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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-04-29, Page 26PAGE 9A --GODE RICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29,1 1 Consumers' beat Discuss aspects ot home warranty programs BY LYNN TODGHAM In February, Lucille Brisebois, President of CAC in Montreal, addressed the National Warranty Council of the Housing and Urban Development -Association of Canada Her remarks focused on what purchasing a house means to the consumer. It is not only the biggest in- vestment that a consumer will likely make, but it is a very complicated ex- penditure as well. It can require the skills of an ac - mutant, urban planner, engineer, carpenter, elec- trician and interior. decorator. The consumer depends on the real estate agent for most of the _ information about a house and in the end, will probably commit a large •part of his savings and in- come, to a product about which construction he knows very little.. After the purchase of a home, there are many problems consumers might encounter. Solutions to many of the (=cert of home owners can be provided through regulation and, education. HUDAC has taken initiatives in the field of self- regulation by introducing a new home warranty program on a province -by - province basis across Canada Building codes, whether national, provincial or neee eLnel, and government inspections are other mechanisms through which society affords some • protection to the consumer who is buying a home. But building codes are written to provide 'a certain minimum standard of health and safety. They are not directly concerned with the quality of the workmanship in new coistivction, or with the materials. Compliance with a building code does not imply an obligation or contract with the purchaser provide the impetus for for these minimum stan- improving the quality of dards. housing features, as opposed Real estate agents work to structural standards. Such for the home vendor, not the improvements would be buyer. They are certified, reflected in long run savings bound by contracts and are., to consumer and contractor, subject to regulation in the in both maintenance and marketplace but neither the agent nor the vendor is responsible for providing information or liable for omitting information con- cerning a house.. The home bier is .protected cagy In what Is included in the final contract. The ° HUDAC warranty program is a step in the right direction for consumers. They areoffered little other protection under the law. What protection the con- sumer does have through HUDAC however, is a guarantee that is prepared essentially by the seller. The future of the housing market will be even more complex for consumers deciding to purchase a hone. CAC looks to groups such as HUDAC which have taken a lead in establishing programs to attempt to redress the balance in the marketplace and to provide the knowledge and impetus.. for further change. Leadership is essential in establishing standards of quality and woiiunanship in all areas of home con- struction, , whether it be renovation or new con- struction or ensuring that work in progress is adequately supervised and inspected. HUDAC is involved in the maintenance and im- provement of standards in home building. There are many consumer concerns in this area. Are the building codes presently in place adequate? Are they subject to periodic revision and review? How consistently are they adhered to across the industry? CAC believes that HUDAC - can play a larger role in providing guidance and guidelines for quality work. HUDAC programs can Demand varies As the days get longer and brighter, the effect on elec- trical demand can be dramatic. The difference in demand . between a sunny day and a cloudy one can amount to as much as 900,000 kilowatts, as happened in the - last week of March. And it is also the month when the daily peak demand starts switching from the dark dinner hour periods of winter to the late morning. For example, highest de- mand for .electricity in March occurred at 6:55 p.m. on March 17. The peak the previous day occurred at 11:50 a:m. and the following • day it occurred again in the early evening. The March 17 peak of irf 15,668,000 kW was almost one percent higher than the peak for the previous March. Warm weather, in con- junction with more daylight, also affected the amount of electrical energy used in On- tario during the month. The average temPerature in March was -0.13 degrees' C, compared to the normal average of -0.94 degrees C. Last March, the average was a cooler -2.13 degrees C. The difference in temperatures is partly reflected in the consumption figures which show a total of 9.18 billion kilowatt hnntrs this March, compared to 9.21 kW.h for the same month a year ago, a decrease of less than one percent. "We personally invite you to come to Clinton to shop - and compare - on your next furniture purchase" Compare selection, quality, price and service. You can buy the best for less at Boll 8 Mutch. Come browse through our vast selection of fine home furnishings. We feel you'll be pleasantly surprised - we offer big -city selection at small-town prices you can afford. IIIN COME N Nis NO datl NOME fOftNISMI fabrics arrlVln• fieW styles and fabrics ilk HOME FURNISH! GS U FLOOR COVERINGS CARPETING Ball & Mutch Ltd. Home Furnishings 71 Albert Street. hnfii7ili f -f343`— OPEN: Six Days a week 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Open Friday nights 'till 9 p.m. durability of buildings. HUDAC. is involved in renovation and retrofitting of older hones. It is expected that the percentage of hones on the.. market which are newly built - under five years old - will substantially decrease until over 85 per- cent of the housing stock will be over 20 years old by the year 2,000. This will have substantial impact on HUDAC's programs, the workforce involved, work- place construction methods and utilization of materials. New programs and new standards will have to be developed to meet the needs of consumers and builders as well. CAC recommends warranty programs for repair renovation. It is essential that the problems which the HUDAC new home warranty program can ward against do not become -widespread in converting and retrofitting older homes. Energy conservation in'the area of housing is also a concern of CAC. Consumers will be looking for energy efficiency in home building standards and rising energy prices must be acknowledged by both builders and buyers. CAC is pleased that standards of energy efficiency are being developed by the govern- ment departments and agencies involved with the housing industry. The in - dusty ;rust take an active role, not only in providing the highest energy standards of construction but in the the consumer and his areas of research and relationship with the con - development of new tractor. technologies and skills. Consumer education in this area is also important, especially where warranty programs are concerned. Home buyersneed to be informed of their rights and responsibilities under these programs. More com- munication is vital to im- proving the understanding of goal. New home warranty programs need to be national in scope, consistent and must ensure the maximum protection for consumers and . .contractors, CAC believes that only man- datory enrolment of „all contractors in warranty programs will achieve this W.J. Demme FLOWER SHOP Phone 324-8132 DAY OR NIGHT Agent for 24 hr.. FILM DEVLL®PING ANNIVERSARY 1ONLY •MALL STORES. Suncoast. 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