BrianNSara
11-19-2008, 08:09 AM
Photo by Darren Lum
TAKING A STAND. Bracebridge resident Patsy O’Brien holds the flyer and the list of homeowners who have signed up to be part of the group asking for more from Mattamy Homes. O’Brien and others say they have experienced a number of problems with their new homes. Article Tools
Dream home or worst nightmare?
November 12, 2008 - by Matt Driscoll
There appears to be a minor uprising taking place in the town’s north end.
A significant portion of the homeowners in the Mattamy Homes subdivision have recently banded together in an effort to rectify a long list of concerns they have with their new homes.
Spearheading the group are Don and Patsy O’Brien. Since moving from Oakville to their new home on Clearbrook Trail last month, the couple said they have encountered a host of problems.
“This was supposed to be our dream home,” said Don last week. “What they’ve done is killed everybody’s dream by being cheap and sloppy.”
The O’Briens, who have lived happily in Mattamy subdivisions before, said the Mattamy name was one of their primary reasons for choosing to move to Bracebridge.
“They have the reputation of being number one in quality,” said Patsy.
Nevertheless, the problems for the O’Briens began even before they moved into their new home.
“My house was delayed for two months,” said Don. “I have two special needs kids and two dogs, and for two and a half months we lived in a hotel room because they couldn’t get it finished.”
Since moving in, the O’Briens said their primary problem has been flooding.
“If you go on Clearbrook (Trail), I’m the one with all of the water pouring across my sidewalk,” said Don. “I’m afraid my lawn is going to get washed away . . . and that’s good compared to some other people.”
Flooding is just the tip of the iceberg for the O’Briens, who said their home has problems when it comes to the quality of the dry walling, concrete, cabinetry, carpeting and painting.
“My wife bought the kitchen because this was her dream kitchen, and our kitchen still isn’t done,” said Don. “They just finished painting the outside of the house. There are people who have been here for a year and the outside of their houses hasn’t even been touched.”
Once the O’Briens began making inquiries with their neighbours, they discovered a lot of them are facing similar problems.
The O’Briens decided to rent out space at the nearby sportsplex to discuss forming a committee to have their grievances dealt with.
As a result, the O’Briens said 66 people, the majority of the residents in the subdivision, came out to express their concerns.
“It was a fantastic meeting and a lot came out of it,” said Don. “Ninety per cent of us were complaining about the same things.”
The majority of residents have problems with flooding, said Don, and some had their basements flood on the same day they moved in.
A number of people also expressed concerns with the town of Bracebridge, said Don.
“Who approves these houses? Most people are flooded . . . and people on the side streets don’t even get their garbage picked up,” said Don. “You’d think the town of Bracebridge would have their arms wide open, but we’re not getting a lot of help here.”
Luigi Favit is president of Mattamy Homes Peel Division, which is in charge of the local subdivision.
“That’s a community in Bracebridge that we take a great deal of pride in,” said Favit on Monday. “The majority of our homeowners up there are happy with the community and their home. Unfortunately there are some isolated incidents . . . and we’re working quickly to fix those.”
Favit acknowledged there have been issues with flooding, but he maintained the incidents are isolated to certain areas of the subdivision.
“We’ve dealt with individual homeowners on a case-by-case basis, and we also want to work with the town to understand what the broader issues are. We built the community to the municipal standards,” he said. “You also have to understand that we’ve just gone through one of the worst summers that we’ve ever been through, with a lot of water.”
As for unfinished kitchens, Favit said the regular kitchen supplier recently went out of business and there has been something of a scramble to find a new provider.
“We know that’s led to some frustration on the part of the homeowners and we’re working through that as quickly as possible,” he said. “We’ve identified another supplier, and we’re working through the backlog with the previous supplier to get all the various parts and pieces.”
Favit said Mattamy deals with the concerns of every homeowner individually, and warranty and construction teams are currently in Bracebridge to deal with any problems.
“We pride ourselves on delivering a good product and having high customer satisfaction,” he said. “On balance, I think we’ve done a good job.”
Town CAO John Sisson confirmed Monday that he has been contacted by the group, and he is in the process of setting up a meeting with them.
“We’re willing to talk with them about whatever issues they have . . . although some may relate specifically to their builder,” said Sisson. “They’re in a bit of an odd transition period right now. Sometimes new residents are moving in while homes are under construction and there’s a lot of outstanding work that needs to be done. I’ve lived through two new subdivisions myself so I can appreciate that.”
Kim Horrigan, Bracebridge director of development services, said every home in the subdivision is subject to a building inspection before approval for occupancy is granted.
To get approval, the building must meet a number of requirements, including a proper heating system, footings and plumbing. Finishing aspects of the home such as trim, cabinets and painting are not requirements for approval.
Andrew Stacey, public works engineering technologist, said all of the homes are connected to municipal water and sewer, and sub-pump issues are between the developer and the homeowner.
Garbage pickup is conducted for some of the homes within the subdivision, said Stacey.
“The district doesn’t pick up garbage until the town agrees to plow the roads,” he said. “Right now, some roads are cleared by the developer and some are cleared by the town.”
The town will not plow subdivision roads until they meet a certain standard, said Stacey, but eventually all of the roads are expected to meet the standard to receive municipal snowplowing.
Back on Clearbrook Crescent, the O’Briens said they will continue to fight until they get what they paid for.
“I started this and I’m going to finish it,” said Don. “We want it to be the way we imagined it.”
This article has been viewed 948 times.
Source:// LINK (http://www.gravenhurstbanner.com/article/121926)
TAKING A STAND. Bracebridge resident Patsy O’Brien holds the flyer and the list of homeowners who have signed up to be part of the group asking for more from Mattamy Homes. O’Brien and others say they have experienced a number of problems with their new homes. Article Tools
Dream home or worst nightmare?
November 12, 2008 - by Matt Driscoll
There appears to be a minor uprising taking place in the town’s north end.
A significant portion of the homeowners in the Mattamy Homes subdivision have recently banded together in an effort to rectify a long list of concerns they have with their new homes.
Spearheading the group are Don and Patsy O’Brien. Since moving from Oakville to their new home on Clearbrook Trail last month, the couple said they have encountered a host of problems.
“This was supposed to be our dream home,” said Don last week. “What they’ve done is killed everybody’s dream by being cheap and sloppy.”
The O’Briens, who have lived happily in Mattamy subdivisions before, said the Mattamy name was one of their primary reasons for choosing to move to Bracebridge.
“They have the reputation of being number one in quality,” said Patsy.
Nevertheless, the problems for the O’Briens began even before they moved into their new home.
“My house was delayed for two months,” said Don. “I have two special needs kids and two dogs, and for two and a half months we lived in a hotel room because they couldn’t get it finished.”
Since moving in, the O’Briens said their primary problem has been flooding.
“If you go on Clearbrook (Trail), I’m the one with all of the water pouring across my sidewalk,” said Don. “I’m afraid my lawn is going to get washed away . . . and that’s good compared to some other people.”
Flooding is just the tip of the iceberg for the O’Briens, who said their home has problems when it comes to the quality of the dry walling, concrete, cabinetry, carpeting and painting.
“My wife bought the kitchen because this was her dream kitchen, and our kitchen still isn’t done,” said Don. “They just finished painting the outside of the house. There are people who have been here for a year and the outside of their houses hasn’t even been touched.”
Once the O’Briens began making inquiries with their neighbours, they discovered a lot of them are facing similar problems.
The O’Briens decided to rent out space at the nearby sportsplex to discuss forming a committee to have their grievances dealt with.
As a result, the O’Briens said 66 people, the majority of the residents in the subdivision, came out to express their concerns.
“It was a fantastic meeting and a lot came out of it,” said Don. “Ninety per cent of us were complaining about the same things.”
The majority of residents have problems with flooding, said Don, and some had their basements flood on the same day they moved in.
A number of people also expressed concerns with the town of Bracebridge, said Don.
“Who approves these houses? Most people are flooded . . . and people on the side streets don’t even get their garbage picked up,” said Don. “You’d think the town of Bracebridge would have their arms wide open, but we’re not getting a lot of help here.”
Luigi Favit is president of Mattamy Homes Peel Division, which is in charge of the local subdivision.
“That’s a community in Bracebridge that we take a great deal of pride in,” said Favit on Monday. “The majority of our homeowners up there are happy with the community and their home. Unfortunately there are some isolated incidents . . . and we’re working quickly to fix those.”
Favit acknowledged there have been issues with flooding, but he maintained the incidents are isolated to certain areas of the subdivision.
“We’ve dealt with individual homeowners on a case-by-case basis, and we also want to work with the town to understand what the broader issues are. We built the community to the municipal standards,” he said. “You also have to understand that we’ve just gone through one of the worst summers that we’ve ever been through, with a lot of water.”
As for unfinished kitchens, Favit said the regular kitchen supplier recently went out of business and there has been something of a scramble to find a new provider.
“We know that’s led to some frustration on the part of the homeowners and we’re working through that as quickly as possible,” he said. “We’ve identified another supplier, and we’re working through the backlog with the previous supplier to get all the various parts and pieces.”
Favit said Mattamy deals with the concerns of every homeowner individually, and warranty and construction teams are currently in Bracebridge to deal with any problems.
“We pride ourselves on delivering a good product and having high customer satisfaction,” he said. “On balance, I think we’ve done a good job.”
Town CAO John Sisson confirmed Monday that he has been contacted by the group, and he is in the process of setting up a meeting with them.
“We’re willing to talk with them about whatever issues they have . . . although some may relate specifically to their builder,” said Sisson. “They’re in a bit of an odd transition period right now. Sometimes new residents are moving in while homes are under construction and there’s a lot of outstanding work that needs to be done. I’ve lived through two new subdivisions myself so I can appreciate that.”
Kim Horrigan, Bracebridge director of development services, said every home in the subdivision is subject to a building inspection before approval for occupancy is granted.
To get approval, the building must meet a number of requirements, including a proper heating system, footings and plumbing. Finishing aspects of the home such as trim, cabinets and painting are not requirements for approval.
Andrew Stacey, public works engineering technologist, said all of the homes are connected to municipal water and sewer, and sub-pump issues are between the developer and the homeowner.
Garbage pickup is conducted for some of the homes within the subdivision, said Stacey.
“The district doesn’t pick up garbage until the town agrees to plow the roads,” he said. “Right now, some roads are cleared by the developer and some are cleared by the town.”
The town will not plow subdivision roads until they meet a certain standard, said Stacey, but eventually all of the roads are expected to meet the standard to receive municipal snowplowing.
Back on Clearbrook Crescent, the O’Briens said they will continue to fight until they get what they paid for.
“I started this and I’m going to finish it,” said Don. “We want it to be the way we imagined it.”
This article has been viewed 948 times.
Source:// LINK (http://www.gravenhurstbanner.com/article/121926)