they did not have the best interests of the "Home Buyer" at heart?
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.
In 2008 the group, Canadians for Properly Built Homes released a News Release, TORONTO, ONTARIO - June 10, 2008 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."
Your new home starts out with a Building Permit being obtained for the local building department. This permit is also to assure that all the inspections of different stages of building your new home are carried out. Unfortunately, through poor education or lack of inspections, these are inspections sometimes overlooked. This is a sad state of affairs because the home owner is paying Tarion plus the building department for oversight and compliance on their new home. Some of the deficiencies typically found in new home construction are; missing insulation, poorly nailed or improperly nailed shingles, improper slope on furnace vents, windows that won't operate do to poor overhang design, damaged materials, poorly hung doors, loose heat registers, and the list goes on and on.
Not all builders have problems with their homes or with dealing with new home buyers, but unless you do your homework and take the appropriate steps to protect your investment, you won't know until it is too late. Google can be your friend when you want to find out about your builder but even that is not guaranteed because many builders operate under a different name for each subdivision that they build. Taking a professional Home Inspector with you during your Pre Delivery Inspection makes sense considering your home is typically one of the largest investments you will make. Let someone who specializes in finding the problems work on your behalf. Of all the permits and charges you pay when buying a new home, your Home Inspector and lawyer are the only people that are working just for you.
In Canada hardly anyone buys a home without having a Home Inspection performed by a trained professional. This is to protect the buyer from buying a home with defects or problems that he or she would probably not have found themselves. CHMC says, "One of the best ways to see if a home is in good condition, livable and safe is to hire a professional home inspector. A properly trained home inspector will review your house as a system, looking at how one component of the house might affect how another component works or how long it will last." It is strange that an organization which receives its money from the home buyer, as the fee is added onto the cost of the home, does not recommend a Pre-Delivery Inspection by a Qualified Home Inspector. One would think that maybe they did not have the best interests of the "Home Buyer" at heart?
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.
In 2008 the group, Canadians for Properly Built Homes released a News Release, TORONTO, ONTARIO - June 10, 2008 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."
Your new home starts out with a Building Permit being obtained for the local building department. This permit is also to assure that all the inspections of different stages of building your new home are carried out. Unfortunately, through poor education or lack of inspections, these are inspections sometimes overlooked. This is a sad state of affairs because the home owner is paying Tarion plus the building department for oversight and compliance on their new home. Some of the deficiencies typically found in new home construction are; missing insulation, poorly nailed or improperly nailed shingles, improper slope on furnace vents, windows that won't operate do to poor overhang design, damaged materials, poorly hung doors, loose heat registers, and the list goes on and on.
Not all builders have problems with their homes or with dealing with new home buyers, but unless you do your homework and take the appropriate steps to protect your investment, you won't know until it is too late. Google can be your friend when you want to find out about your builder but even that is not guaranteed because many builders operate under a different name for each subdivision that they build. Taking a professional Home Inspector with you during your Pre Delivery Inspection makes sense considering your home is typically one of the largest investments you will make. Let someone who specializes in finding the problems work on your behalf. Of all the permits and charges you pay when buying a new home, your Home Inspector and lawyer are the only people that are working just for you.
About the Author:
Learn about What is a Home Inspection, then visit The Barrie Home Inspector's site on Home Inspection Articles for all your projects.