Kitchen and Bath Low_Res_Full_Mag | Page 78

How can I ensure a quick sale in a competitive market? I have a four bedroom house. Will combining a small bathroom and bedroom into a larger bathroom affect my home’s value? Make sure your home is move-in ready, up to date and in good condition. Potential buyers can be very picky and finding one small hidden problem will actually lower their perceived value of your home overall. If funding is an issue, speak to a home equity loan specialist about using existing home equity to fund the repairs needed so you can sell your home for a higher value, faster. - Amit This is an excellent decision as bathroom and kitchen upgrades add substantial value and reducing from 4 to 3 bedrooms won’t negatively affect your value. If you had fewer bedrooms, the opposite would be true. - Marcia Bergen, Anand, www.Tribecca.ca www.marciabergen.com Why is it important to survey for water before drilling? Way too many homeowners spend thousands of dollars on drilling that results only in expensive dry holes or very low yields. Using research with Seismo-electric technology (Seismic Ground Water Detection) and equipment prior to drilling allows you to minimize risk and maximize yield. - Gary Kehler, www.waterfind.ca What is involved in a truly sustainable build? When building a sustainable home, we have to consider more than just energy efficiency. Truly sustainable building includes re- ducing waste during construction, building with healthy products with minimal chemical off-gas- sing, choosing local or recycled materials and investing in materials that will last longer and require minimal maintenance over time. Our goal is to reduce long term costs for heating and maintenance while reducing environmental impact. - Cal Dueck, www.dueckbuilders.com How can I fit a tub and separate shower in a small space? In this small bathroom, well placed lighting and a glass shower enclosure allows light to move so the space feels larger. The freestanding tub is placed at an angle which allows a larger tub to fit in the space and looks decorative at the same time! - Shawn Jones, www.thehomeimprovementstore.ca 78 CANADIANHOMETRENDS.COM