The Playbook. A step-by-step guide to building your dream home

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1 The Playbook A step-by-step guide to building your dream home

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3 Playbook Guiding you through the home building experience... every step of the way.

4 TAMARACK HOMES A step-by-step guide to building your dream home

5 Tamarack Homebuyer Playbook Guiding you through the home building experience... every step of the way. Congratulations on purchasing your new Tamarack home! Purchasing a new home is an exciting experience. At Tamarack Homes, we strive to make the process run as smoothly as possible. The Tamarack team will be guiding you through this process and monitoring the completion of each of the steps involved, in order to maintain the flow of the entire process, and to ensure that your experience is unforgettable. Every single homebuyer is important to us. Our commitment to your satisfaction continues to be a foundation on which we build. That s why we developed this special guide. It is designed to provide you with important information about the steps involved in building your new home, as well as to educate you about the critical role that you play in allowing us to meet our deadlines and commitments. Thank you for choosing Tamarack Homes. Our goal is to ensure that you re entirely comfortable with and comfortable in your new home. We know you ll fill your new home with many cherished memories. That s why we re committed to delivering you an experience of a lifetime. Tamarack Referral Program Would you like to receive $500 cash? It s easy! If you should have a friend or relative who is looking to buy a home, please register them at any of our sales offices. If they decide to buy a Tamarack home, and you were the first person to introduce them to Tamarack, we will be happy to send both parties a cheque for $500 after the closing of their new home! 5

7 Our Green Commitment Tamarack is a leading ENERGY STAR home builder. Every Tamarack home built is 20-30% more energy efficient than a standard home built to the Ontario Building Code, certified by a third-party inspection agency. You will receive an ENERGY STAR Homeowner s Information Package when your home is registered with the ENERGY STAR program, along with years of improved comfort and lower utility bills. But, even before you move into your home, the home building process can have a significant impact on the environment. The building materials installed, building practices utilized and waste management practiced by Tamarack can impact your family s health inside the home, and the community in which you will live for years to come. Tamarack Homes strives to turn the environmental impact of residential construction into an opportunity for sustainable product use, water conservation, waste reduction and a minimization of impact on our natural resources. In our homes, Tamarack Homes has emerged as a leader in energy efficient homebuilding. We are continuously looking at ways to maximize energy savings and conserve water for our homeowners while minimizing our impact on the environment during the construction process. In our communities, Tamarack Homes has refined the land planning and development process to better incorporate preservation of natural landscapes, and focus on stormwater management procedures. In our operations, Tamarack Homes strives to ensure that our office and jobsite operations are as much in line with our sustainability principles as the construction of our homes and communities. 7

8 Contact Listing Important Contacts at Tamarack To ensure that you know who may best answer your questions, we have compiled a list of the customer service personnel who can answer any questions you may have. Please note that after point of sale, your Customer Care Representative will remain your main point of contact. Head Office Mail: Tamarack Developments 3187 Albion Road South Ottawa ON K1V 8Y3 Name Phone Number Address President Chris Taggart [email protected] Vice President Scott Parkes [email protected] Construction Manager Denis Rochon [email protected] Director of Sales & Marketing Debi Champagne [email protected] Service Manager Jan Rot [email protected] Construction Manager Steven Parkes #329 [email protected] Kingston Service Department Community Name Phone Number Address Half Moon Bay/ Stella Bettencourt #437 [email protected] The Meadows Findlay Creek Carla Mason #436 [email protected] Kingston / Chaperal Terry Williams #423 [email protected] After Hours Emergency Phone: (Ext. 555) Website: (click on Customer Service ) 8

9 Sales Associates Community Name Phone Number Address Cardinal Creek Village Noella Francoeur Joy Kerr Findlay Creek Greenwood Park / Park West Louise Weegar Valerie Taller Jacqueline Collier [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Poole Creek Village Deb Denison [email protected] Chaperal Marg Baker [email protected] The Meadows/Half Moon Bay Deb Durie [email protected] Woodhaven Jacqueline Collier [email protected] Design Centre Ottawa Name Phone Number Address Christine Marsala [email protected] Kim Knuth [email protected] Mandy Mason [email protected] Sarah Taggart Design Centre Kingston Name Phone Number Address Carolyn Hawkes [email protected] Site Superintendents Community Name Phone Number The Meadows/Half Moon Bay Steve Winges Findlay Creek Richard Patenaude Chaperal / Cardinal Creek Vic Desjardins Greenwood Park / Mike Altherr Greenwood Park West Woodhaven Mike Altherr

10 Other Contacts: For your convenience, here is a list of other important contacts you will be in touch with prior to moving into your new home. Ottawa Service Contact Phone Number Gas Enbridge Electricity Hydro Ottawa Hydro One Water Regional Water Hot Water Tank Reliance Home Comfort Phone Bell Canada Newspapers Ottawa Citizen Ottawa Sun Mail Delivery Canada Post Transit OC Transpo Kingston Service Contact Phone Number Gas Utilities Kingston Electricity Utilities Kingston Water Utilities Kingston Hot Water Tank Utilities Kingston Phone Bell Canada Newspapers Whig Standard Mail Delivery Canada Post

11 TAMARACK HOMES A step-by-step guide to building your dream home 9

12 Your Design Centre Experience Now the fun really starts! You found the perfect neighbourhood, fell in love with one of our home designs - now you will be personalizing your new home with interior selections that reflect your own personality and lifestyle. Our design team are here to provide you with guidance and assistance to help you design the dream home that is distinctly yours. When it is time to schedule your Design Center Appointments, the coordinator will contact you to schedule all three of the appointments required to complete the Selection Process. However there are a lot of things you can start to do now to prepare for your Design Centre appointments. How to Prepare: As you prepare to personalize your new home, consider the needs of your household, such as family size, pets, home office, school work, hobbies, entertaining and holidays. Start developing a wish list for your new home. Browse the latest home decorating magazines, websites and catalogues for inspiration. Visit model homes around the city for decor ideas. Make a list of your must haves and what items would be nice-to-have before your appointments commence, so that you can balance your customization with your budget. The Design Centre Process: Your Design Centre process will consist of three separate appointments. Please note that after your first appointment, you have 45 days to complete the Design Centre process. While the first appointment is an overview and introduction, at the second and third appointments you will be finalizing your selections. First appointment: 1 Hour This appointment is an introductory visit to familiarize you with our Design Centre and our Consultants. Your Design Consultant will demonstrate our large selection of standard and upgrade options that are available to personalize your home. We will also introduce you to our custom cabinet supplier, Muskoka Kitchens at this appointment. If you would like to customize your kitchen or bathroom, an appointment will be confirmed for you to meet with Muskoka s designer. For Ottawa homebuyers, following this appointment, we encourage you to visit again and browse at your leisure on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. or Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Please note that our Design Consultants may have scheduled appointments during these times and may not be available to assist. However, our receptionist will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 12

13 For Kingston homebuyers, the Design Centre is open for browsing during regular business houses. Second appointment: 2-3 hours During this appointment you have an opportunity to review the pricing on all products and select the finishes and any upgrades you prefer. Third appointment: 1-2 hours At your final appointment you confirm all your selections, including bell outlet and cable outlet locations and any changes you may have made. Any amendments required to your Agreement of Purchase and Sale must be signed at this time to enable us to process them. Copies will be provided for your personal record. It is important to note that you have 45 days from your first appointment with the Design Center to finalize all your selections, upgrades and changes. This is because many items have long delivery timeframes (such as your kitchen cabinetry which is custom made), and we need your selections finalized in order to ensure these items are installed on schedule. Any delays in your ability to finalize selections within the 45-day timeframe may result in a change in the closing date for your new home. Please note that all selections are subject to the final approval of Tamarack homes to ensure that they are compatible with the other components of your home. Once your file is complete, it will be reviewed by our construction team for accuracy and timelines. Depending on the volume of upgrades and the choices made, extra time may be required to complete your home. You will be advised in writing shortly after this review process should a change to your closing date be required. Inventory Homes (Condensed Time Frame at Design Centre): Should your home already be under construction (at a stage anywhere from foundation to drywall), a more condensed time frame may be required than the standard 45 days in order to meet scheduled closing dates. The Design Centre will be aware of this and schedule your appointments accordingly.

15 Quality Construction Every Step of the Way At Tamarack Homes, we are continually looking for new and better ways to build. Better materials. Better construction methods. Better technologies for the home. This is how we offer Ontario s Best Built Homes. Building a new home is a complex process that involves the coordination of thousands of details and tasks. As the homeowner, you play an important role in ensuring that this process flows smoothly, so that we can build your home on time, and up to the high standard that you expect from Tamarack. At Tamarack Homes we have laid out a step-bystep plan, Built-To-Order process, that will take each customer from the first construction phase to the final inspection where they are given the keys to their new home. Involving both our own staff and our trade partners, we will co-ordinate all the necessary expertise to build your home. Each of these steps is explained in more detail below. Permit Application In order to deliver your home, we must apply for a building permit immediately upon receipt of your firm offer. In order to apply for this permit, we need to include all plans and specifications involving any structural changes that you select, including exterior colour selections. There is more information about this in the Cut-Off Date section of your agreement. We must apply for (and receive) the permit on time, to ensure that our construction crews have the proper allotted time to build your new home. Once permits are cleared, construction can begin! Plan Review Meeting: 1 Hour Once the working drawings (or blue prints ) for your home have been developed, we will contact you to invite you to review the working drawings of your dream home package to ensure that everything meets your expectations. You will also review related documentation called change orders that specify the structural changes that you have made to the home design. Please note that non-structural changes (such as flooring materials, or electrical changes) are typically not reflected on plans but on change orders. Foundation Is Poured The first step to building a quality home is laying the foundation. Tamarack Homes analyzes soil conditions, ground integrity, government requirements, and home size to ensure that a quality structural system is built for your home. Framing Your New Home The frame is the skeleton of your home. The framing stage usually takes three to four weeks, and consists of the following: (1) the walls start going up on the first day of frame start, as the first floor is constructed; (2) work starts on the second-floor system (if applicable), using engineered floor joists; (3) roof trusses are installed; (4) the entire roof is installed and windows are installed. 15

16 Mechanical Systems After framing is completed on your home, the plumber, electrician, and heating and cooling craftsmen install mechanical work in your home. Upon completion of these items, an inspection will take place to ensure that all mechanical systems have been roughed-in properly and conform with applicable building codes. Frame Check Walk-Through: 1 hour Once the framing and electrical wiring is complete, but prior to installing the drywall, your sales representative will schedule a walkthrough of your new home with the construction site supervisor. This is an exciting time as you walk around your new home and become familiar with the building process. You have an opportunity to observe the changes you may have made, as well as, gain a general overview of the construction of your home. Our site supervisor will highlight the many extra features found in a Tamarack ENERGY STAR Home. Feel free to ask questions, we value your input and observations during this time. Drywall Drywall is stocked in the home while insulation, gas meters and permanent power connections are installed. It frequently takes two full days to hang interior drywall. Next, drywall taping and finishing are scheduled and blown insulation is installed. After the interior walls are touched up, the walls and ceiling are textured. Trim and Finish Details Now the fun really starts! During this phase, your home begins to look like the home you designed. Walls are primed and prepared for final finish, while interior trim, cabinets, counters and sinks are installed. Completion of electrical systems occurs as shelving, bath accessories and mirrors are installed. Ceramic tile, carpeting and wood flooring are installed. The entire home is cleaned. Exterior Landscaping Paving, interlock, walkways, sod, garage floors and exterior painting take place. Please note that due to the seasonal nature of the exterior work, some items may not be completed by your closing date but will be completed when weather permits. 16

19 Pre-Delivery Inspection: 2 Hours Your home is almost complete! Approximately five days prior to your closing date, we will invite you for a final walk-through of your new home. Although some minor work may still be underway and the final clean may not be complete yet, we would like you to know that several cleanings are performed before closing. This meeting is an orientation of your new home, to demonstrate the various features and systems. A Tamarack Inspector will take you through your new home, room by room, and explain the operation and maintenance of your new home. Your Tamarack Inspector will document any items for repair or touch-up and these items will be covered under your new home warranty. This meeting will last approximately 2 hours and will be conducted with the homebuyers only, or someone that you specify as a designate (see Tarion for more information). At the end of the inspection, you receive your Pre-Delivery Package. Among other things, the package contains important documents including your Certificate of Completion and Possession (CCP), your Tarion Pre-Delivery Inspection (this should correspond with the Pre-Delivery List), and a Tarion Homeowner Information Package. Your Pre-Delivery Inspection List is forwarded to Tamarack s site office directly after the inspection for follow up action. If all of the items are not completed prior to your closing date, the site office will work with you to complete them after you move in. Depending on the season or the availability of materials and labour, it may not be possible to complete certain items until suitable weather conditions. At the time of the Pre-Delivery Inspection or shortly afterwards, you will receive the warranties and operating instructions not already included in the Homeowner Manual. In some cases, such as with your furnace, the information is attached to the appropriate appliance. Store this information in the Warranties section of this Manual or in another safe location for future reference. Note: we do not recommend children attend the inspection or that you use the occasion to show your new home to friends or family. The focus of the Pre-Delivery inspection is to inspect the house and produce accurate written documentation as to its condition prior to your closing date. Your Safety Tamarack Homes first priority is safety of our customers, our staff and our Trade Partners. Please only visit your home when invited for an inspection, accompanied by a representative, and wearing the appropriate safety gear (safety gear is available on loan from each Sales Centre). We cannot allow unscheduled visits on the construction sites while your home is under construction. Not only our company, but also our Construction Site personnel are liable for any injury that occurs on the construction site, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is a regulation under the Construction Safety Act, and we strictly enforce this policy. We thank you in advance for your cooperation in keeping our construction sites safe. 19

20 The Day of Closing! The closing date is the day that the home and property legally become yours! Typically, the week before closing, your lawyer will contact you to arrange a time to sign the appropriate legal documents, and secure mortgage and home insurance details. Your lawyer will also arrange for the transfer of funds to Tamarack s lawyer. In order to make your closing as convenient as possible for you, we have arranged that your keys will be available at the Sales Office Monday to Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on your day of closing. If your closing is on a Friday, your keys will be available at the Site Trailer from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please note that the exact timing of when your keys will be available to you during the above time frame is controlled by your lawyer. We cannot release the keys to you until the deed to your home has been registered by your lawyer and your purchase funds have been received by our lawyers. Written instructions and contact names and numbers will be provided to you through your lawyer along with closing documents in the event closing occurs after these hours. Please note that garage door keys (or automatic door openers) will be left on the kitchen counter or attached to the interior of the garage door for your day of closing. Once you receive the keys, the house is all yours! Welcome Home! 14 TAMARACK HOMES A step-by-step guide to building your dream home

21 Living in Your Home Tamarack Homes understands how much your investment means to you, so we do the best we can to provide the best possible service, from the start of the home buying process until the end. On the day of closing, your new home warranty begins, and we will be there every step of the way to help take care of any problems that may arise and answer all of your questions about your new home. The warranty on your new Tamarack Home is backed by the Tarion Warranty Corporation. There are guidelines as to when you will submit your items for repair to Tamarack, however our Customer Service Department will be available at any time to handle urgent requests, or answer your questions. We will meet with you twice during the first year in your new home: 30 Day Inspection Approximately five days after you have moved in, our service department will contact you to arrange for a 30 Day Inspection. This is your opportunity to report any items for repair to Tamarack, that you have identified since you have moved into your new home. As per Tarion s warranty guidelines, you may submit your 30 Day Report to Tamarack and Tarion prior to your 30th day of occupancy. Tamarack will assist you with generating this report at the 30 Day Inspection, identifying what items are covered under your new home warranty. Please refer to your Tarion Homeowner information package, or for more information. 12 Month Inspection Throughout the first year of living in your new home, you may notice new items for repair. We will contact you two months prior to your one-year anniversary date to schedule a 12 Month Inspection. This is your opportunity to show us any warranty concerns that may have come up since the 30 Day repairs. Please take some time now to browse the Tamarack and Tarion websites, and learn more about your warranty coverage. 21

22 Customer Satisfaction Surveys We understand that the home building process is very exciting, and sometimes very overwhelming. You have a story to tell about your experience, and we re listening. Throughout your experience we will be offering you the opportunity to complete three different customer satisfaction surveys so that you can tell us how well we met your expectations in terms of customer service, your new home, and your new community. We have hired a third-party independent surveying company, CustomerInsight by C.Caswell & Associates Inc., to survey you once before you move in, and then twice during your first year of occupancy. We look forward to receiving your feedback!

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