Category: Home Renovation

What is a Laneway House?

Posted on by Canadoo Admin
What is a Laneway House?

Have you ever noticed the tiny homes located along ally-ways and back entrances to homes throughout Vancouver?  Rather than basic garages, homeowners are frequently building laneway homes behind their main residence.  Laneway homes are essentially a living space located over or beside a parking unit, and they provide added living space or a rental property to offset mortgage costs in Vancouver.  Laneway homes are increasingly popular not only as housing prices continue to rise in Vancouver, but also as the City seeks creative solutions to affordable housing.  Nevertheless, there are specific guidelines around building laneway homes and eligibility factors that must be met.  Let’s take a closer look.

Laneway House Specifications

As the name suggests, laneway homes are located next to the lane entrance for housing lots in Vancouver.  These small homes are always located at the back of the lot and should feature a liveable space as well as a parking accessory.  The size of laneway homes will vary depending on the size of the lot on which they are located – from 550 square feet up to a maximum of 940 square feet.  In generally, the sizing of laneway homes is calculated as 16% of the size of your lot, not including up to 40 square feet of storage.

Eligibility

Not all homes in Vancouver are eligible for a laneway house, but many single-family dwellings with rear lane access are eligible.  There are three main eligibility criteria that must be met – distance from the house to the laneway home, lot size, and lane access.  More specifically, you must allow for at least 16’ between the main house and the laneway house – a requirement that can usually be met with creative design.  Additionally, your lot must be at least 9.8m wide, though some laneway house builds have been approved on lots somewhat smaller (7.3m wide).  Finally, your lot must have access to an open lane – and this requirement can be interpreted in one of three ways:

  1. There is an open lane behind your home.
  2. Your lot is located on a corner that can access an open or dedicated lane.
  3. Your lot is located on a “double-fronted” site with street access in front of and behind your home.

Ultimately, laneway homes are a great addition, particularly if you are looking to collect rental income or to provide accommodate aging family members (parents and children alike).  These homes are popular for renters because they are detached buildings – renters don’t need to worry about noise from neighbours.  Even if you are looking to build a laneway home to provide more space for your family, it is a great investment that can have a significant impact on the resale value of your home.

Basement Renovation Tips

Posted on by Canadoo Admin

The basement of your home can have a significant impact on its resale value. 

A musty, dingy basement with odd smells and visible cracks in the foundation is sure to turn off any potential buyer.  On the other hand, a finished basement that increases the area of living space in your home and also serves as an attractive alternative to the typical basement appearance can be a great motivator to potential buyers.  Even if you have no interest in selling your home, investing in a basement renovation can help you get more from your home.  While a basement renovation can seem like a daunting project, these basement renovation tips will make the project more manageable.

Inspect First

Before you begin a basement renovation, conduct a thorough inspection to spot signs of moisture or damage to the foundation.  While making foundation repairs or identifying and fixing moisture problems can be costly, it’ll be even more costly if these problems become obvious after you’ve spent the money on a renovation.

Function and Layout

Carefully consider the function and layout of your basement renovation.  Some homeowners are keen to add living space, and a basement renovated to include a living room is a great idea.  That being said, if you’re renovating with the intent of selling your home, you also want to be sure that you allow the space to match what buyers want – not what you want.  An open concept is a great (and cost effective) layout option.  Finish your walls, add some flooring and lighting, but leave the space simple. 

You should also take time to consider how the space can be used functionally.  A small basement may only be appropriate for an added bedroom and/or laundry room, whereas a large basement may be converted into a suite one day.  One tip is to include rough-ins for bathroom and kitchen plumbing, particularly if you are already planning on plumbing work in your renovation.

Features

Design features such as lighting and flooring demand careful consideration.  When it comes to lighting, you want to remember that there is little or no natural light coming into most basements.  Pot lights make a great basement lighting option because they are flush with the ceiling but put out ample light.  As you think about flooring, remember that basements tend to have higher humidity levels.  Laminate is durable, affordable, and easy to install; but carpet is also a comfortable addition to basements for extra padding and insulation over basement floors.

Budget

Finally, and most importantly, plan your renovation carefully before you begin so you can set a firm budget and stick to it!  If you are on a low budget, a simple paint job is all you need.  Also, it’s always advisable to work with an experienced contractor if you’re doing more major renovation that requires opening or moving walls.  You want to ensure that your basement renovation is safe, but also experienced contractors can help you plan a budget that also includes a buffer for unintended costs.

Living Room Renovations

Posted on by Canadoo Admin
Living Room Renovations

Living room renovations can be challenging but very rewarding.  By remodeling your living room, you can breathe new life into your home by highlighting your personal style while introducing modern design elements.  Still, some of the challenges associated with living room renovations include planning and budgeting, hiring tradespeople, and choosing furniture and decorative elements.  So, if you’re thinking of renovating your living room but you don’t know where to start, here are some tips to ensure a seamless renovation project.

Careful Planning is the Cornerstone to Success

As is the case with any home renovation, a well-developed plan ensures successful execution of your living room renovation project.  Research all the details in advance including materials, professionals, furniture, and everything in between.  When you take the time to plan your living room renovation, you can carefully develop your ideas, source costs, and determine a budget.  If you are not comfortable with organizing and executing your own living room renovation project, consider working with professional contractors and designers that can help you lay out a plan so your vision takes life.

Using the Space

One mistake many homeowners make when planning their living room renovations is they fail to consider their lifestyle.  If you have young children, your living room design will likely take on an entirely different character than if you are single or even a retired couple.  Also, remember to consider your long-term needs – you may not have children now, but what about in the future?  Alternatively, your kids may be moving out to start their own lives soon; how will this impact how you use the space?  Ultimately, knowing how you plan to use your living room will help you make decisions about furniture, flooring, and many other factors.

Ask your Friends

Another tip that can help you make the most from your living room renovation project is to talk to friends, colleagues, and associates about their own renovations.  What worked and what didn’t work?  Can they recommend contractors or tradespeople?  The more information you can gather about living room renovations, the better; but, you needn’t fumble through the process on your own – use your resources so that you can make the best possible decisions for you and your family.

Design Trends

One final piece of advice is to be mindful of design trends – especially if one of your renovation goals is to boost the resale value of your home.  Living room renovations can have a significant impact on how people perceive your space which may be good or bad when it comes to selling your home.  While design trends can often have lasting impacts on how we style our homes (think hardwood flooring), there are other trends that are more of a flash in the pan.  You don’t want to invest in a renovation that will make your home appear outdated in just a few years’ time.

Home Addition Ideas to Increase the Value of your Home

Posted on by Canadoo Admin

Home additions can not only make a significant impact on the comfort and quality of your life, they can also have a significant impact on the value of your home.  Adding living space such as kitchens, bathrooms, or bedrooms or even making space for more storage are all investments that can increase the selling price of your home.  While you may already have some ideas of additions for your home, here are some home addition ideas to increase the value of your home.

A Home with a Story

Building a second story on your home is a big project, but one that brings a big payoff.  Story additions can almost double the living space in your home while also increasing your home’s value.  These additions are certainly costly – you should expect to spend somewhere upwards of $100,000 depending on many factors including the current size of your home, its structural integrity, and even your geographic location. 

Make sure you work with a qualified builder and architect so that the addition is done safely and to building code.  Not all home foundations can support an additional story, and some cities or neighbourhoods may have bylaws that prohibit these additions.

Make it Roomy

If adding a second story is a project that seems like you’d be biting off more than you can chew, consider adding a room or suite over your garage.  You can increase your square footage while potentially creating a revenue stream by building a suite you can rent out.  Homes with rental suites are highly attractive to buyers because they can help mitigate the cost of a mortgage. 
Or, if you are not interested in renting out to strangers, it makes a great space for guests.

Nowadays, modular additions are an attractive option for homeowners to add rooms, suites, and even stories.  These pre-fabricated living spaces are great for smaller homes or single-story homes because they are cheaper than custom additions and most of the construction occurs off-site thereby limiting the inconvenience associated with large and lengthy home addition projects.

Basement Bang for your Buck

Perhaps the most common and affordable of all home additions is a finished basement.  If you currently have a blank canvas of a basement, finishing that space can considerably expand your living space while also leaving a significant mark on the value of your home. 
Add a suite, a living room, or an entertainment space and you’re sure to see an excellent return on your investment.  In fact, many basements can be finished for under $20,000 (sometimes just a fraction of that cost) which will easily pay for itself when you consider the impact on the selling price of your home.

These are just 3 home addition ideas to increase the value of your home, but there are many other additions to consider – kitchen or bathroom additions and expansions, converting a porch to a sunroom, or adding outdoor living spaces…the options are only limited by your imagination.

Custom Home Construction Costs

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Custom Home Construction Costs

The cost of building a home is significant, no matter how you break it down. Still, depending on your location, the cost of labour and materials, the size of your home, and even the design and layout of your home, the price tag on a new house can vary significantly. Still, building a custom home gives you incredible flexibility to create a house that meets your functional and style needs precisely. And while it can be difficult to define explicitly custom home construction costs, there are many factors to consider that will help you develop your budget.

First, understand that pre-fabricated and modular homes are much less expensive than custom homes to build. Many home owners choose to go the custom home route because they have specific design ideals or functional needs. When you build a custom home, you have control over every detail but this comes at a cost – not only monetary, but when it comes to time invested as well. Again, whether you hire a contractor, architect, or other design professionals, you’ll generally notice the cost for custom homes ranges between $150 and $500 per square foot. Location, materials, size, and features of the home as well as labour will all contribute to overall costs.

So then, let’s talk a little bit more about these elements. We won’t spend much time talking about location, but keep in mind if you’re living in a real estate market with higher home prices, your custom home will cost more too. You’ll also notice marginally higher costs on materials in these locations – regardless of whether you are choosing premium or more affordable materials. Taking some time to consider material costs and factor them into your budget is critical. Also remember that included in these ‘material’ costs should be a budget for specialized equipment which may or may not be provided by your builders. Working closely with your contractor, you should carefully plan your project so you can project these costs at every step of the build.

You’ll also need to consider labour costs. Professionals tend to be expensive. An architect usually charges between $50 and $150 an hour for their services. You’ll also need to hire engineers which might run you upwards of $150/hour or more.

Land surveyors, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians, and other professionals will all add to your budget. And we haven’t even started to talk about interior or exterior finishing yet.

Indeed, when planning your custom home build there are many costs to consider – foundation, framing, finishing, and systems installation (e.g. HVAC, plumbing, electrical) are just a few of the components of a custom home build. As you can clearly see, there are many balls in the air when you build a custom home – the end product will be a home that is designed specifically to your needs but you must be prepared to pay the price when it comes to budget and time.

Home Renovation Planning

Posted on by Canadoo Admin
Home Renovation Planning

When it comes to keeping a home renovation on time and on budget, planning is the single most important factor home owners need to consider.  Your dream renovation should always be your goal, but cost and affordability are very realistic concerns that may impact the scope of your project.  Big ticket items tend to make a big impact in a renovation, and home owners can make the mistake of jumping the gun by purchasing cabinets, appliances, fixtures, or furniture before they know what the project will cost.  Planning your finances before you begin your project is the cornerstone of successful renovations.  So, what do you need to know about home renovation planning?

Prioritize

First and foremost, prioritize your home renovation budget.  Working with a contractor or a home renovation expert can help you plan for the cost of different elements of your budget.  Then you can prioritize the items that are “must-haves” versus “nice-to-haves.”  You should also consider more than the cost of the item, but also the impact and necessity.  For example, if you have an older home and you want to upgrade appliances or lighting, you may need to consider whether your home’s current electrical system is up to code.

Padding your Budget

Also, remember that you might not be able to calculate all your costs up front – with any successful renovation, you should plan for at least 10-15% of your budget to go toward unexpected costs.  In fact, home renovations regularly cost more than anticipated, and some experts suggest padding your budget by up to 25%.  In general, smaller budget projects can get away with a little less padding, whereas with larger projects you need to save more for contingencies.  It also helps to have prioritized your project before you begin because that can help you decide where to compromise if you are getting close to your budget.

Paying for your Renovation

Once you’ve planned and budgeted your renovation, you’ll need to start paying for it.  Ideally, you have the funds available to cover all the costs of the project, but some homeowners prefer to seek out alternative financing.  Credit cards are one of the most costly approaches to paying for major home renovations because the interest rates are high.  Your financial institution may provide a low interest loan, particularly if you have equity in your home.  Ensure that repayment of any loans is within your monthly budget before you break ground.  Some homeowners make the mistake of overextending themselves which can create significant stress related to financial hardship. 

Your dream renovation can certainly become a reality and all it takes is careful planning.  Imagine your future home, prioritize your project, set a budget, and organize your financing and you’ll be well on your way to a beautiful and successful renovation.