Tips on building a new home

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Bean

Well one of the reasons why we decided to go with Cedarglen (and Cardel was a front runner) was because these two builders apparently have established trades and don't use fly by night workers/crews. I don't have any proof of this, but some builders didn't seem to mind us buying a house now without a firm grasp on when the house will be built.

In this case, we started signing things in February and our posession date is September 2007.

I just built a townhouse with Cardel (through their multi-family division) and one of their selling points was their ability to get so-called "established trades". Having said that, they were five months late from their "estimated" possession date and did not take any responsibility for it (they basically just blamed it on the lack of trades). Five months might not seem that bad, but considering it is a multi-familiy spec unit (versus a custom made single family), I wouldn't bet money on moving in on time. Just an advance warning.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I just built a townhouse with Cardel (through their multi-family division) and one of their selling points was their ability to get so-called "established trades". Having said that, they were five months late from their "estimated" possession date and did not take any responsibility for it (they basically just blamed it on the lack of trades). Five months might not seem that bad, but considering it is a multi-familiy spec unit (versus a custom made single family), I wouldn't hold your breath on moving in on time. Just my $0.02.

I know a few people (Far south end of Calgary) who also had the date slip month by month.

They went to complain to the builder. The builder told them either accept the slip or walk away from the contract (i.e. the house value went way up over 6 months time period and the builder could make more selling it as a spec home).

That was in 2006 when the market went crazy.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by return to the red

where abouts are you building and who is your builder if you don't mind me asking?

PM sent

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by flambers

I know a few people (Far south end of Calgary) who also had the date slip month by month.

We were 3 months behind, they pushed us through and now we have so many problems we are on the phone with them daily. I would have preferred to wait another month to ensure everything was done correctly.

[Bobblehead]

One of my co-workers put down their deposit a year ago - and the builder hasn't broken ground yet. They are scheduled for Oct.1 posession

[Bean]

Originally Posted by ken0042

OK, you now have my attention. I'd be curious to see how that would work; standing up to poop would seem so wrong though.

The standard issue toilets were ~14 inches in bowl height. I'm not a tall guy by any means but the top of the seat wouldn't reach higher than my knee when I stood next to it.

[Bean]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I just built a townhouse with Cardel (through their multi-family division) and one of their selling points was their ability to get so-called "established trades". Having said that, they were five months late from their "estimated" possession date and did not take any responsibility for it (they basically just blamed it on the lack of trades). Five months might not seem that bad, but considering it is a multi-familiy spec unit (versus a custom made single family), I wouldn't bet money on moving in on time. Just an advance warning.

I don't really mind moving in late (we can save up for a bit longer) but my finace and I have made the builder & supplier's job very easy to promote a timely posession date. We know exactly what we we're looking for and get things done quickly. With this in mind; I'm thinking that suppliers/builder may try to slide things past us that are not up to snuff.

One thing that concerns me is the 'seasonal work'; I'll be fuming if I have to drive through mud just to get up to my garage. Does anybody know if there are ways to get 'seasonal' things done well before winter comes? (driveway paving, exterior work etc?)