New Home Builders Presented with Awards for Customer Service Excellence

TORONTO, April 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Tarion Warranty Corporation has announced the recipients of the 2014 Tarion Awards of Excellence, the only awards in Ontario that recognize new home builders based solely on homeowners' satisfaction with their customer service delivery.

Awards were presented to:

• The Tricar Group, London - High-Rise Category
• Fusion Homes, Guelph - Large Volume Category
• Klemencic Homes, Trenton - Medium Volume Category
• Dwyer Homes, Strathroy - Small Volume Category

"A home is the largest purchase most people will make in their lifetime, and to have an attentive and responsive builder is paramount in making this experience a positive one for all those involved," said Howard Bogach, Tarion President and CEO of Tarion Warranty Corporation. "Congratulations to all recipients and finalists for being leaders in customer service." 

The awards are based on the results of a comprehensive survey sent to almost 46,800 Ontario homeowners who took possession of a new home between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013. More than 6,400 survey responses were received, representing 14 per cent of consumers who bought a new home in Ontario during that time.  The results were tabulated by Crunch Research in partnership with Harris Decima. 

Survey questions covered every stage of the homeowner-builder relationship beginning with the signing of the agreement of purchase and sale, through construction, pre-delivery inspection, and after-sales service.

The Honourable Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Consumer Services, provided the following remarks on the outstanding accomplishments in customer service:  "Congratulations to the 2014 Tarion Awards of Excellence recipients. These builders demonstrate that excellent customer service can be an asset to your business and will have a lasting effect on home buyers."

2014 Tarion Award of Excellence Finalists and Recipients: 

High-rise builder category
(More than 100 high-rise possessions per year)
The Daniels Corporation, Toronto
Domicile, Ottawa
The Tricar Group, London
Tridel, Toronto
One Sherway T4 Inc., Toronto (A joint venture between Menkes and Great Gulf Homes)

Large volume builder category
(More than 100 possessions per year)
Fusion Homes, Guelph
Devonleigh Homes Inc., Orangeville
Great Gulf Homes, Toronto
Monarch Corporation, Toronto
Pidel Homes, Guelph

Medium volume builder category
(21-100 possessions per year)
Geertsma Homes, Belleville
Grey Forest Homes, St. Catharines
Hayhoe Homes, St. Thomas
Klemencic Homes, Trenton
Wrighthaven Homes Limited, Elora

Small volume builder category
(5-20 possessions per year)
Castell Homes, London
Castlemount Homes, Gormley
Dwyer Homes, Strathroy
Larry Otten Contracting, Stratford
S.L. Witty Construction, Barrie
Van EI, Mount Pleasant

About Tarion
Tarion Warranty Corporation is a private corporation established in 1976 to serve as the regulator of the new home building industry in Ontario. In this role, Tarion licenses all new home and condominium builders pursuant to provincial legislation. This statute requires new home builders to provide purchasers with warranty coverage that is guaranteed by Tarion.  Tarion also establishes minimum time standards for after-sales service and adjudicates issues between homeowners and builders.  As of the end of 2012, more than 381,000 homes in Ontario were protected under warranty.

SOURCE: Tarion Warranty Corporation

Melissa Yollick, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, (Ph) 416-229-3863, [email protected]