There are many benefits associated with buying a brand new home, including the protection afforded by the Ontario New Home Warranty Program. In this column, I will discuss the research homebuyers should conduct when buying a new house from a set of plans.

Resale homes allow homebuyers to see, touch and inspect what they are buying. With new homes, however, unless there is a model home, homebuyers are expected to base their purchase on a set of plans prepared by the builder. Homebuyers who find themselves in this situation should ask meaningful questions and analyze a variety of matters before going ahead with their purchase.

First, analyze the layout of the house. Are the family and dining rooms appropriately located? Is the kitchen large enough to suit your family? Is there enough closet space? Will your existing furniture be suitable? The answers to these questions will only come after you have carefully reviewed the floor plans and drawings. If you are not comfortable with the answers they provide, you should consider another model.

It is very difficult to conceptualize how your existing furniture will look in a new room. However, if your current residence has large rooms with large furniture, it is important to ensure that the rooms in the new house will accommodate this furniture. Homebuyers should carefully consider the measurements of each room. Failure to do so may mean having to purchase new furniture. Such an unexpected expense can adversely affect your cash flow at the worst possible time.

In addition to reviewing the house plans, homebuyers should carefully review the colors, finishes, materials and décor from which they may select. Many large builders have a décor centre where purchasers may select tiles, cupboards, flooring, carpeting and other things. Ask to see the samples of standard inclusions (for which there is no additional cost) to determine if they will be adequate. Upgraded options and extras will be made available, but at a cost.

Equally important to how your house will be built is where it will be built. When you buy a house from plans, be sure to look at the plan for the entire subdivision. Doing so will enable you to visualize how your house will fit into the neighborhood. The plan will show you how the area will be developed, and may reveal the location of schools, sidewalks, parks, trees, fire hydrants, transformer boxes and stop signs. If the land surrounding your house is vacant, you will want to know what eventually will be built there. Many purchasers fail to consider this and are later disappointed to learn that their house is located on a very busy street with lots of traffic. Take care in choosing the right lot for your needs.

A wise purchaser will do their research well in advance of signing on the dotted line. Review the plan for the house as well as the plan for the surrounding area. And don’t sign anything without first consulting an experienced real estate lawyer.