Most buyers love fully renovated homes because they don’t have the time, money and energy to renovate themselves.
Before getting started on any renovation project, take some time out and think about what buyers are looking for and what will add value when you sell. Knowing what you want to achieve will help you avoid spending money where you won’t get a good return on your investment.
Have a plan
Find out what the market wants and what your budget is before finalising your renovation plans. Here are some things you'll want to consider:
- Know what buyers in your area expect when they purchase a home similar to yours. Go to open homes and auctions in your area and have a chat with a trusted real estate agent.
- Increasing the floor area is the best way to add value to a smaller home. Adding a third bedroom can help you appeal to a completely new group of buyers.
- Aim to create a clean, modern house where people can make their home. Provide a good framework but leave the new owner to add any personal touches.
- Focus on areas where people spend a lot of their time: the kitchen, living room and outdoor living space. Oh, and the bathroom too!
Refresh the kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of your home and buyers are looking for a super-clean, stylish kitchen with modern appliances. If you make a potential buyer imagine themselves cooking in your kitchen, it can add true value to the sale price.
- Keep the same layout unless there’s a really good reason to change. Reorganising the layout will dramatically increase the plumbing and electrical wiring costs.
- Make sure the food prep area, stove and sink are well lit.
- Storage is key! If you’re changing the cabinetry, consider making them go all the way to the ceiling and have plenty of big, soft close drawers that instantly let you see and access everything.
- People love their kitchen appliances! Carefully plan where power points will go and don’t forget to include a place to charge phones and devices.
- Benchtops can be expensive. Engineered stone looks great, wears well and won’t break the bank!
Give the bathroom a makeover
Chipped tiles, stained grout, poor lighting and signs of moisture, mould and mildew are a big turnoff for buyers. Go for a clean, modern bathroom with a neutral colour scheme that ties in with the rest of the house.
- Most people are looking for a home with more than one bathroom, so consider adding a second bathroom or ensuite. Remember young families consider a bath essential.
- Add the illusion of space to a small bathroom by choosing a wall hung vanity and toilet. A frameless glass shower will not only feel more spacious, but make the room seem lighter too.
- Updating the hardware is a good investment and will help refresh and modernise the room. Stick to timeless fixtures and tapware to appeal to most potential buyers.
- Maximise storage space by incorporating it into the vanity (drawers are best) and behind a large, recessed mirror. Add shelving too, including recessed shelves in the shower and beside the bath.
Good outdoor living spaces are a big hit
Kiwis (and your potential buyers) love heading to the backyard to relax with a coffee or drink, and to entertain family and friends. Great outdoor living with good flow can make even smaller homes seem more spacious.
Think about how your living space connects to the outdoor area. Adding French or bi-fold doors will give easy access, open up the space and let more natural light in.
Improve the appeal of your outdoor space by tidying the garden and upgrading the deck. Don’t add things like a spa or pizza oven; while they’ll appeal to some buyers, they’ll turn others off.
When you’re renovating your home to sell, adding value is not about how much you spend, but what you spend it on. Hire professionals to do the job properly - changes only matter if they're done right! Make people imagine living in your house and they’ll definitely want to make it their home!