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PAGE 18, WHITByP'EBpRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARGH 13, 1991 Gettin ha ta rt 'Wintry winds. may stili be howling, but many consurners are already getting a heari start on planning their spring home renoivation projeets. "If you put off deciding whether to renovate for too, long, many of the best comparues may already be booked Up for the building season," warns -Marilyn Gurevsky, 'expert at Ontario's Mfinistry of Cosumer and Commercial, Relations. 'Starting early gives'consumers plenty of turne to work out ail the details, and helpa prevent probleins further into the project." Householders plannming major construction may wish to hire an farchitect to oversee everything from the foundation~ to -flnishing nails. But many cn~mr look for a general contractor to co-ordinate sinaller projects. The first step toward satisfaction with the finished project is to find the naines of some competent contractors. "The simplest way to find out whols hot and who's not is to ask for recommendations fin friends and neighbours. If you don't have any close personal contacts who cari recommend a company, ask the people you work with or a local business. person you trust for their opinions, ' urevsky advises. Another way to find contractors is by aslding your local home builders' association for their list of construction firrus that specialize in renovation work. A quiet Sunday morning'drive cari aIso be a- source of information. Many renovators post company signs outside the homes they"re working on. If a project catches your eye, add the contractofsà naine to your list of potential suppliera, and jot down the address of, the house. When the turne cornes -,te check references you'il be able to ask about that specific job. But selecting some contractors you think may be appropriate is just the beginning of the research needed to make sure your project turns out right. "In one recent legal case,- a Toronto- renovator who was convicted of unfair business practices had been paid $14,000 SEE PAGE 19 Buyjng a.house: '1-lot.buttons" for thene decade (SOP), Whàt 'are 1 990s shoppers really Iooking for in a new house? What are the "hot buttons" that wilI trigger a sale. A neW. U.S. survey of 1,737 ac- tive home-shoppers provides some interesting answers. Th e survey, conducted for Buider magazine by Fulton Re- search of Fairfax, Va., asked shop- pers to rank the desirability of a new home's features from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most desirable. Any fea- ture scoring 3,5 or higher is consid- ered a "hot button," the magazine says. Here are the results: BAY WINDOWS RANK HIGH 0 Windows. The hottest hot button of ail was double-pane windows, with a score of 4.17. Also popular were bay windows and specially shaped windows. a Outdooi-..A rear deck 'or patio was ranked at 4.12, a very high score. Also popular were exterior Iight- ing upgraded landscaping and back- yard fencing.. 0Interior-s. The highest-ranked fe atures were a wood-buming fire- place (3.84), French doors, panelled i nterior doors. buit-in shelving and ceiling molding. a Kitchens. The most popularCea- tures were a walk-in pantry (3.9 1), island work area, matching appli- ances and cabinet fronts, slide out trays and ceramic tule floors. *Master Bath.' This room has the Iongest Iist of desirable features: two sinks (4.12), separate shower (4.11), ceramic tule tub surround, private toilet, ceramic tule floor, upgraded fittings, whirlpool tub and dressing-makeup area. FAMILY ROOM IMPORTANT One section of the survey asked shoppers where they wanted to add space to a new home they consid- ered adequate. The answers showed a desire for a bigger fami ly room (39 percent), master bedroom (20 per cent) and kitchen (15 pdr cent). Very few people would add space to the master bath (f ive per cent) or dining room (two per cent). The survey also asked about optional rooms that add to a house's cost. The highest ranked extra was a sun room, favored by 38 per cent of shoppers. The Iowest was a media, room,, attractillg only seven percent. JAPM TRAN stands on the porch cf hie 140.year.old home. Tran and his brot herpurcbased the hous. when it was located -on Dundas St.W. and moved #t to Stewart St. ChIli Boi.photo 1841 hom'eundergoes. rlocation, mnovation By Chri. Bovie cari be quite risky the house When Jamie Tran. decided to move was relatively problein- enter the real estate market, he free. With care,- the house'was certainly took. on a challenge in finally set on the new foundation his first purchase. on Stewart St. Situated at 200 Stewart St. in - The whole plan for the Trans Whitby, the 140-year-old héuse was te keep the historie beauty lits comfortably in 'the neigh- of the house intact. Wherever bourhood. But it was quite an possible, the original framework effort that kept this historie' has-been maintained. -' home ffroin bein destroyed at its' An. addition has been built orgnal locatinonD daSt since the move, sud original win- WatEucid. dow frames were used. The Tran. and his brother'saw lhe Trans aise, managed.te- salvage building advertised sud were in- 8,000 original bricks te be used mediately taken'with the land- wherever possible. mark. A. full basement was installed, 'Tie awa loed Id ome,»nine feet . deep, te allow, a drop .1 awaslve.l hms ceilinoe Tran said. 'l went througli it ad AItliough a lot of work has it was in mint condition.7 beendone, much reinains. «We've The house was situated where done the1 general. landscg pIng the new Canada Trust ' s now sud we're -restoîing the porch. located. Ini danger f beinjtorri We're about 80 per cent of the down, Tran hired Lorrie iMcCul- way on that,» Tran said.. loch te moire the house aler an ' enovation is expensive and extensive search for property on tiine-consuining, but Tran says *which-to situatethehlouse.. t' elworthit-tosaEve :part, Qf Although thesetypeof moves ' Whitby'past.-