Why Buy a New Home? :: CHBA Northern BC

On this page:

► Why Buy New?
► Steps to Owning a New Home
► New Homes Month
► EnviroHome
► Welcome Home to R-2000

Why Buy New?

Taken from: http://chba.ca/buying/why-new.aspx

Have you looked at a new home lately? Today's new homes are better than ever. Bright, open interiors. A healthy, comfortable indoor environment. Low-maintenance materials inside and out. Solid energy-efficient construction. And all the features you want for today's lifestyle.

Professional new home builders are using advanced design, materials and construction techniques to provide home buyers with the widest range of options and great value. Check the advantages of buying a brand new home at a glance and browse though the information below.

Advantages of Buying a Brand New Home
Construction Practices for Superior Quality
Designed for Living
Environmentally Responsible Products
Indoor Air Quality
Energy Efficiency for Savings and Comfort
Safety
Warranty
Radon and New Home Construction\

Steps to Owning a New Home

Taken from: http://chba.ca/buying/steps-owning-new.aspx

The key to a successful buying experience is to be well prepared and well informed.

Find out about the typical buying process at a glance and check below for more in-depth information. Download checklists and other items from the tools section to guide you through your purchase.

New Homes Month

Taken from: http://chba.ca/newhomesmonth.aspx

For most Canadians, home ownership is an important personal goal.

New Homes Month is designed to help home buyers make wise housing decisions and get the greatest value for their housing dollars and the greatest comfort, enjoyment, and peace of mind from home ownership.

These articles deal with a wide range of topics, from explaining today's new technologies, products, and features to helpful hints on how to manage and enjoy your new home buying experience.

About New Homes

Consider The Benefits of a New Home

The Home Buying Process

Financing Your New Home

EnviroHome

Taken from: http://chba.ca/envirohome.aspx

Canada is a world leader in residential construction technology. Builders and housing experts from around the world come to our country to learn new approaches to housing design and construction. EnviroHome projects demonstrate why this is the case.

The EnviroHome Initiative was established in 1994 by the Canadian Home Builders' Association and TD Canada Trust to recognize and support innovative new home builders who are committed to offering consumers homes that are, "better for you, better for your community and better for the environment". EnviroHome builders have met that high standard.

The EnviroHome Initiative is a marketing program for R-2000 builders and R-2000 homes. In order to be considered for the EnviroHome designation, the builder must start with an R-2000 home and incorporate proven and commercially available features that enhance the indoor air quality and make the home more environmentally responsible. These features must then be put on display for the public through an open house period, along with literature which explains the features and thereby raises the awareness of the public about R-2000 homes and the many steps that builders are taking to protect and care for our environment.

Any builder that is planning a show home should consider making that home an EnviroHome. Our experience over the years has been very positive. The extra features of the EnviroHome generate such interest that the Grand Opening of the EnviroHome becomes a media event! Builders will invite local, provincial and/or federal politicians to take part in the opening. CHBA Executive are pleased to attend and will participate in the events. The media will often attend with newspaper, radio and TV reporters conducting interviews with the builder and the trades people. The home is built to a level above R-2000 and showcases some of the many healthy housing features that can be incorporated, making this home a wonderful "good news" story. People naturally want to be associated with it.

Any home buyer who is lucky enough to purchase an EnviroHome can rightly take pride in knowing that they have purchased one of the most energy efficient, environmentally responsible homes available today.

Each year the EnviroHome designation is only given to a select number of new home projects across Canada. This Initiative was created by builders, for builders to help them increase consumer awareness and sell more energy efficient R-2000 homes. All builders are encouraged to look at the EnviroHome Guidelines and complete an application for their next project.

TD Canada Trust is the national sponsor of the EnviroHome Initiative. To learn more about TD Canada Trust’s environmental activities, visit the Friends of the Environment Foundation or TD Canada Trust.

The EnviroHome Initiative is also supported by Natural Resources Canada through the R-2000 Program. To learn more about R-2000, click here.

Every EnviroHome project includes many Healthy Housing features, reflecting the research and development efforts of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. To find out more about Healthy Housing, click here.

Welcome Home to R-2000

Taken from: http://chba.ca/r-2000.aspx

R-2000 homes are the most energy-efficient and environmentally responsible new homes on the market.

R-2000 homes are extraordinary homes. They are built to demanding standards for energy efficiency and indoor air quality that far surpass others in the marketplace. They are designed and constructed by specially trained builders, who are committed to providing the very best for their customers. They are backed by a quality assurance process that’s unique in the industry. And every R-2000 home is certified by the Government of Canada. That ’s truly extraordinary.

If you are thinking about buying a new home, take the opportunity to find out what R-2000 is all about. Browse through this site, contact your regional R-2000 Office for more information on R-2000 in your area, or use the "Find A Member" module to the right. Select "R2000 Builder" under Category with your province or local HBA to find R-2000 Builders in your area. Then make your next home an R-2000 home.

The ten most important things to know about R-2000:

R-2000 represents a way of building homes, not a specific design, style, or type of home. Virtually any home can become an R-2000 home.
R-2000 homes are built to the R-2000 Standard—a series of strict technical requirements for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and environmental responsibility, above and beyond anything required by building codes.
The R-2000 Standard is voluntary. Builders choose to build R-2000 homes because they believe that the technology is superior to conventional construction and they want to provide their customers with a better-built home.
Every R-2000 builder has taken extra training in advanced design and construction techniques. And every R-2000 builder has a license to prove it. Only licensed R-2000 builders can offer you an R-2000 home.
R-2000 homes are not experimental. They use only proven technology, proven techniques, and proven products.
The R-2000 Standard is updated periodically to reflect the latest research and developments in the industry, and to keep R-2000 on the leading edge.
Every R-2000 home goes through a strict independent quality assurance process of testing and verification from beginning to end, from blueprint to completion. No other homes offer this level of quality assurance.
Every R-2000 home is certified. Once a home has passed all tests and inspections, you will receive a numbered certificate from the Government of Canada—your proof that you own an R-2000 home.
Only certified homes are R-2000 homes. Homes that are "almost R-2000" or "as good as" or “built to the standard but not certified”…don’t count, because those homes don't have quality assured performance.
Amid growing concerns over greenhouse gasses and global warming, R-2000 provides a model for environmentally responsible housing, both in Canada and around the world.