Buying a Home in the GTA from Abroad? Here's How an Interior Designer Can Help Before You Arrive
Relocating to a new country must come with so many different feelings, from excitement to sheer fear. I have no doubt that those feelings are huge. I can only imagine the stress that comes with it. Moving locally is stressful enough… I can’t even imagine moving to a whole new country! But people do it, and I’ve worked with international clients from overseas through remote interior design to ensure their new homes are not only move-in ready, but truly feel like home.
You don’t just need decor to make a house feel like home, you need a well-executed plan so it doesn’t feel like an AirBNB set up. That’s why having a full-service interior designer in Ontario (who can guide decisions and manage the details on the ground) can make all the difference when you’re relocating.
It’s hard to buy property from a distance for obvious reasons, but making changes and getting it ready to move in, based on real estate floor plans and photos, doesn’t always make for the smoothest transition. Contractors need answers, timelines move fast, and you can’t pop in at a moment’s notice to do a quick measurement or have a quick meeting. You need someone there you can trust. Someone who knows what they are doing—to make sure things run smoothly. This is especially true when you’re buying a home in Ontario (Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton etc.) from abroad or planning a renovation before you arrive.
We’ve created floorplans and 3D’s to help clients visualize new finishes and fixtures, along with existing pieces in their space. We’ve created specifications for construction, done all of the sourcing, shipped samples for review, and held online meetings for reference. We’ve created detailed plans and helped hire the construction team so that the designs get implemented quickly and smoothly. This is one of the biggest benefits of working with a designer who understands both the creative side and the practical side of getting it done.
We do this using a step-by-step process that starts with a kick-off call via WhatsApp, where we discuss next steps in our remote design process, and I learn more about our clients and their project. The rest of the steps include:
An organized site visit to the new property (coordinated locally)
Creation of a proposal for our services
Initial concepts for design direction
Selections of all finishes and furnishings
Virtual presentations with hands-on materials
Detailed and transparent budgeting
Trade coordination and virtual meetings
Installation of furniture and final stylizing prior to move-in
We’ve helped clients relocating from all over the world who are moving to Ontario, Canada and specifically the Greater Toronto Area (Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton etc.) and purchasing homes from overseas. These clients are often looking for an interior designer in the GTA that they can trust to help them buy the right house, visualize the space, and create a home that feels intentional. They want a clear process and strong communication, they love timeless design that feels personal and layered, and they don’t want to waste money on products that don’t fit, don’t function properly, or just feel “off” once they’re in the space.
Clients don’t have to do this alone. This honestly gives me so much joy—to create a home that resonates with clients who are new to this area. I truly feel like I’m making a difference in their lives and their transition for the better. Moving is emotionally taxing on its own, I get it. That’s why taking some of the stress off a client’s shoulders makes it all worth it in the end.
Hearing their excitement after they arrive at their new home after a long flight and a long process is priceless.
If you’re relocating to the Greater Toronto Area (or you know someone who is) and you want a designer you can trust from abroad, I would love to connect.