4 05, 2018

House vs. condo: Investment property renovation tips

By |2018-04-24T13:14:10-07:00May 4th, 2018|Investment Properties|

There are a lot of factors to consider when weighing up a house versus a condo as an investment property. One of the central questions, however, is how easy each one is to renovate. That is why we have put together a list comparing investment property renovations for houses versus condos. Investment property renovations: houses versus condos 1. Permits Major renovations to houses often require building permits in Vancouver and surrounding cities; you’ll also need permits to do work that changes or moves electrical wires, gas lines and plumbing. By contrast, most condo renovations just need the approval of the condo board – as long as electrical, gas and plumbing systems are not affected. In some cases, that can make the process easier; but, in others, it can become difficult to get any renovation through the board. 2. Materials With

27 04, 2018

Should you design your own home renovation in Vancouver?

By |2018-04-23T14:52:33-07:00April 27th, 2018|Renovation Tips|

We all know the simple answer to this question, so let us get it out of the way… No, you should not design your own home renovation in Vancouver. But why not? And how much of a problem could designing your home renovation in Vancouver be? The top 4 reasons you should have a professional design your own home renovation in Vancouver 1. A professional knows the costs of renovations Knowledge and experience go a long way toward creating a home renovation design that fits your budget. That means you could start your project only to find that it is impossible to finish without a lottery win! On the other hand, if you are working with a professional team like the renovation project managers at Flipside Homes, they will make sure your home renovation in Vancouver fits within your budget.

20 04, 2018

10 ways to add storage during your home renovation in Vancouver

By |2018-04-23T09:49:44-07:00April 20th, 2018|Inspiration, Renovation Tips|

A home renovation in Vancouver offers owners a chance to re-think their space. This time is the perfect opportunity to create storage of all shapes and sizes. If you have an older home, this can be especially important as they are notorious for have less room and awkward storage areas. Regardless of your house's age, this is your chance to squeeze every inch of storage area out of your home. How to add storage during your home renovation in Vancouver 1. The sleek bathroom Bathrooms can easily get cluttered. During your home renovation in Vancouver, help hide that clutter with a tall pull-out. Now you can have everything you need at your fingertips, while still maintaining a spa-like simplicity sure to keep you calm - morning and night. 2. A mudroom bench Photo credit: Closets Plus   Entryways

13 04, 2018

Where to find inspiration for your Vancouver home renovation

By |2018-03-21T13:57:31-07:00April 13th, 2018|Inspiration|

A Vancouver home renovation can be exciting but finding the perfect inspiration is challenging. Design sites are all over the internet, but not all are created equal.   So where should you begin your search? Here are our favourite sources of inspiration to help get you started… Five places to find inspiration for your Vancouver home renovation 1. Pinterest Photo credit: Emily Henderson Pinterest is a favourite for home design fans and fanatics. In fact, there are so many ideas that you may find yourself getting overwhelmed by them all. To avoid this, use Pinterest as more of an exploratory search. Start general until you find a sense of direction for your Vancouver home renovation. During your search, be sure to check out HGTV Design Star Emily Henderson’s budget-friendly ideas and Gabrielle Savoie’s tropical influences. 2. HGTV

6 04, 2018

Should you renovate your Vancouver income property?

By |2018-03-23T08:52:17-07:00April 6th, 2018|Investment Properties|

It is not hard to see the benefits of a Vancouver income property. It's common knowledge around the Lower Mainland that there is always plenty of money to be made in income properties. Yet, it can be hard to know when to put cash into your income property, and when to renovate it. The benefits of renovating your Vancouver income property Renovating your Vancouver income property has an immediate, noticeable financial impact. Renovations will increase the perceived value of the property, allowing you to charge a higher rent to reflect the upgrades you have made. A renovation also helps keep long-term tenants happy, especially if the upgrades are ones they have been asking for.   For those between tenants, a renovation can make the space appear fresh, drawing new people in. Remember that renovations are not all or nothing, so

30 03, 2018

Where to splurge and where to save on your Vancouver home renovation

By |2018-03-21T14:12:07-07:00March 30th, 2018|Renovation Tips|

A Vancouver home renovation can be a lot of fun, but your costs can easily spiral out of control. That is why, if you are working within a budget, it is important to know where to save and where to splurge so you get the biggest bang for your buck.   So what are the top savings and splurges to go for? Where to save on your Vancouver home renovation The top place to save on your Vancouver home renovation is with your flooring. There are now many beautiful flooring options that are also affordable. It is also easy to scratch a floor, especially if you have pets or children in the home. Flooring is also generally not a make or break issue for renters and home buyers, meaning splurging on it will not help you with your property value.

23 03, 2018

5 spring home renovation ideas for your Vancouver home

By |2018-03-23T08:48:49-07:00March 23rd, 2018|Renovation Tips|

The end of winter is finally here – and you may find yourself looking forward to planning a spring home renovation. But what are trendiest new looks for spring? If you need a little inspiration for your spring home renovation, we have you covered…   1. Marble Photo credit: @parkandoakdesign Classic and classy, light coloured marble brings an elegant look to your Vancouver home. Pair it with warmer colours or wood to keep your space inviting. If you love the look of marble but find it out of your price range, consider Laminam as an alternative. This new Italian porcelain product can the style of marble to your spring home renovation, without breaking the bank. Ask your renovation professional about porcelain as well. 2. Skylights Photo credit: Velux Spring is a time for brightness, including in

16 03, 2018

Planning a Vancouver home renovation – how to set a budget

By |2018-03-20T13:37:30-07:00March 16th, 2018|Renovation Tips|

Planning a Vancouver home renovation can be exciting. You get to chose your inspiration, style and materials. When making all these choices, it can be easy to find yourself spending more than you expected – or wanted – to. That is why it is important to set a budget for your Vancouver home renovation. But how do you set a budget for your Vancouver home renovation – and stick to it? 1. Have a goal in mind What’s the purpose of your Vancouver home renovation? Making your home more family-friendly? Adding to its resale value? Flipping it? While these options are not mutually exclusive, you want to make sure you have one primary goal in mind for any renovation. That way, when you are trying to figure out where to splurge and where to save, you can decide how to

9 03, 2018

4 ways a renovation can make your Vancouver home more energy efficient

By |2018-03-15T17:19:18-07:00March 9th, 2018|Renovation Tips|

Worried about climate change? What about skyrocketing electric bills? One way to help with both is renovating your home to make it more energy efficient. Not sure how to do that? Here are a few easy ways to get started… 4 ways a renovation can make your Vancouver home more energy efficient 1. Get more natural light   A renovation can add well-placed windows and skylights, maximizing the natural light in your Vancouver home. That natural light will decrease the number of lights you need on during the day, allowing you to use less power. As an added bonus, you will get more natural light throughout the year, which will help you fight the Vancouver winter blues. The other way to make your lighting more energy efficient is to change your incandescent light bulbs to LEDs. LED bulbs are much

2 03, 2018

Tax tips: How to claim your income property renovation costs

By |2018-03-15T17:19:12-07:00March 2nd, 2018|Investment Properties|

It is important to know the dos and don’ts of income property renovations. You cannot maximize the return on your investment property without considering taxes. That is why, in preparation for tax season, we are giving you our tips on how to claim the costs of your income property renovation.   Our top tips on how to claim the costs of your income property renovation 1. Know what you can claim When it comes to taxes, it is important to know what you are able to claim. One of the main categories you can use to claim the costs of your income property renovations is capital expenses. What are capital expenses? According to the Canada Revenue Agency, they are “renovations and repairs that extend the useful life of your property or improve it beyond its original condition”. For example, if you

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