What You Need to Know When Building a New Home

illustration of woman wearing a hardhat and holding blueprints

Buying a home is often the biggest purchase you will make, and it requires many important decisions. If you have decided to build a new home, this can bring
additional considerations, particularly as they relate to contracts and financing,
and the risks associated with them.

If you’re planning to “build new,” this website can help you, offering practical tips to
help you make those important decisions and better protect yourself.


Tip #1 – Find a good builder

There are lots of home builders out there, but how do you know which are reputable? Be sure to:

  • Check credentials. Is the builder a member of a professional association or organization? Do they have any professional or educational/training credentials? Typically, a home builder will list such information on their website.
  • Ask for references. Are there homes in the same neighbourhood that have been recently built by this builder? If so, approach the owners and ask them about their experience. As well, see if you can find homes that were built by the builder five or 10 years ago. How have they held up over the years? If the company won’t provide you with names and addresses of their past customers, you should think about choosing another company
  • Ask people you know and trust to suggest builders they have contracted with or have heard positive comments about.
  • Do your research. Your new home is a major investment, so time spent learning about a builder is time well spent.
  • Look up the company on the Better Business Bureau’s website. The Bureau can help you identify trustworthy businesses, and those that aren’t.
  • Look for builders who allow you or a representative appointed by you to visit the construction site and check the progress being made on your new home. Also, does the builder offer an inspections program? That means their homes are inspected during key stages of construction, in addition to the regular municipal inspections required for every new home.

Other resources

Note: The Manitoba government does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.

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