REAL ESTATE

TYPICAL HOME CONTAINS MORE THAN 3,000 PARTS

Building a house demands expert planning

YOU'VE MADE it beyond
the blueprint. A firm offer
to purchase a new house
comes only after much soul
searching and house hun-
ting, weighing nceds against
design featurcs and options,
confirming necessary finan-
clal and legal arrangements
and, it seems, detail, detail,
and more detail.

Having come through
such an exciting and impor-
tant experience, the next step
of course is to start reaping
the benefits — moving into
and enjoying your new
home.

But first some very impor-
tant work must take place
between the time you sign
the offer to purchase and
when you receive the keys to
your new home. Your home
must be built.

Constructing a house is a
highly complex procedure
that demands expert plan-
ning, knowledge of focal
approval requirements,
careful scheduling and skill-
ed co-ordination by an expe-
rienced builder. A typical
house contains more than
3,000 parts all of which must
be assembled carefully and
in sequence.

Only after a builder has a
firm offer that includes final
specification of all options
can the process begin to roll.
And only ‘in exceptional cir-
cumstances should you ex-
pect the sequence of events
to allow you to move in

~ GORGEOUS

earlicr than six-to-seven
months.

Being realistic up front
makes the waiting easier.

Co-operation is the key to
smooth sailing during con-
struction,

As construction proceeds,
both you and your builder
can make changes. A builder
can choose alternatives if
specified materials are not
available, so long as the
substitutes are of com-
parable quality.

While a builder is not
obligated to inform you of
these equivalent switches
most professionals make it
their business to keep you
informed.

During construction, the
builder may ask you to make
some additional decisions.
Be sure to give cach matter
adequate consideration, but
don't delay unnecessarily.

For your part, try to stick
to the overa!l choices you
made at the outset, when
considering the color selec-
tions, carpeting and other
options available to you. In
many cases the materials re-
quired to supply your
choices are ordered im-
mediately to ensure delivery
when needed.

Before requesting any ad-
ditional changes during con-
struction, stand back and
take a cold hard look. IT it is
important enough, ask the
builder to make the change.

Most changes can be ac-

commodated, but may add
to the cost and will likely
delay construction and
ultimately your move-in
date.

Few of us could resist the
temptation of watching a
dream become a reality, par-
ticularly if that dream is the
home you put so much time
and cffort into choosing. in
fact, you should stop by the
site to see how construction
of your home is progressing
— every couple of weeks.

Of course, technically,
you don't own the house,
but it is important to check
that construction is  pro-
ceeding steadily. When you
do visit, don’t Iciter around
the construction site, and,
for safcty reasons, you
shouldn’t walk around the
actual construction areas of
your home.

Any questions that may
arise from a visit or concerns
about progress should be
addressed directly to the
builder or the sales repre-
sentative, The tradespeople
on site have their jobs to
complete and won't be
equipped to discuss your
home’s progress. The build-
er, however, will be.

As construction heads into
the final stages, it is impor-
tant to maintain close con-
tact with the builder or his
representative to ensure
smooth sailing right to the
end. Sometimes unexpected
and unavoidable delays in-

JEANNETTE

WRIGHT

925-1111, 921-9499

Z

Es.

GARDENS

@ Cozy and immaculate 2 bdrm. home. Updated kitchen and near-new carpet. Very;
private setting and lovely garden. View of Howe Sound mountains. Parking in|
| rear. 6485 Wellington, West Vancouver.

terfere with a final closing.
Your builder will want to al-

temedy any
that may surface.

minor items such as scrat-
ches and incon:plete paint
work, will be rectified.

imperfections

leviat. any delays as much as

you.

Shortly Uv °-> the final
settlement and transfer of
ownership of the house, you
and your builder will walk
through the house to con-
duct a final inspection.
Three to five days before the
closing is best — when con-

A thorough walk-through
will save you and = your
builder time and aggrava-
tion, Ask lots of questions
and use a checklist to ensure
a complete inspection.

Everything that is not to
your satisfaction must be
noted for both the
predelivery inspection report

Some flaws won’t show up
until after 2 home has been
lived in and all its systems
used under normal cir-
cumstances. This is where
the time taken to choose a
builder who is a member of
the New Home Warranty
Program and has a solid

CANYON HEIGHTS

Ground level master bedroom with full ensuite
and fireplace. Plus 2 bedrooms up, 2nd bathraom,:
rec room, etc. Updated kitchen. Beautiful and
& very private yard wilh sunny pool. Just $270's.
& Call before it is sold. ,

- 986/9321

reputation for good after-

struction is substantially and the New Home War- J / 3
complete but still enough canty Certificate. Most sales service will prove its
time for the builder to builders will ensure that worth to you.

UPPER LONSDALE
Reduced to sell quickly, Asking $220's for 3
bedroom, 12 bathroom home with rec room &
den. Quiet location. Walk to good schools. Large
70'x109' lot. Cali for details.

sutton group., west coast realty
a _AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER BROKER

JOYCE WILSON
1922-4751 925-1111 |

ied

TREMENDOUS VALUE AT $249,000

* SURPRISE FEATURE — A must to see
%* New rec room — your choice of carpets

# New bathroom
% And much, much more!

‘ gutton group - séntinel realty
: . ‘AN INDEPENDENT: MEMBER BROKER

%* Reduced by $10,900

* 2 fireplaces, den

~ * 3 bedrooms, 242 bathrooms
For a private appt. please call me.

925-4111.

HISTORIC WATERFRONT
BOWEN BAY — $399,000

Exciting cedar and glass contem-

porary. 3040 sq.ft. passive solar

heat home with a fantastic 1130

: sq.ft. deck. Incredible SW. views

L and sunsets. Home built around
E

686-4006
(24 hour pager)
ROE ES

PLEASE CHECK YOUR NEEDS
4 5 bedrooms
4 Big fenced yard

hag f4 Quiet cul-de-sac

pe Bly oe eat = | id Close to everything
BIG FAMILY fA $174,900

gunpowder ruins. 1.85 acres.

y
1

"
:
a
we

tit

oe eer ne . a —
NEW HOMES ON
1. Exciting 2200 sq.ft. new home (under construction). Completion by mid- |

summer. This home offers 2 or 3 bedrooms, family room, skylights & spiral
staircase. Lovely view and sunsets. Close to beach. $174,900

BOWEN ISLAND!

UE ietiy

‘2. Custom 1500 sq.ft. cedar home to be built on .8 of an acre. Very private and
peaceful setting. Fabulous plans with a spiral staircase, skylights and a huge
verandah that wraps around the house. $144,900. Call to view plans.

925-1441

TWO, TWO, TWiC HOMES IN ONE! fa 614 West 22nd St N Vv.
a A's
8 t bedroom suite. You'll love the Jenn-Air range,
KIM THOM 686-4006 686-4006

tots of room .- us spacious 4 bedroom, 3 .
Drive by, then call me to see
B hardwood floors, E-Z care yard, central loca-
“G. 44  --. $utton group “sentinet-réailty 4.
— 925-4117 925-1111°

bathroom rancher PLUS totally separate luxury
inside!
Call today to view. KIM THOM
sutton group - sentinel ty...
: : = re ey - AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER BROKER

RN INDEPENDEN- re

-925:1111-