11 Step Guide to Budgeting for your Renovation
Budgeting for a home renovation can be a challenging process with many variable costs to consider including materials, labour and the condition of the existing building to name a few.…
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14 ways to prepare your home for winter
Now that we are into December, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your home for winter and the freezing weather that comes with the change of season. If you…
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A Home to Call My Own
I remember when my husband and I took the plunge to buy our first home back in 2006.
We were renting downtown, as so many 20-somethings do, enjoying the urbanite lifestyle but also dreaming of a time when I could sleep undisturbed — no 3 a.m. wake-up calls from my neighbours’ sound system and the early-morning deliveries taking place in the alleys.
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A SPLASH OF STYLE!
HAVAN members Kalu Interiors know how to splash out when it comes to personalizing a home. Working with On Time Construction Ltd. they remodelled a two-bedroom condo into one master…
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Adera Developments
Searching for a sustainable home in Vancouver? Look to award-winning builder Adera Developments for innovation in green building and high performance homes.
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ALL DECKED OUT FOR WINTER
With winter just around the corner, now is a good time to check the exterior of your home in preparation for the colder weather. Some points to consider include: Gutter…
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Ask the ‘Homebuilders Association Vancouver’ Experts
Shopping for appliances Before thinking about style, colours, finishes or appliances, Lucila Diaz, Founder and Creative Director, Harmony Sense Interiors Ltd. says “The first step in creating a great kitchen is to…
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Award-winning Basement Renovations and Ideas
Basements are often overlooked when it comes to home renovations, but they have the potential to be some of the most versatile and functional spaces in a house. With a…
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Beautiful kitchens take smart planning
Have you ever wondered what it takes to build an award-winning kitchen? There is no secret recipe. It takes good planning and attention to the construction details, with a keen…
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Bob de Wit’s Province Guest Column
Bob’s monthly guest column in the Vancouver Province features topics relating to the residential construction industry and related issues, relevant to the association, and the readers of the paper.
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Bringing Opulence Home
What exactly constitutes luxury living? With the help of 2017 Ovation Award Winner, Mulberry Properties’; Mulberry Home in West Vancouver, we can explore living in luxury and how to bring…
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BUILDING PERMIT – RENOVATION GREEN LIGHT
The Homebuilders Association of Vancouver (HAVAN) believes If you are like most renovating homeowners, obtaining a building permit is probably unknown territory. When you hire a professional renovator, he will…
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CHECKLIST FOR AN ENERGY EFFICIENT RENOVATION AND A HEALTHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
Renovation is a great time to improve your home’s energy efficiency and indoor air quality. With today’s products and technology, it is possible to get “new home performance” in any…
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Choose a floorplan wisely
Townhomes come in different shapes and sizes. Visualize life in your new home and choose the floorplan that’s right for you. Greatrooms on the main are the norm, however the…
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Creating That Dream Ensuite
“Timeless, elegant, simple and uncluttered.” Marg knew the style she wanted for her renovated master bedroom ensuite, but she didn’t know where to start. She went online and visited…
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Eight top tips to consider before renovating a child’s room!
Renovating a child’s room can be both exciting and challenging. You want to create a space that is functional, fun, and reflects their personality. To help you get started, here…
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Empower Yourself with Knowledge, When Hiring an Electrician in Vancouver
Electrical contractors and companies hold a lot of power. Hiring the wrong person or company for your project could cause delays, damages, impact your home insurance, and ultimately create an…
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Energy efficiency upgrades for your home
In the last few years there has been a National effort to reverse Climate Change and one of those efforts is to make homes more energy efficient.
The energy used to cool homes in Canada is increasing each year and efforts to reduce this will help everyone, as the energy used will usually make the environment hotter outside.
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FIRST IMPRESSION
Make sure the Material you Choose for the Outside Reflects what you want to Achieve on the Inside.
Building a home can be extremely stressful – choosing finishes and styles, and working with builders, contractors and trades to ensure at the end of the day you and your family are choosing the best materials representing who you are.
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Flex rooms expand livable space in micro-homes
Micro-homes are a solution for adding housing to existing neighbourhoods to sustain thriving communities. Given the high cost of renting in Vancouver and low interest rates, the micro-home is a…
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Gather market intelligence at the HAVAN Homebuyer Forum
Whether you are planning on buying your first home, thinking of helping a millennial get a foot in the door, or a new-comer to Vancouver, there is one golden rule to follow: prepare before you purchase. Read Bob’s article in the February 17 issue of New Home and Condo Guide.
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Get It in Writing
A home renovation is both a financial and emotional investment. We have heard hundreds of renovations stories, most of the tales end with happy homeowners, but that is not always…
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Harmony and balance in custom homes
It is a wise decision to source award-winning builders and renovators to help you build your dream home. It is also a good idea to ensure there is harmony between…
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HAVAN Awards for housing excellence – Finalist showcase 2020
Photo: Martin Knowles Photo/Media Builder: Novak Contracting & Construction Ltd. Project: Outside In Location: Surrey Project Finalist: Custom Home:$2 million to under $3 million; Best Space: New Construction, Best Special Feature, New or…
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Hayer Builders Group
Searching for your new townhome? Look to award-winning builder Hayer Builders Group for innovation, quality and new communities.
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Home Renovation Budgets: Reality vs Television
Photo credit: TQ Construction Ltd. Guest Blogger: HAVAN Member Alisa Aragon, Bridgestone Financing Pros Home renovation shows are one of our favorite TV programs to watch. They are entertaining and…
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Housing Outlook for 2020: Stable and Balanced
After a year that has seen prices fall by over 10%, a 30% reduction in new home sales, and a surplus of resale listings and new home inventory through the…
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How to Make Your Home Look Stunning All The Time
Want your home to look pleasing to the eye, especially when you’re having guests over? We have the simple yet powerful trick. The Pillow Fluff. This trick gets missed all…
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INVESTING IN RENOVATIONS PAYS OFF IN MORE THAN DOLLARS
Compared to conventional financial investments that rise and fall with regular frequency, housing has proven to be a relatively stable and sound investment that keeps up with inflation in most…
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Kids in Condos: Expanding families in smaller spaces
Condominium living used to be the quintessential definition of being in your 20s and early 30s, living on your own or with your partner in the heart of the city, and enjoying the trendy life of name-brand coffees and late-night dinners. But in the past decade, there has been a dramatic shift in the demographics of condo dwellers in Vancouver, who now are just as likely to be walking around town with designer strollers as with frou-frou dogs.
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Kitchen Design Trends for 2019
With every new year comes new trends for the world of interior design and 2019 will not disappoint with what it has in store. Keep reading to see a snapshot of how the world of kitchen design is evolving and what we at Designs by K&S predict to be the market leaders in trends for the new year.
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LIGHT, LOCAL AND BUILT-IN MAKES SPACE FOR A NEW CONDO
Renovations present many options for a homeowner. In the case of a Vancouver condo overlooking False Creek, faced with repairs due to water damage, the homeowners took the opportunity to…
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Looking to sell? How staging helps
Whether you have lived in your condo for a couple of years, or a house for thirty, preparing to sell your home can be an overwhelming experience. All those little annoying things you have put off fixing; the loose hinged drawer, a dripping faucet, a finicky light switch, a worn carpet, are they really so important to making the sale?
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Maison D’etre
Planning a condo or townhome renovation? Look to award-winning renovator Maison D’etre for quality, experience and reliability.
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Making the switch to LED
Everyone has heard over the past years how LED’s have a positive effect on the environment, or how LEDs can help save households money in the long run. But not…
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Marino General Contractors
Planning a heritage renovation? Look to award-winning renovator Marino General Contractors for quality, experience and assurance.
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MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE PODCAST: LIKE, TAG & FOLLOW TO WIN A BBQ
Never miss an episode! Enter on Facebook Post and/or Instagram post to be entered to win a Napoleon Prestige P500 stainless-steel natural gas barbecue, valued at $1549, compliments of FortisBC.
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Metro News Ovation Awards Feature
From modest kitchen renovations to stunning whole-home transformations, and from family-oriented townhouse communities to luxurious custom-built estate homes, the Ovation Awards highlight the best projects HAVAN members have built, renovated, designed…
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Music Makes the Home
Music is core to our being. Homes filled with music are filled with more laughter, more love and more family togetherness. Everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning become more enjoyable…
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My House Design/Build/Team
When in search for a reliable contractor, look no further than award-winning renovator & builder My House Design/Build/Team. Serving Vancouver, North Shore, and Surrey, this custom home builder has plenty of renovation tips to share with you.
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Out of the Box Condo Culture
Condo life is like living in a micro community and developers have picked up on this trend by including amenities to reflect the lifestyles of the buyers.
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Outdoor Living Ideas
Designing your dream outdoor living space can be a great way to extend your home and create an inviting space to entertain and relax. Whether you’re looking to add an…
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Portrait Homes
Searching for a new family home? Look to award-winning builder Portrait Homes for quality and new communities.
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Predict the Winners for a Chance to Win!
Do you like viewing new homes, renovations, and design? You’re going to love playing this game! The doors are swinging wide open once again to showcase HAVAN’s Awards for Housing…
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Renewable energy solutions for your home
FortisBC is a leading energy solutions provider in British Columbia (B.C.) and serves its approximately 1.2 million customers with natural gas, electricity, propane and renewable energy solutions, through around 56,000…
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SELECTING A RENOVATOR
The first step in hiring a professional renovator is to collect names of companies that seem well suited for your project. Then you can follow these procedures with each of…
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Shop@Home initiative offers consumers free samples & advice.
TORLYS Introduces “Shop Globally, Buy Locally” Program “Shop@Home” initiative offers consumers free samples & advice from the comforts of home. TORLYS, a global flooring company specializing in beautiful, responsible flooring…
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Silver Lining Brings Home the Gold
Every renovation has a story and this one is a winner, with a silver lining. Multi-Ovation Award winning builder Tavan Developments Ltd., builds and renovates dream homes in South Surrey,…
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Spa-tacular!
Creating a sense of calm and space is essential when designing a spa-like bathroom.
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Splash Out with a Bathroom Renovation!
Embarking on a bathroom renovation is an exciting endeavor for homeowners seeking to infuse new life into their living spaces. From luxurious spa-like retreats to modern functional designs, three latest…
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Sprucehill Contracting
Searching for a reliable contractor? Look to award-winning renovator Sprucehill Contracting for quality and assurance. Based in North Vancouver, Sprucehill Contracting has an impressive track-record for custom home building
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STONE CAN ADD A TOUCH OF MODERN STYLE TO ANY ROOM OF YOUR HOME
Stone has long been one of the foundations for home construction. Its rounded shape and smooth texture make it the perfect decorative accent for any room in your house. Incorporating stone into your design can add a touch of modern elegance to a bedroom or a bit of rustic class to a kitchen. Your possibilities are endless when you are looking to incorporate this material into everyday décor in some of the most commonly used rooms in your home.
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STRIKING BALANCE BETWEEN BEAUTY & FUNCTION
Designed for an active family, this 2019 Ovation Award winning kitchen by Bolder Homes Ltd. showcases the outstanding results achieved by working with professionals to properly plan for quality craftsmanship,…
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Symphony Homes
Searching for a new high performance home? Look to Symphony Homes for innovation, quality and piece of mind.
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The Cost of Doing Business with Friends
When undertaking a significant construction project, it often helps to know someone in the industry. However, a recent decision of the BC Supreme Court highlights the problems that can arise when doing business with friends or family.
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The lowdown on the low-rise building
The lowrise apartment, a form of condominium, provides flexibility for different segments of the market, from families starting out, to empty nesters downsizing. Mercy, a four-storey high-end concrete multi-family development…
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There’s value in buying into inclusive communities
Vibrant, inclusive communities are built to support families through various stages of life. Different sizes and floorplans will cater to different needs as a family grows through the natural cycles…
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Top Five renovations for optimal return in a down resale market.
So, you’re thinking about selling your home and your realtor suggests a price lower than you anticipated. Now what? Knowing what renovation will help you optimize the true value of…
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Top Ten Small Kitchen Ideas and Design Tips
Designing a dream kitchen in a small space can be a challenge, but with the right inspiration and design tips, you can create a functional and stylish kitchen that works…
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Townhomes becoming ‘forever’ homes
Builders are responding to market demand with a variety of housing choices. With affordability an issue, townhomes are no longer viewed as a step to a forever home, but as…
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Townhouses: A viable option for everyone
Townhouse living today far surpasses the starter homes of generations gone by. The ‘Shaughnessy Residences’ by Alabaster Homes, nominated as a finalist for five Ovation Awards including – Best New Kitchen:…
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TRENDS IN HOME RENOVATION
Renovation trends reflect the changing needs of Canadian homeowners whether it’s creating room for aging parents, a home work space or simply a more enjoyable living environment. At the same…
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When was the last time you checked the condition of your windows?
Homes that are over 20 years old with the original windows are typically due for an upgrade. Well-designed windows play a variety of important roles and can improve your home’s…
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WHITE – OUT!
2022 Kitchen Design Trends. Gone are the days of the ‘all-white’ kitchen. Natural elements were centre stage at the 2022 HAVAN Awards for Housing Excellence. This year’s winning kitchens reveal…
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Zero in on the structure of a new build
There are many considerations when shopping for a new home. HAVAN member Alabaster Homes suggest zeroing in on the structure of the building, before getting carried away with the appliance…
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