B & A -Behind The Scenes...Reno To Rent - Amir + Aleks Realty Team

The Scoop

Aleks wanted to up her game and purchase an investment property. Unlike her other projects, Aleks was going to renovate and keep this home, making her a landlord for the first time. She purchased a cute, row townhome in the up and coming Junction Triangle (the neighbourhood was slowly transitioning at the time) and was excited to get her hands on it. The home had been with the same owner for over 50 years and it showed, he also smoked inside the house, gross. The challenge was how to make it livable and get rid of the smoke smell…on a budget!

What Aleks Did

Paint was going to be Aleks’ best friend and most budget friendly thing that would make the biggest impact. After finding a product called Killz primer and lightly sanding all the walls, the primer was able to literally kill the smoke smell on the walls and block the yellow stains, giving a clean slate to paint. Aleks painted everything from the walls, floor, ceiling, stairs, and trim. The majority of the budget went into the kitchen and bathroom. Aleks painted the existing kitchen cabinets and updated them with new handles. She also replaced the countertop, light fixture, sink, faucet and all the appliances, even adding a dishwasher. The bathroom was completely gutted and rebuilt with all new everything. Aleks updated all the light fixtures and window coverings as well as cleaned up the front and backyards, and the home was ready for a family.

The Result

Priced right, looking good and in a great location, it wasn’t long until Aleks found her new tenants. They were exactly what she had hoped for, a young family, a husband, wife and dog. Fast forward to 5 years later, not only did this family truly make this their home, they have since had 2 children and are still happily living there. The bonus was that Aleks’s landlord journey was featured in a publication of Toronto Life. She couldn’t have asked for anything more!