Resale Homes
Resale Homes
Southdale masterpiece
Walking through the kitchen at 278 Southbridge Drive into the adjacent dining area, Tom Haines gestures toward the ceiling.
"This is a home that features attention to detail, bar none," he says. "One of the best examples of that detail is the ceiling above the dining table (which seats eight). The inlaid maple beams in the coved ceiling just look incredible, as do the maple pillars -- I'm a big fan of natural maple. That's only a tiny part of the attention to detail that carries through every inch of the home."
There's a reason for that, he adds.
"This home was built in 2004 by Morrison Homes to serve as their show home. Their owner (Greg Tohms) is an absolute perfectionist, so he didn't overlook even the tiniest detail. The result is a home that's full of high-quality finishing materials, and that features an excellent floor plan on every floor."
In short, 278 Southbridge is an eminently livable work of art. From the spacious foyer on in, the 2,400-square-foot, two-storey home (with fully-developed lower level) exudes a charm that emanates from the rich cross-section of finishing materials.
Distressed-oak hardwoods, which run through most of the main level, with the exception of the flex room off the foyer, combine with brown earth tones (dark, medium and light), honey-maple cabinetry and brown countertops to envelop you in an atmosphere that promotes relaxation.
Add in abundant maple woodwork (stair bannisters, baseboards, door trim, doors and the aforementioned pillars and inlaid maple beams over the dining area), a cultured-stone/maple entertainment unit in the family room and large windows at every angle that flood the main and upper level in copious amounts of natural light and your blood pressure immediately dials down a level or two.
"There's just all kinds of natural light," Haines says. "That's because the ceilings are 10 feet high, which allowed for bigger windows. The high ceilings also make the interior seem even bigger."
That said, all the gorgeous finishes and attention to fine detail would go for nought were the floor plan not logical. No such problem here: The foyer is wide and welcoming, with an angled entrance that doesn't reveal too much of either the kitchen or family room, while allowing light to stream in from two large windows on the back wall. The kitchen, dining area and family room are all distinct, yet open spaces.
With its angled granite and maple island, the kitchen features a high degree of utility due to the placement of the island, which allows for wide aisles on every side. Meanwhile, the huge dining area has room for eight to 10, which leaves the flex room up front open for use as an office or music room. The family room, with its fireplace set smartly in the cultured stone, is only steps away and holds tons of furniture.
"I love the nice, clean entertainment centre, coffered ceiling in the family room and the great use of space," says Haines. "The floor plan really works."
The same could be said for the home's upper level, which features five rooms (master suite, two secondary bedrooms, four-piece bathroom and laundry room) revolving around a landing big enough to include a sitting area for two. Every need of an active family is met -- space (abundant in all three bedrooms), utility (laundry room, four-piece bath by kids' room), and privacy (master suite up three steps by itself).
"Basically, the landing works like a hub," Haines says. "The kids have all the space they need, plus their own bathroom. The laundry room is in a great spot and the parents have a place to go to take a load off after a long day.
"With its ensuite with soaker tub and four-foot tempered-glass shower set in textured beige/brown flecked tile, plus a great walk-in closet, the master suite is a super spot to get away from it all."
Haines says 278 Southbridge's lower level isn't too shabby, either.
"It's an amazing space, with media room, games area, a corner bar and bedroom/office spread out over 1,200 square feet of livable space. Plus, there's tons of storage space," he says. "The quality and attention to detail in this home is incredible, and it's been so well cared for. This is a gem that someone is really going to enjoy."
lewys@mts.net
Realtors: Have an attractive resale home that might make for a good story? Email the listing to Todd to see if it will qualify as a future resale homes feature!
Details
Address: 278 Southbridge Drive, Southdale
Size: 2,400 sq. ft.
Style: Two-storey
Year Built: 2004
Lot Size: 65' x 110'
Bedrooms: 4, plus flex room
Bathrooms: 3.5
Price: $649,900
Taxes: $6,600 (gross 2010)
Contact: Tom Haines, Maximum Real Estate @ 799-7505
Resale Homes
Sold
North End
Address: 284 Manitoba
Asking Price: $129,900
Sold Price: $120,500
Taxes: $1,887.71
Square Footage: 912
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 2
Lot Size: 37 X 105
Listing Agent: Shawn Sommers, Century 21 Carrie.com, 987-2168
Norwood
Address: 114 St Mary's Rd
Asking Price: $329,900
Sold Price: $274,900
Taxes: $2,692.00
Square Footage: 1,600
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1.5
Lot Size: 80 x 98
Listing Agent: Terry Isaryk, RE/MAX Performance, 231-5557
West Kildonan
Address: 328 Enniskillen Ave.
Asking Price: $194,900
Sold Price: $194,900
Taxes: $2,629.03
Square Footage: 1,200
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Lot Size: 40 x 115
Listing Agents: Cheryl and Glenn Kisil, Kisil & Associates Real Estate Ltd., 668-7878
Shaughnessy Heights
Address: 1491 Pritchard Ave.
Asking Price: $109,900
Sold Price: $121,000
Taxes: $1,405.98
Square Footage: 1,050
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Lot Size: 40 x 115
Listing Agent: Glenn Kisil, Kisil & Associates Real Estate Ltd., 668-7878
Resale Homes
Proposing the Make it Right Bill of Rights
A LOT of unethical contractors play fast and loose with rules and build badly or use crappy materials. They’ll also break the rules of good faith that should be part and parcel of any relationship between a service provider and his customer: act professionally, create a culture of respect, have open and honest communication and work to a reasonable standard of expectations.
Dishonest contractors break these rules because they know many of their customers don’t know when they’re being played — when they can tell the contractor to take a hike. They forget they are the boss and allow these contractors to prey on their ignorance to make a quick buck and then disappear into the night.
I’m here to tell you that, as a customer, you have rights when dealing with a contractor. That’s why I’m proposing my own Customer Bill of Rights. And just as if it were written in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the rights here are inalienable. No one can take them away from you.
It looks like this.
1. You have the right to receive a written contract.
I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but a verbal contract isn’t worth a damn for any renovation job. Always, always, always insist on getting a written document from a contractor — signed by you and him — that clearly and precisely describes the scope of work he’s about to undertake.
Leave nothing to chance. Insist on details. And whatever you do, don’t let a contractor talk you into leaving portions of the document blank or open-ended. Always err on the side of documenting too many details. If the scope of work changes over the course of the job — and you both agree it has changed — make a formal, signed amendment.
It’s your right to get it in writing.
2. You have the right to expect regular, honest communication.
On any job, not everything always goes according to plan. The unforeseen occurs — late deliveries, unexpected site conditions, personal emergencies — and people have to adapt to these challenges as best they can. Good contractors know that they must be honest and open to keep their customers happy.
If something goes wrong on a job, you have the right to be informed. If a product you specified is substituted for another, you have the right to be informed. If the project is going to be delayed by an extra day, week or month, you absolutely have the right to be informed.
Exercise this right by being vigilant, asking questions and expecting your contractor to supply detailed and honest answers promptly. If you can be around the job site at all times, check in with the contractor a couple of times each day. (If you can’t always be on-site, visit at least daily.) Ask about progress and compare that against the project schedule. If you think something looks like it’s about to go off the rails, say so. And ask how the contractor plans to get things back on track.
It’s your right to know.
3. You have the right to set high expectations.
Setting high expectations on your job site isn’t about pointing out brush strokes the painter left behind or popped nails that need to be tapped back in; it’s about holding your contractor to a high professional standard. It’s about ensuring the contractor cares about his work and your home as much as you do.
That means he should carry some accreditation or licence. He should get a building permit. He and his crew should perform work in a safe and tidy manner. He should welcome your input and willingness to inspect his work regularly. He should even be proud to have a professional building inspector look over the job. He should also understand you’re not prepared to pay for work with which you’re not completely satisfied.
It’s your right to set the bar high
4. You have the right to feel at ease.
When you’re negotiating with a contractor, it’s easy to feel intimidated. He’ll use jargon and technical terms to try to impress you. The good contractor takes the time to explain complicated ideas in simple terms. He wants to make you feel comfortable and to build a trusting relationship.
At all stages of the job, you should expect your contractor to go the extra mile to explain things. I’m not suggesting you follow behind the contractor and ask why he drilled a hole in one place rather than another, but I am suggesting you should feel comfortable asking questions about things like scheduling and material selection (especially when either affects budget) and during the final walk-through.
It’s your right to expect respect.
5. Customers have responsibilities, too Rights are always balanced with responsibilities. Just as we expect others to respect our rights, we must behave in a way that respects others’, as well. This balance applies on the job site, too.
As a customer, you must:
â communicate clearly;
â recognize when to trust an expert’s advice;
â understand every decision you make affects progress;
â pay in a timely, agreed-upon manner.
— Postmedia News
Catch Mike in his new series, Holmes Inspection, airing Thursdays at 8 p.m.
ET/PT on HGTV. For more information, visit www.hgtv.ca. For more information on home renovations, visit: makeitright.ca
