Where the money goes at this level
Before you pay a premium, know what it buys. On a Kedron or Windfields house the premium is finish and square footage, so compare the builder's upgrade list against a neighbour sold with the standard package and check that permits exist for the finished basement. On a ravine lot in Pinecrest or Northglen the premium is view and privacy, which the conservation authority protects by limiting what you can build behind the house; check the regulated-area mapping and any slope-stability notes. On a Rural Oshawa acreage the premium is land, and most of it north of Highway 407 sits under the Greenbelt or Oak Ridges Moraine plans that restrict severance and new building; you also take on a well, septic and a long driveway to clear. On an O'Neill century house the premium is craftsmanship, so check whether the property carries a heritage listing or designation, since that governs exterior alterations, and whether wiring, plumbing and insulation were replaced. Randy and Alexander will walk each of these with you.