Requirements For Condo Renovations You Must Know

Posted on March 30, 2017March 29, 2023 by TSGiM

Unlike a house, which is essentially your private property, condo owners are under much more regulation when it comes to renovating the unit.

Since Toronto is the Canadian capital of condo living, and their number is always on the rise, we decided to answer an important question.

What are the rules you need to follow when you’re planning your condo renovation project?

Keep the Corporation Informed

You may not need a building permit for most work you’d plan inside your unit, but securing the approval and cooperation of the condo board is almost always needed. It will save inconvenient questions, surprises and obstructions. Besides, you will need their help in putting notices out for other residents, getting the freight elevator without trouble or delays, and other little things you will wish to get out of the way with ease. This bit also covers finding out what you’ll need to deposit for insurance, permitted working hours in the condo, noise restrictions, and more.

Are All Your Condo Renovation Ideas Possible?

This rule stems from the latter but deserves its separate place. Some condo corporations ban certain types of changes to be made to the condo units. This touches mostly on the balcony and hallway doors, but not only. Some condos can’t be renovated in certain parts of the unit due to potential damage, or other considerations. This especially pertains to changes that have to do with plumbing and electrical systems, because they affect other units in the building. And even if the plumbing work you have planned is allowed, the corporation may need to stop the water for a period of time for safety considerations. Find this out out in advance – this is not something you want to bump into when the renovation crew is already on site.

Material Delivery and Disposal

Large renovation projects entail the delivery of so and so amount of materials and removal of so and so amounts of waste. Planning this out in advance will save you lots of hassle down the road. Figure out how you’ll be getting the stuff in, where you’re going to be storing it and how you’re going to get rid of the waste, on a daily basis. Hallways may need to be protected by nylon sheets and a bin may need to be placed downstairs.

Hope this helps! Do you have more questions about renovating a condo rules? Are you planning your own renovation, fishing for best condo upgrades?

Call Royal Home Improvement today and get your condo renovation on the way!

Tips to Hire Best Condo Renovation Contractors in Toronto

Posted on February 1, 2017February 2, 2017 by TSGiM

Getting your home renovated is always a good idea. It improves its market value, prevents things from deteriorating and generally makes the place look so much better.

Toronto condo renovation contractors come in so many shapes and sizes, however, that making sure you choose the right one can be tricky.

For this purpose, we’d come up with a list of criteria that should help you choose wisely.

Let’s jump right in it then!

Choosing Toronto Condo Renovation Contractors

Referrals and Recommendations

When a contractor has a solid backing by happy clients, it means huge points in their favour. The testimonials page on their website is one place to look, but when you’re talking to their representative, ask to contact a client directly. Some companies ask clients for permission to get contacted briefly by new customers and you can use that to get a better idea of how good the contractor is.

Examine their Work

Most companies doing condo renovations in Toronto will have a catalogue of their actual projects in their office and/or online. Examine it to get a good idea of their quality of work. But go beyond the image gallery. Ask for specifics on projects, “before and after” images of renovated spaces, pricing overviews and timelines. If it’s backed up by a real client, all the better.

Run over their Credentials

Toronto condo renovations professionals should hold valid licenses based on relevant training. Electrical, plumbing and other types of work require a professional to have a paper showing he’s qualified and allowed to do this work. Look for extras as well, such as recognition from large groups within the remodeling and homebuilding industry. Being an honored member of any of those is definitely a point in their favour.

Level of Professionalism

This is something you do before and during the interview. Before you even meet, see if they have a permanent mailing address, email, phone number and fax. Those will show the difference between a serious and not so serious operation. Do they have sufficient insurance coverage if things go wrong? Are they working with a permanent team of tradesmen or get employees on a per-contract basis? Having a permanent team means trusted and tested personnel, and should be a priority.

Naturally there is more to it, but these are the main points and they should keep you safe in choosing a reliable Toronto Condo Renovation Contractor. Good luck!

Tips on Condo Renovation to Improve ROI

Posted on November 7, 2016 by TSGiM

With a booming real estate market condos are currently the main investment of choice for real estate investors in Toronto and the GTA. The price of a condo is influenced by many factors like location, prices of similar units in other condos nearby, age of the building, proximity to amenities, etc.

Another sure way to increase the price threshold is to renovate.

Renovation of your Toronto condo can gain you better yield on your ROI when you sell or rent it. It will allowing you to stay on top in the hot real estate market, attracting the right kind of buyers and tenants.

Continue reading “Tips on Condo Renovation to Improve ROI”

Tag: Condo Renovation