When an Ontario Real Estate Litigator Can Help You

Building your dream home is an exciting journey, but it’s important to remember that it is also a legal transaction involving real estate law, construction law and contract law. Due to the size of the transaction, real estate deals can be the cause of severe financial hardship and may lead to litigation in order to resolve issues.

When working with a contractor to build your home, be sure that all aspects of your agreement are covered in the contract. Without a sound contract, confusion about your expectations may arise. Ensuring that everything is down on paper can help both parties to understand what work needs to be done, how much it will cost and when it will be completed. It is always advisable to have a lawyer review the paperwork, especially when there is a large sum of money involved.

In cases where work has not been completed to expectation, faulty work has resulted in the homeowner incurring additional costs, or disputes arise over lot size, you may need the assistance of a civil litigation lawyer to help you find a resolution.

Questions to Keep in Mind

There is a certain amount of responsibility on your part to ensure that the entire home-building process goes smoothly. According to the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, shopping around to find the right builder is an extremely important step.

Consider the following questions when researching prospective home builders:

• Is the company or builder you plan to hire a member of the local home builders association? (Only the most professional and reputable builders are granted a membership.)
• Does the builder belong to the Ontario New Home Warranty Program?
• How long has the builder been in business?
• How many homes does the company build each year?
• Are there any previous builds you can look at to determine expected quality of the home several years later?
• Does the builder currently have any homes under construction?
• Is the builder willing to provide names of past customers that you can use a reference?
• Does the builder stand behind their product and offer some sort of follow-up system?
• Is the builder willing to provide a detailed warrantee that you can review?

Sometimes, what seems like the ideal situation can go wrong and you may require the services of a real estate or civil litigation lawyer. Ferguson Barristers can help with your legal concerns when dealing with real estate issues. Contact us online for a free legal consultation or call 1-800-563-6348 to speak directly with one of our lawyers.

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This blog post is presented for information purposes only. The information contained in this post should not be construed as legal advice from Ferguson Barristers or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal advice on any matter. You should not act, or refrain from acting, based on any such content or information without seeking appropriate legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

Please note that we are only able to provide legal advice to clients of Ferguson Barristers. You may contact us about becoming a client. Any unsolicited information sent to Ferguson Barristers may not be protected by attorney-client privilege.