CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY RESEARCH?!?
Ah the holiday season! Fun, friends, food and family! Time to relax, and less scheduling. I can hear the fire crackling, smell the delicious feasts, and see the laughter. So why mess up the festive mood with research?
Let me ask you this: when are you ever in and out of people’s houses more often than during the holiday season (unless of course you’re already on a beach somewhere!). As Real Estate Investors, we are always collecting ideas about how people enjoy living. You know what I mean? What takes people from just surviving to thriving in their homes? What little or big details make the difference? We pay attention to what the guests comment about. Did they love the open concept? Do they like the wall accented with wallpaper? Is there a style of bathroom fixtures that guests seem to admire this season? What are some of the characteristics of the neighbourhood that people are chatting about this holiday season—is crime up? –or is there a new Rec Centre almost ready to open its doors? And on the other side, is there something about each house that the host admits drives them a little bonkers? It’s really quite easy to make a few observations at any social gathering.
Then we take our collection of ideas and preferences, and keep it in mind for the coming year. For example, putting vinyl plank into a secondary suite creates the ambience of a home with wood floors—but provides far more practical durability. Calgarians LOVE their garages; we search for rental properties that have those coveted double-detached garages—or space to build one. Did you see the previews of the new YMCA about to open in Seton?—might be an interesting market for families with all those activity options!
Here’s an idea from last year: in-floor heating covered by exquisite concrete flooring, with an epoxy finish. We might use this on a flip project in a higher end community—to provide a wow factor and help our flip compete in today’s market. This picture is from a homeowner that used our renovation company to completely remodel their basement (except a couple of light fixtures are still en-route).
We hope all of you enjoy the festivities over the next few weeks!
