Buying a unit that doesn't exist yet requires a different mindset than buying resale. The preliminary contract signed with the developer is governed by the Garantie de construction résidentielle (GCR), the mandatory warranty plan for the large majority of new homes sold by a builder in Quebec since 2015 — not a standard purchase offer.
GCR coverage runs across three distinct periods: one year for non-apparent workmanship defects, three years for hidden defects, and five years for design, construction, or soil defects. It also protects deposits paid before delivery — a buyer can't be required to pay more than 5% of the sale price as a deposit, and amounts paid are protected if the builder fails to meet its commitments.
The pre-delivery inspection, done just before handover, is the step where all visible deficiencies must be officially documented. It's a decisive moment: anything not noted at that stage can be harder to get fixed later, even though GCR coverage still applies to covered defects that surface afterward.
Delivery dates announced by developers are estimates, not absolute guarantees — it's normal to build in some flexibility, especially for a move that depends on selling a current property. Working with a broker who knows the new-construction buying process well helps avoid several common pitfalls, from choosing finishing options to negotiating the preliminary contract's clauses.