8 Small Ways To Update Your Kitchen Without Renovating

While we all might have visions of our dream kitchen in our head, or multiple images pinned to a Pinterest board—doing a full-scale renovation might not be in the budget at the moment. But that doesn't mean that there's nothing you can do. Here are a few easy ways to update your kitchen without a full scale renovation. 

1. Open shelving - If you’ve got a massive blank wall to fill, you might want to consider adding some shelves. They’re a great way to show off your beautiful glassware, a collection of platters, or gorgeous cookbooks—and they'll give the room even more storage space. Add sculptural or minimal brackets for that extra touch of elegance.

2. Paint the cabinets - It's incredibly affordable to paint your cabinets! It’s the cost of a can or two of paint (plus primer!) and some elbow grease if you’re doing it yourself. Whether you opt for a dramatic black or a soft dove gray, a couple coats of paint will completely transform the look of the entire space.

3. Swap out the hardware - You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to give your old, outdated hardware a refresh. Warm up your finishes with a brass option in a sleek, modern shape. This will instantly make your kitchen look on-trend, but it won't cost a fortune to achieve.

4. Add under-cabinet lighting - Give this space some drama while showing off pretty display pieces. You can find a bunch of options, including LED battery-operated versions that just stick on. It’s a softer lighting option than overhead lighting—and it creates a warm ambience at night.

5. Paint the walls - Maybe you love your cabinet color but the rest of the kitchen is feeling a little blah. Punch it up with a new color on the walls. Whether you opt for a bright white or a darker hue, just make sure to pick a color that complements your cabinets. 

6. Rethink your cabinet space - If the main reason you're wishing for a reno is to gain more storage in your current space, reconsider the cabinets you currently have. Double your cabinet space by purchasing graduated shelving inserts, dividers, or a turntable.

7. Cover your countertops - Unfortunately, we don’t all have the countertops of our dreams. A quick way to refresh is by covering a section of your counter with an oversized cutting board or a slab of marble. This idea works especially well if you’d like to camouflage a spot with damage until you're ready to redo the countertop entirely.

Will a Home Inspection Help Sell your Home Faster?

Usually, a home inspection is done after an offer is made to buy a home. The offer will typically include a condition that the property must pass such an inspection. The buyer then hires the inspector, who goes through the home, top to bottom, inside and out, looking for issues. 

However, you can also get an inspection done as the seller. In this case, you are paying for an inspector to produce a report on your home - before you sell. In fact, this is often called a pre-sale home inspection. 

Why would you do this? 

A pre-sale home inspection can make your property more attractive to buyers. This is especially helpful if you're selling in a buyer's market, where there are more homes like your for sale than there are buyers. The report serves as an enticing feature of your listing because it reassures buyers that there are no unknown issues. 

Getting a pre-home inspection is something worth considering. For a buyer deciding between your listing and another home for sale, it can be a determining factor. 

Small Fixes That Make A Big Impact on Buyers

Thinking about listing your home soon? If so, you'll want to make your property as attractive to buyers as possible. That doesn't necessarily mean having to do extensive improvements. In fact, there are plenty of small fixes you can make that will have a big impact on your home's appeal. 

Here are just a few ideas: 

Fix what's not working. When something is not working correctly - a faucet, cabinet drawer, motion light, etc. - that's a big turnoff to buyers. Check your home for anything that needs repair. 

Eliminate the unsightly. Don't think a buyer will notice that little dent in the living room wall? They will. And, even though it's minor, they'll remember it. Do what you can to fix or eliminate anything that's unsightly. 

Update hardware. One of the easiest (and most affordable) improvements you can make is to change out old cabinet and door hardware. Especially in the kitchen, new hardware can make the entire space look updated. 

Optimize lighting. Are there areas in your home that are uncomfortably bright? Or, are they gloomily dim? Check that you've optimized the wattage on the bulbs in your fixtures. For some spaces, you might need to add lighting. 

Paint. This is probably the most effective improvement you can make to your home. A fresh coat of paint makes just about any room look like new. It's a transformative staging technique and one that is affordable and DIY-friendly. 

Following these tips will go a long way toward getting you into the home of your dreams. 

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GTA REALTORS® Release May 2021 Stats

Residential transactions reported through TRREB’s MLS® System remained high in May 2021, but fell short of the 2016 record and were below this year’s March peak. Despite a slight ebb in sales over the last two months, market conditions remained tight enough to push the average selling price to an all-time record in May.

Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 11,951 sales in May 2021 – more than double the result from May 2020, the second full month of the pandemic. May 2021 sales were below the May 2016 record of 12,789 but remained well above the average May sales of 10,336 for the 2010 through 2019 period. Often, May is the strongest sales month in any given year; however, 2021 results bucked this trend, with May sales below the 15,646 deals reported in March.

“There has been strong demand for ownership housing in all parts of the GTA for both ground-oriented home types and condominium apartments. This was fueled by confidence in economic recovery and low borrowing costs. However, in the absence of a normal pace of population growth, we saw a pullback in sales over the past two months relative to the March peak,” said TRREB President Lisa Patel.

The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by close to 19 per cent year-over-year in May 2021. The average selling price across all home types was up by 28.4 per cent year-over-year, reaching a record $1,108,453. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average price increased by 1.1 per cent between April and May 2021.

“While sales have trended off the March 2021 peak, so too have new listings. This means that people actively looking to purchase a home continue to face a lot of competition from other buyers, which results in very strong upward pressure on selling prices. This competition is becoming more widespread with tighter market conditions in the condominium apartment segment as well,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

TRREB MLS® New Listings May 2021

TRREB MLS® Sales-to-New Listings Ratio May 2021

TRREB MLS® Average Resale Home Price May 2021

TRREB MLS® Sales May 2021

7 Ways To Make Your Next Move Fun

For many homeowners, selling their current property and finding their next home can seem like a daunting experience. But, it doesn't need to be. In fact, the process can be smooth and relatively easy, even fun, if you do the right things. 

Consider these tips: 

1. Create a profile of you next dream home. If possible, get the whole family involved in this exercise. Turn it into a fun game. 

2. Learn the steps involved in selling and buying. Don't be shy about asking questions. The less mysterious the process seems, the more likely you are to enjoy the experience. 

3. Visit neighbourhoods you'd like to live in. Explore the area. Go for walks. Imagine living there. 

4. Clean out all the clutter and other unwanted items from your home. This not only makes the house more comfortable for you and your family, it also makes it look better to buyers. 

5. Don't do everything on your own. Get help. If you need a repair person, house cleaner, contractor or pet sitter, hire one. Lessen the workload so you can enjoy the adventure. 

6. Plan fun things to do away from home during buyer viewing appointments. 

7. Keep a "moving calendar" and schedule appointments, tasks and other activities carefully. The more organized you are, the less stress you'll feel. 

Of course, the best way to make moving fun is to work with a good real estate agent - someone who knows how to sell your property successfully and can make the process go smoothly.