1. How much will my addition/extension/custom home cost?
If we could answer this question accurately without seeing your plans, discussing your vision and the needs you'd want to address, and without inspecting your current property – the quote you would receive could be misleading. Giving quick quotes is generally a very bad and also a very common contractor practice, and quick estimates are always misleading. They add unneeded stress to the building process and the amount you end up spending on the project is always substantially greater than the quick estimate you initially received.
What we can do for you is spend some time listening, inspecting, evaluating and providing you at the end with a free quote. The quote will be presented to you in an easy-to-read form with a copy of the contract agreement and terms and conditions for you to examine.
2. Will I have to move out?
That would depend on the extent of work that you wanted to undertake. Second storey additions do not usually require a family to move out, unless there is also extension work to the existing main floor. Building an extension requires wall(s) to be demolished, grounds excavated, and finding a temporary home during construction would be necessary.
3. How long does it take to complete an addition/extension?
Most of the renovation (additions and extensions) can be finished in approximately six to twelve weeks, depending on whether the project involves additions or extensions. A new home with excavation and foundation work can take upward of five months depending on the size of the house. Typically sized new houses take anywhere between sixteen to twenty weeks. All these times refer to the moment construction commences not the date of the contract signing. However, there are a few factors that could affect the timetable – not having the proper permits to start the project, customer bank loans on hold or lack of payment on the part of the client.
4. Do we have to get a permit from the Building Department?
Yes. Before you even plan an extension or addition, it would be wise to check out the zoning and all applicable bylaws relating to your property. Making sure that you are allowed to build an extension or addition should be the first step. Most municipalities will in fact have a bylaw that will also tell you the maximum square footage you are allowed to add or the height limitations in your area.
If you should chose so, we offer the service of obtaining all permits on your behalf, thus saving you the hassle of scheduling various inspections during the course of construction, and avoiding lost construction time that could occur if the permits weren't’t approved and or handed in on time.
5. Should we build a new house or an addition?
To help you answer this question by yourself, we can give you a few pointers in form of questions you should ask yourself.
- Why do you need a bigger space? Is your family getting bigger, or is your current floor plan simply not suitable for your lifestyle?
- How convenient is the area you live in? What type of schools are in the area, commuting to and from work, proximity to shops and entertainment, do you have friends and family living close by?
- How many houses in the area already have additions?
- If you build an addition, how long would you plan to stay in the neighborhood? How old are your children, how long would you expect them to stay with you? Do you intend to sell the house right away?
- Building an addition/ extension or demolishing the existing house and building a new one could mean that you would have to move out for a couple of months. The duration of this inconvenience depends on the type of construction undertaken.
- What are the current market prices for houses in your area? Are they going up or down?
- What is the usual return on the investment at resale?
- Which problems would an addition/extension solve?
- Building a custom house would mean that you are getting what you need and want in a house, everything brand new and no repairs for the next few years – minimal upkeep costs.
- Where is the budget for the project coming from?
- Are you handy? Would you be able to do a part of the job yourself? (Install new tiles, paint, put a carpet in?)
6. Which area do you offer your services in?
We offer our services in most of the Greater Toronto Area. This includes Mississauga and Brampton.
7. Will the addition/extension match the rest of the house?
This is your choice. Both floors can have stucco or other exterior finishing added to both floors in order to create a seamless integration between the main floor and the second story addition. It is understandable if you choose not to undertake this for aesthetical or budgetary reasons. It does however increase the resale value of the home and could be considered if the house is intended for immediate sale.
8. Why should we hire Delphi Homes?
Delphi Homes is committed to providing you with exceptional service you’d expect from a small company. With our size, we are able to create a close relationship with all our customers and eliminate the need for middle men. Our emphasis is on quality and not quantity, thus we only have a few projects at any given time. This enables us to serve you faster, know your goals and desires more personally and address them accurately.
9. We would like to finance the project. What do we do?
If you have a financial adviser it would be a good idea to schedule a meeting or find one. This way you can get professional advice and lower the risk of budgetary irregularities and poorly spent money.
10. What type of warranty do you offer?
3 year limited exterior warranty
1 year limited interior warranty
We offer a one year limited warranty that includes labor and material for all the interior renovation/construction that was completed by us. There is a three year exterior damage protection covering material and labor. (ie. Stucco work, exterior tiling, etc.) If multiple contractors were used on the project, the warranty only covers the part that was completed by Delphi Homes. It will not cover the material and labor costs of secondary contractors hired before or after. If a contractor is used after Delphi Homes to make additions or adjustments without a prior agreement with Delphi Homes, Delphi Homes does not take responsibility in the workmanship quality or and the integration of the previous work done by Delphi Homes with the new work done by a secondary party, and all warranty conditions mentioned above will be invalid. In the event that Delphi Homes is the secondary contractor hired to complete an existing job, only the work done be Delphi Homes will be protected under the warranty, and the work done by the first party will not be covered by Delphi Homes.
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