If you’re renovating to sell, you want to create a striking first impression, where it counts. You also need to consider how each improvement can help maximise your return on investment. Let’s look at what buyers are interested in and how you can use some relatively cost effective methods to make a big difference to most properties come sale day.
Think about your potential market
First things first: who are your buyers? It helps to consider those who’ll be imagining your home as theirs, and what they’ll be looking out for. Is it a flash kitchen, extra bathroom, or another bedroom? A lock up garage or a pool?
If they’re families and investors aiming to rent to families, or individuals and couples looking to downsize, they’ll be honing in on rooms they frequently inhabit.
Key living areas such as the lounge, kitchen and bathrooms are usually top of mind, and probably the most worthwhile places to start for any renovations. If you’re unsure who your target audience may be, consult a local DiJones agent.
Focus on the budget-friendlier basics
There are many quick, small improvements have the ability to ensure a long lasting impression. Think about the simple items in your home that might require replacing. For example, rather than installing a new kitchen, perhaps it’s just the floorboards or walls that need freshening. A new coat of paint is always an impactful way to catch someone’s eye, while modernising cupboard doors and handles, and other fixtures like taps, can also make a difference.
Throughout the property, consider lighting and flooring, to see if they need sprucing up. Curtains and blinds can be removed or modernised, while in the bathrooms it might need be the little things like old mirrors, shower screens, basins, towel rails and even toilet roll holders that need replacing to give it a fresh new look on a budget.
Don’t forget the garden and exterior of your property
For homes that have a lot of lovely trees or are in a bushland setting it is important to keep on top of the garden when it comes time to sell. Engaging a gardener in the lead-up to selling to do a little maintenance or landscaping can be a good way to invest some money for a first impression. Think about the season you’re looking to sell in and consider plants you’d like on show.
Young families often place a lot of importance on the property’s garden, and look for a connection, or at least sight lines, between key living areas like kitchen/living rooms and the lawn/outside areas, which is something to bear in mind when planning any changes.
It’s worth also looking at the facade of the building: do the drainpipes, trim or windowsills need a coat of paint? Other easy value-adds to your property’s exterior include changing your house numbers or letterbox, modernising your door handles, getting a new doormat and making sure your property fencing is in good repair.
Do it properly and call in the experts
While it can be more cost effective to take on some tasks yourself make sure you have the skills to complete them to a high standard. Savvy buyers quickly spot shoddy work and don’t like paying for something they’ll have to do again.
It’s worth reviewing the NSW Fair Trading website before you engage others to help with the renovations. Knowing the statutory warranties for domestic building work and whether your renovations would be covered can help to protect you should the improvements not go according to original plans.
If you’re renovating to sell to can be useful to focus on the changes that will be more cost effective in the short term, rather than bigger renovations that require more investment, time, work and planning permits.
And don’t hesitate to ask a local DiJones agent who knows the market and where your dollars are best spent to maximise your overall sale price.
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DiJones Real Estate, together with their directors, officers, employees and agents have used their best endeavours to ensure the information passed on in this document is accurate. However, you must make your own enquiries in relation to the information contained in this document and seek advice from your financial advisor, broker or accountant to ascertain its application to your circumstances.
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