Page 9 - Real Estate Now-Mar/Apr 2022

“If the layout works, and it feels like a solid home with no big red flags, then the rest can be dealt with over time,” she
says. “If your kitchen is dated or you’re using a pink toilet for the first couple of years, but the layout works for your
family, it’s probably a good buy.”

Appreciate a home’s best features
Pay attention to how much sunlight fills the space, suggests Gillis. If there are plenty of lovely floor-to-ceiling windows
throughout, overlook the super-ugly draperies that frame them.

“If a house isn’t getting good light, it’s difficult and pricey to change window placements,” she cautions.
Don’t fixate on newly-done renovations that may have been slapped on to sell the house quickly, Gillis adds. It’s
actually better to buy a blank canvas.
“You just don’t know what’s underneath, and it may not have been renovated to the standard you would have chosen
had you been doing it yourself, so you’re paying for somebody else’s reno,” she explains. “I’d much rather see people
buy homes that haven’t been tampered with too much.”
Look ahead at what your family’s needs might be

Gillis says many clients are fixated on having three bedrooms upstairs. However, she encourages home buyers to
consider how long they plan on being in their dream house, and whether their preferences might change over time.
“I have teenagers, and believe me, in a couple of years, many of these homeowners are going to want some separation
of space. Plus, somebody’s kid is going to really love a bedroom downstairs,” says Gillis.

Take advantage of below-market prices
Often, a dated home with tired décor and no wow factor comes at a lower cost, making it a great purchase for first-
time home buyers, notes Gillis.
“These types of homes are always priced better, so if you can see past of those little things such as ugly paint colours
on the walls or dark cabinets that you can easily get sprayed out, you will get a better buy,” she says.

Plan for some temporary design fixes
Big on design dreams but short on cash? When Gillis
moved her family into a 1980s home, she knew the
major renos would have to wait, but she instantly
improved the overall look of her new home with
some imaginative and affordable upgrades.

“I ripped out my carpet and painted my cement
floors white until I could open up the whole place,
and we received tons of compliments,” she says.

“You can do a lot of stuff to make your space cool
on a limited budget, provided that the house as a
whole works for you.”
So if you use your imagination and see a property’s true potential, you can pick up the house of your dreams. ■

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