So, you’ve got a bit of cash to spend to renovate your house but don’t want to overcommit? Keeping your costs low and focusing where you spend your money are a great way to make your property look its best, without the expense and headaches of a major renovation. Here are five places to spend for the biggest impact:
The kitchen
Experts are all but unanimous about the value of a fresh, clean kitchen to buyers. The kitchen is the emotional heart of most homes, so buyers will resonate with a well thought-out floorplan and luscious design that they won’t have to fix themselves. Just be careful: it’s easy to overspend by ripping and replacing everything, particularly when you start involving specialised trades. If your layout is good but the cabinetry is tired, for example, consider keeping the skeleton and just replacing your cupboard doors. Updating your sink and tapware can also make a big splash! Make sure your appliances are clean and appealing, but don’t overinvest in brands for brand’s sake. Ask yourself whether you really need to replace your benchtops with expensive stone, or whether you could freshen up the kitchen by just replacing the splashback. Consider the value of good lighting and, in line with contemporary trends, a few well-placed pendant lights over a central island. Done right, experts say, you can get back $2 for every $1 you spend in the kitchen.
The bathroom.
If you have a modern bathroom you may be able to get away with a good clean and repainting. But dirty bathrooms are a sure turnoff for buyers, so make sure you clean every surface, regrout tiles if necessary, and replace old silicone if it’s mouldy. Consider modernising your shower head and taps, adding mirrors to enhance the sense of space. If it’s old, a new toilet seat is a cheap and easy update. Even an inexpensive, stylish vanity can be a big improvement over something old. Just be careful: making more than superficial changes in a bathroom significantly increases the cost and complexity of a bathroom renovation, so plan and prioritise to contain your costs if you do start ripping and replacing tiles, shower, and tub.
The façade.
If your property is relatively new, it may already look nice from the street. But if not, time and money spent cleaning it up will make a big difference to buyers’ perceptions of its value. Weed gardens and walkways, pressure-spray outside surfaces, repaint windows and timber mouldings. Replace broken roof tiles, pavers, and other obvious surfaces. Consider replacing or repainting your front and/or garage doors to make the whole façade pop. You may also want to consider the potential benefit of rendering at least the front of the house to increase its kerbside appeal – which, experts reckon, can add 10 percent to your sale price.
Think green.
Just as water shortages made rainwater storage tanks desirable and surging energy costs reminded homeowners of the value of double-glazed windows , electricity price rises have made solar panels a cost-effective and appealing investment. Adding panels will give your property environmental credibility, and buyers will love the idea of saving money on electricity from the day they move in. Just make sure you go with a reputable installer with a solid warranty, and don’t overspend.
Go high-tech.
High-tech automation makes a home look modern – so consider investing in something obvious like a Google Nest Hub in the kitchen, controlling WiFi-connected smart lights and smart speakers, and showing real-time video from the outside video doorbell or security cameras. These easily-installed devices are highly visible and convenient, and will make your home seem that much more modern.