Q for Realtors :whose side r u on
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Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 31-01-06 22:24:56
Regarding the year built info about houses, I did find quite a number of listings on mls.ca that had this info. Also, of course, the city offices will have records of the property.
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Dimple2001
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 31-01-06 22:39:36
Quote:
Orginally posted by tamilkuravan
Charle,
If you see the inside working of any company, you will see that Canada is more corrupt than India. EVery one in the construction industry tries to make money.
I am sure of how the builder cheats his clients or potential buyer. Sometimes, the client thinks he is wise and takes many conditions in writing like free granite counter tops, door from garage to interior, free central a/c etc.. but the builder knows how to cheat to compensate for that. The town has no control over this. the town is concerned only regarding the setbacks.
Let me tell you how the builder cheats. Did you know that houses under 3000 sq. ft. do not need any structural drawing? Also any tom , dick or Harry can design and draw houses less than 3000 sq. ft. ( it is onlu from jan 1 , 2006 that the town has needed any drawing submitted to it to be brawn by a qualified architectural technologist- this means that any tom, dick or harry has to pass 2 papers). Above 3000 sq. ft. , all structure needs to be designed and signed by a structural engineer but there is no check to see if the building has been designed as per structural drg..
few ways the builder cheats :
1. floor wooden joists are supposed to be 16" apart. builder generally makes it 18". the joists are hidden in the ceiling.
2. All sub standard basement walls which shows cracks are hidden by a special silicone and made flush.
3. stud walls are spaced too much apart from the actual standard.
4. Any steel beam in the roof replaced by cheaper wooden beam.
5. All concrete mixes are made lean (not as per standards).
6. 20 year ashpalt tiles need to be used. Builder always goes for local ones which may come for 10 years max.
7. electricians are told to use sub standard wires.
8. generally staircases leading to basement are made at 3' wide. we generally give 3'-2" on the drawing.
9. concrete slabs are supposed to be 4" thick with 150 mpa strength (whatever that means) but many builders make it only 3" or 2 1/2 " thick. Porch conc. slabs are made 4" thick since you can measure that from the outside.
10. appliances comes from sears outlet stores.
and so on an so forth.
The buyer is not at all aware of the short comings and is much less aware of how houses are built in canada than how it would have been built in their home country.
Well! you canot blame the builders. Canada had a recent building boom and every one knows that it will end soon. Also due to the boom , they could not get talented workers. Most depend on illegal immigrants and people desperate for money. The builder wants to earn for his children before the boom dies.
Thanks
TK
Interesting indeed.
I had my house built few years ago. While I don't have the structural blue print, I do have the dimensional blueprint and the dimensions thankfully match. Few ways to counter and ensure peace of mind:
Floor joists are visible from the unfinished basement and hence can be verified. Second floor joists can be detected by passing a stud finder along the ceiling drywall. It is difficult however, to detect joists by passing the stud finder on the floor due to floor and carpet thickness.
Same as above for the walls. A stud finder would be a good means to detect dist between studs.
Sub standard wiring - boy, that must be a bigger scum bag than mine who builds the houses. Anyway, unfinished basements will show the wires and you can verify if they do not meet codes. Open any electrical fixtures in other rooms and you can check if the wiring is sub standard.
I don't have issues with steel beams as I got plenty of those.
"150 MPa" - that would be mega pascals - strength of the concrete.
Concrete slabs in the basement have to cover the weeping tiles that criss-cross the inside as well as the outer perimeter. The weeping tile is 4" diameter, hence the slab has to be at least that. Unless, of course, the weeping tile is buried few inches down in the gravel.
Appliances were mine, so I can't blame my own choices
Anyway, the biggest gripe I had with my builder was the quality of finish workmanship, not structural integrity. Examples - they "forgot" to finish the wiring the AC unit, fireplace and couple of electrical fixtures. The basement window edges were not properly caulked and ended up leaking water when it rained. They "forgot" to paint a portion of the bathroom wall and had just the primer.
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Dimple2001
Quote:
Orginally posted by Big Vee
Quote:
Your hopes have been realized! Can't believe you actually figured out the sarcasm part.
I think the cheapskate comment was a swipe at me? Just confirming before I respond...
You said something like \"BestBuy are cheapskates because they make a cut out of every iPod they sell\".
My point was that is not being cheap. Cheapskate is the one who does not want to let Best Buy make a living. Just correcting your sarcastic comment with my own.
BV
Of course its not being cheap. How loud do you want me to shout "sarcasm"?
Best buy's one of my favorite stores, I was just trying to make a point. Businesses and professions are structured in a certain way and real estate ain't no different. In case someone was wondering, realtors are working to make a living.
There are hundreds of businesses where a "conflict of interest" situation arises like the one pointed out here. The realtors on the thread have done their best to answer questions. Its ridiculous how people are still coming out and calling the profession "shameful". If you're so against using an agent, just don't use one, dammit! Start with that and stop using all middlemen everywhere...if that saves you money and makes your life better, all power to you! But recognize that others may want to do it differently...
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Are you there?
To add to what TK wrote.
New homes are built by sub contractors. The builders are only the middlemen. So it all depends on the sub contractor. U r at their mercy. They will cut corners and the builders know it very well. Hand in glvoe. Some of our frinds have bought new homes that makes hell a lot of creeky noice while using the staircase. One of the desi new home had the second floor bathroom collapsed and the potty fell (no one was using the bathroom).
BTW, there are two desi builders in Ottawa. Claridge and Phoenix Homes. Both are Punjabis. I know number of desis who bought their new home from Claridge.
IMO, buy a used home till u know how things are. Desis who had never lived in an independent house in India run to the builder to buy a new home and then regret (some of them). This what I have seen.
DIO
I bought a house three months back. Last I week I obseved lot of water leak in my basement. I called several professionals for estimete. They said that this is old problem ,and developed long ago. They give me estimate forCAD 6000.00 for repairs.
None of the agents( buying/selling ) disclosed this information to me. Are not they supossed to infrom me about such problem?
If yes, what will you advise?
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 25-03-06 11:04:28
Hello!
he home inspector was supposed to pick that mistake out. Either he did not do that or you did not hire a home inspector.
What about Terrion warrenty (you could try that unless this warrenty does not apply to resale homes).
Agents are for seeling and buying the house and they deal with negotiating prices alone. Their scope of work nor education does not allow them to advise you about the condition of the house.
Maybe other CD's can guide you with their ideas.
TK
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Thank you for the reply.
I wanted to know is not the agent supossed to tell or disclose the information about themajor problems like this?
Pinakin
