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What to Expect

What Are "Specs"?

Written ‘Spec’ifications expand on your home’s Working Drawings in detail. Builders typically provide a ‘General Specification’ list, which outlines construction and finishes. General Specifications also include details regarding the builder’s warranty and policies for handling legal arrangements and title transfer.

If the builder provides Construction Allowances (enabling you to make your own selections of items such as lighting fixtures, floor coverings, plumbing fixtures or appliances), these should identify exactly what is covered by each allowance as well as the dollar value allocated. Keeping this in mind, a less expensive selection will save you money, while a more expensive choice will cost you more. These variances will be noted in your Statement of Adjustments.

If you vary from the General Specifications, the details of what you want (brand names, colours, sizes, model and style numbers, etc.) should be noted in the Finish Schedules or on a Change Order before construction starts. Specifications are an important part of the Agreement between you and your builder. For this reason, you’ll want to ensure the blueprints and specifications you’re expecting do not contradict each other.

Design Options

We take great pride in the many projects we’ve accomplished while working with our clients in a design-build capacity. Thanks to the solid relationships we’ve forged with local home designers and architectural firms, we can easily determine which experts are best suited to your unique needs.

We will then collaborate with these professionals in a coordinated effort to bring your new home dreams to life. As plans are developed, these efforts will be extended to the dedicated trades specialists committed to your home’s construction. These discussions are important not only for detail-oriented design but for practicality and cost-efficiency.

Model Plans

Our wealth of knowledge and experience has led us to create an exciting portfolio of new home designs. Our architectural and construction team has chosen only the very best premier custom home plans to work from via a careful selection process – meticulously refining each plan to ensure a perfect combination of design, efficiency, and attention to detail.

The result is a collection of high-end, reproducible home designs of exceptional value.

Construction of any one of our state-of-the-art model homes is based on the following procedures:

  • Initial Meeting with a Sales Associate
  • Review of Model with Sales Associate
  • Finalize Build Site
  • Confirm Desired Specifications
  • Summary of Building Costs
  • Compiling Plan and Specification Information
  • Contract
  • Schedule Construction
  • Complete Construction
  • Warranty

What Do I Need to Know About My Blueprints?

The Significance of Working Drawings

A set of Working Drawings include your home’s exterior elevations: detailed, scaled and dimensional drawings of the roof and exterior walls. They show a profiled view of your home’s front, sides, and rear and indicate the location and types of exterior finishing materials to be used.

They also serve several other purposes when it comes to the construction of your new home. Besides being considered the actual “building plans” for the project, they’re necessary for municipal building permit approval, obtaining the right materials, and providing specific direction to trades specialists.

Working Drawings, a Plot Plan, and Written Specifications are essential parts of the Agreement. As these documents should accurately describe your new home’s design, construction and materials, you must review these details carefully. Your builder representative will go over and discuss these items with you.

Why is the plot plan important?

A Plot Plan is a scaled-down drawing indicating your home’s lot orientation and its distance from the front, rear and side property lines. This is an important document for ensuring your property is in accordance with municipal bylaws (including setbacks, easements and rules pertaining to standard or reverse house plans).

Your home must comply with municipal bylaws, or a variance relaxation must be obtained before construction can begin. This could involve extra costs as well as time delays. Your builder will obtain a real property report to confirm everything is as it should be before mortgage advances are made.

What do I need to know about my Purchase Agreement before I sign it?

Purchase Agreements (or contracts) are a normal part of buying or building a new home.

In short, the Agreement establishes mutual obligations and a formal set of rules to govern the relationship between you and your builder. You’ll want to have a thorough understanding of the contract and contract documents, including the Working Drawings, Plot Plan and Specifications (more on those below).

Your builder representative will answer your questions and clarify any issues regarding the contract’s details.

What Role Do Lawyers Play in My Home Purchase?

The legal areas to be dealt with on the road to new home ownership consist of:

  • Agreements or Contracts: Preparation
  • Mortgages: Registration and Disbursement of Funds
  • Transfer of Title
  • Possession & Closing

In most cases, contracts are straightforward agreements between buyer and builder using the builder’s standard contract (which includes mandatory clauses about warranty coverage or the contract prepared by the Progressive New Home Warranty Program). These contracts will fairly represent the legal agreements between you and your builder regarding the project’s terms and conditions. On the closing day, the legal firm fulfills its responsibility to transfer the title to the purchaser.