Blog: Renovating your Home

There’s a saying that’s been circulating since the 1970’s, that is to “buy the worst house in the best neighbourhood.” The advantage to this is that you typically end up in better school districts, lower crime rate, well established neighborhoods with neighbours that care about their property values. The disadvantage to this is that you then live in the worst house on the block… which means you’ll likely need to make some renovations.

Maybe you didn’t buy the worst house in the best neighbourhood, but you’ve been living in the same house in that neighbourhood for 20 years, and now you desperately need an update. Whatever your reason for desiring changes, don’t let any more time pass before you make your dream a reality. Renovations can be small, simple changes in order to improve the functionality of your home. Renovations can also be on a large and grand scale, making your home nearly unrecognisable. Renovations to your home can increase the value and improve your way of life, but only when the proper steps are used to find the right kind of tradesmen, and when you stick to a budget you can live with.

Renovations can increase the value of your home, but more importantly – they improve your quality of life. Laundry facilities that aren’t functional is not a good reason to move out of your home, but it is a good reason to renovate. Instead of laundry in the garage (or heaven forbid, the kitchen) consider renovating a bit of space to allow for interior laundry where you can do the job properly and discreetly. Remodelling also has other benefits. You chose your neighbourhood for a reason, you chose your home for a reason. An outdated kitchen is not a reason to move from the place that you so carefully selected for your family. Buying a new house requires relocating, and possibly moving away from the schools, friends, and churches your family loves. When you renovate, you get what you want, while getting to stay in the neighbourhood you chose. Additionally, when you renovate, you increase the value of your home. So, while you may outgrow your home at some point, having renovations completed before hand will set you up to purchase the home of your dreams down the road.

In order to complete your renovations, hiring a tradesman is going to be an important task. DIY projects can end up costing more in the long run. This is due to loss of time, mistakes made, and inefficient and inexperienced work. It’s even possible to make the situation worse when you don’t know what you are doing, which really costs more money.

So here are five tips to finding the right kind of tradesman for your home renovation:

1. Ask family and friends for recommendations. In this way, you ensure that you are working with someone that people you trust, trust.
2. Get multiple quotes. The cheapest quote won’t always be the best, remember – you get what you pay for. Ask for at least three quotes before you make a decision.
3. Check with your local industry association, and don’t consider someone who isn’t registered with them. A “handyman” may not know anymore than you do about the renovations you are attempting.
4. Check their online reviews and be wary of those that don’t have any.
5. Always have a written contract when doing renovations on your home. It’s the first step in protecting your home against shoddy work and shady tradesmen.

Of course, the budget is a big consideration for any renovation. The first step in establishing your budget lies in determining what you want – exactly. Once that is determined, communicate clearly to the tradesmen, so they can give you an accurate quote.

Of course, renovations themselves can create some short-term discomfort. These may include having limited access to kitchen or bathroom facilities for the duration of your renovation. These short-term discomforts are well worth it for the end result. These discomforts can be alleviated by staying with friends or relatives, having a solid relationship with your neighbors, and using cooking materials like hot plates and microwaves. We also take great pride in cleanliness, meaning that your family won’t have to worry about it at the end of the day. So, while uncomfortable for a short amount of time, your home has so much more beauty and value once completed.

Reliability. Quality work. Positive attitudes. Cleanliness. These are just a few of our core values. Those, combined with our fixed pricing, clear communication, and can-do mentality are why our customers have confidence and peace of mind when working with us. From creating an open floor plan, to renovating your kitchen or bath, we are experienced tradesmen that know how to get the job done. Increase the comfort or even better the value of your home. Improve the functionality of your home. This is why you renovate. Selecting the right tradesmen, sticking to the budget. This is how you renovate. In just a short manner of time, your home can become your dream home. Now’s the time to transform your house into your home.