While the building boom continues to reshape Toronto and some other cities in Ontario, developers now have to face an ever more competitive market, with buyers not only seeking the best price or design, but also taking into account the quality of the customer service offered by builders. The Tarion Warranty Corporation announced earlier this week the finalists for the 2015 Tarion Awards of Excellence, which recognize home builders based on their customer service delivery. 

88 Scott Street, courtesy of Concert Properties

A comprehensive survey focusing on homeowners' satisfaction with their builder—from the moment the Agreement of Purchase and Sales was signed to the after-sales service—was sent to more than 49,000 Ontario homeowners who took possession of a new home between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014. 7,900 responded and a list of finalists was determined. Divided into four categories—small, medium, large and high-rise—21 new home builders are now competing for recognition as the best Ontario builders. The awards will be handed out during a luncheon in Toronto on Monday, April 20, 2015.

Hullmark Centre, image by Jimmy Wu

Competing in the high-rise category, with more than 100 high-rise possessions per year, are Concert Properties (Toronto), The Daniels Corporation (Toronto), Del Ridge Homes (Markham), Mattamy Homes (Oakville), The Tricar Group (London), and Tridel (Toronto).  

Cinema Tower, image by Jimmy Wu

In the Large Volume category (and based on the same more than 100 possessions per year), are Devonleigh Homes Inc. (Orangeville), Fusion Homes (Guelph), Monarch Corporation (Toronto), Tribute Communities (Pickering), and Urbandale Construction Ltd. (Ottawa).

The third category, Medium Volume, represents the new home builders who are involved in 21 to 100 possessions per year. The five developers are competing here are Hayhoe Homes (St. Thomas), Klemencic Homes (Trenton), McDonald Homes (Brighton), Melanie Construction Inc. (Russell), and SACA Homes (Casselman).

In the Small Volume Category, with 5 to 20 possessions per year, are J. Donato Construction Ltd. (Wasaga Beach), Lockwood Brothers Construction (Oxford), Rick Stewart Construction Ltd. (Fort Erie), Rochon Construction (North Bay), and Terry Waito Homes Inc. (Petawawa).

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 calibre of service that the Ontario home building industry has to offer.”

We look forward to this year's winners for customer service delivery in their category, and congratulate all of the candidates for the credit they bring to Ontario's construction sector.