Calderwood | Empire Homes - Thorold, Ontario

Chelsea

Would give zero stars if I could, they dont even deserve one.

Do NOT buy a home from this builder. From day one it’s been a nightmare. We tried to schedule a final walkthrough before closing — however told us it was “done” without us. The house was filthy, unfinished, and full of dust when we got the keys.

Almost 2 years later and getting them to honor basic warranty work is like pulling teeth. Zero communication, zero accountability, zero customer service or care.

They take your money and disappear. Completely unprofessional and infuriating to deal with. Run.

Winsome T.

I'm incredibly unhappy with this company. Our house is only three years old, and the siding is already falling off! Naturally, they say it's "outside the warranty," their favorite excuse. My last home was five years old when I bought it, and I lived there for 13 more years—not a single piece of siding or brick ever came loose in 18 years!

I have to believe they use cheap materials and hire subcontractors who also use inferior products and do shoddy work. It's ridiculous that we're already dealing with these types of repairs on a three-year-old.

I must say the staff are excellent and will do there best to help you but there is only so much they are allowed to do.

Aaron M.

If you are thinking of buying an Empire build- RUN DONT WALK- in the other direction!
Nothing but problems since we moved into our home.
To be clear- we rent. But we have been here since the build was completed. Multiple leaks in the roof. One cause by a leaking dormer that took over 2 years to resolve. Another caused by someone cutting a 6' gash through the shingles and plywood at some point during construction. The wood floor was damaged by the leak and still has a mismatched section next to original flooring and is STILL waiting for repair. Our foundation cracked and leaked in 2 places (repaired). The back yard has settled so much along the foundation in the back the dirt under the grass has washed out. 2 basement windows cracked as the house settled (repaired). There is a crack in the wall from the from the loft edge to the ceiling. 1 2nd floor window does not close all the way which changes with the season.
They never even finished priming the loft or trim.
Our garage door is now broken after THIER contractor completed a drywall repair in that area. Empire "service" came and denied they did anything. They then left without a word leaving me out in the cold to pay for the repair myself (to secure my house for the night).
Every issue we encountered got mulled over and dragged out as long as possible over the debate whether it was covered under warranty or not. Almost every service person they sent was questionably competent. Expect to spend money out of your pocket to get problems fixed correctly and in a timely manner.
Save your hard earned dollars and buy something built with quality and backed up by professionals. Something you can be confident will still be standing in 10 years.

Whitelist M.

Can confirm extremely shoddy workmanship. Even worse communication and support from Empire. Disgusting. Get a thorough independent inspection before buying your home.

Shelly T.

Very poor quality house. Our house is just 2 year old and we are in the process of repairing the roof. We are so worried when a simple wind blows, because of the possibility we will be loosing more shingles. Worst builders I have encountered.

Benita E.

We visited Empire Home today. I want to give a shout-out to Josh. He was extremely helpful. Josh is incredibly knowledgeable and attentive, always ready to answer our questions and provide updates. His attention to detail is impressive, and he clearly cares about delivering quality work.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Jonathan C.

Sohaib truly demonstrates excellent customer service through his actions. We have been extremely impressed with him taking the initiatives to offer his services amidst his busy schedule just to ensure we had a positive experience with Empire. Very knowledgeable, empathetic, and reasonable. He definitely understands the true definition of customer centricity. Dealing with him has made us feel valued and respected as customer. Empire Communities is so fortunate to have him. Thank you Sohaib. Best in class!

Brow B.

The Empire Calderwood construction Team of Ryan, Sohaib and Lina have been outstanding. Our experience began with Sohaib at the outset during the walk through stage. Sohaib was courteous and detailed oriented. He promised us a beautiful and complete house. During the PDI, we encountered Ryan who was efficient, and very professional Then we encountered Lina who was cheerful and attentive and assisted with the smooth transfer of our beautiful home We have nothing but praise and adulation for Empire the Company and the staff members who participated in the process and completition of our home. Ryan, Sohaib, and Lina please accept our appreciation for the roles you played in providing us with a home we will always be thankful for, and where we anticipate living for many wonderful years.
Teddy