Mike in TO
Senior Member
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Mattamy Homes Ranks Highest in Satisfying New-Home Buyers in the Greater Toronto Area For a Third Consecutive Year
(scores are on a 1,000 point scale):
Mattamy: 893
Tribute: 837
Brookfield: 791
Arista: 781
Ballantry: 779
Great Gulf: 756
Baywood: 755
Monarch: 743
GTA Market Average: 710
Paradise: 690
Fieldgate: 680
Aspen Ridge: 678
Greenpark: 657
Townwood: 630
Century Grove: 555
Remington: 546
Fernbrook: 543
Sundail: 543
H&R: 510
Conservatory Group: 500
Lebovic: 418
TORONTO: 3 September 2008 — Mattamy Homes ranks highest in satisfying new-home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for a third consecutive year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Canadian New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction StudySM released today.
The study measures customer satisfaction of home buyers throughout the new-home purchase and early ownership experience in four markets: Calgary, Edmonton, the Greater Toronto Area and the Ottawa-Carleton region. Buyers are asked to evaluate their builder in eight factors (in order of importance): home readiness; construction/site team; warranty service; sales staff; price/value; physical design; home quality; and design centre.
This marks the fourth year that the study has been conducted in the Greater Toronto Area. Despite the challenges new-home builders in the United States are experiencing with the downturn in the housing market, as well as a slowing Canadian market, GTA builders are continuing to improve the home-buying experience for their customers. Overall satisfaction in the GTA market has increased to 710 (on a 1,000-point scale) in 2008, from 686 in 2007. More than two-thirds of GTA builders ranked in the study demonstrate improvement in 2008, compared with 2007.
“GTA builders should feel proud of their achievements in satisfying new-home buyers over the past four years,†said Marc Thibault, real estate practice leader at the Canadian office of J.D. Power and Associates. “Overall satisfaction has increased from 612 in the inaugural study in 2005 to 710 in 2008. This translates to a 16 percent increase during this four-year period, which is quite remarkable. A majority of builders—not simply a select few—have contributed to this overall improvement, which bodes well for prospective buyers.â€
Mattamy Homes achieves a score of 893 to rank highest in new-home buyer satisfaction in the GTA market for a third consecutive year, performing particularly well in all eight factors that contribute to overall satisfaction. Mattamy Homes also ranks highest in new-home buyer satisfaction in the Ottawa-Carleton region in 2008. Tribute Communities (837) and Brookfield Homes (791) follow Mattamy in the GTA market rankings.
The study finds that recommendations of friends, relatives or colleagues are key sources of builder information for prospective new-home buyers. Home-buyer satisfaction is essential to driving these referrals, as buyers who report being “delighted†with their experience (providing ratings of 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale) make more than three times the number of builder recommendations to their friends, relatives and colleagues than buyers who say they are “indifferent†about their home-buying experience (providing ratings of 5 or 6).
“When prospective buyers are in the market for a new home, they look to a trusted resource to assist with their decision-making process, indicating that builder referrals are a key source of information,†said Thibault. “Those builders with a track record of high customer satisfaction performance will have a distinct competitive advantage in a softening housing market. Buyers tend to purchase from builders that present the least amount of perceived risk. Testimonials from friends, relatives or colleagues can provide prospective home buyers with confidence in their builders as they make one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.â€
The study also finds that the proportion of homes delivered “defect-free†has increased in the GTA market—up from 8 percent in 2007 to 12 percent in 2008. Builder quality efforts have resulted in a reduction in the total number of construction problems noted by buyers—down to 21 per home in 2008 from 23 per home in 2007.
“Builders are recognizing the importance of providing defect-free products and are putting more emphasis on quality assurance mechanisms prior to home delivery,†said Thibault. “This approach is a particularly efficient way to run their businesses. Not only are home buyers satisfied at the point of delivery, but eliminating defects also puts much less demand on builder warranty service teams.â€
The study also finds that GTA builders made gains in their efforts to improve communication with home buyers throughout the new-home purchase experience. In 2005, slightly more than one-third of buyers (37%) indicated that they received updates about the construction status of their new home. In 2008, nearly three in five buyers (58%) are provided with some form of proactive communication from their builder.
“There is a consistent, positive relationship between builder communication effectiveness and homeowner satisfaction,†said Thibault. “While it is true that GTA builders can continue to improve in this area, it is clear that they are taking meaningful steps to respond to this important customer expectation.â€
The 2008 Canadian New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 4,518 buyers within the Greater Toronto Area who purchased newly built single-family detached and semi-detached homes and townhomes. All buyers surveyed closed their home purchase in 2007. The study was fielded from March to May 2008. J.D. Power and Associates also measures customer satisfaction with new-home builders in the Ottawa-Carleton region. For more comprehensive information on GTA and Ottawa-Carleton builders, visit the J.D. Power Consumer Center at www.jdpower.com/canada.
(scores are on a 1,000 point scale):
Mattamy: 893
Tribute: 837
Brookfield: 791
Arista: 781
Ballantry: 779
Great Gulf: 756
Baywood: 755
Monarch: 743
GTA Market Average: 710
Paradise: 690
Fieldgate: 680
Aspen Ridge: 678
Greenpark: 657
Townwood: 630
Century Grove: 555
Remington: 546
Fernbrook: 543
Sundail: 543
H&R: 510
Conservatory Group: 500
Lebovic: 418
TORONTO: 3 September 2008 — Mattamy Homes ranks highest in satisfying new-home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) for a third consecutive year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Canadian New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction StudySM released today.
The study measures customer satisfaction of home buyers throughout the new-home purchase and early ownership experience in four markets: Calgary, Edmonton, the Greater Toronto Area and the Ottawa-Carleton region. Buyers are asked to evaluate their builder in eight factors (in order of importance): home readiness; construction/site team; warranty service; sales staff; price/value; physical design; home quality; and design centre.
This marks the fourth year that the study has been conducted in the Greater Toronto Area. Despite the challenges new-home builders in the United States are experiencing with the downturn in the housing market, as well as a slowing Canadian market, GTA builders are continuing to improve the home-buying experience for their customers. Overall satisfaction in the GTA market has increased to 710 (on a 1,000-point scale) in 2008, from 686 in 2007. More than two-thirds of GTA builders ranked in the study demonstrate improvement in 2008, compared with 2007.
“GTA builders should feel proud of their achievements in satisfying new-home buyers over the past four years,†said Marc Thibault, real estate practice leader at the Canadian office of J.D. Power and Associates. “Overall satisfaction has increased from 612 in the inaugural study in 2005 to 710 in 2008. This translates to a 16 percent increase during this four-year period, which is quite remarkable. A majority of builders—not simply a select few—have contributed to this overall improvement, which bodes well for prospective buyers.â€
Mattamy Homes achieves a score of 893 to rank highest in new-home buyer satisfaction in the GTA market for a third consecutive year, performing particularly well in all eight factors that contribute to overall satisfaction. Mattamy Homes also ranks highest in new-home buyer satisfaction in the Ottawa-Carleton region in 2008. Tribute Communities (837) and Brookfield Homes (791) follow Mattamy in the GTA market rankings.
The study finds that recommendations of friends, relatives or colleagues are key sources of builder information for prospective new-home buyers. Home-buyer satisfaction is essential to driving these referrals, as buyers who report being “delighted†with their experience (providing ratings of 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale) make more than three times the number of builder recommendations to their friends, relatives and colleagues than buyers who say they are “indifferent†about their home-buying experience (providing ratings of 5 or 6).
“When prospective buyers are in the market for a new home, they look to a trusted resource to assist with their decision-making process, indicating that builder referrals are a key source of information,†said Thibault. “Those builders with a track record of high customer satisfaction performance will have a distinct competitive advantage in a softening housing market. Buyers tend to purchase from builders that present the least amount of perceived risk. Testimonials from friends, relatives or colleagues can provide prospective home buyers with confidence in their builders as they make one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives.â€
The study also finds that the proportion of homes delivered “defect-free†has increased in the GTA market—up from 8 percent in 2007 to 12 percent in 2008. Builder quality efforts have resulted in a reduction in the total number of construction problems noted by buyers—down to 21 per home in 2008 from 23 per home in 2007.
“Builders are recognizing the importance of providing defect-free products and are putting more emphasis on quality assurance mechanisms prior to home delivery,†said Thibault. “This approach is a particularly efficient way to run their businesses. Not only are home buyers satisfied at the point of delivery, but eliminating defects also puts much less demand on builder warranty service teams.â€
The study also finds that GTA builders made gains in their efforts to improve communication with home buyers throughout the new-home purchase experience. In 2005, slightly more than one-third of buyers (37%) indicated that they received updates about the construction status of their new home. In 2008, nearly three in five buyers (58%) are provided with some form of proactive communication from their builder.
“There is a consistent, positive relationship between builder communication effectiveness and homeowner satisfaction,†said Thibault. “While it is true that GTA builders can continue to improve in this area, it is clear that they are taking meaningful steps to respond to this important customer expectation.â€
The 2008 Canadian New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study is based on responses from 4,518 buyers within the Greater Toronto Area who purchased newly built single-family detached and semi-detached homes and townhomes. All buyers surveyed closed their home purchase in 2007. The study was fielded from March to May 2008. J.D. Power and Associates also measures customer satisfaction with new-home builders in the Ottawa-Carleton region. For more comprehensive information on GTA and Ottawa-Carleton builders, visit the J.D. Power Consumer Center at www.jdpower.com/canada.
