Found 18 blog entries tagged as home renovations.

In the world of real estate, property value isn't solely determined by location and size; it also hinges on the property's condition and appeal. Prospective buyers tend to scrutinize every home they view. Renovations play a pivotal role in enhancing a property's value, making them a strategic investment for homeowners and real estate investors alike. In this article, we'll explore the top renovations that can significantly boost property value, providing valuable insights for those looking to maximize returns on their real estate investments.

Curb Appeal Upgrades

First impressions matter, and when it comes to real estate, the exterior of a property sets the tone for what's inside. Curb appeal upgrades not only make the property visually…

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Homeownership is a cornerstone of the Canadian dream, but it's more than just a place to hang your hat. It's also a valuable asset that can unlock numerous financial opportunities. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal as a homeowner is home equity. In this article, we'll explore what home equity is and discuss a few creative ways to leverage it to your advantage.

Understanding Home Equity

Before we dive into the ways you can utilize home equity, let's clarify what it is. Home equity is the portion of your home's value that you truly own. To calculate it, subtract your outstanding mortgage balance from the current market value of your property. The result represents the amount of wealth you've built in your home over time.

Now that…

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When it comes to selling your home, making strategic renovations can significantly increase its value and appeal to potential buyers. Renovations not only enhance the overall aesthetics of your home but also address functional and practical aspects that buyers consider. In this article, we will explore valuable tips for renovating your home to maximize its resale value.

Assessing Your Home

Before starting any renovations, assess your home objectively. Identify areas that require improvement and prioritize renovations based on potential return on investment (ROI) and buyer preferences in the local market.

Focus on Curb Appeal

First impressions matter, so invest in improving your home's curb appeal. Enhance the landscaping, repair or replace…

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Whether you’ve bought a fixer-upper, or your property simply needs an update, homeowners may find themselves confronted with multiple renovations at a time. Upgrading your home can also be  contagious—once you update one room, it can feel tempting to do them all. If you’re looking at several home renovations on your to-do list, where do you even start? How do you decide what projects come first and what tasks can sit on the back burner? 

Rebecca Hay, president and principal designer of Rebecca Hay Designs, gives us some pointers on how to prioritize home renovations.

Image via Unsplash

How to decide where to start

You have several areas of your home that need a renovation—the kitchen is dated, the entryway isn’t functional, and the bathroom…

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Buying a new home is exciting, but depending on where you are on the property ladder, you may not be getting a move-in ready property. Although it can be tempting to jump right in to transform your space, it’s not always a good idea to rip down walls as soon as you close the sale. Here’s why you should put down that sledgehammer and take your time instead. 

1. You’ll learn about your home and its pain points

Whether you buy a total fixer-upper, an older home that needs minor updates, or a newly built place you want to personalize, it’s smart to play the waiting game before embarking on major renovations, says David Stevens, a REALTOR® in Victoria, British Columbia.

“I tell my purchasers I’d like to see them in the house for 12 months…

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As the 1990s and 2000s make a comeback in the form of TV, film, and fashion, we can’t help but be nostalgic about original home improvement shows that paved the way for so many of today’s reality home shows. 

The most notable of these classic shows is TLC’s Trading Spaces. The premise is simple: two sets of neighbours swap homes and transform a room in two days with a budget of $1,000 using the help of expert designers. This format made the show, which ran from 2000 to 2009 before its 2018 reboot, a huge hit. 

Trading Spaces’ successful results inspired a generation of reno enthusiasts to try their hand at updating their own spaces, but sometimes left homeowners shocked and even in tears. 

While it may seem like these things were done…

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Outside of “are there enough of them” or “will they let in enough natural light,” windows aren’t typically top of mind for most people. Despite being an important detail that can help add to the value of your home, it’s typically not until problems such as physical damage, drafts, water leaks, or noise pollution appear that windows are considered.

Though it’s common in homes 20 years or older still fitted with their original windows, it goes without saying updating or completely replacing windows will be necessary at one stage or another. But how do you know when it’s time to change or upgrade your windows? How do you determine the type of window that best suits your home and their impact on your home’s energy-efficiency? Let’s find out!

…

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Renovating your home is a big decision and often an expensive one. After weeks or months of planning, saving money or acquiring financing, your dream home is finally within sight! Be warned, however, completing these renovations requires thorough research if you hope to stay on budget. Renovating is exciting and friends, family and neighbours will all offer advice and tips aplenty. You need to verify and evaluate all the ways you can save money on your next renovation. Read on for ways to save on your renovation and save yourself a bundle!

5 Savvy Ways to Save Money on Your Renovation

1. Make A Budget and Draw Up a Roadmap

Going over-budget when renovating is easier than you might think, making it the most significant threat to your…

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There’s a certain something about home renovation shows that keeps us glued to the TV. They provide us with inspiration for current or future projects (Fixer Upper). They tell stories that tug at our heartstrings (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition). They also give us hope that even the most demanding renovations can be completed in a blink of an eye (Property Brothers). 

We often see rooms or even entire houses get transformed in what seems to be a matter of days, and the final reveal always appears perfect. How do contractors on these home renovation shows manage to wrap up projects so quickly without issues? How do they obtain permits without delays? Do their renovations stand the test of time? Will the updates actually increase the value of the…

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Well, it’s finally time. That dingy, worn-out carpet—the one that prompts cringy expectations of runs and pulls every time you get out the vacuum—has got to go. If you’re lucky, and your home was built before the 1980s, there’s potentially gorgeous hardwood flooring hiding under it. Even if you plan to replace the carpet or install a floating laminate floor, read on as a DIY carpet removal is fairly easy and can save you money if you plan to go with a new floor install.

Image via Curtis Adams, Pexels

Buried treasure?

The older your home is, the more likely the possibility of hidden hardwood under the carpeting. Due to how expensive repairing, restoring, or removing hardwood floors can be, previous homeowners may have opted to install…

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