Staging

12 Big Impact Renos to Prioritize When Making Over Your Home

by SHARON MIKI CHAN – HGTV

Change is a good thing, but — when it comes to home renovations — it can be challenging to know where to focus your efforts (and your reno budget). For a reno to have maximum impact, there’s a fine balance between projects that offer the highest possible return on investment with those that will help you fall that much more in love with living in your home. If you’re weighing your options when it comes to home updates, we’re keeping our money on these 12 big impact renos.kitchen with pale-grey painted cabinets and centre islandHGTV CANADA1 / 12

Refresh Your Kitchen Cabinets

If you’ve checked out any of the best home renovation websites, you already know that updating your kitchen is one of the most common (and biggest impact) ways to transform your home. But that doesn’t mean that you have to totally gut your cooking space to make it feel new. Updating your kitchen cabinets, as Samantha Pynn and Sebastian Clovis did with this Save My Reno refresh, is a lower-cost way to hugely refresh the space. Swapping out your cabinet hardware is an even simpler project that you can DIY. But you can also try refinishing your cabinets with paint for a more dramatic difference (tip: read Bryan Baeumler’s step-by-step guide first).

bright white kitchen with patterned tile backsplashTRACEY AYTON2 / 12

Build a Better-Than-Before Backsplash

Because it tends to take up a lot of visual real estate in the kitchen, your backsplash is another high-impact area that can give you a lot of bang for your buck with a home renovation. Especially when paired with neutral cabinetry, a backsplash is a great place to add style and personality – as this charming patterned tile backsplash shows in this Vancouver heritage home’s kitchen. Whether you want to try a DIY update or you want to have something more luxe installed, we’ve rounded up some seriously splashy ideas to spark inspiration.white modern farmhouse kitchen with large centre islandHGTV CANADA3 / 12

Try (Kitchen) Island Living

If you’re looking to invest a bit more in a home renovation, an entirely new kitchen is a smart home renovation for the best return on investment. A quality kitchen reno can bring as much as a 75-to-100 per cent return on investment. If you’re creating a new kitchen, adding a functional kitchen island (as Jonathan and Drew Scott did with this Property Brothers: Forever Home kitchen) is a great example of a good investment that can also bring more style and livability to your home.

cozy cottage with wood details and pale-blue wallsHGTV CANADA4 / 12

Go for a Fresh Coat

Painting your home’s interior is the ultimate triple threat when it comes to home renovations: It’s cost-effective, it can dramatically change the look of a room, and it delivers one of the best returns on investment. As Scott McGillivray and Debra Salmoni beautifully showed with the soft blue walls for this Scott’s Vacation House Rules reno, a fresh coat can make a major difference.

blue-and-white bathroom with tiled shower and double vanityHGTV CANADA5 / 12

Expand Your Bathroom

There’s a reason why people say “kitchens and bathrooms sell houses.” These functional rooms can make your home feel outdated in a hurry, while updated kitchens and bathrooms can make a house look luxe (which means major ROI). With that in mind, expanding your bathroom – as the Save My Reno team did here by taking closet space to make room for a double vanity and glass shower – is a home renovation win-win.

modern bathroom with mixed-pattern tiles and heated cement floorsLAUREN KOLYN6 / 12

Heat the Bathroom Floors

Updating your bathroom flooring is a great way to make a big-impact style statement, and it’s also an opportunity to add spa-like comfort and energy-efficient value with heated floors. Check out the heated concrete floors in this eco-conscious Montreal home’s bathroom. Because bathrooms tend to be smaller spaces, installing underfloor heating is a relatively cost-effective home renovation (particularly if you’re already tearing up and replacing old tile). It’s a little luxury that will bring a lot of comfort on chilly mornings.

spacious living room and entryway with new flooringHGTV CANADA7 / 12

Fix Up Your Flooring

If your flooring is damaged or severely out of date, installing new floors can become a bit of an investment. However, it’s likely a wise one, with new flooring offering a potential return on investment of between 100 and 150 per cent. Case in point? The beautiful new floors Dave and Kortney Wilson used in this Family Home Overhaul living room. Not sure which type of flooring to choose for your home renovation budget? We break down the common renovation costs of different flooring options for you here.modern boho bedroom with patterned wall and wall-mounted light sconcesLAUREN KOLYN8 / 12

Wall-Mount Your Bedroom Lights

There’s not much you can do to increase the square footage in a compact bedroom (unless you’re ready to tear down some walls). But there are a few tricks you can use to make a small bedroom look bigger: E.g. Swapping your bedside lamps for wall-mounted sconces. You can opt for corded plug-in models (as seen here with this modern-boho bedroom), or have an electrician install sconces.

contemporary backyard space with modern fencing all aroundHGTV CANADA9 / 12

Prioritize Privacy Outside

Home renovations don’t need to be limited to what’s inside your walls. Updating outdoor spaces can make a huge difference in the overall livability of your home (especially during sunny seasons). Even if you love your neighbours, adding a stylish and privacy-enhancing fence (like the modern engineered fencing that Brian McCourt and Sarah Keenleyside used for this Backyard Builds space) is a smart investment. With more privacy, you’re more likely to enjoy your outdoor oasis. Here are more ways to add privacy to your patio, backyard or other outdoor space.

spacious kitchen with vaulted ceiling and new custom windowsHGTV CANADA10 / 12

Replace Old Windows

When it comes to home renovations, replacing old windows might not sound super high-impact, but it’s actually a project that delivers huge visual transformation and plenty of livability benefits. From windows that are drafty or damaged to low-insulation single-pane windows, older windows can slowly cost you a lot with your energy bills. If you replace your home’s windows with more energy efficient models (like the Scott’s Vacation House Rules team did here), you’ll get more than just a clear view and fresh look – you can also save money on energy costs, reduce your carbon footprint and get better sound insulation.finished basement with green kitchenette areaHGTV CANADA11 / 12

Finish the Basement

If you own an unfinished basement, you’re basically letting livable space collect dust. While a basement renovation is typically a larger expenditure of time and budget (especially if you have to lower the basement), it can also be a great investment by giving you more useable square footage for anything from a rec room, to a home gym or even a guest suite for friends and family (like the Save My Reno basement shown here).

colourful craft room with colorblocked walls and craft supplies in containersHGTV CANADA12 / 12

Create a Dedicated Space

After spending more time at home recently, many of us have learned the value of making the underused areas in our homes into functional (or multi-functional) spaces that let us do what we love. Whether it’s turning a nook under the stairs into a home office, organizing the garage to do double-time as a gym or turning a spare room into a colourful craft room (as Rock Solid Builds‘ Randy Spracklin did for his family here), a customized reno that makes it more comfortable or convenient to follow your passion can totally transform your home.

10 Ways to Ensure Your New Vacation Rental Business Succeeds

Iris Benaroia

by IRIS BENAROIAUPDATED MAY 11, 2022

Have you always fantasized about running your own vacation rental? Like any business, a solid plan is key. After all, it takes more than a few vacant rooms to garner repeat business, especially now that everyone’s a critic, armed with a camera. Tara MacDonald, the owner of the charming 125-year-old Ivy House, shares her insight into starting your own vacation rental.

Be On Call

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Be On Call

Tara says when it comes to vacation rentals, a fast hand wins the game. “Your booking response time is everything. Travelling is nerve-wracking. Put your guest’s mind at ease by being available and having an impeccable response time. Answer ALL the questions and make sure you have suggestions ready to go for restaurants, cafes and things to do in your area.”

Related:Clean, Clean, CleanUNSPLASH2 / 10

Clean, Clean, Clean

If you’re starting your own vacation rental business, cleanliness should be top priority. Loose strands of hair on the floor are your nemesis, says Tara. Have you ever checked into a hotel to find a scraggly stray on the floor of the shower — or worse on a pillow? It makes you want to run for the hills.

A washer and dryer in a light-filled laundry roomANDREW FEARMAN3 / 10

Maximize Efficiency

Invest in a really great washer and dryer onsite to help turn down your property faster. “Our laundry room runs full tilt most days,” she says. “Spend the money. You won’t regret it.”A vase of flowers on a kitchen tableLAUREN KOLYN4 / 10

Create a Rosy Experience

Use fresh flowers and plants over plastic. “There’s nothing worse than a dusty, plastic tree in the corner of a room,” says Tara. Healthy plants or a lovely bouquet “quite literally makes a space feel more alive.” Plants with interesting fronds in dynamic shapes are always nice — think trailing leaves or quirky springy numbers.

A guestroom painted blue, a bed with white sheets and pink pillowsMELISSA CHERRY5 / 10

Don’t Over Personalize

Unless it’s your best friend staying over, put away the personal photos. “Most travellers who seek out an off-the-beaten-path rental aren’t looking for that Best Western bland. But no one wants to see photos of your cute cat or lay on a bed with a quilt hand-sewn by your great Aunt June,” says Tara. “Lean on the environment: Coastal? Wooded boreal forest? River retreat? Pull those elements into your decor and your guests will never be disappointed.”

Bars of handmade soap and bath productsGETTY IMAGES6 / 10

Choose Artisanal Treats and Bath Products

Details make all the difference. It’s what makes a mom-and-pop bakery stand out from the others. Use the same thinking at your guest property. “I go above and beyond with my guests on all the little things,” says Tara. “Artisanal soaps, a pimp coffee setup, free water (bubbly is best), a basket of shared bath bubbles and a gift card to our fave local gift store.” Tara knows “a room is a room is a room but they’ll rave about the extras to friends.”

A living room with a red rug, blue sofa and accent chairsMELISSA CHERRY7 / 10

Be Scents-ible

“Get yourself an amazing room spray,” says Tara.  Scents are polarizing. Some people can’t stand pachouli (understandably). Tara avoids Lysol and sprays that smell strongly of bleach. Though they convey cleanliness, they’re harsh and off-putting. “You can get really nice, all-natural room cleaners and sprays like Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner which I love. It not only works well, but smells amazing too.” Or try Mrs.Meyer’s  Basil Clean Day Room Spray, another one of Tara’s go-to products.

Friends toasting during an outdoor dinner on a patioGETTY IMAGES8 / 10

Give Them Value

Guests never want to feel taken advantage of. “Pick your price point. It’s never a good thing to under value your rental but charging too much can anger guests and give you a bad rep,” says Tara. “You’ll want to find that sweet spot between market value, reasonable affordability for travellers and expectation. The best guest experience is one where the traveller feels they have had an amazing stay for their money. You’ll get repeat customers this way. It’s quality of stay over quantity.”

A white room with a pink bed and white bedsheetsGETTY IMAGES9 / 10

Invest in Rest

Don’t skimp on the bed or the bedding. Pay extra for the best of both. “Personally, I want a king bed,” Tara says. She also adds feather toppers to all her guest beds and gets nice sheet sets and linen duvet covers.

A woman writing in a guest book with a penGETTY IMAGES10 / 10

Tell Us Your Story

“What’s your why?” asks Tara. Give guests a special reason to stay at your property. Adding personal details about your vacation listing is a great start. “A guest book is a perfect place to let everyone know why you decided to rent your property,” she suggests. Plus, it gives guests the opportunity to write a little bit about themselves, too.

Staging Your Property for the Real Estate Market – By Homes Scape Home Staging & Design – Our Preferred Home Stager

Staging Your Property for the Real Estate Market

When selling a property, the questions that go through a seller’s mind is always how are we going to sell quickly for the most amount of money? How can we compete against the other homes on the market?  Should we consider staging? Is staging worth the time and expense?

If you have ever watched HGTV, you’ve probably seen shows on home selling and staged properties. Property staging has been around for more than 20 years but more recently has become a serious marketing tool for selling homes. Why? Because it works. That’s the whole point of home staging in the first place — to present your home in the best possible light. If you do this, buyers will be more likely to make an offer.

Staging a house means taking the time and investing the money up front to prepare the property for market. The National Realtor Association states that every $100.00 spent on staging a $400.00 return is made. Trying to see what a buyer sees in your home can be tough, but getting that glimpse is extremely important for preparing your home for sale.

When buyers walk through your home, they are making observations on various levels. They obviously need to make the emotional connection to the home where they feel comfortable. The emotional connection happens within the first 3 minutes of being in your home. They will also make sure the home meets all their needs from a structural standpoint (size, layout, number of rooms etc.). Savvy buyers will be looking for clues that indicate the true conditions of the home.

If you stage your house effectively, it will give buyers the impression of a well-maintained home. The first step in any home-staging plan are the basic repairs. You start by fixing what’s broken. This is the bare minimum. After that, you move on to the cosmetic touches like painting, replacing outdated light fixtures, replacing the flooring etc. The result is that the house seems like it’s in tip-top shape. These improvements put a buyers’ mind at ease, which is exactly what you want to accomplish in order to sell. Every buyer wants an easy transition. Moving is stressful enough. The last thing they want is to inherit a long list of repairs and upgrades. Staging your house well makes life easier for your buyers.

The second step in the staging process is packing. You want buyers to see the house as a good fit for their family. I often get the question what should I pack and what should stay? My answer: you don’t want them to see your family living in the home. If they see pictures of you everywhere, they’ll have a harder time making a personal connection to the home. The same goes for taste-specific decorating choices. Unusual paint colors and exotic knickknacks are fine when you are living in the home. But when you’re trying to sell it, you need to neutralize the decor. When you stage your house, you’re essentially removing yourself so that others may insert themselves.

You will have to pack up your belongings when you sell, so why not get a head start? By starting the pre-packing stage, you are also making your job easier when it comes to the move. You won’t have as many items to box up at the last minute.

The last step in the staging plan is the showcasing. This is where you get to get to make your home “Magazine Ready”. The art of home staging has a lot to do with space. You want to remove excess furniture and arrange the furniture in a way that maximizes usable space within the house. This gives the impression that the home is larger than it actually is. Have you ever walked through a home with minimal furniture and been amazed at how much space it had? But when you fill up that same house with over-sized furniture, knickknacks and other forms of clutter, it suddenly feels cramped. You may be surprised at how large your house seems all of a sudden. This is a common reaction among homeowners. And it’s a positive reaction among potential buyers. You never want buyers to feel like the home is cramped or crowded.

Staging doesn’t just occur on the inside. It happens on the outside as well. You’ve heard the phrase “curb appeal” before. This is the positive first impression people get when they pull up to your home. But you can’t achieve curb appeal unless you stage the house effectively.

You want buyers to be impressed with the property before they even step foot inside. This is a critical moment that will determine their attitude for the rest of the visit. It’s hard to overcome a bad first impression, even if the inside of the house is in prime condition. If you stage the house well, you’ll improve the exterior as well as the interior. Buyers will see your property in a positive frame of mind before they even walk through the front door.

Real estate agents walk through homes every day. This is especially true for the buyer agents, who might have to show dozens of homes to please their individual clients. Many of the homes the agents visit will be poorly staged. They’ll have oversized furniture, antiquated wallpaper, and shelves full of clutter. When an agent walks into a house that has been staged properly, they can get pretty excited about it. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen.

As a seller, this is exactly what you want. You want the buyer’s agent to rave about your house. You want him or her to say things like, “This is so much nicer than the other homes we’ve looked at.” The agent’s excitement will rub off on the buyers, which increases the likelihood of a sale.

We just talked about real estate agents getting excited over a well-staged home, but the benefits of this goes beyond the agent’s buyers. Other agents will hear about your house as well. Word gets around quickly in the real estate world. The buyer’s agent will want to bring his or her other clients to your house as well. They’ll probably mention it to other agents working in their firm. This will increase the number of buyers who come out to see your home.

In order to enjoy this level of “buzz,” you need to stage your house before you try to sell it. Giving potential buyers a good first impression is your primary goal. Giving agents a good impression also helps sell your property.

There are only two ways to distinguish your home. You can price it below the competition or make it seem like a nicer home. If you do neither of these things, your house will probably be on the market for a long time. Staging can make all the difference in the real estate world, even if your home is priced the same as comparable properties that are for sale. You are giving the appearance of a better value.

So what makes your home stand out from the rest?

Are You Packing Up a House Long-term?

Are You Packing Up a House Long-term?

Many people need to pack up boxes and boxes of their belongings when getting ready for a big move. The more that you can pack up items that you don’t use on a daily basis – the easier the packing can be. Items such as winter clothing in the summer, hockey equipment in the summer, summer clothing during the winter, etc. Then when you have piles of boxes, then where do you put them all? If you are out of room with all your boxes, then we may have a solution for you!

Our clients could potentially receive 25% off the 1st month and 2nd month free at Maple Leaf Storage.

We also have contacts with Big Steel Box which can also yield discounts on different size boxes as well with storage and delivery.

If you are in need of a storage solution – call us today to discuss how we could be of assistance to you!

Top 5 Secrets to Sell Your Home

 

Top 5 Secrets to Sell Your Home

Okay we won’t say these are top secret tips, but these are definitely some easy industry tricks that will make a huge difference when selling your home.

  1. Keep the closets half-empty: every buyer is looking for storage, and the more storage the better. Making your rooms and closets look emptier and decluttered will give the illusion of more space and storage.
  2. Hide your pets: not everyone is a lover of pets, so having evidence of your pets around (or having them there at all) can sway some buyers to look elsewhere. And in a lot of cases, buyers assume that with pets comes home and yard damage.
  3. Remove the ‘home’ from your house: the buyer wants to be able to imagine themselves living in your house, so make it as much of a blank canvas as possible. This includes removing excess knick-knacks or even painting your home a neutral colour.
  4. First impressions go far: curb appeal is important, so make sure your home looks just as decluttered and appealing from the outside as it does on the inside. The first thing they see when they drive up should be a selling point too!
  5. Always be ready to show: this will help your REALTOR greatly if your home is always ready for a showing. Plus, the more showings, the faster the sale

Listing Your Calgary Home for Sale? Get the Kitchen De-Cluttered for a Faster Sale!

Listing Your Calgary Home for Sale? Get the Kitchen De-Cluttered for a Faster Sale!

It’s been said over and over again that the kitchen can be the make or break point for a listed Calgary home for sale. There’s a lot of activity that goes on in the kitchen and it can easily be regarded as one of the more social rooms in the house. In the hustle and bustle of today’s society family members don’t get a chance to spend as much time with each other as they’d like, but every person in the family still has to eat. Whether it’s bumping into each other during food preparation or sitting down to eat a family meal, the kitchen is the place where family members will meet even during busy times.

What do you have hiding in your cupboards?

Once you have your house listed and you’re trying to tidy up, don’t make the mistake of stashing things in your kitchen cupboards so that they’ll be out of sight. If you have clutter in your kitchen, it needs to be handled properly. There are going to be a lot of viewers that come into your kitchen and open the cupboards to look inside. If a stack of papers, small appliances and other clutter comes tumbling down when the door is opened, you may lose your sale!

Don’t think that homebuyers won’t want to look in your kitchen cupboards, drawers and even take a peek in your pantry. Make sure that they are all clean and tidy and don’t use them as a dumping ground for your clutter.

Maybe it’s time for a garage sale?

If you really don’t have anywhere to store items that have been piling up on your kitchen counters and shelves, maybe it’s time to just hold a good old-fashioned garage sale. It’s easy to gather up a ton of items in the kitchen that really don’t get a lot of use. Take a look around and see if you have succumbed to this horrible habit and whether you just need to get rid of some of your excess kitchen clutter.

If you’re moving to a new home that has more space for storage, however, you might want to just box up your extra items and put them in the basement or in storage until you move. The idea is to get them out of the kitchen without shoving them into any space that has a door attached. You’ll want everything in your kitchen to be tidy including the items you have hiding behind closed doors.

Selling Your Home This Spring? Use These 5 Tips For A Faster Sale

Selling Your Home This Spring? Use These 5 Tips For A Faster Sale

Spring has arrived and it is the perfect time to sell or buy a home. Buyers are looking for Calgary homes in droves right now. April, May and the month of June are the busiest times in the market with the weather cooperating for home searches and sales.

With the arrival of the warm weather you’ll want to use these tips to make sure that you get the speediest sale possible.

1. Buy some flowers

Spring is a time of growth and rebirth and the best way to celebrate it is with flowers. Buy some containers of flowers that can be transplanted into your garden and purchase some fresh cut flowers for the inside. Not only will they make your home look great but they’ll make it smell wonderful as well.

2. Wash your windows

At this time of year it is more important than ever to give your windows a good washing. The dirt and grime of winter have left their toll on your windows and you’ll need to remove it to let the sun shine in. There’s nothing worse than dirty windows to make a place look drab and uninviting.

3. Set out some treats

If you have a kitchen that you’d like to show off, set out some treats on your kitchen table or your island for any viewers that are looking at your home. By offering some inviting goodies potential buyers will have more time to look around your kitchen and hopefully fall in love with it while they’re enjoying their snack.

4. Rake the yard

Your yard will need a good raking to clear out all of the winter debris. Even if dirt and debris are not evident, you’ll see a difference after you’ve raked the yard. It will look cleaner and more manicured.

5. Open all the windows

Now that you’ve washed all the windows it’s time to open them up and give your house a good airing out. This is a physical cleansing of your home but it is also a spiritual release of winter and a welcoming to a brand-new season. Even if you have air conditioning, take a day to air out the house by opening all of the windows. You’ll feel the difference and your potential buyers will too.

 

Winter “Landscaping” to Present Your Home Properly

Winter “Landscaping” to Present Your Home Properly

You know about the importance of landscaping your home before putting it on the market but what do you do about the outside during the winter? You still need to keep your home looking its finest for potential buyers that are coming to view your home and this includes not only the interior but the exterior as well. In order to keep your home “landscaped” for viewing during the winter, follow the recommended tips below.

  1. Keep the driveway and walkway shoveled

You’ll want to keep up with your shoveling responsibilities better than ever when your house is on the market. If you shovel your own driveway and walkways you’ll need to keep up with each snowfall. Don’t let any snow accumulate when your home is listed – keep the driveway and walkway cleared as much as possible. As well, make sure that the edges along the driveway and walkway where you have shoveled are edged and in a straight-cut line. This helps to present your house as a neat and tidy home.

  1. Get rid of any ice patches

Keep salt handy so that you can get rid of any ice patches that have formed and salt any areas that start to accumulate ice. After the ice has melted sweep away the salt so that it doesn’t get carried into your home. The last thing you want to have happen is for a viewer to slip and fall on a patch of ice as they are walking up your steps to view your home!

  1. Keep the porch and stairs clear

Get rid of any clutter that may have accumulated on your stairs and porch and don’t forget to clear all of the snow and ice off these areas. The stairs and porch should be cleared after each and every snowfall as well.

  1. Invest in a good mat

There are good maps for the winter and not-so-good ones available. Invest in a mat that you can wipe your boots on to clear away as much debris as possible before stepping inside. At the front door there should also be a good-sized mat for removing any of the remaining dirt that’s left on your boots and a rubber mat close by where all of the family outdoor footwear is placed. This boot mat should also be kept clean and dry, especially when your house is open to viewings.

Just because it’s winter there is no excuse to ignore the exterior presentation of your home. It’s critical to show your house as a clean and tidy home during all of the seasons of the year!