Real Estate Blog - renovations

Home Renovations That Could Be Worth Doing Before Selling

When the time comes to sell your home, an obvious question arises—should I do renovations before I sell? While on the surface it may seem like renos could increase the value of your property, there are a handful of factors to consider before jumping in.

 First, find and choose a REALTOR©  for guidance on how the market is performing in your area. Next up, decide on your target market. Are you looking for a buyer who wants a move-in ready place? Or someone searching for a fixer upper? What’s your time frame to sell? These questions will help determine the scale and size of any potential renovation.

 Anthony Lance, REALTOR® and sales representative with Right at Home Realty Inc. in Toronto, Ontario, says, “whether you’d like to sell your home with…

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A Beginner’s Guide to Flipping a House

The Canadian government has set its sights on the house-flipping industry to cool housing prices. Ottawa held that slapping an anti-flipping tax would help bring down home valuations, allowing a greater number of prospective homebuyers to purchase a property. Indeed, flipping a house in the Canadian real estate market can be wealth-generator for individuals and corporations, under the right market conditions. But how can you take advantage of such opportunities?

We have compiled a guide of the best tips to keep in mind.

A Beginner’s Guide to Flipping a House

#1 Do the Math

When flipping a house, some people think it’s merely about the market value. However, several other financial factors are critical to remember.

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Renovations You Should Leave to the Pros

If you’ve spent the last few years binge watching your favorite home renovation shows and looking for #DIYInspo projects all over social media, you’ve probably considered making a few tweaks around your home. 

However, when it comes to home renos, knowing when to hire a professional is essential.

A recent survey conducted by Leger examined how Canadians changed their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey found of the 17% of people who had improved their homes, only one third hired professional help—the rest opting to tackle the jobs themselves.

While it may be tempting to take on home renovation and home improvement projects that don’t appear to present any risks on the surface, there are several instances when the expertise of a…

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Here are 4 DIY Built-ins You Can Do This Weekend!

Built-ins are showstoppers in any room. Whether used to surround a fireplace, turn a window into a cozy reading nook, add extra storage to an otherwise underused wall, or create the home library of your dreams, built-ins bring the grandeur.  

But that grandeur can come with a grand price if you order custom built-ins. Luckily, they’re not the only option. DIY built-ins don’t have to be expensive, require a full renovation, or take longer than a weekend to complete. Paint, moulding and prefabricated bookcases, wardrobes, and cabinetry are all you’ll need to create the classy, custom looking built-ins of your dreams.

The secret to DIY built-ins is paint and trim. To make your project look like custom work, paint the built-ins to match your room…

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Tips to Keep Homeowners on Budget for Renovations!

Blowing the budget is everyone’s biggest fear when it comes to home renovation projects. Even if you follow standard guidelines—like building in a 20% cushion to cover unexpected costs, vetting contractors, and staying focused—it’s hard to prevent spending more than you’d like to. But with some strategic planning, you can save money in the lead-up to your big remodel and cut costs without cutting corners. 

1. Figure out your priorities

We get it: You’re super excited to get into your new house, and you can’t wait to make it yours. But before you start envisioning walls coming down, scale down your big dreams, suggests Toronto financial counsellor Jessica Moorhouse, who is also host of the Mo’ Money Podcast. 

“Yes, there’s a long list of things…

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How to Prioritize Home Renovations

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.

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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Challenging Canadian Real Estate Market, Covid-19 Put Focus on Home Renovations

A recent RE/MAX Canada report has highlighted shifting consumer trends in Canadian real estate, driven primarily by challenging market conditions and Covid-19. The 2021 Renovation Investment Report found more than half of Canadians renovated their home for personal enjoyment, not the perceived return on investment (ROI) that was the driver behind many renovation decisions in the past. Tightening market conditions from coast to coast and the “lockdown effect” of Covid-19 were factors in the shift.

Renovation Trends in Canadian Real Estate

• Three in 10 Canadians (29 per cent) renovated for non-essential “lifestyle” reasons, such as recreation/entertainment projects.
• More than half of Canadians renovated their…

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How to Remove Popcorn Ceilings

If you live in an older home—or even some modern builds—there’s a good chance popcorn ceilings are commanding the overhead views. If you’re getting tired of this feature and plan to remove it, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s find out what you need to know about removing popcorn ceilings from your home.

What is a popcorn ceiling?

Popcorn ceilings—also known as stucco, stipple or Artex—are marked by their bumpy texture, though they can be characterized by swirling designs, or peaks that look like the top of a meringue pie. The plaster-based material was originally called Artex, after the UK-based company that developed the textured finishing technique as a way to hide imperfections and seams in ceilings. The…

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Weekend DIY Projects to Tackle This Winter

There’s nothing like hunkering down for the winter to get you noticing all the odd jobs that need to be done around the house. If you’re going to be inside anyway, why not tackle some fun and creative projects to beautify and simplify your life? Here are a few DIY projects you can tackle this weekend, with options the whole family can get in on.

Accentuate the positive 

Are your four walls starting to look a little too familiar? With not a lot of supplies, time or money, you can get creative with your space’s existing features and breathe new life into your surroundings. Painting window trims, accent walls, or cabinets are low commitment ways to try on a new aesthetic. You could even tackle a full wall mural to help liven up the kids’…

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