Buying a first home is a daunting task. Unless your name is Bieber or Kardashian, you’re likely going to have to make some compromises. And if you’re looking in Toronto proper, you’ve got your work cut out for you. 
Lauren Bernardo is a marketing professional from Unionville who was in her mid-twenties when she started to house-hunt in the city. On a tight-budget and wary of making rookie mistakes, she relied on her real estate agent to help her wade through several bidding wars. After losing battles in Parkdale and the Junction she won her fixer-upper in Leslieville at less than the asking price.
“I was outbid 4 times before I found my home. Because of the bidding wars it was hard to know what homes I could actually afford. Often the asking price was much lower than the final sale price. I think it is important to set a very hard budget because it’s very easy to get caught up in the bidding wars for a home you could potentially see yourself in.”
The reasons for getting a great deal left her with a lot to do. The most urgent project was to finish the incomplete kitchen. Lauren got to work before she moved in, hiring a contractor and driving daily from her apartment across town to finish the major job.
“The cabinets were only on one wall and there were no proper electrical outlets or laid out spots for any appliances. We had to extend the cabinets into an L shape and put in proper electrical for the stove and fridge, as well as new plumbing for the dishwasher. After completing the cabinets, my contractor put in a butcher block countertop and once he was done I put up the white subway tile backsplash on my own to save cost. If I have any regrets it would be not being able to afford more high-end fixtures, counters or appliances. However, all of that can be updated at a later time. I am happy with my kitchen now, and I am very excited for further updates down the road.”
Concerned about getting hooked by a shady contractor, Lauren eschewed the free ads on sites like Craigslist and looked for positive reviews on user-managed websites.
“The website www.homestars.com was a great resource to find reliable and well-reviewed contractors. I ended up coming across an amazing kitchen contractor who specialized in IKEA, and customizing it for the homeowners’ needs and tastes. He completed the job on budget and I would highly recommend him.”
Once the kitchen was complete Lauren discovered plenty of other issues that kept her busy and taunted her bank account.
“The house had been prepped for sale by a ‘quick fix’ contractor who really didn’t do the most professional work. So there had to be some fixes to the hardwood floors. They had laid them the wrong way. I tore up all the carpet on the second floor only to find hardwood that was in very bad condition having been told that it was in good condition. I found a floor company that would refinish it for a fair price however it wouldn’t guarantee the work because of how warped and thin the original hardwood was. But they did a great job considering what they had to work with.”
Lauren also learned the power of the measuring tape after the washer and dryer she purchased wouldn’t fit down her basement stairs. She went back and got an apartment-sized set that took a full-size bite out of her budget. She also recommends tracking all quotes and expenses carefully throughout the process to make sure everything stays on track. In the end, she’s happy with the way her home turned out.
“My contractor recommended some further upgrades but I will work on those in 2012. Or perhaps 2013.”
(All photos by Lauren Bernardo)