The stages, in order
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Agreement, deposit and your lawyer's review | You sign the agreement of purchase and sale, pay a first deposit, and your lawyer reviews the paperwork. Three things belong in that review: any caps on development charges and levies, how HST and the rebate are handled, and the closing date and how it can change. |
| 2. Financing | Your lender moves from pre-approval to firm approval on the actual home. Keep your finances steady until closing, and ask how long your rate is held. |
| 3. Design appointment | You choose your finishes with our design team, and on some plans structural options. Structural choices come first, because they affect the build. There is a deadline, set by the schedule. |
| 4. Construction | Permits, servicing, foundation, framing, then the rough-in of pipes and wiring. We enrol the home with Tarion, which is what creates your warranty coverage. |
| 5. Pre-drywall walkthrough | Where offered, a visit before drywall closes the walls, so you can see the wiring, plumbing and framing as installed. [to confirm: whether a pre-drywall walkthrough is offered as standard in Ontario] |
| 6. Pre-delivery inspection | A floor-by-floor walk-through of the finished home before possession, led by us. Everything incomplete, damaged or not working is recorded on the official form. |
| 7. Closing and possession | Your lawyer completes the transfer, the balance of your down payment and closing costs are paid, and the keys are yours. |
Timing varies with the community, the home type and the stage of construction when you sign. So do the number of selection meetings and the deposit schedule. Ask us for the specifics on the home you are considering. [to confirm: typical timeline by stage, and deposit structure by product]
What you do at each stage
- Get pre-approved before you sign. Any offer or first-time buyer rule should already be on the table with your lender. What to ask a lender.
- Have a lawyer review the agreement during the review period. Ask about the caps on pass-through charges, how HST and the rebate are treated, and what happens if the closing date moves. [to confirm: review period length and what buyers receive at signing]
- Get documents to your lender quickly, then keep your financial picture steady. New debt or a job change is what most often unsettles an approval.
- Book your design appointment early, and come with a budget and a priority list. Structural choices are hard to change later. Light fixtures and paint you can add yourself. [to confirm: design centre format, upgrade deposit terms, and selection deadlines]
- Ask about cutoff points for changing your mind on each option. Changes get harder as construction moves on.
- Keep your lender updated as the build progresses, especially on timing. Ask them about rate hold extensions before construction runs long, not during.
- Attend the pre-drywall walkthrough if offered. Check that the structural options you paid for are in place, and photograph every wall before it disappears.
- Arrange home insurance and utilities to start on the possession date. Your lender needs proof of insurance before advancing funds.
- Take your time at the pre-delivery inspection. Open every door and window, run every tap, and bring someone who is not caught up in the day. Note everything on the form, even items you are told will be handled.
- Get your money to your lawyer before closing day. Your lawyer's letter sets out exactly what is needed and when, and claims the first-time buyer land transfer tax refund if you qualify.
- Take possession, and get your keys.
After you move in
Moving in is not quite the last step. Three things are worth doing in your first weeks.
- Read the Tarion forms and note the deadlines. Your warranty starts on your possession date, and so does a reporting calendar. The pre-delivery inspection form is not itself a warranty request, so items on it still go on the proper form. Submitting a form protects your deadline even if a repair is already under way. [to confirm: Cardel Ontario customer care contact, process and any homeowner handbook to link]
- Learn your home's systems. Where the water shutoff is, how the furnace and ventilator filters change, and how to keep humidity moderate through the first winter. A new home settles in its first year, and small drywall cracks are normal. Report them anyway and let the process decide.
- Expect a supplementary property tax bill. A newly built home is assessed after the fact, so a larger bill can follow a small first one. Set money aside for it.
Quick possession homes follow a shorter path
If the home you choose is already built, or nearly built, the sequence compresses. The finishes are chosen, so there is no design appointment. The pre-drywall stage has already passed. You move from agreement to pre-delivery inspection and possession in weeks rather than months. Your lawyer's review and the Tarion enrolment still happen.
The trade-off is choice. You take the home as finished. For many first-time buyers, moving sooner is worth more than choosing the counters. Ask us what is available in the community you like.
Questions first-time buyers ask
How long does the whole thing take?
It depends on the stage of construction when you sign, on the community's build schedule, and on the season. Building from a plan is measured in months, and a quick possession home in weeks. Ask your Cardel team for a current estimate on the home you are considering. [to confirm: typical range by product]
Do I need a lawyer?
Yes. In Ontario a lawyer reviews the agreement during your review period, handles closing and the title transfer, claims the land transfer tax refund if you qualify, and gives you the letter setting out exactly what money is needed and when. Budget for it as part of your closing costs.
Can I bring my own inspector?
The pre-delivery inspection is led by us, and you or someone you designate must attend. Some buyers also arrange an independent inspection separately. Ask us how attendance is arranged. [to confirm: whether independent inspectors may attend, and how]
What happens if my closing date moves?
Your agreement sets out how and when a date can change and what notice you are owed, and Tarion has coverage for delays that qualify. Ask your lender early what happens to your rate hold if completion shifts, and plan for a moving window rather than a moving day.
Walk the process with us
Visit a community and ask the sales team to take you through the stages for a specific home.
Internal review notes — what must be confirmed before this page publishes
- [to confirm] Deposit structure and schedule by product. No Cardel deposit amount or percentage is stated on this page.
- [to confirm] Review period length and what buyers receive at signing.
- [to confirm] Design centre format, upgrade deposit terms, and selection deadlines.
- [to confirm] Whether a pre-drywall walkthrough is offered as standard in Ontario.
- [to confirm] Whether independent inspectors may attend the pre-delivery inspection, and how.
- [to confirm] Cardel Ontario customer care contact, process and any homeowner handbook to link.
- [to confirm] Typical timeline in weeks or months by stage and by product. No duration is stated as fact.
- Tarion is described as the warranty every Ontario home is enrolled in, with forms and deadlines. No form names, day counts, coverage maximums or delay compensation figures appear, per the Aug 31, 2026 feedback. Legal to confirm the wording.