Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the No Surprises Guarantee?
- What do you need from us so that you can put a quote together for building our home?
- Do we have to use Bellamy Homes to design our home?
- What is the process before construction can begin on our home?
- How long does it take to build a new home?
- We are on a tight budget. Can you guarantee we won’t go over it?
- Can we use our own supplier for materials or our own contractor for construction or installation? Can we do the work ourselves?
- What are your payment terms?
- Can we visit the site during the construction process?
- How is the budget & contract structured?
- General Information
What is the No Surprises Guarantee?
The No Surprises Guarantee was developed to establish continuity in how we manage our projects. It is a system that has checks and measures throughout every step of the construction process. As well, it provides you with regular updates during the construction process. The goal is to make this process a very pleasant and memorable experience for you.
What do you need from us so that you can put a quote together for building our home?
In order for us to give you the costs associated with building your home, we need to have scale drawings of your home that, in addition to floor layout, also show the front, side, and rear elevations. You should also have an idea as to what type of finishes you want in your home, such as hardwood, granite, exterior finish etc. Lastly, we need to know where you plan to build so that we can determine site conditions.
Do we have to use Bellamy Homes to design our home?
You do not have to use our services for Architectural design. If you have your own Architectural designs, we are more than happy to use them.
What is the process before construction can begin on our home?
Once a budget has be done and approved, we will require your financial and legal information for confirmation of financing and exchanging of funds. We will then schedule you in to sign the contract. At this meeting, a deposit cheque, excluding GST, will be required. We should also have an idea as to when we can begin excavation on your lot.
How long does it take to build a new home?
This will obviously depend on the size of home you are building, the complexity of the building, and the finishing details that you choose. Typically, the build time for the construction of new homes ranges from 8 to 12 months.
We are on a tight budget. Can you guarantee we won’t go over it?
When we put together a budget for the construction of your home, some of the numbers are derived from scientific data and other numbers are strictly an estimate based on historical data. There are many factors that can change whether you’re over or under budget. Some of those factors are; weather, material costs, changes in design or specs and whether your lot requires extra work.
In addition to you approving all substantial changes that affect cost, we will send you monthly budget updates so that you know where your project budget is at. This will give you the opportunity to make educated decisions on future specifications or changes.
Can we use our own supplier for materials or our own contractor for construction or installation? Can we do the work ourselves?
Bellamy Homes has a team of preferred suppliers and contractors that are proven reliable in their quality, craftsmanship, pricing and adherence to project schedule. We highly recommend the use of our “Team of Professionals”, however, if you choose to use your own contractor or supplier, they MUST be APPROVED for the project by Bellamy Homes. ALL materials provided by you MUST be CSA APPROVED. All products and/or services provided by the client are subject to the project management fee as the scheduling of same needs to be coordinated by our office.
In the case where a client’s contractor is used on the project, Bellamy Homes reserves the right to hire its own preferred contractor to complete the work if it is deemed that completion of that phase is going to jeopardize the overall project schedule. If bringing our own contractor is not feasible, Bellamy Homes may extend the possession date of your home.
What are your payment terms?
Once the deposit is received and construction begins, we will invoice you on a BI-monthly basis for construction costs to date and our Management Fee. All payments are due within 5 business days from the invoice date. One to two weeks prior to the completion of your new home, we will send you a projection of final costs so that you can arrange final payment with your financial institution. Once construction is complete, we will arrange a meeting at our offices for payment of the final invoice and to hand you the keys to your new home.
Can we visit the site during the construction process?
Yes, you can visit the project site while your home is being constructed, but we will require that a Waiver of Liability be signed by you to indemnify Bellamy Homes from any responsibility, should you injure yourself while visiting the site. Please keep in mind that a construction site is very dangerous and children should not be on the project site. We ask that site visits be limited to after business hours and weekends.
How is the budget & contract structured?
Bellamy Homes uses a Cost-Plus Management Agreement. This means that all invoices relating to the project are charged at cost and the management fee percentage is calculated based on those actual costs. Copies of invoices for “Hard” costs such as materials and labor will be forwarded to you with each Bi-monthly invoice.
WOOD DOORS
Wood is a natural product that is subject to conditions such as temperature, humidity levels and direct sunlight. Wood doors will expand and contract with the seasons and are not warrantable, but rather, are considered on-going maintenance items you will need to take care of when you move into your house. Pets (especially dogs) can be extremely hard on wood doors. Damage caused by pets is not warrantable.
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Hardwood floors will also expand and contract with the seasons and will be subject to the harmful UV rays of the sun in areas where there is direct sunlight. Additionally, hardwood floor suppliers will not honour warranties if a humidifier is not installed, or if the humidifier is not used properly. Pets (especially dogs) can be extremely hard on wood floors. Damage caused by pets is not warrantable.
DRYWALL & CONCRETE
As the house dries out, drywall can, and often will, crack and it’s important to remember that this is not a structural issue. Drywall repairs are covered under warranty at the one year inspection, but repainting is the responsibility of the owner. As with drywall, concrete floors (slabs) in the basement and garage are also susceptible to cracking once the concrete dries and shrinks. Again, this not a structural deficiency.
