Our House

Dominion LenDing CentreS OUR HOUSE Spring 2017 >> 33 with the financial side. "What i really love doing is empowering people and coaching them to be able to make the decision to fulfil their vision." talbot believes that gathering information and building knowledge is essential, rather than solely relying on an expert's perspective. When you start making decisions based on instinct, it takes lots of the worry out of homeownership. He also believes everyone should view real estate as an investment and determine the end game of the property before they buy it: when they're going to sell it and who they're going to sell it to. "At the end of the day, for anyone making decisions about renos or buying and selling, that's a very personal choice and a choice that ultimately the homeowner takes responsibility for," says talbot. Harris also advises thinking long-term. "it's so important to look at both your five and 10-year plan as a family. if your house does not have any additional square footage to work with, then maybe a lipstick reno and a quick sell is your best option," she says. "if your home does have extra space [and] it's just not being utilized well, but you love the neighbourhood, then i would suggest renovating it to support your family for years to come." homEoWnErshiP For aLL For his part, talbot is rethinking the entire ethos of homeownership. "in today's day and age, we don't live the same way as our grandparents did, [who] lived in their houses for 50 years. [now] houses are more designed to facilitate lifestyle than be the lifestyle themselves," he says. " now that i'm a parent, especially, I'm lEANINg TOWARDS mORE cOlOUR, lESS clUTTER AND SOFTER FINISHES, whereas before i was all about everything being white. " —Jillian Harris (2) HgtV CAnADA "i'm really interested in the idea of redefining the Canadian dream of what makes a great house." i think we've gotten off target as a society: 5,000 square feet is indulgent!" instead, talbot says it's about those shades of grey and finding the sweet spot where financial responsibility, sustainability and quality of life intersect. that's a tough sell for some. especially when our social media feeds are awash with idyllic images of families frolicking in sprawling backyards and cooking in couture kitchens. Dream home envy indeed. Harris sees beyond the soft filters and careful cropping and suggests homeowners look inward. "i think the best thing is to identify what's important to you and then build a plan around how to achieve that," she says. "or, be on Love it or List it Vancouver and have todd and i figure it all out for you!"

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