Condo Sales at One City Hall (Past 30 Days)

This week, we're heading uptown for a closer look at One City Hall condos, located near Bay and Dundas in Toronto's financial district.

Built by Diamante, this building offers its residents a full range of private amenities including 24-hour concierge, fitness centre, indoor pool, BBQ terrace and party room.  The building's close proximity to St. Patrick and Dundas subway stations, shops, banks, restaurants and entertainment venues makes One City Hall a dream for downtown dwellers.

In the past 30 days, a total of ten units have sold at One City Hall, from $265,000 for a Bachelor/Studio unit to $492,000 for a 2+Den suite.  These properties spent an average of 20 days on the market.

In this time, a Bachelor unit also leased at this building for a monthly rate of $1,300.

For more information on One City Hall condominiums, please click here.

If you’re a Realtor and would like to share similar stories, please contact us at info@livehigh.com to participate or be featured in a post.

Please note that units can vary greatly in features and finishes which would normally be considered in any purchase or sale. Any transactions outlined above are for general information purposes only and may not reflect those of typical suites. LiveHigh.com is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided or for any damages or loss resulting from the use of such information. For further information on these or other sales, please consult a real estate specialist.

Sale Alert! Buy this Table Lamp, Get 1 Free at IKEA!

With its sleek clean lines and height adjustable base, IKEA's ALANG Table Lamp provides the perfect mix of fashion and function to just about any condo.  And from now until May 1st, you'll get 2 for the price of 1!  But hurry; this offer is valid only while supplies last, one per customer.  

If you're looking to update your condo living room, IKEA's Living Room Event is still on until May 8th, which will get you 15% back in IKEA gift cards on qualifying purchases.

It sure sounds like there are some great deals to be had...happy shopping!

Condo Renovation & Decor Idea: DIY Stone Wall

A space transformed:
the stone wall is subtle and neutral yet provides high impact.

In his search for something to liven up the stark white wall in his condo living room, Julius wanted something unique that would set his condo apart from others. Inspired by the popularity of stone fireplaces, he decided to install a decorative stone wall, even though the idea was initially met with raised brows.

The project took approximately two days to complete and cost approximately $1,600 for the materials.

Condo Renovation: Overhaul of a 20-Year Old Space (Bathroom)

In today's final installment to Simon's condo overhaul, we'll have a look at his bathroom renovations.

Simon's original master ensuite included both a bathtub and a shower.  During this renovation, the bathtub was removed and the overall footprint of the bathroom was reduced to allow for the addition of a walk-in closet in the master bedroom.  All work was done by contractors and everything was replaced, including new (waterproof) drywall, new tiles for the floor and shower, potlights were installed and some plumbing was moved.

In the guest bathroom, the updates were a little simpler; just the vanity and toilet were replaced.

Post-Renovation Wrap-Up

Aside from a few minor aesthetic complaints, Simon is extremely happy with the overall update.  As for the work involved, he now realizes that as a renovation first-timer, he took on an ambitious amount of DIY work and would likely allow the contractors to handle some of it if he were to do it over.

Project costs came in at $35,000 (which included $3,000 in contractor fees).  Given Simon's projected budget of $30,000, he did go over budget by $5,000.  This overrun was primarily a result of unforeseen labour in the kitchen as well as some additional hardware and decor items purchased.

While Simon had originally fallen in love with a sub-penthouse suite in the same building, he's ecstatic that he was able to find a similar, much cheaper unit, put in a little TLC to create his dream home and come in at a much lower price than he would've otherwise paid.  After renovations, Simon paid approximately $260 per sq ft for his condo vs the asking price of about $377 per sq ft for the sub-penthouse suite.

Condo Renovation: Overhaul of a 20-Year Old Space (Kitchen Reno)

In this third part of this condo renovation series, we follow up today with Simon's kitchen renovation in the overhaul of his 20-year old condo unit.

Because Simon wanted to move in as soon as possible, the kitchen was first to be completed after preparation and teardown.

The kitchen before renovations

Contractors installed electricity and lighting, drywalls and tiling for the floors.  Aside from the fridge, all appliances and the kitchen sink remained in their original locations.  There were some unanticipated changes due to the placement of bulkhead, piping and wiring.  Cabinets were purchased from IKEA ($4,000) and granite countertops were ordered separately ($2,600), then installed by Simon himself.

Simon's Take on his IKEA DIY Kitchen: “It's similar to building
any other IKEA furniture – just follow the instructions.

Once the appliances were installed, the balance of the kitchen renovations were held off and completed towards the end of the project (e.g. backsplash and other minor items).  

The process:  IKEA provides kitchen planner software that allows a you to build and customize your kitchen, figure out exactly what to order and the costs involved. Exact measurements are key. Once the plan is finalized, a complete item list is created along with total cost. From there, you'd simply print the list and bring it in to IKEA. For Simon, most items were in stock though a handful of items had to be ordered from IKEA's Montreal warehouse (no additional charge). 

Once the kitchen was in a functional state, the next order of business was the installation of flooring.

Flooring

 

Engineered hardwood flooring was installed through the main living areas.

Tiling was chosen for the foyer and bathrooms and installed by the contractor.  At the same time, Simon installed hardwood floor in the living room and bedrooms himself, replacing the original carpet.  Given the condo's requirement for the use of approved floor insulators, an inspection was completed by Condo Management while the installation was in progress.

Once all flooring was in place, the unit was painted, then baseboards and crown moulding were added by the contractors.

Simon's Take on DIY Hardwood Flooring Installation:

Installation of hardwood flooring is easy as long as you have the proper tools and know-how.  The total cost of flooring chosen was $4,000. Third-party installation quoted an additional $2 to $3 per square foot.  There are many websites which provide instructions (here's an example from Home Depot, one of thousands of online sites with DIY information). 

Tune in next week for the final part of this four-part installment when we discuss Simon's bathroom renovations.

Condo Renovation: Overhaul of a 20-Year Old Unit (Preparation)

As a follow-up to the background we provided last week on Simon's condo, today we'll discuss the process he went through in preparation for the renovation work, including condo management approval, contractor selection and demolition.

 

1. The Condo Management Approval

• Permission for Simon's planned renovations was requested from his Condo Management office.   A standard form wasn't required and as a result, Simon simply detailed  the work to be completed, providing photos of the sub-penthouse unit he'd used as a model.  Being that this building was 20+ years old, the condo management team was accustomed to owners completing major renovations.
  
  
• The only requirement from Condo Management was the use of pre-approved floor  padding under the new wood flooring.  Simon's unit was subsequently inspected to ensure this guideline was followed; otherwise, no other inspection was performed.
  
  Hints & Tips:  A newer condo board and/or management team may be more stringent. with respect to renovations.  Residents in newer condos may not be as understanding.  Provide as many photo examples of your plan as possible, along with a mock-up of your planned renovations using a current floor plan that outlines major revisions.
  
  Hints & Tips:  Given the frequency of renovation requests in an older building,  written approval may not be necessary; however, you should always request approval in writing to be on the safe side.
   

2. Selecting a Contractor

• Simon was referred to a contractor by a friend and thus had the opportunity to examine the contractor's work prior to hiring him.
  
  Hints & Tips:  A contractor referral from someone you trust is always the best way to go, but that's not always available.  In the past, Simon had scoured websites that provide contractor reviews and ratings, such as homestars.com.
  
  

3. The Teardown

• Before any work was started, all existing flooring was removed, walls that were to be displaced were broken down and kitchen cabinets were taken out.  Simon  and a friend completed the demolition and disposal themselves, without the help of a contractor.
  
  
• Simon sold his old kitchen cabinets and appliances online via Craigslist and Kijiji to buyers who picked up the items from his condo; this allowed him to save on the additional cost of removal or disposal.
  
  
• All other debris that could not be salvaged was disposed of at a municipal disposal facility where he was charged $0.10/kg for disposal from Simon's location (City of Toronto).  Total debris for his demolition totaled 2,000 kg, resulting in an overall charge of $200.
  
  Hints & Tips: Charges and guidelines may differ from region to region.  For a full list of disposal depots and guidelines:
  
  
• City of Toronto
• Peel Region (Mississauga / Brampton)
• City of Vaughan
• York Region (Richmond Hill, Markham)

Next week, we'll explore Simon's kitchen renovations.

Condo Renovation: Overhaul of a 20-Year Old Unit (Background)

Ever wondered what it takes to totally overhaul an older condo unit?  Like the renovation first-timers we profiled last year, Simon recently completed a full renovation of his condominium.  The end result?  A true testimony to the potential that lies within four walls when you can see beyond what exists.

Over the next few weeks, our blog will cover Simon's renovation experience and his major milestones in a four-part series.

Easy DIY Project: Spruce Up Your Condo Balcony in Time for Spring!

Got the winter blues?  Tired of being cooped up indoors?  Now’s a great time to consider a simple outdoor DIY in anticipation of warmer days ahead.

If you want an easy and effective way to spruce up any condo balcony or terrace – no matter how big or small – then start from the ground up!  Improving your outdoor flooring requires minimal effort yet provides maximum impact.  

These flooring projects don't require any special skills, tools or preparation, making self-installation possible for even the least "handy" of folks.  The best part?  Creating an outdoor oasis isn't limited to condo owners; renters will be happy to know that installation isn't permanent as the tiles can be packed up and moved once the lease is up (money well spent in our books!)

 

These resin Balcony and Deck Tiles by EON warm up any outdoor space with the classic look of cedar wood, but require no maintenance.  Each tile measures 1' x 1' and won't crack or fade over time.   No preparation is required and the tiles snap together for easy assembly., making installation a breeze.  $29.99 for a package of four, sold exclusively at Canadian Tire.

These Modulette tiles from Designer Deck are available in a wide variety of materials, finishes and colours to suit any taste.  The ones pictured above are made from recycled plastic, though wood varieties are also available.  These 2' x 2' tiles can be installed over irregular surfaces, and can also be cut to fit irregularly-shaped condo balconies and terraces.  Installation is a snap with a "friction fit" (pieces fit together similar to a jigsaw puzzle).

HandyDeck's EzyTile line offers a wide range of granite, slate, sandstone and porcelain tiles to add some unique style to your condo balcony or terrace.  Like the two previous options, these interlocking 1' x 1' tiles simply snap into place without the hassle, frustration or mess of conventional installation methods.  Wooden tiling options are also available and products can be ordered online, starting at $7.80 USD per tile.

To Dim or Not To Dim … That is the Question!

There’s nothing quite like good mood lighting to set the perfect backdrop to a holiday party - or any occasion for that matter!  Even a slight change in lighting can have a dramatic effect, particularly in a small condo space.

Dimmer switches are an ideal way to do just that.  Not only are they an economical way to add value to your home, they will also enrich the way you live in it.  Plus, the effective use of dimmers can help to offset continuously rising hydro costs.

Thanks to Sarah (a.k.a. Thrifty Decor Chick) we've discovered just how easy it is to install dimmer switches, sans costly labour.  She's graciously given us the green light to share with you with her simple step-by-step instructions (with photos!) for this quick little project.

Why not try this DIY and give yourself the gift of beautiful lighting this holiday season?  It’s much easier than you think! 

Follow the jump for detailed instructions.

Design & Renovations Just Got A Whole Lot Easier!

 

If you’ve ever looked at a standard Builder’s floorplan, then you know that it’s not always easy to visualize a space in full dimension, especially if you’re a newbie who’s unfamiliar with standard floorplan drawings.

Enter RapidFloorplans.com.  Intrigued by the company’s name, we sat down with founder Noorein Ladha, a Mechanical Engineer with over 10 years experience in the 3-D design field, to learn more about their service.  Launched earlier this year, the company offers a range of services to convert your existing standard floorplan into various 2-D or 3-D formats that are more functional and user-friendly.

From a standard floorplan, RapidFloorplans.com can create either 2-D or 3-D renderings in which you can customize features and finishes – like flooring and countertops – to make your plan look more realistic.  A large catalogue of furnishings and décor can even be drawn from to help to complete the transformation from a plain flat drawing to a virtually staged home!

“The 2-D and 3-D renderings with full furnishings will allow potential buyers and tenants to better visualize how the space can be used.” explains Noorein.

Just imagine the possibilities:  This quick and cost-effective service could potentially save you thousands before committing a large budget to costly purchases or renovation work.

Don’t have a standard floorplan?  Not to worry.  With their photo and measuring services, the RapidFloorplans.com team can also create interactive layouts or create an entire floorplan completely from scratch.  It’s that easy!

If you’re interested in more information or pricing, please visit RapidFloorplans.com or call 1-800-818-3678 for further details.

Profile: Condo Renovation First-Timers

For many, home improvements are a more attainable goal over climbing the housing ladder in today’s competitive real estate market, and can also be a practical way of quickly increasing property value. Condo units with original or otherwise outdated finishes in older buildings can hold a ton of potential for those who’ve caught the reno bug; not only were suites generally built larger prior to the surge of Toronto’s condo craze, but many of these buildings are situated in prime locations throughout the city core.

Renovations can be daunting for first-timers, and many people have no idea where to begin (or for that matter, where to end!) The LiveHigh Team recently sat down with Jaime and Ed, typical first-time homeowners and renovators, to talk candidly about their first renovation project – the highs, the (many) lows and everything in-between – and how they converted this former investment unit into their own personal haven.

Finishing Touches For Your Bathroom

If you're contemplating bathroom improvements but aren't quite ready for a full reno, we've got some tips and tricks to help you get started!  Many people opt for a fresh coat of paint to freshen things up, which will certainly help to achieve a new look. However, a few other easy, yet often overlooked updates, will also help to give your space a polished finish.  

So Many Colours, So Little Time...

If you’re tired of the winter blues and looking for a quick and inexpensive decorating pick-me-up, consider a little colour therapy. A simple coat of paint is one of the most economical and effective ways to completely change the look and feel of a room. But with so many different colours to choose from, where does one begin?

HRTC Revisited: Common Element Expenses For Condos

Canadian income tax deadlines are just around the corner, and just in time, the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI) has released an information bulletin to clarify how the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) affects condominium corporations and condo owners.  The document includes the legal interpretation of HRTC rules and the legal responsibilities for condo boards and property management companies.

As a follow-up to our original HRTC post, condo owners, boards and management companies may find this information helpful.  Based on the bulletin, the statement of eligible expenses may take some time to prepare, and in some cases further clarification may be required from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).  Condo owners who wish to claim eligible common expenses related to HRTC on their return may want to contact their condo board or property management office as early as possible to give administrators enough time to prepare and provide any appropriate documentation, where applicable.

New Year, New Wardrobe?

For those of you have resolved to keep your wardrobes tidy and organized this year, we’ve just heard that IKEA is offering some great deals on closet organizers and accessories in their Storage Event!

Some budget-friendly buys include 20% off PAX wardrobes and KOMPLEMENT interiors. These incredibly flexible wardrobe systems come in all kinds of shapes and sizes so that you can tailor your storage space to suit your individual style.

The Storage Event is on at IKEA until February 14, but remember: if you make an eligible purchase before February 1, you can still qualify for the Home Renovation Tax Credit!

Reminder: Don’t Miss The HRTC Deadline!

a.k.a. Must All Good Things Come To An End?

As most of you know, the Government generously offered a temporary incentive for homeowners to undertake new home renovations last year.

Since January-end of 2009, Canadians have been benefitting from this Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) for eligible expenditures on work performed or goods acquired.  With savings of up to $1,350 on new home reno projects, it's almost a crime not to redo your backsplash with that gorgeous glass subway tile you've been eyeing all year!

If you think you're ineligible for this credit just because your home happens to sit 20 levels above ground, you're (fortunately) mistaken!  In fact, condo owners may have an additional opportunity to cash in on the credit for renovations made to common areas outside their individual units, as detailed in this great article from yourhome.ca.

Sadly - as with all good things - the HRTC initiative must come to an end. There isn’t much time left to take advantage of this great opportunity, so hurry up and revamp that kitchen or bath before February 1!

For more information on the HRTC and eligible expenditures, click here.