Think you're safe from these kinds of problems when you buy a brand new home? Think again.
Marketplace found a number of homeowners in Hamilton who are living in homes less than five years old that are as problematic as old renos.
A combination of bad building practices, permits issued before building starts, and difficult to navigate provincial warranty programs can put any new home buyer in the same perilous boat.
So if you're worried about getting sunk with a money pit of a brand new home, here are five tips to keep your head above water:
• Get references from your builder -- and don't just call the homeowners the builder might recommend, knock on their door and talk to them
• Before buying, make sure your lawyer checks for any liens against the house
• Check that all proper building permits are issued
• Ensure that all safety inspections are done and in the right order
• Get an independent inspector to check your home BEFORE you take possession
Buying a dream house is seldom what it seems, so if the cracks start to show, diligence is your best defense since you cant always count on a system to protect you.
Marketplace's 36th season premiere episode, "New Home Nightmares" airs Friday, January 9, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. on CBC Television.
