TARION: Choosing the Right Home Builder

By Tarion

When buying a new home, you’ll be considering everything from location and size to the many finishings that will make a house or condo your home.  One of your first and most important decisions is to make sure you’ve chosen the right builder.

In Ontario, new home builders must be registered and provide home owners with a Tarion backed warranty, which ensures homes are constructed in a workman-like manner, free from defects and constructed in accordance with the Ontario Building Code.

Before you sign a purchase agreement, be sure to research your builder. The first step is to check that the builder is in fact registered by visiting Tarion’s website to consult the Ontario Builder Directory.

Every registered builder in Ontario is listed in this database. The directory shows a 10-year history that includes chargeable conciliations and the number and amounts of certain claims paid by Tarion.

A chargeable conciliation occurs if a builder and a homeowner disagree about whether an item is covered under the warranty program and, after an inspection by Tarion, the item is found to have been covered under the warranty.

Claims refer to situations where the builder did not resolve a homeowner claim and Tarion stepped in to work directly with the homeowner to resolve the issue. You may want to consider these numbers in comparison to the number of new home possessions in the builder’s profile.

The directory shows if a builder has been a Tarion Award of Excellence finalist or winner in the past three years; a breakdown of the types of homes built over a 10-year span into freehold homes and condominium units; and lists the names of officers and directors for each company, providing links to companies that share the same officers and directors. You can also find the names of builders who are no longer registered with Tarion. The directory will confirm whether a builder’s registration has expired or whether Tarion has revoked their registration or refused to renew it.

The next step is to ask around. You may want to walk around neighbourhoods where the builder has built homes and inquire about these homeowners’ experiences. Speaking to other homeowners will give you a good indication of whether the builder stands behind his/her construction and is attentive to customers over the long term.

You can also ask for references in online communities and social media platforms.  There are a number of active home-related sites where homeowners share experiences.

If you have questions about whether a builder is registered or about their customer service records, call Tarion at 1-877-9-TARION.

For more information, visit www.tarion.com or like Tarion on Facebook.