Using your own agent is vital when searching for an investment. In many countries this means that you must pay more for the representation. In Ontario it is free. The developer pays me to represent you. This may sound crazy, but, they can’t sell all the units on their own. They rely on the support and sales from agents. I have a fiduciary duty to represent you in your best interest. With 15 years’ experience in the field working directly for developers, I have the knowledge to insert certain clauses, and I will explain the agreement of purchase and sale to you in a way that you will understand it. Some people think that by going direct to a developer that this will save them money. The opposite is true, they will not run the risk of under cutting the realtor public and being black listed. You will be represented (for lack of better words) by the developers agent, that’s right, the person who is employed by the developer, their job is to get rid of the hard to sell units and maintain the best deal for the developer

Abatements are credits back to the purchaser for mistakes made by the developer. You can go direct and complain about this mistake or you can join up with others and have a company negotiate on your behalf. Though developers make alot of mistakes, not all of them can be considered in an abatement as there are many disclosures and representations made in your original agreement of purchase and sale that cover them for these mistakes. Common abatements would be a piller in your bedroom that was not in the floor plan, failing to build certain amenities or not giving enough visitor parking spots. Your best advice is to join a face book website whereby others are talking about it or check out Canadian Condominium Rebates to see if others have made similair complaints

Have you ever wondered what the development fees were and why they would charge you? Look at the writing in your agreement of purchase and sale. Usually the developer must pay the development fees to the city prior to getting their final approval. They feel that since this fee was accounted for but you buy a condo from them a year later that you are responsible for the increase of this fee. This can represent $3,000 – $6,000. Be aware!!  There are some developers that are passing the entire fee on to you, $20,000 to $30,000. Not to drop any names but Pinnicle for one,  thats right, check your writing in the agreement, you are responsible for 100% of all development fees in this agreement.  Congratulations, I suppose this makes you a developer!