New home builders recognized for excellence in customer service

TORONTO, March 24, 2015 /CNW/ - Tarion Warranty Corporation announced today the finalists for the 2015 Tarion Awards of Excellence, the only awards in Ontario that recognize new home builders based solely on their customer service delivery.

"New home builders are building beautiful homes and communities across Ontario, but their jobs don't stop there. A great home builder ensures their customers feel supported long after they've settled into their new home," said Tarion President and CEO Howard Bogach. "The 2015 Tarion Awards of Excellence finalists demonstrate that excellent customer service is an essential part of a home builder's job and can make the difference between a good home builder and a great one."

According to Chris Spiteri, Chairman of Tarion's Board of Directors, "Tarion sets the standards for new home builders in Ontario when it comes to licensing and after sales service delivery for warranty obligations. The Tarion Awards of Excellence finalists represent builders who go above and beyond these requirements. Their commitment to excellent customer service helps validate the high caliber of service that the Ontario home building industry has to offer." 

Finalists were determined based on the results of a comprehensive survey sent to more than 49,000 Ontario homeowners who took possession of a new home between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014. Almost 7,900 survey responses were received, representing 16 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 focused on homeowners' satisfaction with their builder, covering every stage in the homeowner-builder relationship from the signing of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale, through construction and the pre-delivery period, to after-sales service. 

To qualify for the Awards, builders must have at least five new home possessions during the survey timeframe and a specified number of completed questionnaires must have been received.

Award recipients will be announced at a luncheon in Toronto on Monday, April 20, 2015.

The following new home builders compete in four award categories: small, medium, large volume and high-rise.

High-Rise Category
(More than 100 high-rise possessions per year)
CONCERT – Toronto      
The Daniels Corporation – Toronto      
Del Ridge Homes – Markham     
Mattamy Homes – Oakville    
The Tricar Group – London
Tridel – Toronto      

Large Volume Category
(More than 100 possessions per year)
Devonleigh Homes Inc. – Orangeville
Fusion Homes – Guelph
Monarch Corporation – Toronto
Tribute Communities – Pickering
Urbandale Construction Ltd. – Ottawa

Medium Volume Category
(21-100 possessions per year)
Hayhoe Homes – St. Thomas
Klemencic Homes – Trenton
McDonald Homes –  Brighton
Melanie Construction Inc. – Russell
SACA Homes – Casselman

Small Volume Category
(5-20 possessions per year)
J. Donato Construction Ltd. – Wasaga Beach
Lockwood Brothers Construction – Oxford
Rick Stewart Construction Ltd. – Fort Erie
Rochon Construction – North Bay
Terry Waito Homes Inc. – Petawawa

Like Tarion on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tarionwarrantycorp or follow us on Twitter @TarionWarranty for more information about the 2015 Awards of Excellence.

About Tarion
Tarion is a private corporation established in 1976 to protect the rights of new home buyers and regulate new home builders. In this role, Tarion administers the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, which outlines the warranty protection that new home purchasers are entitled to in Ontario. The Corporation also establishes minimum time standards for after-sales service, and adjudicates issues between homeowners and builders. 

SOURCE Tarion Warranty Corporation

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