New Homes Need TLC Too

With brand-new products installed in the home and a good warranty to protect you, owning a new home is as close to hassle free living as you can get. But generally lost in the buzz of buying new construction is the thought of keeping it in “like new” condition. Understanding how to operate, maintain and service your home and the components within is critical in ensuring you don’t violate the terms of your new home warranty, retain your home’s resale value, and keep the cost of ownership low.

Ontario law requires builders and developers to provide a new home warranty through TARION Warranty Corporation. This warranty is designed to ensure your home was built to code and protects you within a defined period of time from any issues that may arise. The warranty is, however, conditional on an owner operating and maintaining the home as instructed by the builder and product manufacturers. Because understanding how and when to do the work is essential to successful homeownership, by law you will receive a maintenance guide from your builder. Additionally, your builder’s homeowner manual should contain all of the installed products manufacturer’s documents for your home. It is a good idea to request a sample homeowner manual from your potential builder prior to purchasing and get it in writing that it will be provided.

Like selling a car, the condition and service history of your home has a material impact on the asking price, and unlike factors such as market conditions or interest rates, you have complete control over this. Take advantage of the new technology tools that have been introduced in recent years that help you track the upkeep of your home. Many new homes now come standard with a web-based portal that stores all of your home’s product information and care instructions, while tracking your ongoing maintenance. Never lost or misplaced, this digital home resource is fully transferable if you decide to sell. 

When you own your home, it is impossible not to incur costs over time. However, extending the life of big ticket items such as appliances, flooring and countertops can save you money and delay the need for large scale renovations. Smaller maintenance tasks like replacing the caulking around windows and doors will keep your energy costs low. It is important to remember that most components in your home have the ability to affect other products or even the building structure if they malfunction, making even the smallest maintenance task important.

The experience you have when buying new construction depends on your understanding of the process; from your contract to purchase and all the way through the first ten years of ownership. Expecting to put as much “TLC” into your new home as needed will ensure you get the most out of your buying experience.