Tartan Homes » Homes built on solid ideas

Before you buy:

1. Can I make changes to my floor plan & elevation?
   Yes and no. It depends on the type of dwelling you are buying. We can make some alterations to the detached, Single-Family Home plans, but we do not offer a full custom design service. We are not able to do so on the attached dwellings such as Townhomes, Semi-Detached Homes and Java condominium units.
2. How much do I have to deposit?
   Varies depending on unit type.
   • Semi-Detached $25,000
   • Townhomes $20,000
   • Single-Family Home 10% of price
   • Java $14,000 over 3 payments
   • On the larger Single-Family Homes, deposits up to $40,000 are paid to Tartan, and are guaranteed by Tarion.  Deposit amounts over $40,000 are paid to Tartan's lawyer, in trust.
3. Once I buy, how long does it take to build my Tartan home?
   It varies depending on a number of factors
   1. Upon receipt of building permit, there is a 22-26 week building cycle for Single-Family Homes, Semi-Detached Homes and Townhomes. The cycle is 30-32 weeks for Java condominiums.
   2. However, homes are sometimes sold where the lot and road are not yet built. Also, occasionally homes are sold that have been previously built. Therefore, closing dates can range anywhere from 6 weeks to 16 months from time of sale.
4. What if the closing date gets delayed?
   The Tarion warranty program outlines the terms and conditions by which a closing date delay may occur. Visit the Tarion website for more information.
5. What’s involved in reserving a lot? How long can I reserve a lot for? What happens if I don’t buy?
   Reserving a lot is typically the initial process in buying a new home from Tartan. When you are ready to buy, we typically request that a reservation form be signed. The reservation form will identify the date on which the Agreement of Purchase and Sale is to be signed by you. It also identifies the lot number and dwelling type for your future home. The purpose of a Reservation is to put a courtesy “hold” on a lot while we prepare the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) in advance of the appointment to sign. We require a $1000 deposit with a reservation. The reservation is non-binding on both you and Tartan and may be cancelled at any time prior to the signing of the APS. The $1000 deposit is fully refundable.
6. What is the overall buying process?
   In the overall process there is a lot of work for both of us to do. Upon signing the APS, Tartan provides a comprehensive Homeowner Binder which guides our customers through the buying process and provides blank file folders where important documents can be stored. In summary:
   • sign reservation form
   • sign APS. Provide Tartan with proof of home financing at time of APS
   • you are contacted by the Design Centre to set up an orientation session and subsequent appointments
   • complete “architectural upgrade” purchase at either the sales office or design centre
   • complete all other upgrade purchases and interior colour selections at Design Centre
   • attend the Hosted Site Visit with the site supervisor
   • attend Tartan’s “My-Move” seminar approx 30 days prior to closing
   • Close (take possession) of your new home.
7. What is Tarion?
   The Tarion program is the regulator of the new home building industry in Ontario. Operating for more than 30 years, Tarion provides a variety of services and establishes warranty and building standards in the industry. Visit the Tarion website.
8. Are Tartan and Tamarack the same company?
   No. Tartan Homes is a privately owned company with local owners for more than 30 years. Tartan and Tamarack share some development sites in the Ottawa area but are NOT the same company.
9. What is the referral program?
   A program under which Tartan pays you $$ for referring a friend who buys a home from us. You must be an existing buyer. Details available at our Sales Offices

10. I want to buy a Tartan Home that I can rent out and use as investment. Does this effect my HST payment?
    Tartan is not able to offer advice on HST and rental issues. Here are two links for you to review.
    http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/notices/hst/02.html
    http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/notices/hst/04.html

11. I want to upgrade to a larger Hood Fan.  Why do I need to install a Make-up Air Unit?
    Please read our Hood Fan handout for detailed information. Click here

After You Have Bought (but not closed)

1. When do I go to the Design Centre?
   This depends on your closing date. You will arrange an initial orientation appointment at the Design Centre with your Sales Representative and then you will be contacted by the Design Centre to coordinate your next appointment times. In order to get the most out of the process, the most important thing is to BE READY for your Design Centre appointments. You may visit the Design Centre during our Drop-In Hours on Saturdays and Sundays between noon and 4:30 pm.  However, these hours are for viewing only  and the staff are not available to answer questions or provide pricing.  Your orientation will get you familiarized with all the choices you will need to make.  Typically your first Design Centre appointment will be 4-6 months prior to your closing date.
2. Why do some upgrades cause a closing date delay?
   Some upgrades are specialized in nature and require more lead time for the tradesperson to order. For example, granite countertops installation requires on site measurement of the kitchen after framing and drywall is completed. Because of the variety of granite style available, the supplier may not have every granite style available in the warehouse. In this instance a “special order” is required which may cause a closing date delay.
3. When are you going to start building my house?
   a. Java 30-34 weeks prior to closing date
   b. All others 22-26 weeks prior to closing date
4. Can I see my home during construction?
   Yes. Tartan provides a guided tour of the home during the construction process. Your sales rep will contact you to establish this. For reasons of your safety and management of liability we are not able to allow buyers to walk through the unit unattended.
5. What can I expect during construction?
   Buying a new home is a unique experience in that it is one of the few things that we, as consumers, can watch get built in front of our eyes. For example, we never watch an automobile or appliance get constructed. You can expect many things during the construction process. At times it will appear that construction progress is fast, and yet at other times it may appear to be slow. There will be times when the house and lot are neat and tidy and other times when it is messy. All of this is normal in the new home construction process. See Building Your Home.
6. What are the standard features?
   These are the features that are included in your home, such as oak railing, hardwood floors, trim, interior doors etc. The standard features to be included in your home are clearly identified in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale as well as marketing material available in the sales office.  Each of our communities has a 'standard' model home that you can view so that you can see all the standard features and finishings that come with your Tartan Home.
7. Why do you have such strict deadlines. What are cutoff dates for upgrade selections?
   We schedule the construction timing of your home well in advance of starting construction. Furthermore, lead time is needed to order the material to be constructed in your home. Cut off dates are required to ensure we do not miss including an upgrade feature in your home.
8. What will my address be? Where are the schools? When is garbage pick up?
   Addresses are assigned by the City of Ottawa and are given to Tartan. Unfortunately they are not always available at time of sale. However, in all instances our Sales Representative will confirm your address once we have picked up the building permit and have started construction on your home. For schools, post office, garbage pickup and other municipal services we suggest you contact the government authority (e.g. school board) responsible for this service
9. Why can’t I supply you with my own products?
   We are a sole source company – that is we sign contracts with suppliers and trades people who construct your home. These contracts include both SUPPLY and install. Furthermore, complications can arise when buyers install their own items in a home in terms of warranty and liability.

After You Move In

1. When will my lawn be sodded?
   During the spring, summer and fall, our Customer Portal, will provide you with specific information on landscaping activities in our various communities. In general, curb installation, the laying of sod, and driveway installations are seasonal work, and this work occurs between May and November. The installation occurs in the same order; curb, sod, then driveway. Because this work is done by three independent sub-trades, there can sometimes be a gap in time between each installation. With respect to sod, the landscaper will arrive at a new phase when the ground has dried out in late spring. They will start at the drier lots, and move through the phase laying sod at all houses that are occupied, and at those houses where the exterior work is complete. Tartan is not able to pre-determine the order by which the sod is laid.
   The landscaper will typically come back in the fall and go through the phase again, laying sod where the homes were completed in the summer. Driveway installation occurs after sod installation. As all seasonal work is dependant on good weather and dry ground, we are unable to create reliable schedules but continue to make every effort to enhance your community in a timely manner.
2. My basement floor and/or porch are cracked, is this normal?
   Minor surface cracking in concrete foundation, basement floor and porches is a common occurrence in new homes and has no detrimental effect on the performance of the foundation. Cracks may appear initially at the concrete curing stage where moisture evaporates from the material and the loss of volume results in material shrinkage cracks. Minor surface cracking may also result from stresses caused by extreme seasonal temperature variances where the material encounters stages of expansion and contraction. For cracks that are wider than 2cm, Tartan will fill them at your year-end inspection, though we cannot guarantee that the final finishes will be of a uniform colour or texture.
3. When can I install fencing?
   You can put up your fence after you have been living in your home for 1 year. The reason for the delay is that the City must do a final inspection of the overall grading, to make sure it will function properly during major storm events. It is not uncommon that the rear grades have to be changed as a result of the final inspection. Once the City is satisfied that the grades are fine, then fences can be installed.
4. My floor squeaks.  Will it be fixed?
   Tartan uses engineered wood joists for the main floors and second floors. It is normal for the there to be a slight spring in the floors, and occasional squeaks are also considered normal. The squeaks can come and go during the first year of occupancy, as the house dries and settles. You can list persistent or unusually loud squeaks on your 30-day or year-end reports, and we will assess them individually. Tartan cannot guarantee a squeak-free floor.
5. My baseboards and trim are separating from the wall.  Is this normal?
   A new home is built with new materials, and is subject to drying and settlement in its first year. The result can be, among other things, that baseboard and door trim can separate from the walls or ceilings, which looks like a thin crack. This is normal, and indeed is to expected in all new homes. At the 30-day inspection and again at the year-end inspection, Tartan will do a caulk and patch of trim that has separated, as well as drywall cracks and nail pops in all places.
6. My door is hard to close.
   During the first year of occupancy the house will dry and settle. Occasionally a door will become hard to open as the frame settles. This is covered by the Tarion one-year warranty, and will be repaired by us at the 30-day or year-end inspection.
7. Why are the plugs hard to plug into?
   If you moved from a home that is more than four years old, then you may not be familiar with the new plugs that are now required in all new homes. The new plugs have a safety feature, whereby a piece of metal slides behind the holes when there in nothing plugged in. This stops children from being able to insert thin objects into the plug. It does make it a little harder to plug things in. You have to insert the plug with a little bit more determination, and you may have to wiggle it. The new plugs take a little getting used to, but will become normal very soon.
8. My hardwood is crackling. Is this normal?
   Humidity is a key factor for hardwood and this is why Tartan provides you with a hygrometer before your closing date.  When you have purchased pre-finished hardwood floors, this wood, like the rest of the wood items in your home, are subject to a period drying and settling, as well as a period of adjustment to the new humidity. It is common for the boards to become a little separated especially in the drier winter months. You can maintain the right humidity in your home by having the humidifier and the HRV at the proper setting. Please check our Homeowner's Manual for more information.
9. I have to flush my toilets more than once?
   If you are moving from an older home, you may not be used to the lower volume toilets that are now being installed in all new homes. Some toilet upgrades that are available through our Design Centre even have dual-lever action: flush and hold for a few seconds for heavy use, flush and release for lighter use.
10. I can see seams in my drywall when the sun comes thru my big windows. Is this normal?
    Yes, you will see drywall seams when particularly intense light shines upon the walls and ceilings. You are also likely to see them where the screw patches are. This is the nature of modern drywall materials and installation. The Tarion guideline standard is that the walls have a normal uniform finish in normal lighting, standing six feet away. More information can be found in section 9 of the Tarion Construction Performance Guidelines.