Work has begun, and in a few months, you will set foot in your brand-new house . . .  that does not yet exist. For the moment, you wish to be able to follow the progress of operations. 5 keys to achieve it!

1. Have your construction plan with you

During every visit, make sure that everything you signed for in the contract or discussed are there. In short, that everything goes according to plan as it was approved. Sébastien Cherrier, who recently took ownership of his first custom-built house, agrees: “usually, the contract even includes the number of visits that are allowed on the work site. In my case, I was allowed to visit the site almost all the time, and I took advantage of it,” he says.

2. Visit the house before the walls are closed

Once the structure, plumbing, electricity, and heating are completed, a visit is in order. Indeed, all the major works are completed and still visible, so it is easier to make the necessary corrections.

3. Do not hesitate to ask questions

“I was in contact with the contractor often, I was calling every week with questions or just to get an update and make sure everything was going well," says Sébastien Cherrier. There are no reasons to be shy! The young man suggests asking a lot of questions and, ideally, to ask friends and family who know how the construction industry works for advice, if needed.

4. Keep in mind the model houses . . .

You have most likely visited a model house or condo before signing anything. Therefore, make sure that the quality of the job done be the same than in the model house (or condo) that you have visited previously and that is in the same price range.

5.  One last inspection before the delivery

The Association des consommateurs pour la qualité dans la construction (ACQC) strongly recommends  this pre-delivery inspection. This inspection usually occurs during normal business hours and only once the work site is no longer dangerous. It can be performed by a building inspector, an architect, an engineer, or a technologist. It is however recommended to deal with members of a professional organization since they offer a better protection. The cost usually varies between $ 1,000 and $2,000.