Preparing your house for sale

Your house is one of your biggest assets. If you plan on selling your home at some point, there are some key renovations you can make that will add real value to the listing price of a property. The following renovation projects relate directly to the perceived value of your house, going further than just staging and decorating to sell.

Bathroom renovation

Renovating bathrooms by far adds the largest value on to your house. An out of date or deteriorating bathroom represents significant money that a new owner has to spend in the future.

The bathroom is often the smallest room in the house, so you want to present it as a stylish haven when you go to sell. A modern bathroom with quality fittings that utilises the space well and is both inviting and practical will appeal to a wide range of buyers.

Updated kitchen

Kitchens are the heart of modern living, and a house with an updated kitchen is a real drawcard. A well-appointed kitchen that inspires creative cooking and entertaining is often high up on a buyer’s wishlist when looking for a new home.

Shiny new fixtures and fittings and new cabinetry and benchtops will go a long way in making a good impression. If your kitchen is closed off from the rest of your living areas, then opening up this space will make the kitchen more like the beating heart it deserves to be when sharing valuable family time or entertaining.

Fresh decorating including painting and window treatments

Fresh décor will give your property a lift and take away a lot of the cosmetic wear and tear that builds up over the years. Peeling paint and signs of wear will get people thinking of upkeep costs and may even have them questioning whether the home has been looked after. If you want top dollar for your house it needs to look its best.

If you are going to redecorate before selling, then look to replace outdated styling with something that works with a wide range of tastes, using classic or contemporary neutrals, and introduce colour in less permanent ways, like furniture, artwork and other accessories. You want to your home to look inviting, but also be a blank canvas for the new owner’s personal style.

Indoor/outdoor flow and open plan living

There is nothing like the appearance of a modern functional home to inspire potential buyers.  Reconfiguring an awkward or dated layout and replacing it with a haven of modern living can transform a property, boosting it from the lower end of the average sale price in the area to nearer the top. Large-scale renovation is an investment but the finished product is going to list higher than a DIY project for someone else to add value to. Key areas to focus on include opening up rooms to create larger more versatile spaces, providing increased storage, utilising outdoor living spaces and creating practical indoor-outdoor flow. Something as simple as installing a stacker door that opens onto a large deck area, can transform a tight space into something open and airy.

Extensions and alterations

Extensions and alterations are another way of increasing value and appeal. Installing an ensuite off a large master bedroom or adding another bedroom could be worthwhile, whilst turning an under-utilised basement or outbuilding into a self-contained flat or guest suite can open up another category of buyer.

If you want expert advice on renovation work to add value to your home, contact Renovate Me