Most of the surprises in a new build were sitting in the quote or the contract from day one. These are the questions we would ask, if we were buying. Put them to every builder you talk to, including us.
The National Association of Home Builders in the US publishes a buyer’s list of questions too, so this is not a Beechwood trick. We just think a builder should be glad to be asked.
Price and the quote
- Is the price in writing, and does it list exactly what is included? At Beechwood, yes: a written quote that spells out what is included.
- Is it a fixed price, or does it include allowances? Which items, and how big? A tile allowance that is double another builder’s can swing a bid by thousands.
- What is not in the price? Lot, GST, driveway, landscaping, appliances, window coverings, permits. At Beechwood, lot costs and GST are confirmed in the written quote.
- How is a change after signing priced and approved? Make sure that is in writing too.
- What deposit is asked, and when are payments due?
Who you deal with
- Who will I talk to when I call? At Beechwood, Erd Wiebe, the owner, every time. He is on the job site daily.
- How many homes are you building at once? It tells you how much attention yours will get.
Schedule
- How long from signing to possession, as a range, and what could move it?
- How will I hear if a date slips? At Beechwood, Erd keeps you updated as the home goes up.
Quality and what you cannot see
- What is standard in the framing, insulation, windows, heating and ventilation, and flooring? Can you see it in writing?
- Which checks happen before the walls are closed, and can I be there? A lot of a home is covered up by the time it is finished.
- Can I see a home you built, and talk to the owner?
Warranty and after move-in
- What does the warranty cover, for how long, and what is excluded? Can you have it in writing before you sign? At Beechwood, every new home carries a one-year bumper-to-bumper warranty. Ask Erd for the written terms.
- Who stands behind it: the builder only, or a third-party provider? What is the structural term? Third-party warranty is not mandatory in Manitoba, so this one matters. More on that here.
- How do I make a claim, and how quickly do you respond? At Beechwood, you call or email Erd, and a photo helps.
Lot and site
- Can you help me judge a lot before I buy it? At Beechwood, yes: we talk it through, and you hear a straight view on what the lot means for the budget.
- Are lots near me still available, and for how long? Hanover’s planning manager has said growth in Kleefeld will halt once the existing lots fill, so check availability before you count on any lot. The details are here.
The one that settles it
- If I put your quote and another builder’s side by side, what is different? This is the question we like best. Go ahead and lay them next to each other, line by line. We would rather you chose with all the facts.
How to use this list
Take it to every meeting and write the answers down. Ask for the important ones in writing: the price and what is in it, the change process, the warranty terms. If a builder is slow to put something on paper before you sign, think about how fast they will be afterwards.
Then lay the answers out side by side, with the quotes. Most of the difference between two builders shows up there, in what is included and what is an allowance, and not in the headline price. The numbers in our cost guide will help you judge whether a quote is in the right neighbourhood.
Where a question has no Beechwood answer above, ask Erd. If an answer isn’t ready yet, he will tell you so.
Source
- National Association of Home Builders, Questions to ask your home builder. Planning-manager comment: SteinbachOnline, 16 January 2026.
Ready to put us through the list?
Call Erd and ask him any of these. If you would rather write, send a note.
