Decor & Renovation
Five minutes with Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew Scott
Image courtesy of W Network Image by: Image courtesy of W Network
Decor & Renovation
Five minutes with Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew Scott
For the past four years, we've watched Jonathan and Drew Scott work their makeover magic on the homes of ordinary Canadians, but this spring, W Network has a twist in store. With the Feb. 17 première of Property Brothers: At Home, the talented twins take on a reno unlike any other: their own pad in Las Vegas, where Jonathan sidelines as an award-winning illusionist. "It really does show our fans what they've been asking for: what we would do to our own place," says Jonathan. Having just wrapped filming in Las Vegas, Drew and Jonathan returned to Toronto to chat with Canadian Living about real estate, return on investment and renos of the bathroom variety.
Brett Walther: How much should you budget for a full bath renovation?
Jonathan: The cheapest bathroom makeover I've done was around $3,000, but I've done them all the way up to $30,000.
Drew: Yes, it varies from one property to the next and where you are in Canada. We shot in Vancouver for Property Brothers, and in Vancouver and Toronto for Buying & Selling. Both are very expensive markets—Vancouver even more so than Toronto.
BW: How can you tighten up your budget?
Drew: You don't have to go top-of-the line on all materials. You can save money by shopping online or at some of the big-box stores for things like pre-made vanities that come with countertops.
BW: What's the biggest mistake people make when they renovate their bathrooms?
Drew: Taking a space that's really cramped and simply replacing the materials. Even though it feels new, it still has a bad layout. If you're going to renovate, decide if you need to reconfigure the bathroom to make the most of the space. Even in a tiny bathroom, you can shuffle things around to make it feel like you have more room, without putting in a pedestal sink, which is useless for storage.
Jonathan: It's also a bad idea to get rid of the tub if it's the only one in the house. Even if you don't use it, when you go to resell, you've eliminated all of the buyers who want or need a bathtub. You might think it's a quick-and-easy fix to put it back in, but buyers don't see it that way! If they walk in and there's no bathtub in the house, they'll walk right back out again.
Are you a new homeowner? Check out the valuable advice The Property Brothers have for you.
Brett Walther: How much should you budget for a full bath renovation?
Jonathan: The cheapest bathroom makeover I've done was around $3,000, but I've done them all the way up to $30,000.
Drew: Yes, it varies from one property to the next and where you are in Canada. We shot in Vancouver for Property Brothers, and in Vancouver and Toronto for Buying & Selling. Both are very expensive markets—Vancouver even more so than Toronto.
BW: How can you tighten up your budget?
Drew: You don't have to go top-of-the line on all materials. You can save money by shopping online or at some of the big-box stores for things like pre-made vanities that come with countertops.
BW: What's the biggest mistake people make when they renovate their bathrooms?
Drew: Taking a space that's really cramped and simply replacing the materials. Even though it feels new, it still has a bad layout. If you're going to renovate, decide if you need to reconfigure the bathroom to make the most of the space. Even in a tiny bathroom, you can shuffle things around to make it feel like you have more room, without putting in a pedestal sink, which is useless for storage.
Jonathan: It's also a bad idea to get rid of the tub if it's the only one in the house. Even if you don't use it, when you go to resell, you've eliminated all of the buyers who want or need a bathtub. You might think it's a quick-and-easy fix to put it back in, but buyers don't see it that way! If they walk in and there's no bathtub in the house, they'll walk right back out again.
Are you a new homeowner? Check out the valuable advice The Property Brothers have for you.
| This story was originally part of "Five Minutes With Jonathan and Drew Scott, The Property Brothers" in the March 2015 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue! |
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