warranty: Yet Another Homeowner Protection Gap...
- 01/24/10 07:17 AM
Information savvy consumers have long expected a builder to provide specific maintenance and warranty details in a format that is easy to use and access. Besides, the warranty coverage itself will be dependent upon the homeowner being compliant and doing proper maintenance, which usually requires being able to refer to the manufacturer's instructions, and regardless of whether the warranty comes from a third party insurer or the manufacturer. New homeowners receive only 10% of the information required for proper care, maintenance, and warranty coverage for the components in their new home, according to CONASYS Inc., a provider of information management services … (2 comments)
Local REALTOR® John Grasty will be holding a seminar this month to discuss the potential pitfalls home buyers face when entering the real estate market. Photo: COLLEEN FLANAGAN/THE TRI-CITY NEWS John Grasty knows the pitfalls that can come when buying real estate. In 1997 he discovered the condo he purchased in Coquitlam's Town Centre neighbourhood was one of thousands caught up in the Lower Mainland's leaky condo disaster. Following the incident Grasty became an outspoken critic of building practices and the provincial governments handling of those affected by … (5 comments)
warranty: Home Inspector certification, licensing and regulation across Canada...
- 11/27/08 05:32 AM
The origins of the National Certification Program (NCP) for home inspectors in Canada stretch back to 1997 when a report was issued by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that uncovered noteworthy inconsistencies in the skill and diligence of home inspectors across the country that still persist today. With the support of CMHC, Human Resources and Social Development Canada and the Construction Sector Council, a voluntary national accreditation and certification program was developed by the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) in an attempt to help ensure the competency and professionalism of home inspectors. Home inspectors who have met the … (2 comments)
warranty: Unproven 6-Storey Wood Frame Buildings Raise Serious Questions...
- 11/13/08 02:41 PM
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008HSD0079-001459.pdf It is difficult to understand the motivation of our provincial government to throw so much of the housing ministry's resources into another initiative (this time 6-storey wood frame buildings) that does nothing to improve homeowner protection in BC. How are the same people that can't build a 4-storey building right, possibly going to achieve a defect-free and safe 6-storey building? According to reports from the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO), home buying is still very risky business, and British Columbians are being lulled into a false sense of security with a home warranty insurance program full of exclusions, limitations, and other … (5 comments)
warranty: New Homes Warranty Act is no guarantee...
- 09/21/08 02:40 PM
As a British Columbian outsider I am utterly disgusted reading this article on the plight of the Shuman's. I have a great deal of difficulty comprehending how a certain percentage of performance value or work disqualifies a claim for sub-standard workmanship or materials. Okay, so it is none of my business poking my BC nose into how the Ontario homeowner protection system is structured, or what the legislation and justice allows. Well maybe it is my business because precedence doesn't seem to have provincial boundaries. Furthermore, the first place other provinces look when reviewing their own homeowner protection is other parts … (0 comments)
warranty: Is it a Quirk of Fate...?
- 09/20/08 09:53 AM
Leaky Surrey hotel at centre of lawsuit -Ted Colley, Surrey Now - Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Is it a quirk of fate that the Sheraton Guildford Hotel leaks? For many years the home builders association has been holding seminars for homebuyers at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel. As a co-founder of the Coalition of Leaky Condo Owners, I along with some of my concerned colleagues attended these seminars between 1999 and the early 2000's to warn homebuyers that everything isn't necessarily as it appears or as it is being represented. Our tactic was to sit as close as we could to … (0 comments)
warranty: "MLA wants regulations for home inspectors"
- 06/03/08 05:48 PM
Letter to the Editor:Homebuyer beware - Coquitlam NOW - Friday, June 06, 2008 Re: "MLA wants regulations for home inspectors" Friday, May 30. The "neglect in protecting homebuyers" is widespread, and Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Diane Thorne's concern is shared by many.Home buying is fraught with risk and claims far too many victims; whether resale or presale.The home inspection is one of the many ways a homebuyer is left unprotected.The home inspection contract has as many disclaimers, exclusions and limitations as the 2-5-10 new home warranty insurance program. Often the inspectors used by the warranty providers are unqualified to give an opinion; how can … (0 comments)
warranty: Investigation into the lack of buyer protection welcomed...
- 03/04/08 12:31 PM
The Ombudsman of Ontario has just announced an investigation into issues concerning the lack of consumer protection for newly built homes: http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/UploadFiles/File/MGCS-Tarion%20release%20Eng.pdf. "Our goal at the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is to promote a fair, safe and informed marketplace - one in which your rights as a consumer are fully protected." (excerpted from the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services web-site)The Ontario Government conveniently set up the Tarion Warranty Corporation as a private corporation; as such the Ombudsman does not have the jurisdiction to investigate Tarion itself. As some of you may know, Canadians for Properly Built Homes (CPBH) has … (2 comments)
warranty: How will certifying home inspectors help consumers?
- 02/07/08 05:01 PM
The BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General is inviting you to participate in a consultation on licensing home inspectors. The consultation provides an opportunity for British Columbians to be part of the process of developing appropriate regulations to enhance consumer protection.The move to regulate home inspectors is being met with some cynicism. "It's good," Grasty told the Straight. "The only problem is, what teeth is it going to have? You certify these people, but how qualified are they? Can consumers sue them? If a person hires a home inspector, they have to sign documents which are full of disclaimers. … (3 comments)
(formerly the Adoxographist's Blog)
...skilled writing about an unimportant subject, or is that unskilled writing about an important subject?
Well I don't know so as things unfold please judge for yourself...
...don't forget to leave a comment, and thanks for visiting.
John Grasty is a REALTOR® serving the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam - Port Coquitlam - Port Moody) real estate market.
Please check out John's website: http://www.RealEstateEvolved.com
Information savvy consumers have long expected a builder to provide specific maintenance and warranty details in a format that is easy to use and access. Besides, the warranty coverage itself will be dependent upon the homeowner being compliant and doing proper maintenance, which usually requires being able to refer to the manufacturer's instructions, and regardless of whether the warranty comes from a third party insurer or the manufacturer.
;)
;)
;)
