Tag Archives: Suburbs

Contemporary Look Trending For Residential Construction

The contemporary look has spread from the urban core and is growing increasingly popular in the suburbs and communities outside major Ontario cities, such as Toronto, say industry experts.

“The past couple of decades of residential construction have been dominated by neo-traditional designs, but we’re in the midst of a major shift to modern or contemporary homes,” says David Stewart, an Urban Designer and Principal of Williams & Stewart Associates Ltd. in Richmond Hill, Ont. “We’re seeing more and more builders who are using contemporary designs to gain a competitive edge and buyers who are looking for homes that really make a statement and are modern and unique.”

Modern Brick Construction Home

The contemporary trend in residential architecture features:

  • Smooth-faced brick and stone instead of the tumbled, rough and “rusticated” surface of brick and stone in neo-traditional and heritage-style buildings;
  • Bold monochrome colours in shades of black, grey, brown, red and buff are replacing multi-chromatic colours;
  • Linear masonry shapes;
  • Greater use of mixed masonry products to create varied elevations which give more interest to exterior appearance; and
  • Stone, brick and panel accents.

While brick, block and stone have been the most trusted building materials for hundreds of years because of their durability, masonry manufacturers are taking the lead in developing innovative new products to stay ahead of shifting architectural design tastes and trends.

“Our manufacturers are constantly refining their products to meet evolving demands for new colours, textures,sizes and shapes,” said Judy Pryma, President of MasonryWorx, a tradeassociation for Ontario masonry industry professionals. “Brick, block and stone may stand the test of time for hundreds of years, but they are also extremely versatile and can adapt to any building style.”

At the same time as more residential buyers opt for contemporary-style homes, municipal and provincial government policies are encouraging developers to build higher density housing to make the most of residentially zoned property. As a result, communities are seeing a shift to more creative townhome designs, low-rise apartments and mixed-use buildings with retail at ground level and residential space above.

As with single-family residential construction, masonry products continue to be the exterior cladding of choice for multi-family residential units, Stewart said.

“Municipalities want high-quality and durable new communities, and brick, block and stone are definitely the preferred solution,” he said.

An overwhelming 90% of consumers who participated in a recent province-wide study by MasonryWorx said they would prefer to buy homes made of masonry products over other exterior finishes, such as wood, vinyl siding or stucco. The majority of respondents said they favour masonry because it’s durable, attractive, easy to maintain and adds greater long-term value to their investment than other building materials.

About MasonryWorx:

MasonryWorx is an association of industry professionals working in brick, block and stone masonry. Our members include product manufacturers, suppliers and skilled professionals from across Ontario who create high-quality homes, buildings and structures that last for generations, increase in value, are environmentally friendly and beautify neighbourhoods. We are committed to providing consumers, members of the construction industry and all levels of government with accurate information about the uses and benefits of brick, block and stone products.

10 Ways You Can Make Money from Your Condo

Many people are currently looking at Montreal condos for sale, as the present boom in the property market makes it an ideal investment. As these developments continue, Montreal is also becoming more and more attractive to employees, tourists, homeowners, and investors alike.

Planning to buy a condo and make money from it? Check out these tips:

  1. Assess your surroundings.

First, check your location and what that means for your rental property. Are you near offices? Are you in a family-friendly suburb? Are there other rental properties nearby? How much are they renting it out for? Check out the city government website for said information which can help you better estimate the possible return.

  1. Pick a target market.

Who are you renting out your condo to? This will dictate where you’ll advertise it and how much you’ll rent it out for. Try to pick a target market that’s not particularly saturated, especially considering the area where your condo is located.

  1. Force appreciation of your condo’s value.

Before you rent it out, you can actually force appreciation on its value by negotiating lower maintenance rates. If you can increase the efficiency of utilities like water and electricity, this will lower operating costs and increase value – making it more desirable to possible tenants.

  1. Prepare your condo for renting out.

You have to remember that you’ll also have competition, as you’re not the only rental property available. Depending on who you’re targeting, you should make it appealing and furnish it appropriately. By doing so, you’re making it the preferred choice of consumers.

  1. Put it out in the market.

Even if your condo is ready for renting out, that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have tenants. You’ll need to advertise that the property available, and using the right channels is also key.

  1. Make all agreements clear.

Be very clear about your rental agreements. Is it a month-to-month contract or are you looking at something more long-term, like an annual lease? Who pays for the utilities? Who pays for the condo fees? Make sure the agreement between you and tenants is very clear to avoid future conflict.

  1. Rent out unused garage space.

Most condos come with a garage space, and you don’t necessarily have to include this in your rental package especially if your condo is in the city and your tenants don’t have a car anyway. You can always rent out the garage space as a lot of people are simply looking for a dependable parking space where they can park when going to work. .

  1. Rent out unused street parking space.

If your condo comes with street parking space, you can also rent this out separately to other tenants in the building.

  1. Consider other schemes.

Open your mind to other schemes for rental, like a weekday-only rental or short-term contracts. This is more likely to happen if your condo is located in a dense area like downtown Montreal, where you have office workers and tourists as well.

  1. Rent it out as office space.

If your condo is the studio type, you don’t have to make it residential. You can also rent it out as office space for professionals.