At Empire Communities, we believe in more than building great homes, but also great neighbourhoods for you to live in. To do so, a long series of steps are taken to build an exceptional new community and have your home completed by the scheduled closing day. Read on to learn more about the construction process and the timeline for a new build, single-family home.
How long does it normally take to construct a home? When is the closing date determined?
It takes approximately 28 weeks to construct a new low-rise home; closing dates are dependent on variables such as permits, status of financing and zoning, and are therefore determined closer towards the home’s completion date. New Empire homeowners will receive an Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) document that includes a Statement of Critical Dates; this is a Tarion-mandated document that contains tentative closing dates along with a firm closing date.
Who manages my home’s construction?
The construction of your Empire home will be managed by a team that includes a Lead Superintendent and Administrator. Depending on the number of homes within your community, one or two Assistant Supervisors may also be part of the team. The construction team will ensure your home is built to our values and standards, and will contact you at various points of the construction process, including when it is time to schedule your frame walk and when your keys are ready on closing day. They will also address any deficiencies noted on your Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI).
How can I follow my home’s progress?
To ensure you stay informed and prepared throughout the entire construction process, Empire has created a Homeowner Portal that serves as a go-to destination to track the building process of your new home and provide you with a personalized means to stay in touch with our team. The Homeowner Portal’s features include a detailed status timeline that pinpoints the current construction milestone of your new home, access to key documents including your Agreement of Purchase of Sale, updates and notifications about your home and community and key date reminders. The Homeowner Portal is sent to Empire homeowners via email shortly after purchase.
What does the construcion timeline look like?
Excavation
The first part of the construction process is the excavation of the home. Our Customer Care team will notify you of milestones throughout the construction process, such as the start of your home.
Foundation Wall & Back Filled
Prior to the backfill of your foundation, the Municipality conducts a back-fill inspection to ensure that the foundation weeper system is installed in accordance to OBC Standards.
Framing Complete to Roof & Framing Inspection
The next step of the construction process takes place approximately one to two months after the start of construction. At this stage, a City Inspector will conduct a framing inspection of the home; once the home has passed this inspection, we will be able to continue with the construction of your home. Homeowners will receive a notification once this milestone is complete.
Exterior Cladding
Homes at this stage are now just over 50 per cent complete, with the exterior aesthetic of the home now starting to take shape.
Homeowner Frame Walk
A milestone step, the Site Administrator will contact you to schedule your frame walk (please ensure our sales office has your most up-to-date contact info). This is a great opportunity to meet your Construction Superintendent and to see how the construction process is coming along (it is recommended that only two adult homeowners participate as the site is still under construction). Frame walk appointments take approximately one hour and are scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am and 4pm.
For low-rise homes there is one scheduled visit permitted. The Construction Superintendent will educate homeowners on the construction process and give them the opportunity to confirm that the options and upgrades they selected are included in their home construction. For high-rise, the only opportunity homeowners will have to view their suite will be at the pre-delivery inspection (PDI) stage.
Insulation & Energy Star Inspection
A Municipal Inspector will ensure that you home has the proper insulation. Empire’s New Home Energy Specialist will also inspect your home to ensure it meets Energy Star standards. You will receive your Energy Star certification at your PDI shortly after you take possession of your home.
Drywall Completion
Drywall completion is a great indication that your closing day will be fast-approaching. This is an excellent time for homeowners to schedule a mover and contact the utility companies to set up your accounts.
Floor Tiles, Kitchens & Vanities
Floor tiles, kitchens and vanities are all installed at this stage. Floor tiles are laid first and prior to installation of interior trim. The drywall is then checked, the fireplace installed and the interior paint completed. Following this, the kitchen and vanities are installed.
Energy Star Blow Door Test
An independent third-party will conduct a blow-door test to confirm the air-tightness of your home. This is a good time to contact your solicitor and financial institution to ensure that everything is in order for closing day.
QA Inspection
Empire will now conduct a thorough Quality Assurance (QA) inspection prior to the Home Orientation to help ensure that your home is in top-notch condition.
Home Orientation & PDI
Taking place approximately one week before closing, the Home Orientation stage is the last of the construction process and your first opportunity to note any deficiencies in your new home (these will be noted on the Pre-Delivery Inspection form). Empire aims to repair these deficiencies by the time of closing or shortly thereafter (aside from seasonal items). Your Home Orientation Specialist will also explain how to use your home’s systems and offer home maintenance tips. Any deficiencies identified should be told to the Home Orientation Specialist so that they can capture it on their PDI form; if warrantable, they will be corrected before the closing date.
Home orientations are conducted the same way for both low- and high-rise homes. Orientation typically takes between 1.5 to 2 hours to complete for a low-rise home, and 30 to 45 minutes for a condominium.
Want to learn more?
Whether you’re buying a house or a condo, the process of having a new home built for you can be a bit intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. To help you on your homebuying journey, we’ve put together a collection of great resources; simply click here to access them.
Be sure to explore our communities and keep an eye out for our construction updates, which are released on a seasonal basis.