Small but Mighty!

Are you thinking about a bathroom remodel but find the whole process overwhelming? Are you working with a super small space and want to get the most storage possible? I can help! Here are five simple steps that you can use to design your own bathroom oasis:

Vanity

With any space, I always choose the biggest piece of furniture first – even in a small area. In a bathroom, that would be the vanity. Always remember to measure to allow for the biggest vanity possible because of, well… storage. That’s my main priority, anyways.

 

Faucets & hardware

Up next, it’s time to choose your faucets and hardware. This can be a daunting task, but think about how these items will work with your overall aesthetic. When in doubt, select a classic design. Once you decide on the faucet and the configuration, you’ll need to decide on the finish. I like to choose a finish that has spot defence. This prevents fingerprints and watermarks – woohoo! So, for a bathroom that’s going to get a ton of use, it’s a wise choice.

 

Tile

When it comes to tile, you’ll want to work with the tones of your vanity. My biggest tip for choosing tile for a small space is to keep it consistent. When you use the same tile on the floor and in the entire room, it makes the space look bigger. Another tip is to use a lighter colour on the floor, so it draws your eye upwards. This can also give the illusion of a larger space. I ended up going with a large, warm grey tile. I needed something that would be easy to clean, as I know this bathroom will get a lot of traffic. Bigger tiles and less grout was the way to go.

 

 

Lighting

Time to choose your bathroom lighting. First, start by deciding which type of light will work best in your space. Don’t feel like you need to choose small light fixtures for a small room. This can actually enhance how petite your area looks and feels. Instead, select options that allow the most light into the space and help to enhance the overall design. My rule of thumb for finishes is to stick with two in a bathroom. When you start to add more than that, it can make things look busy and cluttered.

 

Wall treatments & accessories

The last thing you’ll want to decide on is the accessories and wall treatments for your space. Wallpaper always adds so much character and can be so cost effective in small spaces. I love using baskets as garbage cans or just as decoration. A really simple trick is to fill one with toilet paper rolls – practical, pretty and a little extra storage, too.

Source: https://issuu.com/wall2wall/docs/013021_renoanddecor_ontario_edit_05

 


Create a Gallery Wall!

Have you ever wanted to create a gallery wall but don’t know where to start? It can take a lot of time to choose the right images and organize the layout just right. Desenio has a great line of gallery wall posters in a variety of colours, decor styles and finishes to suit your distinct style. Just select the gallery wall that you love, and voila the images are already organized for you according to size and style.

Source: https://issuu.com/wall2wall/docs/013021_renoanddecor_ontario_edit_05

 

 

 


2020 Year-End Stats are Here!

“After a slight slowdown in March and April, the RAHB real estate market rebounded with abundance, creating record break numbers throughout 2020,” says RAHB’s 2021 President, Donna Bacher. “The 2020 real estate market was faced with uncertainly; however, RAHB REALTORS® worked together to ensure that the buying process was done safely and efficiently. Looking to 2021, we don’t know what the future holds; we do know for certain that RAHB REALTORS® will continue to work diligently to keep both buyers and sellers safe.”

When the residential statistics are broken out into the four main RAHB market areas, Hamilton experienced a 9 per cent decrease in listings, a 10 per cent increase in sales, and a 18 per cent increase in average price to $629,961; Burlington saw a decrease in listings by 4 per cent, an increase in sales by 6 per cent, and an increase in average price by 16 per cent to $878,372; Haldimand saw a 19 per cent decrease in listings and a 18 per cent increase in average price to $547,355, while the number of sales increased by 7 per cent; and Niagara North saw a 11 per cent decrease in listings, a 11 per cent increase in sales, and an increase in average price by 15 per cent to $664,921.

Broken down further by community, Ancaster and Dunnville experienced the highest percentage increase of sales at 26.7 and 22.4 per cent, respectively, and the Hamilton Mountain saw the highest total number of sales at 2,113. The largest drop in number of sales was experienced by Dundas, falling from 323 to 304 sales.

The highest average sale price was held by Flamborough at $969,322, and the largest percentage increase was held by Seneca at 29.7 percent, from $631,242 to $819,178. No communities experienced a drop in average price and 19 communities saw double-digit increases in average price.

“When interpreting the statistics, it is important to remember that communities can have many different types of properties – large and small, as well as urban, suburban and rural,” says RAHB President Donna Bacher. “For example, one large farm sale could skew the average price up more than what was experienced in that overall area. That’s why it is so important to work with a local REALTOR® when selling or buying your home – they know the market trends for your neighbourhood and have the tools to help you.”

With respect to property style, single-family properties experienced an increase in the number of sales in Hamilton and Haldimand County by 2.7 per cent and 1.8 per cent, respectively. Single-family properties in Burlington saw a decline of 3.8 per cent and single-family properties in Niagara North saw no change. Apartment-style property sales were up across most of the RAHB market area. Apartment-style property sales increased the largest in Niagara North compared to 2019 – 56.2 per cent. Townhouse sales in Hamilton saw the largest increase – 10.4 per cent. Detached homes, townhouses and apartment-style properties in all of the RAHB market areas experienced an average price increase.

“The clear trend for 2020 was that detached properties and townhomes outperformed apartment-style properties; however, this year we did see apartment-style properties still performing well. Buyers are still leaning towards the detached market that offers them more utility and space,” says Bacher.

Commercial properties within the RAHB market area experienced an increase in number of sales, as well as average price. Hamilton saw the highest number of sales at 96 and the highest dollar volume at $91,915,100.

The total dollar volume of all sales made by RAHB Members (residential and commercial) within the RAHB market area was $145,534,032 – up $21,866,032 — representing a 17.6 per cent increase from 2019.

Specific neighbourhoods within the overall RAHB market area see results that often differ from the average of the entire RAHB market area. Because neighbourhoods vary, determining the right price and conditions when buying or selling a property can be challenging. RAHB REALTORS® have the local experience, knowledge and tools to help buyers and sellers make those big decisions.

*Average sale price is based on the total dollar volume of all properties sold through the RAHB MLS® System. Average sale price can be useful in establishing long-term trends, but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. Talk to your local RAHB REALTOR®.

Source: https://www.rahb.ca/rahb-realtors-release-2020-year-end-statistics/


December Stats are Here!

Hamilton, ON (January 5, 2020) – The REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB) reported 913 sales of residential properties located within the RAHB market area were processed through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System in December 2020. Sales were down 25.95 per cent over last month, but up 41.6 per cent over December of last year. New listings were down 47.87 per cent over November 2020 and up 34 per cent over last December. The average price for residential properties was $729,853, which was up 1.04 per cent from last month and up 25.4 per cent from December 2019. The number of active listings available at the end of the month was 52.2 per cent lower compared to the previous year.

“We can see that the market has slowed from November, which is normal due to the holiday season, as well as increasing COVID-19 cases throughout the province, and more regions in Ontario placed into lockdown throughout December,” says RAHB President Donna Bacher. “Despite being in either the Red Zone (Control) or Grey Zone (Lockdown) throughout December, we do not see the effects on the number of sales and new listings that we did in the spring lockdown. This activity could be the result of continued low interest rates, coupled with increasing consumer confidence due to the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine in Canada.”

The number of sales of single family properties within the entire RAHB market increased in December 2020 by 37.8 per cent compared to the same month last year, the number of new listings was up 34 per cent over last year, and the average sale price increased by 29.3 per cent to $829,226. Townhouse sales activity across the entire RAHB market area increased from December 2019 by 52.8 per cent, new listings were up 48.7 per cent, and the townhouse average sale price increased by 23.3 per cent to $615,775. Apartment-style property sales increased by 43 per cent from December 2019, new listings increased by 44.5 per cent, and the average price increased by 9.7 per cent to $472,330.

“The combination of record December sales and normal December listing activity resulted in lower listing inventory, putting upward pressure on house prices in the RAHB market area. The continued shift in demand to single-family homes has also contributed to the strong price growth,” says Bacher. “In December, townhomes saw the largest increase in the number of sales and new listings. For buyers seeking more living space, townhomes are often the most affordable option.”

Specific neighbourhoods within the overall RAHB market area see results that often differ from the average of the entire RAHB market area. Because neighbourhoods vary, determining the right price and conditions when buying or selling a property can be challenging. Local RAHB REALTORS® have the experience, knowledge and tools to help buyers and sellers make those big decisions.

Bacher adds, “RAHB REALTORS® will continue to work with clients to ensure their housing needs are met and will continue to use virtual technology to assist buyers and sellers during COVID-19. If you are entering the market as either a buyer or seller, working with a local RAHB REALTOR® will help ensure your real estate transaction is both successful and safe.”

**Average sale price can be useful in establishing long-term trends but should not be used as an indicator that specific properties have increased or decreased in value. Talk to your local REALTOR®.

 

Source: https://www.rahb.ca/-5/