It may not be a safe time in history to mention this, but I worked briefly for a real estate marketing company that handled the pre-sales at the TRUMP building in Vancouver. While at that time he was not a Presidential Candidate, he was still a rich, egotistical man with bad hair and a polarizing effect on the public—even in Canada. But one good idea came out of my time touring Buyers around the swanky TRUMP Presentation Centre: my bathroom design.

The TRUMP site was the first time I saw a “wet room” bathroom, with the bathtub built INSIDE the shower. It’s a bathroom style that is gaining a lot of popularity because, while it’s a bit more work to install and waterproof, it is actually a very practical and space efficient way to build a bathroom. When we were trained on the details and specs of the bathroom, we were told residents could fill the bathtub with cold water, and alternate between a hot shower and a cold plunge, if they were so inclined. My heritage is Swedish, but you won’t see me in an icy plunge pool!

We began thinking about the design of our main upstairs bathroom in the autumn of 2015. We were removing a huge jetted bathtub, a single sink with a long vanity, and a dated, stained toilet—essentially a gut job. My husband is handy, and I helped where I could with demolition in early 2016. Upon removing all the components of the bathroom, and dealing with some minor moisture ingress from shoddy maintenance, we found that the bathroom had not been properly insulated at all, and the vapor barrier was thin and not up to current building codes.

We knew we wanted a shower enclosure for this bathroom, since it is the largest and most used on our second floor (our ensuite is disappointingly small). Yet, for re-sale in the future, we knew that for families, a bathtub was essential. So we measured and found that we could squeeze a bathtub and standup shower into the void left by the jetted tub. My vote was for an elegant claw-foot tub (sigh!!), but this couldn’t be achieved without extra plumbing, and re-opening our living room ceiling below. So we opted for a soaker tub with a recessed wooden skirt edge for tiling, and a shower beyond to maximize space. Instead of a traditional shower door, we would use one large pane of glass. It’s a great idea for a family bathroom, where there’s a lot of splashing going on!

A few details to achieve this look:
Consider systems that will waterproof the entire space, like Wedi Board and Schluter Board, which are often sold in tile stores. Stick with a central color scheme or matching tiles to make the room appear larger Use sleek insert shelves (also part of the waterproofing system) and a dramatic laser cut tile pattern to make a statement.   
    

(photo courtesy Alex Barredo)

My greatest regret about home ownership is that I didn’t start sooner. I bought my first apartment when I was 26, and if I had been nudged by property-savvy family or friends, I probably could have started in my earlier 20s. One of my motivations for purchasing was that I had just started a career in real estate, and I thought it would look hypocritical if I was selling clients condos in Yaletown and I didn’t own something myself, or know what my clients were going through. I still am wary of Realtors® who can advise clients to buy or sell real estate without being personally invested in the market. 

Lately, all I hear about in the news is how hard it is to purchase a home in Vancouver, and how most people in their 20s will not be able to own a property until they get an inheritance (or a down payment gifted from mom and dad, which is happening more often). I will admit, it’s not always easy for people to get into home ownership. And I firmly believe that not everyone is cut out for home ownership. Those in minimum wage jobs, those who plan to move around a lot for work (or who are afflicted with wanderlust), and those who are spenders instead of savers may find ownership too onerous. But for those who want a home of their own, and are dedicated to it, I still very much believe that homeownership is an attainable goal, that will build wealth over time. If you’re reading this and you’re in your late teens or 20s, this would be my advice to you:

SAVE YOUR MONEY. As someone once said, “if it’s on your ass, it’s not an asset”. The first thing you need to do is stop spending all of the money you earn. My first home was purchased with a loan to myself (through my RRSP, which I had been squirrelling away through my early 20s) in the amount of $17,500 to purchase a condo for $252,000. I took advantage of the CRA’s Home Buyer’s Plan, which allows you to withdraw up to $25,000 from your RRSP account to use as a down payment towards the purchase of a home they plan to live in as a principle residence. Find out if you’re eligible here: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/hbp/ More recently, the Province is now helping home owners by giving them interest-free and payment-free loans through the BC Home Owner Mortgage and Equity Partnership Program, https://housingaction.gov.bc.ca/tile/home-owner-mortgage-and-equity-partnership/, although I recommend to my clients that they be wary of the program.

TALK TO YOUR BANK. The first step to home ownership is speaking with your bank or mortgage broker about your ability to qualify for a mortgage. With that information, you will be better equipped to know what you can afford, and where—and even IF. Once you have qualified for a mortgage, it’s time to get started looking for a home. 

TALK TO YOUR REALTOR®. If you think that you are looking for a home by perusing homes on websites like Realtor.ca or REW.ca, and just hitting an open house or two every week, you are not doing it right. After getting pre-approved, get out in the car and take a tour of 5 or 6 homes at once with a good Real Estate professional that can walk you through the process of finding and securing your home! This is more time effective, and far more likely to result in a positive purchasing experience. 

ADJUST YOUR EXPECTATIONS. Vancouver is expensive, no doubt about it. When I purchased, I “splurged” on a small one bedroom and den suite with gross carpeting. I thought it was very expensive, but I saw the value in NOT paying a landlord every month. Did I want a 2 bedroom suite? Of course. But baby steps. Just get your foot into the market. My parents thought I was crazy. The place was a shoe-box, but it had a great view, and was walking distance to everything. I owned it for two years, and then sold it for a profit to purchase a suite 200 square feet larger. My biggest regret is that I didn’t keep it!

PLAN TO LIVE NEAR TRANSIT AND YOUR WORK. Commuting sucks. And over the course of your life, it’s an extra year or two spent sitting in a car. Did you know that research shows that driving to and from your home in the suburbs can cost the same as a mortgage, when you spread those car costs over 25 years (like a mortgage?). Read about it here: https://thetyee.ca/News/2016/12/21/Million-Dollar-Commute/ My advice would be to live close to where you work, and reconsider car ownership in favor of car co-ops and transit.

I recently finished renovating, top to bottom, a 25 year old home with my husband.  While the home wasn’t THAT old, the original owners had never upgraded anything unless it was a necessity or an emergency. Looking back on what we accomplished in such a short period of time, I thought I would share some renovation advice that has served us well:

DO AS MUCH DEMO WORK YOURSELF AS YOU CAN
My husband commenced renovating the night we “moved in” (just a mattress on the floor), ripping up 2 different colors of cheap laminate in the bedrooms.  I would have helped him, but I knew that from that point onward, our home would be a dusty construction zone. From there, we would remove more laminate, 400 square feet of tile, 300 feet of dirty pink carpeting, and several walls (NOTE: remove the drywall, but only remove the studs if you are sure the wall isn’t load bearing!).  Oh–and all the cabinetry and appliances.  If you have the time and a little expertise, handling at least parts of the demolition yourself saves a lot of money that you would otherwise have to pay another professional to handle.  Also, it’s gratifying to see the progress you make from day to day!

CHANGING THE PLAN? YOU MAY NEED A PERMIT
If you are removing load-bearing walls, or making major changes to plumbing and electrical, you may need to obtain permits from your local City Hall.  One benefit to doing your renovations with permits is giving reassurance to potential Buyers that your upgrades were done properly, when you decide to re-sell. 

START WITH WHAT OTHERS WILL SEE
If you plan on renovating your home in stages and on-budget, start by looking at the EXTERIOR of the home—windows, cladding, roof, gutters.  While these aren’t “romantic renovations”, upgrading and maintaining these items will protect your investment and pay dividends.   With interior renovations, start with the areas where you live and entertain first.  Create a living area that you will be proud to live in.   As a general rule, kitchen and bathroom renovations can make the most difference, and add the most re-sale value to a home, provided they are done tastefully!

Further to my recent blog, Renovating on a Budget, Part 1, I thought I’d mention a few “hidden gems” in Vancouver that have budget-conscious finishing touches. I’m omitting the obvious “Big 3”: Home Depot, Rona and Lowe’s. Note that I don’t have a direct affiliation to these stores—I’m just getting the word out!

AMAZON
You can comparison shop the “Big 3” vs. Amazon.  Often, Amazon wins–if you can wait a day or two!  We sourced bendable baseboards (surprisingly expensive), exterior door hardware, light bulbs, electronic doorbells, video security, and VERA, (our talking smoke/carbon monoxide detectors) online at lower prices.

JACK’S NEW AND USED BUILDING MATERIALS
Jack’s is on Still Creek Dr. in Burnaby.  Aside from new and used doors, they carry demolition treasures–beautiful millwork and finishes from old mansions that have fallen victim to the wrecking ball in Vancouver. From chandeliers, to kitchen cabinets, to toilets and appliances, Jack’s is a scavenger’s dream.  I purchased a new fiberglass door with a large glass insert for $120 (retail: $400).  When it’s time to renovate our bathrooms, I will likely source a claw-foot bathtub here.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RE-STORE
Contractors and Do-it-Yourselfers will often donate leftover materials or scrapped finishes to the Re-store.  Tax receipts are available for larger donations.  The stores are volunteer-run, and raise money to build homes for deserving families.  They have kitchen cabinets, art, furniture, construction tools and fixtures. I personally bought two light fixtures and some backsplash tiles for our basement ($3 per square foot instead of $8).  Check out Habitat’s website for locations: www.habitatgv.ca.  There are locations in South Vancouver, North Vancouver, and two locations in Burnaby.  I had the best luck at the huge Enterprise St. store in Lake City.

DISCOUNT KITCHEN AND BATH CABINETS
This store, off of Lougheed in Burnaby, has designer-look sinks and faucets, and lots of cabinetry options, at very low prices.  They have paired with some counter-top fabricators as well, so they are a one-stop shop for kitchen and bathroom cabinets.  They are great for basement suite renovations!

UP-CYCLING WITH SELLUTION AND CONSIGNMENT CANADA
Up-cycling is the act of re-purposing or refurbishing something older instead of buying something new.  Oftentimes, this means better quality workmanship, and a better choice for the environment! Stores like Sellution on Kingsway (I believe they have moved from their original Main Street location) and Consignment Canada on Pemberton in North Van have some cool furniture and art to add character and warmth to your home.  You can even use stores like these to sell your current furniture, should you want a change! Even better, Sellution carries chalk paint by Van Gogh.  It’s an easy-to-use, locally-made product that is low VOC and great for refreshing old furniture!  I recently transformed an ugly cane coffee table into a shabby chic piece for our living room. Channel your inner Martha Stewart and see what you come up with.

I just finished uploading this Duplex for sale, 1637 GRANT STREET, Vancouver East, BC

This charming Craftsman-style ½ Duplex has it all! Just steps from Commercial Drive, yet quiet and private, it features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms up, a spacious living area with 9’ ceilings and 2 cute porches on the main, and a flex space on the lower level. Lovingly maintained, it boasts many recent improvements, including newer paint (inside and out), custom-ordered kitchen cabinet additions, and flooring upgrades to the upper and ground floors. The attached one car garage has lots of extra storage and space to tinker. A private patio in the rear of the property is the perfect place to entertain friends, BBQ, or create a garden oasis. Walk to shopping, dining, Britannia Elementary and Secondary, countless parks, community centre and transit.