Love Your Home

Renovations can be complicated, stressful and full of unexpected things. There are things you can do to minimize your stress and help your renovation run smoother. We talk to Paul Kacaba, owner of Multi Trade Building Services to get his ideas on what homeowners can do to make the renovation process flow a little smoother. He offers suggestions and examples of things he's experienced in his 30 yea...

You’re not ready for big renovation but you want to update the look of your home! You don’t want to invest a lot of money or time so what can you do? In part 1 of a 2 part series, we explore 10 ways you can update the look of your home and increase its value without breaking the bank. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: Small Jobs That Update Your Home and Increase Its Val...

Renovations can be exciting but if we don’t plan for the unexpected, they can turn into nightmares!! Deficiencies found when opening walls or extras you might want to add to your project can add to the timeline and cost. We explore why you need to build a contingency into your renovation budget. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: Why You Should Allow a Contingency on Your...

Planning a kitchen renovation is no small undertaking but with the right advice you can make your renovation dream a reality! By learning where and how to splurge and invest your money, (and where not to spend your money), you can pave the way to a stress free kitchen renovation! If you're planning a kitchen renovation, then download our Kitchen Budget Planner to help keep all project details and...

Labelling our electrical panels is not a job we think about doing. Most of us don’t even realize that we should be doing it or even know how to do it properly! However, this is an important job for any homeowner and should be a priority. We provide you with a step by step guide to labelling your electrical panel along with all of the relevant details you need to know about your electrical system....

When it comes to renovations, choosing the right contractor can make a difference between a successful, stress free renovation and an absolute disaster. In this podcast, we provide you with our expert tips and suggestions to ensure your projects are smooth sailing! Click here to download our cheat sheet with a summary of the points you'll learn in this podcast. You can find complete notes for this...

Consider the Return on Investment on that next renovation! If you’re planning on selling your home in the next 2-3 years or not for another 10-20 years, you should always consider the Return on Your Investment when doing a renovation. This podcast discusses some of the most common home renovations and tells you how much you can expect to get back on your investment. You can find complete notes for...

Do you know if your bathroom fan is functioning efficiently or is it just making noise? Canada Mortgage and Housing estimates that many homes have exhaust fan that are noisy, move very little air and are not energy efficient. Is your’s one of them? Listen to this podcast to learn how to test your exhaust fan, what to do if it isn't functioning efficiently and everything you need to know to buy a n...

You’re all excited about the new renovation you have planned but then reality sets in when you hear the price. You’re looking for ways to save a buck or two. You might be tempted to do a cash deal with your contractor but is it really a good option for you? We explore some of the reasons why doing cash deals is a bad idea! If you would like a cheatsheet on how to select a reputable contractor, cli...

Your kitchen renovation is a big undertaking and can be overwhelming. Done right, it can add value to your home and create a beautiful, functional and efficient space. We explore 12 mistakes we see made all the time and show you how to avoid those mistakes on your kitchen renovation. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: 12 Mistakes to Avoid when Renovating Your Kitchen Plan...

Although you may not be selling or buying a new home, a Home Maintenance Inspection can save you thousands of dollars in your current home. It can help you find the small problems before they become big ones and even find safety hazards within your home, helping you keep your family safe. We explore some of the reasons why you need a home inspection even if you're not selling. You can find complet...

A bathroom renovation can be a big undertaking and a lack of information can end in catastrophe. Planning in advance and knowing what mistakes to avoid can ensure a stress free renovation and smooth sailing throughout the project. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Renovating Your Bathroom We welcome your rating on this episode, and look forward...

Finding just the right contractor that you can trust is a challenge many homeowners face today. Today's episode talks to Paul Kacaba, owner of Multi Trade Building Services. Paul discusses why trust is the most important quality when hiring a contractor, how he provides a great customer experience, how he hires the right employees, and how educating his clients and maintaining communication is the...

Today’s laminate may not be your grandma’s laminate anymore but has it improved enough for you to install a laminate countertop in your home? We explore the newest innovation and designs of laminate countertops and discuss the pros and cons of considering laminate as an option. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: Are Laminate Countertops Making a Comeback? We welcome your...

Home Renovations can be exciting projects to plan and execute. But…they can also be overwhelming and scary when it comes to the cost. We explore 10 ways you can save money on your renovation project with a little bit of pre-planning and some elbow grease! You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Renovation Project We welcome your rating on this epi...

Most of us have our laundry facilities as a separate room in our homes but that may not be the most practical solution. European laundries offer a way of creating a more functional, efficient and space saving solution. Learn the ins and outs of a European laundry as we explore the advantages, what’s required and where you can locate one. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at:...

We would all love to knock out a wall and double the size of our bathrooms but the reality is that isn’t always in the cards. Budgets and space constrictions don’t always cooperate. We explore 9 of our top, simple to apply tips for making your bathroom appear larger. You can find complete notes for this episode on our blog at: 9 Tips to Make a Small Bathroom Look Bigger We welcome your rating on t...

Not all contractors are as horrible as some of the ones we hear about on the renovation TV shows. Most of us are honest and hard working people that want to do the best job we can for our clients. This podcast talks about some of the truths contractors would like to tell you but don’t. Learn the secrets that will make your next renovation project run smoother. You can find complete notes for this...

Being knowledgeable about the process and having the answers to the right questions is key to a successful and stress free kitchen renovation. Knowing what questions to ask is a great place to start. We explore the top 10 questions we feel you should know the answers to before you start your renovation and before you pick the contractor you want to build your dream kitchen! You can find complete n...

For older adults, the ability to stay in their own homes as they age is paramount. Successfully aging in place, however, requires careful planning for security and safety issues that may otherwise impact their ability to remain at home. We explore the benefits of aging in place and list 20 projects to help you remain at home longer. If you or a loved one plans to stay at home as long as possible,...

Did you know you can remove your old alcove or drop in tub and easily convert it to a walk in shower? If getting in and out of the tub is getting a little challenging for you or if you just simply don't use that tub anymore, then consider installing a walk in shower instead! Make better use of the space in your bathroom and create the luxurious space you truly want. We explore the pros and cons of...

Do your fuses blow a lot or your breakers trip constantly? Are you frustrated at constantly having to replace fuses or reset your breakers? Are you considering getting a new electrical panel because of it? We explore the reasons why your fuses might be blowing, what you can do about it and whether you truly need a new electrical panel. Many people think that if they are constantly blowing fuses or...

A Kitchen renovation can be a big undertaking. Careful planning is the key to having a stress free and successful renovation. We explore the steps required to start the planning process and walk you through key areas to consider when planning your dream kitchen. We'll discuss things like expanding your kitchen versus redesigning the layout, maximizes counter space, lighting and wants vs. needs. Fo...

The right lighting can really make the difference in a renovation project. Too much or too little can even make the room feel uncomfortable. Bathrooms or kitchens can easily be too dark or lights can be too big or too small for the room. There are many factors to consider when selecting light fixtures for your home. We explore some of them here and help you better understand where each type of lig...

Do you have that dreaded popcorn ceiling in your home? You know what I'm talking about....that stuff that looks like cottage cheese on your ceiling? Most of us hate that stuff. It was popular in the 1970s through to the 1990s. But no one likes it in their home now!! But it's messy to remove and should really be done by a professional. In this podcast, we tell you the story of how one of our client...