Frequently Asked Questions

Deposits can vary. The deposit amount and payment schedule is outlined in the Deposit Structure for each community. The first instalment is due on signing, with the balance spread over the following months.

No. You can buy directly from a Caivan Sales Consultant. If you are bringing a realtor, they need to register with the sales centre on your first visit.

Pre-construction means you buy before the home is built. You get the widest choice of lot, floorplan and finishes. A Move-In-Ready home is already built or nearly complete, often with included features and upgraded finishes, and closes in weeks rather than months or years.

A freehold townhome means you own the home and the land it sits on outright, with no monthly condo fees. A condo townhome means you own the unit while the condo corporation owns and maintains the shared land, funded by a monthly fee.

Your agreement enters a conditional period, during which you arrange financing and have a lawyer review the document. Once that period closes, the agreement is firm.

No. Although it’s not required, we recommend that you review the details of your contract with a lawyer during the conditional period of the agreement.

Once you have signed a contract with Caivan, there is a conditional period during which you can review the agreement. Although it is not required, we recommend you review your contract with a lawyer.

Requests to change the purchasers named on an agreement are considered case by case and require Caivan’s written consent, a formal amendment. Submit the request to your Caivan Sales Consultant as early as possible.

The purchase price includes the lot, the home, and standard finishes detailed in the Schedule C. It does not include upgrades, closing costs, land transfer tax or your legal fees.

Closing costs on an Ontario new build typically include land transfer tax, legal fees and disbursements, and Tarion enrolment fees. These are separate from your deposit and purchase price. Budget guidance varies by home and municipality, and your lawyer provides a statement of adjustments before closing.

No, though most buyers choose at least some. Upgrades selected through the Caivan Design Studio are installed during construction, are built to Ontario Building Code requirements and are covered by your new home warranty, which is not the case for any work you arrange yourself after closing. Upgrades are also the most direct way to personalize your home and add lasting value, as structural items such as rough-ins and layout changes can only be done while the home is being built.

Not at the time you sign. New construction closing dates are set under Tarion’s delayed closing rules, which allow the builder to move the date within defined limits and with required written notice. Caivan issues firm notice as the home nears completion. If a delay exceeds what the rules permit, you may be entitled to compensation under the Tarion warranty. Your agreement sets out the specific dates and notice periods.

Typically a few months before construction begins. Caivan will contact you to schedule your Design Studio appointments. You will meet with a Caivan Design Consultant at the Design Studio and select flooring, cabinetry, counters, tile and hardware, along with any structural or electrical changes still available for your build stage. Selections are confirmed in writing and become part of your agreement. Come prepared to make decisions and selections.

Some changes are possible and some are not. Our team has designed a wide variety of choices for each model of home. The Design Studio team will contact you to review the options with you.

It may be weeks, months or 1-2 years depending on the community and stage of construction of your home. Your Agreement of Purchase and Sale will outline the timeline to build your home. Caivan provides construction updates so you know which stage your home has reached.

Tarion administers Ontario’s statutory new home warranty, which every new home in the province carries. Coverage runs one year on workmanship and materials, two years on water penetration and major systems including plumbing, electrical and heating, and seven years on major structural defects. Tarion also protects your deposit and provides delayed closing compensation. Caivan enrols every home it builds. Details are at tarion.com.

The Home Construction Regulatory Authority licenses every new home builder and vendor in Ontario and publishes the Ontario Builder Directory, a public record of each builder’s licence status, warranty claims history and any regulatory action. You can look up any builder, including Caivan, before you sign. The directory is at hcraontario.ca.

The pre-delivery inspection, or PDI, is the walkthrough you complete with a Caivan representative shortly before closing. You walk through the finished home together and record incomplete or damaged items on the Tarion PDI form. That form is the official record and is the basis for warranty service.

Caivan builds in Barrhaven, Richmond Village, Orléans and Stittsville. Each community offers a different mix of Single Detached Homes and/or Townhomes and Stacked Townhomes. Current communities and their release status are listed on the Caivan communities page. To receive updates on Caivan communities and new releases, register at caivan.com.

Caivan currently builds in Oakville, Caledon, Mississauga and Brampton, with more communities coming soon. Caivan’s GTA communities focus on Single Detached Homes, and/or Townhomes and Stacked Townhomes.