New Home Inc (NHII)
02-07-2010, 01:56 PM
Hello Everyone,
As many of you may already be aware of Mattamy Homes has placed a ban on my company New Home Inspection Inc from assisting new homeowners with their PDI inspections.
This started back in September 2009 when I became aware through my clients who had booked PDI appointments with us, that Mattamy Homes had advised them through email (email quote) “Mattamy Homes no longer allows New Home Inspections Inc or their employees to attend any of our Pre Delivery Inspection appointments or gain access to our homes prior to closing” (unquote). Threats were made and has been carried out to have us removed from the property should we turn up at the PDI appointment. Some homeowners who choose to ignore the warning and had me attend the PDI anyway, were less than impressed with the way Mattamy handled my presence on site. I was denied entry and then was told, entry would be granted, IF I agree to sign this new (made by Mattamy) ‘Code of Conduct Form’ which of course I refused to sign. I was then kicked off the site and the homeowner was left to conduct the PDI with out assistance.
The situation has since escalated to include pretty much a complete ban on home inspectors at the PDI on all of Mattamy sites. New home owner are being told as early as Mattamy University that home inspectors are not allowed at any of Mattamy PDI inspections, and specifically New Home Inspections Inc. unless that inspector agrees to sign a Code of Conduct Form which in fact ties the hands of the home inspector, and impede them from properly representing the client.
This came as a shock and surprise to me, even though I was fully aware that Mattamy Homes and other builders in general, has for some time been struggling with the fact that homeowners were better informed and educated than ever before, and were fully exercising their right to have professional representation at a PDI.
This was largely in part to the positive changes that came about through Regulation 894 Section 1.11 of Ontario New Home Warranty plan act which allowed homeowners the right to have a designate/inspector at the PDI. Coupled with of course, the very useful information available to homeowners through website forums such as this one, providing new homeowners especially ones buying a new home for the first time, with an opportunity to exchange valuable information and experiences about their builder and the home’s building process in general.
It was not a norm in the industry a few years ago, to have a Home inspector accompany homeowners at the PDI; as a matter of fact homeowners were forbidden from bringing a home inspector with them at the PDI prior to bulletin #42. Regulation 894 Section 1.11 of the ONHW Plan Act as a result builders are not use to dealing with home inspectors being present at the PDI, pointing out issues, defects, etc, basically inspecting on behalf of the client/purchaser. Builders no longer had the one on one control with the homeowner at the PDI and clearly some were not happy about this.
As one Mattamy PDI representative once said to me, they don’t feel they have control of the PDI when I am attending with the homeowner. Maybe because they knew I was observing the way they conducted the PDI and themselves, and was vigilant in ensuring proper procedure as outlined by Tarion was being carried out, that my client’s rights was first and foremost at the PDI, and that I would not hesitate to report to Tarion and to Mattamy’s GM when lines were crossed. Which I have had to do in the past with a certain PDI representative that was clearly out of line at a PDI walk through.
Having said that, I can think of several reasons why Mattamy homes would want me banned from their PDI. Given my no nonsense approach with the builder and complete dedication to the homeowner for starters. So my surprise is not that Mattamy did ban Home inspectors namely my company from attending the PDI, because that has always been Mattamy’s intention. My surprise is however that Tarion has allowed this to happen and has not intervened on behalf of homeowners.
I have since however, retained a lawyer to assist me with this matter and as such this unfortunate situation is currently being dealt with through my lawyer.
Presently, it is business as usual for us. We are happy to inform you that New home Inspections Inc are still conducting PDI inspections with all the usual Tarion follow up 30 Day and Year end inspections for all other builders in Milton and the GTA area, and we are still available to perform 30 Day and Year end inspections for Mattamy homeowner on all of Mattamy sites, since thankfully, Mattamy has no control on who you choose to hire for your follow up inspections beyond the PDI.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our clients for all the calls expressing your disbelief and astonishment with Mattamy Homes decision, and for your patience and continuing support through this very trying time, as we continue to provide homeowners with the usual high standard of inspections they deserve to protect their investment.
We will be posting updates as necessary on this and other forums. If you wish to view more on this issue please click here (http://www.hawthornevillager.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=191307#191307). As well please feel free to contact me if you have any questions with respect to this situation.
Thank you again for your continuing support. We remain positive moving forward on all fronts.
As many of you may already be aware of Mattamy Homes has placed a ban on my company New Home Inspection Inc from assisting new homeowners with their PDI inspections.
This started back in September 2009 when I became aware through my clients who had booked PDI appointments with us, that Mattamy Homes had advised them through email (email quote) “Mattamy Homes no longer allows New Home Inspections Inc or their employees to attend any of our Pre Delivery Inspection appointments or gain access to our homes prior to closing” (unquote). Threats were made and has been carried out to have us removed from the property should we turn up at the PDI appointment. Some homeowners who choose to ignore the warning and had me attend the PDI anyway, were less than impressed with the way Mattamy handled my presence on site. I was denied entry and then was told, entry would be granted, IF I agree to sign this new (made by Mattamy) ‘Code of Conduct Form’ which of course I refused to sign. I was then kicked off the site and the homeowner was left to conduct the PDI with out assistance.
The situation has since escalated to include pretty much a complete ban on home inspectors at the PDI on all of Mattamy sites. New home owner are being told as early as Mattamy University that home inspectors are not allowed at any of Mattamy PDI inspections, and specifically New Home Inspections Inc. unless that inspector agrees to sign a Code of Conduct Form which in fact ties the hands of the home inspector, and impede them from properly representing the client.
This came as a shock and surprise to me, even though I was fully aware that Mattamy Homes and other builders in general, has for some time been struggling with the fact that homeowners were better informed and educated than ever before, and were fully exercising their right to have professional representation at a PDI.
This was largely in part to the positive changes that came about through Regulation 894 Section 1.11 of Ontario New Home Warranty plan act which allowed homeowners the right to have a designate/inspector at the PDI. Coupled with of course, the very useful information available to homeowners through website forums such as this one, providing new homeowners especially ones buying a new home for the first time, with an opportunity to exchange valuable information and experiences about their builder and the home’s building process in general.
It was not a norm in the industry a few years ago, to have a Home inspector accompany homeowners at the PDI; as a matter of fact homeowners were forbidden from bringing a home inspector with them at the PDI prior to bulletin #42. Regulation 894 Section 1.11 of the ONHW Plan Act as a result builders are not use to dealing with home inspectors being present at the PDI, pointing out issues, defects, etc, basically inspecting on behalf of the client/purchaser. Builders no longer had the one on one control with the homeowner at the PDI and clearly some were not happy about this.
As one Mattamy PDI representative once said to me, they don’t feel they have control of the PDI when I am attending with the homeowner. Maybe because they knew I was observing the way they conducted the PDI and themselves, and was vigilant in ensuring proper procedure as outlined by Tarion was being carried out, that my client’s rights was first and foremost at the PDI, and that I would not hesitate to report to Tarion and to Mattamy’s GM when lines were crossed. Which I have had to do in the past with a certain PDI representative that was clearly out of line at a PDI walk through.
Having said that, I can think of several reasons why Mattamy homes would want me banned from their PDI. Given my no nonsense approach with the builder and complete dedication to the homeowner for starters. So my surprise is not that Mattamy did ban Home inspectors namely my company from attending the PDI, because that has always been Mattamy’s intention. My surprise is however that Tarion has allowed this to happen and has not intervened on behalf of homeowners.
I have since however, retained a lawyer to assist me with this matter and as such this unfortunate situation is currently being dealt with through my lawyer.
Presently, it is business as usual for us. We are happy to inform you that New home Inspections Inc are still conducting PDI inspections with all the usual Tarion follow up 30 Day and Year end inspections for all other builders in Milton and the GTA area, and we are still available to perform 30 Day and Year end inspections for Mattamy homeowner on all of Mattamy sites, since thankfully, Mattamy has no control on who you choose to hire for your follow up inspections beyond the PDI.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our clients for all the calls expressing your disbelief and astonishment with Mattamy Homes decision, and for your patience and continuing support through this very trying time, as we continue to provide homeowners with the usual high standard of inspections they deserve to protect their investment.
We will be posting updates as necessary on this and other forums. If you wish to view more on this issue please click here (http://www.hawthornevillager.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=191307#191307). As well please feel free to contact me if you have any questions with respect to this situation.
Thank you again for your continuing support. We remain positive moving forward on all fronts.