We get lots of questions from clients and readers about how to best approach renovation projects. It’s not surprising, since we live and work in areas of the city where homes range in age from 70-120 years old. Where to start? What investments are worth making? Who do we recommend? Should I renovate or move?
The list is long and the answers are often complicated. Since I’m personally in the beginning stages of my own renovation project we thought it would be helpful to document the process and take you through the steps and stages as we move along. Let’s get into it!
should I renovate or move?
This is a big one and probably one of the questions we get asked most frequently by past clients. These are a few of the discussion points we go over with people:
do you like the things you can’t change about your property? Think about your neighbours, parking, yard space, walkability and proximity to things like schools and favourite places. If you are happy with most or all of the things you can’t change about your property but the inside just isn’t working for you, it makes sense to stay put and renovate.
moving is expensive. There are costs related to prepping your home for sale, realtor fees, land transfer taxes, lawyer bills and the list goes on. It may make sense to put that money back in to the home you already own if there is a way to make it work for you.
renovating is expensive. Not only do you have the contractor fees & rising material costs there are other ‘soft costs’ you’ll need to consider. Are you moving out and renting for a period of time? Utility costs in both places. Fixtures and finishes add up. A budget will be your new BFF.
renovating can be stressful and time consuming. If you are already time crunched and need more space for a growing family or to have a parent move in, it may make sense to pass on the renovation project and move.
we’ve decided to renovate, now how do we choose a contractor?
The short answer is, very carefully. Renovation costs are on the rise and you want to be absolutely confident in the person you choose to work with.
ask around. You know the friends who have that amazing new kitchen, or the neighbours that have a similar property and just finished a big project, ask them questions. Who did they use? Were they happy? What went right and what went wrong? You want to hire someone that has experience working in a similar type home and has glowing references.
interview and get quotes from several companies. Yes, this helps you to get a range of prices for sure, but it also gives you the chance to meet different people and find the person that clicks best with you.
don’t let price be your deciding factor. The costs will change along the way and the quote will not be what your final bill is with any contractor.
go with your gut. Hire someone that you click with and feel good about working with.
get a plan together
Ahh, the best laid plans, but when taking on a renovation project it’s vital to have a plan.
define your scope of work. What do you expect the end result to be and how long will it take? There may be some back and forth with your contractor here, but making sure you are on the same page to start will help streamline the process.
consider hiring a designer. Not only will they help you with some of the hundreds of decisions you’ll have to make, they will help you keep an eye on the prize.
move out. I know it’s tempting to try and save some money (rent is expensive in Toronto and short term rentals are hard to find!) but save your sanity and that of your contracting team and get out of the house. It is dusty, dirty and stressful to try and live through any renovation project.
do I need to get permits?
It may depend on where you live, but here in Toronto you’ll need a permit for most interior work if you are moving plumbing, touching electrical or doing anything with structural walls. The City of Toronto website is a good place to start your research. Getting a permit ultimately protects you, the homeowner, to ensure work is being done to code and provides an extra layer of accountability. I would be wary of a contractor that doesn’t want to pull permits. In addition, it can be helpful when and if you ever did need to sell your home in the future. It’s nice to be able to show that the work was done with City building permits and the permits have all closed. As Realtors we are always concerned when ‘flips’ or home renovations were done without permits.
At the end of the day, there are countless decisions that need to be made when renovating. If you are someone (like me!) that can get a bit overwhelmed by the number of decisions you need to make, my best advice is to choose a team that is patient and you truly believe has your back. I’m glad that we have The Scott Home Company and Ashley Montgomery Design in our corner, this process is not for the faint of heart!
