A Surrey man is battling with the builder of his new townhome over repairs he believes are inadequate, but he doesn't want the developer's crews doing the fixes.

Frank Loughrey was excited to move his family into their brand new Surrey townhome last May.

"Both my wife and I really liked the clean lines, white walls, light floors, light cabinetry," Loughrey said. 

Frank Loughrey said he's unhappy with the repairs the builder of his townhouse made when the basement leaked.

But when they moved into the home they bought presale, they noticed the countertop was chipped, one of many cosmetic deficiencies they said they saw.

"There's paint all over the tile, baseboards weren't cut to proper length," Loughrey said.

Then last summer, there was a leak in the basement. Loughrey said their baseboards and underlay were wet, and their carpet started to grow mould.

Flagships Projects, the company that built the townhouse, came to fix the problem but the family was unhappy with the repairs.

"The stud was replaced incorrectly, the insulation was replaced in pieces instead of full strips, there was still holes in the vapour barrier," Loughrey said.

"Nothing was done properly."

He told the home warranty company that he wanted a third party to fix this and other deficiencies, but said he was told the company would close his file if he didn't let the builder make the repairs.

The owner of Flagships Projects, Bahadur Sandhu, insists the repair was done properly.

"There's no more leaks, it's already fixed," he said.

"If he's not happy, that's his problem. We stopped the water."

Sandhu said the other deficiencies are small, and have recently been or will soon be repaired. He said he thinks the homeowners are being unreasonable.

"He's very, very picky. I have lots of other people and no problem. I told you I've done 1,000 houses, it's no problem. He's picky for no reason," Sandhu said.

But Loughrey said he won't stop pushing until everything is fixed.

"I'm so frustrated because this is the biggest investment of our lives. This is for my family," he said.

The Loughreys said they wish they'd had a home inspection before completing the sale, but felt pressured in an overheated market.

Bob de Wit, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association, says buyers need to ask presale developers plenty of questions.

"Specific questions like, 'Can you give me examples of previous developments you've developed?' Or, 'You've developed how many units over the last five years? Can we speak to some of those homeowners?'"

The GVHBA is a non-profit organization representing professionals in the residential construction industry. The group hosts free seminars meant to educate the public on the real estate industry, including about the purchase of pre-sale residences.

The Loughreys wish they'd done more homework before buying, but said they're determined to make their new townhouse a home.

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(Flickr)

North Shore Vancouver’s top 5 neighbourhoods

1. Cedardale, West Vancouver

The Cedardale neighbourhood really started to hit the radars of families in 2014 when the West Vancouver school board agreed to a French International Baccalaureate program at École Cedardale—the first French immersion IB school in the province. Plus, it’s a great area in terms of travel, explains Garrett Wong, a realtor with Re/Max Metro. “It’s close to the highway plus you get a great view with easy access to shopping and the beach.” As a neighbourhood, Cedardale is just north of Park Royal, the largest shopping complex on the North Shore and just north of Ambleside Park, one of the more popular outdoor parks with access to beaches and walking path

2. Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver

A few years ago, realtors identified this neighbourhood as a soon-to-be up-and-coming spot on the North Shore. They were right. Recent decisions to develop rental-only buildings along East 18th Street and recent new-builds and investments into a snazzy, modern commercial strip on Lonsdale make this a go-to spot for youthful North Vancouverites. “It’s more modern and eco-friendly,” says Javier Montemayor, a realtor with Re/Max Crest Realty, and “a hit for active, youthful people.” City planners are even pondering a temporary Chicago-style shoreline ferris wheel as a tourist attraction—all in an effort to continue to grow this community’s “fun factor” says Montemayor. The real draw, though, is the neighbourhood’s proximity to the Seabus and downtown Vancouver. “It makes this a sought-after spot for tenants, which helps those who have ‘mortgage-helpers’ in their homes.”

3. Pemberton, North Vancouver

Nestled between Marine Drive, a commercial hub, and an industrial-commercial area, Pemberton only just started gaining in popularity, says Jeremy Sellmer, realtor with Re/Max All Points Realty Group. “It’s because prices in surrounding neighbourhoods are so high.” Houses are typically on the older side with newer or updated homes commanding higher sale prices. Few lots have amazing views of water or downtown Vancouver, but there’s always a glimpse of the mountains. One of the biggest draws, says Sellmer, is the neighbourhood’s proximity to amenities, such as grocery stores and chain-restaurants. Although, things can really slow to a crawl in this area during rush-hour, says Sellmer.

4. Glenmore, West Vancouver

Prices have softened across West Vancouver, explains Sellmer, which makes some West Van neighbourhoods, like Glenmore, suddenly accessible to home buyers. “There’s character and charm in this area,” says Sellmer. That’s realtor speak for older homes built on large lots surrounded by tons of green space. “There are pockets that are getting much-needed face-lifts,” says Sellmer. “But most buyers just want the peace, tranquility and views that this neighbourhood offers.” Given that the neighbourhood is built around the Capilano Golf course and tucked into a forest, it’s very green but also a bit of a trek to the transit access points that get people across the bridge to the Lower Mainland.

5. Cypress Park Estates, West Vancouver    

If access to a southern and western view of the ocean is top of your list consider Cypress Hill Estates. Just north of the TransCanada highway, the neighbourhood is great for commuter access, but still offers all that West Vancouver boasts—amazing ocean and mountain views and green, tree-lined privacy within the neighbourhoood. Homes in this community were predominantly built in the 1960s but many have been remodelled or renovated. The biggest draw, however, is the school zone with homes in the Caulfeild school catchment commanding the best prices.

Realtor pick: Altamont, West Vancouver

If you’ve got money, now is the time to buy West Vancouver real estate. Twelve months ago all neighbourhoods on the west side of the North Shore were hot, hot, hot. But the introduction of B.C.’s Foreign Buyers’ Tax, combined with other mortgage and housing market regulations, has prompted sales to slow. In some cases, the drop is quite dramatic and Altamont is one of them. Absorption rates—the speed at which homes sell—have dropped, on average, to 1% to 2% in this community. Keep in mind that anything below 15% is better for buyers. Of course, you’ll still need money to buy in to the community with average home prices reaching up to just past $6.45 million.