[Surrey] Park Avenue | 124m & 118m | 36 & 40 Floors | Complete

[rokim99]

Originally Posted by boatman12

This is getting scary. What has happened since we had our walk through?

Maybe they have to address all the deficiencies ? I know my unit had a lot of issues.... do you think they are fixing all of them as we speak ??

[clee7903]

Is it really true? February 14??

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by clee7903

Is it really true? February 14??

That's what it states on the latest amendment. Our's arrived today.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by boatman12

How were we supposed to know this already. I have been on this planet for a long time now and have never been in a situation where I have been so misinformed over and over.
Completion date is not meaningless. It is defined as the date money transfers and ownership officially changes hands. At the orientation meeting back in March ( the one during which they informed us everything was on schedule and we would be moving in in the summer) we were told that completion takes place 10-14days after the walk through. It has now been 16 days since our walk through and counting. Now customer care tells us they don't know when it will be. Upset doesn't really describe how I feel considering the rent I now have to pay and the travel plans I had to cancel. Is it too much to ask to be given proper information in a timely matter? Do they think we have nothing else to do while they try to get their act together?

No. Completion date = date you can occupy the unit and the major work is completed. Closing date = the legal date money transfers and ownership officially changes hands. The contracts give you completion date which != closing date. Your unit could actually be complete but you need to wait a week or more for closing, so you should always go by mortgage closing date.

I don't disagree with you that they could have done a better job in communication though, no excuse. But I mean what are you going do at this stage? Grumble and complain but ultimately it will be done when it is done and Concord will still get your money and when all the units are closed hand the keys over to your Strata Corporation and walk away to build a new building.

You'll never hear from them again after that. Hate to sound cold but I've learned the hard lesson over the past 10 years that developers don't give a flying crap about you or anyone buying a unit off them. They are in the business to build, sell, move on. They don't make money caring, you're just another $250,000 in their pocket.

Sucks I know. And anyone that tells me their developer was awesome only thinks so because they magically were on time with their project. I guarantee if it went south and there were delays their awesome developer would do just the same Concord and others do in similar positions. As soon as there are problems the "we don't know" or "we're not sure" walls go up instantly.

[clee7903]

It is the unfortunate truth as much as we don't want to think about it as so. Like I said before, it's this last stretch of the marathon that is the hardest/stressful. Everyone has waited a long time and has their personal reason, from obtaining mortgages, planning to move out/move in, furniture plans etc. I can draw some good lessons from this experience and that is buying a place is not easy but buying a pre-sale and planning to move into one is even more complex than original thought. For me, I concentrate on day I walk in and see that welcoming gift basket (I hope we all get one) sitting on the kitchen counter...and that new house smell. Perhaps that might be enough to make up for all the troubles encountered.

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by clee7903

It is the unfortunate truth as much as we don't want to think about it as so. Like I said before, it's this last stretch of the marathon that is the hardest/stressful. Everyone has waited a long time and has their personal reason, from obtaining mortgages, planning to move out/move in, furniture plans etc. I can draw some good lessons from this experience and that is buying a place is not easy but buying a pre-sale and planning to move into one is even more complex than original thought. For me, I concentrate on day I walk in and see that welcoming gift basket (I hope we all get one) sitting on the kitchen counter...and that new house smell. Perhaps that might be enough to make up for all the troubles encountered.

How do we know it's the last stretch? Even a marathon has a finish line and I don't see one. Perhaps it's because they keep moving it. That gift basket better have thousands of $$$$$ in it. Does it not worry you that walk throughs began weeks ago and now we are told construction might not be finished until the middle of Feb?

[clee7903]

I am surprised that they have brought up February 14 as a completion date and that is sort of crazy. Is there a possibility when they say the estimated time to complete means every single move by owners into the building will be completed then and not the start of the first move in?

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by clee7903

I am surprised that they have brought up February 14 as a completion date and that is sort of crazy. Is there a possibility when they say the estimated time to complete means every single move by owners into the building will be completed then and not the start of the first move in?

The amendment says CONSTRUCTION completion.

[mr90]

The (minimal) information my realtor was able to get is that they are hoping for December to do completions, but that it could be into January. Apparently it is their standard to issue a 3 month window.

At this point, my best guess is it's the city or a legal issue holding them up. The building itself is done, deficiencies should take no more than a week or two to resolve, especially since at least for me they were all pretty minor.

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by mr90

The (minimal) information my realtor was able to get is that they are hoping for December to do completions, but that it could be into January. Apparently it is their standard to issue a 3 month window.

At this point, my best guess is it's the city or a legal issue holding them up. The building itself is done, deficiencies should take no more than a week or two to resolve, especially since at least for me they were all pretty minor.

I believe you are right, especially about the city. They hand out building and development permits by the score but don't have enough inspectors or staff to keep up.

[rokim99]

Is concord pacific quality comparable to BOSA quality?

[OfficeProcrastinator]

Originally Posted by rokim99

Is concord pacific quality comparable to BOSA quality?

I would't know so much structurally, which I imagine they are probably about the same ~ They're probably the largest 2 residential developers here in BC, or at least the highest profile ones. When it comes down to the unit finishings they are quite comparable and I'd say it comes down to personal taste. I personally find Concord's finishings a tad on the garish side. What I do like is that Concord gives a lot of free built-ins.

[excel]

mine.

[boatman12]

Walked by the building today and, judging by the activity and the number of workers at the entrance and the lobby, it's more than the issuance of occupancy permits, as Concord would have us believe, that is the reason for the delay.

[mr90]

Originally Posted by boatman12

Walked by the building today and, judging by the activity and the number of workers at the entrance and the lobby, it's more than the issuance of occupancy permits, as Concord would have us believe, that is the reason for the delay.

I'm curious as to what those workers were actually doing? I walked right up to the front door last week and the lobby looked done other than the furnishings. The mystery continues I guess.

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by mr90

I'm curious as to what those workers were actually doing? I walked right up to the front door last week and the lobby looked done other than the furnishings. The mystery continues I guess.

They appeared to be working on overhead lighting at the entrance and there were sheets of plywood on top of the entrance canopy that indicated some work was being done above. The reflecting pools were also being worked on. Because of all the activity I could not get a close look at the lobby except for noticing the reception desk was lit up. I will consider that a positive sign.

[Flynn86]

I'm a trade worker and I have worked on a lot of high rises. Most of the time it's 3 months after the last piece of drywall goes up till people move in.

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by Flynn86

I'm a trade worker and I have worked on a lot of high rises. Most of the time it's 3 months after the last piece of drywall goes up till people move in.

You know that, but it seems a probably highly paid project manager didn't, or we would not have been told by Concord, up until the end of June, that everything was on schedule and we would be moving in the past summer.

[GMasterAres]

I'm almost 100% certain the highly paid project manager knew exactly what was going on along with Concord brass. What they know and what they tell you are two different things especially when legal agreements are in place.

Go back 5+ pages and you'll see discussion about what happens when lawyers get involved, mainly, you start to get nothing but "not sure, maybe, possible, anticipated" etc. wording and the communication level drops to near nil.

Sucks I know but right or wrong I'd never imagine a developer sending detailed communications about the project to 700+ purchasers when quite frankly they have you hooked with a signature on a line.

[boatman12]

Originally Posted by jhausner

I'm almost 100% certain the highly paid project manager knew exactly what was going on along with Concord brass. What they know and what they tell you are two different things especially when legal agreements are in place.

Go back 5+ pages and you'll see discussion about what happens when lawyers get involved, mainly, you start to get nothing but "not sure, maybe, possible, anticipated" etc. wording and the communication level drops to near nil.

Sucks I know but right or wrong I'd never imagine a developer sending detailed communications about the project to 700+ purchasers when quite frankly they have you hooked with a signature on a line.

Actually I do have a written notice I received in early Mar. of this year which states they are happy to inform us that everything is on schedule and we could look forward to taking possession that summer. This was prior to the orientation meeting later that month to inform us of completion procedures.