As I was reading a recent report by the CMHC on Renovation spending I was impressed by the number of homeowners that continue to invest in their homes. 1.7 Million of us spent money on projects in 2011. But a creeping feeling came over me as I went further into the details. Of the many homeowners who
One of the first questions we get when talking to clients about a new custom home or remodel is “How much will it cost?” This is usually quickly followed by the second question, “How long will it take?” The answer to both is -It depends. While we don’t want to be evasive, there are many
Think back to when you originally made the decision to build a new house, renovate or construct your new commercial space. Chances are you were envisioning the new spaces improving your life. You might have even gone so far as tell friends and family that you were embarking on this exciting journey and how
A cost overrun is an amount over your original budget that you’re charged by the contractor building your custom home or renovating your house. This might include changes, additional work, low estimates, or unforeseen conditions. When you are planning the project and considering your budget we always recommend you have a contingency to account for
From the biggest new house project to a small interior renovation, your construction project will be an exciting but potentially unsettling process at times if you don’t prepare yourself going in. Based on our experience looking at past projects, here are 5 key things to make your project a success. Understanding: Take some time to
One of the key things to understand before you start a project is what type of client you are. In the construction jungle there are several different types of animals that you might identify with that might give you a better idea on how to get more control of the process. Bear: Bears are rugged,
Over at MyMove.com Kandy Harris has written a good article on what to think about when you are renovating to sell your house. There are some good points in the article that can help you decide what to do and what to skip. Selling your house is a big step but it’s easy to get
Click below to listen! Sometimes a renovation is something you consider at the back of your mind, something to be done in the future when there is more time and money. When Jeff Fredricks and his wife purchased their home in the Bloor West neighborhood of Toronto they knew that there was a potential to
Click here to listen! Planning to do a renovation on a fixer-upper is a very savvy way to get the house you want in a neighborhood that might ordinarily be out of your price range. In this interview, you’ll hear how my neighbor, James, wanted to buy a house in a good neighborhood that was
Even when you are involved with a good contractor, there often are numerous problems on a construction project. Because you are dealing with a multi-step process there are many reasons that problems could crop up. There could be mistakes on the construction plans, which would lead to confusion for the contractor. Even if there are
The architecture profession has been a undergoing rapid changes especially in the last ten years as software advances have created new opportunities in not only drawing but in how architects can run their practice. However, a large number of firms are yet to make the substantial investment required in order to remain at the forefront