1. What happens if there is an over-demand for services and materials leading to shortages and delays?
2. How do I know if I'm actually getting the materials that I've paid for?
3. What if a problem arises such as a crack in the gyproc after 6 months?
4. Does it take longer to construct a home in winter than in summer?
5. I've changed my mind on the type of kitchen cupboards I'd like installed. Will this cost extra?
6. How long is my new home warranty in effect?
7. What happens if a sub-contractor suddenly goes out of business?
8. I'm not satisfied with some of the work that's been done on my home. Who do I contact to get this problem resolved?
9. Where do I go to get the best possible price for materials?
10. Do I need to be pre-approved by a lending institution before building my home?

1. What happens if there is an over-demand for services and materials leading to shortages and delays?

Answer: Planning and scheduling of the entire construction process keeps the unknown variables to a minimum. Each process and step of the new home is planned, scheduled and ordered ahead of time. If there are shortages of certain materials, alternatives can be decided upon and ordered in time so as to stay on target. If there is an over-demand for services, alternate quotes will have been received at the beginning, allowing for changes in subcontracts in order to stay on schedule.

2. How do I know if I'm actually getting the materials that I've paid for?

Answer: All invoices from each supplier and subcontractor are sent directly to you, the client. Considerable savings are realized in this manner as there will be no 'hidden' mark-ups, and you will actually see what you have purchased.

3. What if a problem arises such as a crack in the gyproc after 6 months?

Answer: Cracks in the drywall are not uncommon. They usually do appear, especially after the new home goes through a winter/spring cycle, and has a chance to "settle in". All projects have a 1 year warranty from all trades people, which is a mandatory part of each written contract with each trade. Also, with the Atlantic Home Warranty Program, every client has the opportunity to purchase either a 7 or 10 year warranty with their new home. Some financial institutions require this warranty as part of their agreement with the home owner for their mortgage.

4. Does it take longer to construct a home in winter than in summer?

Answer: Yes. Due to Atlantic Canada's colder climate, the need for each step of the construction process to be heated becomes a necessity. This not only adds time to the construction schedule, it also adds money to the cost of construction. Anyone that says they can build a home in the winter for the same amount of money, in the same amount of time, as they can in the summer, is a fallacy. They are definitely not building within acceptable standards and/or with acceptable materials.

5. I've changed my mind on the type of kitchen cupboards I'd like installed. Will this cost extra?

Answer: Yes and no. If the change you want to make is an upgrade to the originally budgeted materials the cabinets were to be constructed from, such as changing from melamine to oak, then yes, extra costs will be incurred. However, if you are downgrading the material, then it will cost less, and therefore you would realize an additional savings. Keep in mind that the timing of any changes is critical. If the items you want to change are already on site, then the original materials will need to be returned, restocked, and this can sometimes incur extra charges.

6. How long is my new home warranty in effect?

Answer: Every new home has an initial 1 year warranty which is administered by Meltech Building Services, and written into all contracts with each trade. Also, through the Atlantic Home Warranty Program, there is an additional 7 or 10 year warranty available for the new homeowner to purchase.

7. What happens if a sub-contractor suddenly goes out of business?

Answer: Unfortunately, this does happen. If this happens during the construction process, the money that is owed to this subcontractor, (only for the work that he has completed), does not get paid to them. A replacement subcontractor will need to be contracted to complete the remaining work. After the new subcontractor has been paid in full and after all other expenses incurred by the homeowner or other trades due to the subcontractor going out of business have been determined, the remaining money is paid to the province for them to reimburse for any claims against the said subcontractor that went out of business.

8. I'm not satisfied with some of the work that's been done on my home. Who do I contact to get this problem resolved?

Answer: The person to contact is your Project Manager with Meltech Building Services. If something is being done during the construction process that the homeowner is not satisfied with, it must be brought to the Project Managers attention immediately, so it can be dealt without delay. The Project Manager is the "go-between" with the home owner and the subcontractors and it is the Project Managers responsibility to have any unsatisfactory work repaired.

9. Where do I go to get the best possible price for materials?

Answer: Nowhere. Meltech Building Services has established excellent working relationships with local suppliers. The "contractor price" that is reserved for companies that purchase in larger quantities than the general public, is what Meltech Building Services have obtained and is passing on to the homeowner with no mark-ups or 'hidden' costs.

10. Do I need to be pre-approved by a lending institution before building my home?

Answer: Yes. Unless you have the full purchase price of your home readily available in cash, it's a good idea to find out the exact amount you pre-qualify for ahead of time to avoid disappointment later on.