Home Renovation and Custom Building Awards: Wo-Built Comes Out On Top!!!

Screenshot: BILD Press Release February 23, 2009
Toronto's best renovators named for 2009
Credit: bildgta.ca

"Homeowners will have an opportunity to view all project display boards submitted in the competition at Destination Renovation, presented by BILD, during the last week of the National Home Show, running until March 1 at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.
The home renovation and custom building awards are sponsored by Reno and Décor magazine."
BILD Press Release February 23, 2009: Toronto's best renovators named for 2009

Wo-Built Inc. is proud to announce that we were one of 3 finalists for the BILD award for BEST renovation over $300,000 in the GTA area. Although Wo-Built did not walk away with the top prize, we were honoured to be in the running amongst our colleagues for this prestigious award. Our exhibit can be seen at the HOME SHOW at the BILD booth till March 1st. If you are planning a home renovation or an addition this year, you can see for yourself what Wo-Built can do for you and be assured that you are in good hands.

The Wo-Built Inc. Team

This is what we had...

... and this is the result.

"BILD presents a one-stop resource for homeowners at this popular feature. The three elements of Destination Renovation are 'renovation conversation,' which is your opportunity to discuss your project with any of our professional RenoMark(TM) renovators who will be on hand throughout the Show; 'renovation inspiration,' our photo gallery of before and after pictures of professional renovations of all types and budgets; and 'renovation information,' our wealth of free literature on the renovation process. RenoMark(TM) originally launched by the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) is now a national program available in 18 markets."
National Home Show: Exhibitor: RenoMark

links:
Wo-Built's Second Floor Addition Project
Wo-Built Inc.: The Development of an Addition Project: Part 1
Wo-Built Inc.: The Development of Our Addition Project: Part 2
Wo-Built Inc.: The Development of Our Addition Project: Part 3
Wo-Built Inc.: Impressions of the Toronto Fall Home Show

technorati tags:
6 posts tagged addition project
131 posts tagged kitchen renovation
560 posts tagged home renovation
79 posts tagged building industry
renomark

The Foundations of Renovating Your Home

The Foundations of Renovating Your Home

Wo-Built Inc. is a design and build company. We are very knowledgeable and can assist you with the planning and implementation of any home renovation project.

Before renovating, it is important to assess the condition of your home to determine if there are any significant underlying problems that must be addressed before or during your planned renovation project. Once you have assessed your home’s needs we can plan out the renovation project.

A house is much more than just four walls and a roof — it’s an interactive system made up of many components including the basic structure, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the external environment and the occupants. Each component influences the performance of the entire system. A renovation provides an opportunity to improve how your house performs.

As you assess your renovation project, ask yourself how changing particular components will affect the performance of the whole house. For example, as part of a bathroom renovation you may want to add a hot tub that will generate large amounts of humidity during operation. Your existing ventilation may be inadequate to handle the increased moisture levels. It will be important to provide proper ventilation to avoid mold growth, indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and damage to the structure or finishes. You may need to consult with a qualified home inspector or a professional renovator.

If you are planning any major renovations, please go to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation website http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/renoho/refash/refash_002.cfm for more detailed information and take a look on some of the questions to ask before you start your renovation project.

Screenshot: CMHC for Consumers: Renovation Fact Sheets: Assessing Renovation Project
Credit: cmhc-schl.gc.ca

links:
Wo-Built Inc.: Renovation Design Tips: Tip 1: Know Your Zoning and By-laws
Wo-Built Inc.: Renovation Design Tips: Tip 2: Design Time
Wo-Built Inc.: Renovation Design Tips: Tip 3: Professionals Involved in the Design
Wo-Built Inc.: Invest in Your Home Renovations and Be Eligible to Receive up to $1,350 in Tax Relief
Wo-Built Inc.: Smart Home Improvement with ecoENERGY Retrofit Grants

technorati tags:
8 posts tagged home renovation project
494 posts tagged home renovation
139 posts tagged bathroom renovation
1 posts tagged Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

David Pylyp, Toronto West-End Real Estate Agent, Supports Our Mission

Screenshot: Toronto West Homes: Custom Builders: Wo-Built
WO-BUILT STANDS FOR QUALITY AND STYLE
Credit: eleganthomesinwesttoronto.com

We at Wo-Built Inc. would like to thank David Pylyp at RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., for his support of our social mission and his recommendation of our renovation services.

David is a real estate agent who has built his business through many years of experience in the Toronto west-end (from High Park to Oakville). Whether you are in the market to buy a new home or to sell your existing home, we would recommend you go to David’s website for relevant information to help you in your process.

Once again we thank David for his support.

The Wo-Built Inc. Team

links:
Toronto West Homes: Custom Builders: Wo-Built
Elegant Homes in West Toronto
Toronto Real Estate West Blog

technorati tags:
David Pylyp
475 posts tagged home renovation
8 posts tagged custom builder
181 posts tagged West Toronto
1 posts tagged Toronto West
15 posts tagged wo-built

Smart Home Improvement with ecoENERGY Retrofit Grants

Screenshot: Natural Resources Canada: Home Improvement:

Personal: Residential ecoENERGY- Retrofit Homes
Credit: Natural Resources Canada

ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes is available to owners of single family homes including detached, semi-detached and low rise multi-unit residential buildings. Property owners can qualify for federal grants by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, and reducing their home's impact on the environment. The maximum grant one can receive per home or multi-unit residential building is $5,000; whereas the total grant amount available to one individual or entity for eligible properties over the life of the program is $500,000.

We, at the Wo-Built Inc., always suggest before we start construction of an addition or renovation to have an energy audit done of the existing home to see if any energy improvements are eligible for a grant. As the renovations can be quite substantial it makes sense to see if the house can be made even more energy efficient and to take advantage of the government incentives.

The new Budget announced an additional $300 million in ecoENERGY funding over the next two years to support an estimated 200,000 additional home retrofits. No changes to how the program operates were announced.

For more information check Five easy steps to get your ecoENERGY Retrofit grant
and Questions and Answers section of ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes Program.

links:
Eligible Improvements / Retrofits: Combined rebates from the Governments of Ontario and Canada
ecoACTION - Using Less - Living Better: Home Improvement: Grants for Residential Property Owners
Wo-Built: Interesting Reading: Government Help for Going Green in Homes

Invest in Your Home Renovations and Be Eligible to Receive up to $1,350 in Tax Relief

Screenshot: Canada's Economic Action Plan:
The Home Renovation Tax Credit: PDF Version Pamphlet
Credit: Department of Finance Canada

We at the Wo-Built are taking every chance we get to let our customers know about a new Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC).

The Home Renovation Tax Credit will provide a one-year, temporary 15% income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenditures for work performed, or goods acquired between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010. The credit may be claimed on eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000 but no more than $10,000.

How the HRTC Will Work

The 15-per-cent credit may be claimed on the portion of eligible expenditures exceeding $1,000, but not more than $10,000, meaning that the maximum tax credit that can be received is $1,350.

The credit can be claimed on eligible expenditures incurred on one or more of an individual’s eligible dwellings. Properties eligible for the HRTC include houses, cottages and condominium units that are owned for personal use.

Renovation costs for projects such as finishing a basement or re-modelling a kitchen will be eligible for the credit, along with associated expenses such as building permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses.

Routine repairs and maintenance will not qualify for the credit. Nor will the cost of purchasing furniture, appliances, audio-visual electronics or construction equipment.

Who Can Claim the HRTC?

About 4.6 million families in Canada are expected to benefit from the credit.

Taxpayers can claim the HRTC when filing their 2009 tax return.

Eligibility for the HRTC will be family-based. For the purpose of the credit, a family is generally considered to consist of an individual, and where applicable, the individual’s spouse or common-law partner.

Family members will be able to share the credit.

Examples of HRTC Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures

Eligible

1. Renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or basement
2. New carpet or hardwood floors
3. Building an addition, deck, fence or retaining wall
4. A new furnace or water heater
5. Painting the interior or exterior of a house
6. Resurfacing a driveway
7. Laying new sod

Ineligible

1. Furniture and appliances (refrigerator, stove, couch)
2. Purchase of tools
3. Carpet cleaning
4. Maintenance contracts (furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, pool cleaning, etc.)

Information on the Home Renovation Tax Credit is available on Canada Revenue Agency’s website at : http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gncy/bdgt/2009/fqhmrnvtn-eng.html


links:
Office of the Prime Minister: Harper Government's new Home Renovation Tax Credit to take effect today
28 January 2009
Google Blog Search: "home renovation tax credit"
Google News Search: "home renovation tax credit"
blog.homerenovationguide.com: Federal Tax Break for Home Renovation?