Renovating vs. Moving: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Results of a new survey out last week reveal some hard truths for home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area: sky-high prices that leave many residents unable to purchase low-rise housing such as detached, semi-detached and town homes.

From The Financial Post:
The Building Industry and Land Development Association said the average price of a new low-rise home in the GTA hit a record-high $785,800 in June, according to RealNet Canada Inc. Prices rose 15.5 per cent from a year ago. The average high-rise sold for $441,134, up just 1 per cent from a year ago.

If you’re a current homeowner weighing the pros and cons of moving, these figures might  be all it takes to convince you to renovate your home to suit your needs instead of moving.

Is moving the answer?
Whether you need more space to accommodate your growing family or your home’s current layout is posing mobility issues, renovating your current living space to adapt to your new lifestyle may make more sense.

Would the money you’ll have to spend on moving fees be better spent by putting it back into the home you know and love?

The cost of selling your home and moving is higher than you think.
The time and effort involved in preparing your home for sale is staggering. From cleaning the house and painting walls, to landscaping to grab some extra curb appeal, you’ll wonder why you’re doing all this work for someone else’s benefit. When you add in all the other costs − lawyers, movers, real estate agents, bank fees, taxes, disbursements, insurance and home inspections − it can add up to huge numbers.

Should you move?
Ultimately, it comes down to how you want to spend your money. If the cost of moving is just too great, putting the money you do have into your home is key for living happily and functioning effectively in your day-to-day life. But which elements of your home do you need to renovate to make this work?

“Now more than ever, our customers are opting to open their homes and remove the barriers that separate them from interacting efficiently with their families,” says Monarch designer Amanda Willson-Suppa.

From opening up your living space and creating a great room, to making your home more accessible for members of your family, Monarch designers are qualified to help you address the changing needs of your home.

Call us today at 905-686-2001 or drop by our showroom.

Renovate to Adapt Part Two: Preparing Your Home For Family Life

Last week, we discussed the pros and cons of moving vs. renovating your current home to meet your needs. It’s no secret that the time and effort spent preparing your home for sale combined with the costs of involved with moving is staggering.

Is now the right time for you to move? Ultimately, it comes down to how you want to spend your money.

This week, we’ll discuss ways to help those hoping to adapt their home from one that was perfect for two to one that can handle the demands of a busy family.

Moving Forward: From being a couple to having a couple of kids

Congratulations, your family has expanded and life as you knew it has changed! Before, it was just the two of you: taking your time to cook meals; eating out at a moment’s notice; hanging out with friends and spending a great deal of time away from home. 

Although children enrich our lives in so many ways, they also change the way we do things. Bottles and sippy cups now compete for space in your cupboard with the stylish glassware and plates you once used regularly for dinner parties. Baby food and boxed cereal have now become staples in your pantry. What you need is more storage space – it’s time for a more functional and fabulous kitchen!

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

As the heart of the home, a kitchen with young kids running around becomes the hub for the entire family. With multiple meals being cooked there daily, your kitchen is now the centre for communication, learning, play – and oh yes, eating and storage too!

This space has never needed to be more functional than it does today. So why move? By renovating your space, you are able to work with a designer who is an expert at incorporating all of your hopes, dreams and storage needs into your home, and within your allotted budget.

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

Consider the advantage of having a large island, where the kids can colour, craft and do homework while you prepare dinner. Tupperware and plastic containers have now infiltrated your kitchen, along with all the cool kid’s cooking tools – new deep drawers are going to be such a help!

Pantry storage doesn’t have to be just for food, it can also be a place to store kids’ things, as can the additional storage space available with in an island.

At Monarch, we can change your space to do all of these things. We can even add electrical outlets and charging stations, up and out of reach of little hands. 

Open-concept kitchen design by Monarch Kitchen & Bath Design

While storage is a priority at this stage, it’s not the only reason for wanting to focus on the kitchen when renovating. Your closed-in kitchen – although still a functional cooking area – is no longer an efficient use of space since you are constantly having to run around the wall to see if the kids in the main room are out of harm’s way. 

Opening up the space and removing a wall not only helps ensure the safety of your family while preparing a meal or unloading groceries, it enhances the overall look of your home.
Now more than ever, our customers are opting to open their homes and remove the barriers that separate them from interacting efficiently with their families. Opening up your living space and creating a great room allows you to live and function more harmoniously.

The staff and designers at Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre are ready to help you address the changing needs for your home.