Home renovation tips

Maintenance and repair renovations protect your investment

Renovations have been a growing trend for Canadian homeowners, considering the transaction costs involved in selling and rebuying real estate! Motivations for renovations vary; homeowners consider renovations for lifestyle reasons. This might involve building a second level on the house to increase the number of rooms.

Renovations are also considered for a retrofit project. Older wartime houses may be in need of improving the mechanical systems to fit today's standards.  Maintenance and repair renovations are probably the most common renovation projects homeowners' tackle. Maintenance and repair renovations protect your investment and involve projects such as hiring a contractor to install a new roof or new energy efficient windows to update your property to today's standards.

Before you get started on your renovation project, you may want to answer the following key questions:

·         Is your renovation practical?

·         Will your investment in renovation costs make sense through savings in heating or will the investment increase the value of your home for future resale? Will your investment payback over time?

·         Will your renovation create long-term usefulness for your family and lifestyle?

·         How can you incorporate Healthy housing principles to maximize environmentally friendly returns to your renovation project?

·         How will you finance the renovation project?

Investing your time by thoroughly planning out a step by step process will pay you dividends through your project.

Before you renovate, follow this simple 8 step by step process.

Step 1 Set your priorities.

Step 2 Know what's possible. Investigate the practicality of the scope of your project.

Step 3 Do the math. Understand the costs, potential roadblocks, time to complete. Make sure you organizing your financing so you have the funds to cover the project.

Step 4 Pick your partners. Research your contractors and trades. Know who you are dealing with and minimize any surprises.

Step 5 Get it in writing. All contracts and estimates should be thoroughly documented.

Step 6 Don't worry about the mess.

Step 7 Inspect as you go.

Step 8 Give the Thumbs Up! Good luck with your project!