In North Vancouver, there are a ton of renovated properties for sale. With so many properties being renovated these days, sometimes it’s hard to know if the reno job was a job well done. I’ve worked in the home renovation business and today I’m going to go through some things to look for to see the quality of work that was put into a home renovation. Remember this is just a guideline to follow and doesn’t define a good vs. bad renovation.
Take a look at any new fixtures and appliances, do you recognize the brand? You can always google a product if you’re unsure. High-quality contractors will typically make sure the appliances bought are also high quality.
Look at the boiler/furnace room and electrical panel. If the panel is mislabelled or messy, this is usually the result of a lazy electrician.
Does the boiler/furnace room look clean and organized? Is there any sign of water dripping or pooling?
What type of material is used for the plumbing? all new plumbing in residential houses should be done with pex material and should look clean and organized.
Look at the symmetry of the tile work, light placement, sink placement, etc. Good tradespeople will make sure everything lines up and is symmetrical.
Feel the weight of the doors, do they close nicely? is there any friction against the frame? typically heavier doors are better quality and cancel noise more effectively than light ones do.
Kitchen cabinets can vary massively in price and quality. Dovetailed solid wood cabinets are known to be of high quality and can easily be recognized by looking at the joint of each cabinet. Also, check how the drawers slide in and out of their cavities. Most high-quality contractors will have smooth soft close drawers.
In a good quality renovation, the flooring should slide underneath the trim and there won’t be a quarter round trim like the one shown here. In this case, the flooring was likely placed on top of the old flooring and the trim wasn’t changed.
Look at the walls and ceilings, are there any cracks? this could be a sign that the house is shifting or isn’t settled on hardpan. A crack in the foundation could lead to some large problems down the road.
You can ask the sellers what the name of the renovation company is. You can check their website or google reviews to see the quality of work they do.
These are just some of the little tips that I’ve learned but there’s a lot more. If your serious about buying a renovated home make sure you bring an expert with you.
Thanks for reading and I’ll be trying to put out more content soon. If you have any questions or suggestions on topics you want me to cover next please comment below!
Luke Annunziello Realtor®
Century21 In Town Realty
North Vancouver
