Renovations and real estate often go hand-in-hand. Sometimes, homeowners decide to renovate a property in order to sell at the best possible price. Other times, they buy a fixer-upper and want to turn it into their dream home (or at least get rid of that old wood paneling in the basement!).
I’ve been renovating homes for a long time, but in more recent years, I decided to take on a new role as a licensed realtor. This wasn’t to replace my renovation business – more so, it’s to enhance my full service offering. It’s been a great experience, and I can’t wait to share it with more clients.
The benefits of working with a realtor who is also a contractor
Realtors will often give an opinion on what can be done with a house – removing walls, upgrading the kitchen, adding a bathroom, etc. This is great, but when your realtor is actually an active contractor, it’s a whole new ball game. I can tell you what’s possible and also what it should cost and how long it should take to complete. I’ll identify load-bearing walls and discuss how they can impact your design plan. I’m able to offer suggestions you may not have thought of, explain how renovations impact the value of a home and also offer budget-friendly solutions. I’m not just trying to sell you a house – when I work as a realtor, I strive to find the best solution for your family, and that includes discussing and pricing out potential renovations.
As a contractor with years of experience, I know the difference between renovating a five year old house, a 25 year old house or a century home (and believe me, there are BIG differences). I can give you a proper assessment of a home’s issues and strengths, identify construction opportunities and challenges and give aesthetic suggestions. You may know you want to add a granite counter in the kitchen, but I’ll be there to tell you what that costs, how it adds value to your home AND let you know if there’s a better way to get the same look!
Construction isn’t just about how a home looks – it’s how it functions and keeps your family comfortable and safe. Whether it’s plumbing, electrical, flooring, appliances, layout, paint or something else, I can answer your questions and guide you through your purchase (or decision not to purchase). If you’re thinking of buying or listing a house or would like a quote on your renovation project, please call me (Vince) at 416-562-2387 and we’ll get started.