Tarion New Home Warranty - Do I need an inspection

Guelph, Ontario – Aug12,2010 –- In order to be protected under the Tarion New Home Warranty Programme, the responsibility falls on the buyer to report any problems or defects in their brand new home. Since most buyers have no expertise in home construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC etc. should they seek professional help from a qualified Home Inspector in order to protect their investment?

Every new home in Ontario is protected by a mandatory Warranty that is provided by the Builder and guaranteed by the Tarion Home Warranty Programme. The Warranty covers deposit insurance, protection against defects in work and materials, unauthorized substitutions, delayed closings or delayed occupancy. The most common claims relate to defects in work and materials, which require homeowners to submit a list of deficiencies at 30 day and one-year deadlines.

While Builders provide a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) for buyers just before closing, John Arnott of Welcome Home Inspection Services in Guelph, Ontario notes that these are more related to cosmetic issues such as whether the chosen flooring, cabinets, countertops, etc. are installed. Although the PDI serves a purpose it really does not cover all the systems of the house says Arnott who is a Registered Home Inspector in the Province of Ontario.

While a typical PDI is basically a walk through inspection and generally takes about one hour, his company provides an independent 30 day and one-year inspection that takes about three hours and is much more detailed, including such items as foundation, roofing, grading, structure, insulation, plumbing, heating and ventilation.

Arnott says that while most people think that buying a new house will mean everything will be perfect, it’s not uncommon to find missing insulation in the attic, poor ventilation systems or even structural issues. An example of this may be something as simple as a bathroom fan venting into the attic. This can cause serious damage when moist air meets the cold attic. If caught quickly little damage will result but a year down the road, mould, mildew and even rot may be visible on the attic sheathing and rafters.

Although buyers may believe that the Builder and the City Inspectors will have thoroughly inspected everything, this is rarely the case says Arnott. He explains that the problem generally stems from the fact that there are many tradesmen following each other during construction, each with a very tight schedule. On a large site with multiple trades and many house designs in different stages of construction it’s not unusual for some things to get moved or damaged or just plain forgotten.

Arnott’s company, Welcome Home Inspection Services provides an Inspection that is designed to ensure that the home owner is fully aware of any deficiencies before they develop into bigger problems down the road. Our goal is to educate the home owner so that they can be fully covered by the warranty says Arnott. We also make sure the homeowner is aware of their responsibilities in terms of when and how to file their forms because if filed incorrectly, claims can be rejected by Tarion.

The average home owner can not be expected to be familiar with the complex systems of a home, says Arnott. A professional Home Inspection by a Registered Home Inspector (RHI) is your best defence when it comes to protecting your investment and receiving the full benefit of the New Home Warranty program.

When choosing an inspector, those with RHI designation have extensive training and are required to conform to a strict Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice as set out by the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors.

Welcome Home Inspection Services is a professional Home Inspection company providing pre-purchase, pre-listing and New Home Warranty inspections in Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Milton, Cambridge and surrounding areas in Ontario

Phone number: 519-716-8371
Contact: John Arnott Bsc. Eng, Registered Home Inspector
www.welcomehomeinspections.ca