When home buyers enter a show suite for the first time, it can look very impressive and they are often shown marketing materials which can include the layout of some of the units and the amenities which will be present once the development is built. Often, a contract is signed and a deposit is made before buyers have had a chance to fully contemplate their decision.
By law in British Columbia, purchasers of new development property have a seven-day rescission period to cancel their purchase agreement and have their deposit returned without penalty.
During this seven-day period, buyers should thoughtfully and carefully review their disclosure statement to ensure that the development property meets their expectations.
In British Columbia, all new developments which are comprised of five or more units are subject to the Real Estate Development and Marketing Act, which governs how a developer can market and sell or lease these development properties. The Act is consumer protection legislation which facilitates disclosure about the development by requiring the developer to provide a disclosure statement to the buyer which discloses the following:

a) The background and experience of the developer
b) The purchaser's rights of rescission
c) Permitted uses of the development
d) Phasing of the development
e) Strata information and budgets
f) Parking entitlements
g) Utilities and services
h) Description of the land title
i) Construction and warranties
j) Local government approvals and finances
k) Handling of purchaser's deposits

It is important that the buyers ensure their timeline and their intended use of the property align with the developer's disclosure. Buyers should not simply rely on the verbal assertions of sales persons, as developer's contracts will expressly state that only those representations and warranties made in writing in the contract are binding between the parties.
After a buyer has had a chance to review the disclosure statement on their own, I often find that reviewing the following questions assists most buyers in their thought processes:
1) Do you have any reservations that the developer will not complete this project?
2) Is your quality of life going to be impacted if the project is delayed?
3) Why did you purchase this unit? What made it special?
4) Were there any assurances that you were given by the sale centre staff which prompted you to purchase this unit?
5) If the project does not proceed, how will your life be impacted?
6) Are you aware of the developer's termination rights in the contract?
7) Are you aware of the limitations on assignment or covenants respecting the re-marketing of product after it has been purchased?
8) If a part of the project (or amenities) are phased, how will your perceived value of the unit be altered if subsequent phases do not proceed?
In short, a developer's disclosure statement is very much like a "specifications sheet" and are legally binding representations of the developer about the nature of the property you are intending to purchase.
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