Frequently Asked Questions

What does the New Home 2/5/10 year warranty cover?

Home warranty insurance on new homes includes a minimum of:

  • 2 years on labour and materials
  • 5 years on the building envelope, including water penetration
  • 10 years on structural integrity
  • The 2-year labour and materials coverage is broken down as follows:
    • 12 months on detached homes and on non-common property in strata units (includes fee simple homes)
    • 15 months on common property of strata buildings

Defects in materials and labour related to the delivery and distribution systems (electrical, plumbing, heating ventilation, air conditioning, etc.)

    • 24 months for all buildings.

The above description obtained from Homeowner Protection Office

Do all New Home Builders provide warranty coverage?

Home warranty can only be provided by insurance companies approved by the provincial Financial Institutions Commission to provide home warranty insurance. Ask what type of warranty is included in the new home and get it in writing.

Are Owner-Built Homes required to have Home Warranty Insurance?

In British Columbia, owner builders are exempt from the requirements of the Homeowner Protection Act to obtain a license as a residential builder and to arrange for home warranty insurance. However, they must first obtain an authorization from the HPO. Owner builders must build or directly manage the construction of the new home. If someone other than the owner builder performs a construction management or builder function, that person must be a Licensed Residential Builder and must arrange for home warranty insurance. Owner builders must use the home for their personal use for at least one year before offering it for sale.

How long does the "average" house take to construct?

Although each and every custom home that we build is unique unto itself, a quality built custom home can take, anywhere from 9 - 12 months to complete from the date of commencement of construction. The actual time to build will vary greatly based on many factors, some of which include: the size of the home, the complexity and detail, the decision making process of the clients, the time of year, etc.

How much does the average new home cost to construct?

This is perhaps one of the most difficult questions to answer without properly analyzing the specific house plans, customer requirements and project specifications. The initial quote is usually based on a price per square foot. However, the more that is included in a new home, the greater the cost. On the other hand, in order to build a new home on a more modest budget, some items can not be included, thus limiting the many required choices and selections to items that will allow us to assemble a more conservative budget. As such, it is difficult (and often somewhat misleading) to really provide a fair number in this regard. Keep in mind that you can only build good quality for so little! Once we meet and review with you your plans, requirements, specifications and expectations, we will be in a position to offer you a fairly realistic price estimate.

What kind of Warranty does Dueck General Contracting offer?

Dueck General Contracting is a licensed builder and includes the New Home Warranty with all of the homes that we build. This warranty coverage is provided by Travelers Guarantee and is in accordance with the Provincial 2/5/10 year new home warranty program. Dueck General Contracting always stands behind all of the projects that we have ever been involved with and will continue to maintain this important practice.

Budgets and Budgeting - what do you prepare and provide for each project?

Once we are in receipt of the plans and specifications, we carefully review the various components that make up each project and prepare a budget for review with the customer. Our budget format is easy to review, providing valuable information to both the client and ourselves, and ultimately becomes our "guide" throughout each project that we undertake. We are constantly reviewing and updating these budgets in accordance with the progress of the project to ensure that both the requirements and expectations of the client (and of ourselves) are being met.

Cost Overruns - The Myths

We very typically use this term in a most cautious manner. As long as we are provided with a proper set of plans, clear and concise specifications, finishing schedules and all other relative and pertinent information (for each specific project), we are able to prepare an accurate budget for any project. As such, the so-called, "cost over-runs" are usually brought on by four main factors:

  1. Client changes: Changes made to the initial plan or specifications.
  2. Client’s decisions: This is typically a direct reflection of the level of products (features and fixtures, etc...) that the client chooses for their new home. Based on the ultimate products and features that are chosen - the price (as a direct reflection of the budget and of the allowances) can change (both up and down) based on these decisions.
  3. Unknowns: From time to time, a project will run into unknowns. These vary greatly (from discovering huge rock boulders in the excavation - buried deep in the ground, unknown or abandoned pipe-lines, buried oil-tanks, etc...) and can affect the initial budget.
  4. Industry related price changes: In today’s market, prices of materials, fixtures, supplies and labour are ever changing and unquestionably influence every budget

How much should I expect to spend on my upgrades?

Commonly, ten percent of the total cost of the home should be set aside for upgrades. Home buyers often underestimate what they can afford. The important thing is to go for your dream. Upgrades turn out to be only dollars a month in a mortgage payment, and the typical homeowner will only pay for seven years—the average time a person stays in their home. It can often be more expensive to renovate afterwards. It is also important to know that items you add after closing will not fall under the Builder's Warranty.