3 reasons why you should wait to finish your basement

(NC) Moving into a newly built home is exciting. Once the boxes are unpacked, most of us can’t wait to put our own personal stamp on the space.  And it’s usually not long before thoughts turn toward the unfinished basement.

But there are good reasons why it’s better to put the dream of the perfect game room, man cave or music room on hold for at least a year after moving in  and they all have to do with your new home warranty.

It’s important to remember that the new home warranty only covers the work and materials provided by the builder, so proceed with caution when the urge to renovate strikes.  

1. Your home needs time to settle. The reality for all new homes is that many building materials dry out, settle and even shrink in the first year. Any cracks or leaks in your basement that would require attention from your builder are easier to spot when there are no obstructions. 

2. You might have to re-do work at your own expense. If there are any issues in the basement, builder repairs may require removing drywall and any other obstructions. Once repaired, your builder will not be responsible for replacing any work and finishing material you supplied, or for secondary damage caused by leaks. 

3. You risk voiding your warranty. Sometimes changes you make can negatively affect your builder’s original work and materials. While you cannot void the warranty on your whole house as a result of changes you make to the basement, you can lose out on coverage for the area or item you changed if a defect can be linked to work you did after you moved in.

If you can’t wait to renovate your basement or any other part of your new home, work in stages. Do the work after the different warranties (one-year, two-year and seven-year) expire. For this, you need to understand your warranty coverage. 

Also, be sure to hire a professional. They can complete the job with the least impact on the builder’s work and materials, which means less impact on your warranty. Another advantage is that they can offer their own warranty on their work. Keep a record of exactly what was done in case you ever have a disagreement with your builder about claimed defects. 

Find more information on how to protect your new home and its warranty at tarion.com.

Attention Editors: This content is reserved for distribution in Ontario only.