Pre-delivery Inspection

Before you accept delivery of your new home, it is essential to carry out a pre-delivery (PDI) or pre-purchase inspection. By inspecting the property and having the builder or seller agree to a list of deficiencies before taking occupation, you protect yourself from claims for damage. For example, the builder might try to blame any damage you find on you or the moving company, thereby refusing liability for repairs. You also have the evidence you require to ensure that the property is delivered as advertised.

See www.tarion.ca for examples of typical construction performance guidelines. This site sets out what the builder will fix and how they will fix it. It also establishes the builder’s new home warranty. Builders’ warranties generally have 1-, 2- and 7-year milestones. Items such as the roof and furnace will have limited warranties. We suggest contacting manufacturers to find out what that warranties cover and for how long. (For example, roof shingles usually have a warranty of 15 to 25 years; for furnaces, 5 to 10 years is normal, depending upon servicing and maintenance.)

DCI Tip: Where the manufacturer’s warranty exceeds the builder’s limited warranty, we recommend negotiating extending component warranties to the full duration of the manufacturers’ warranty.

For general guidelines on the inspection process, please see our FAQs section.

Inspect first! To book a DCI inspection online click here; email us at info@doublecheckinspections.ca,
or call 1-613-322-3682.

Central Mortgage and Housing Canada (CMHC) www.cmhc.ca has a wealth of information on home ownership, some of which is noted below. CMHC is located at 800 Montreal Road in Ottawa. You may wish to e-mail or contact them by: telephone at 1-800-688-2642, or by fax at 1-800-245-9274

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) also has useful information, some of which is listed following.

• Dwellings: Energy Conservation
• Consumers Guide to Buying Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
• Dwellings: Insulation
• Insulation: Heat
• Keeping The Heat In