Renovations that boost Hills District home sale prices
Who doesn’t love a home-makeover TV show? Programs like The Living Room, The Block and Better Homes and Gardens attract huge audiences, but they don’t tell you what renovations will add the most value to your home when it’s time to sell.
From our experience of selling hundreds of homes in and around Winston Hills and Baulkham Hills, we know that there are some tried and tested improvements you can make that will boost your home’s sale price. The key is investing money in the right places to achieve the highest return on your investment.
Internal aesthetics
Starting with the basics, if your home is looking a little tired a simple coat of paint will work wonders. Freshly painted walls, preferably in white or neutral colours, make a home look newer and offer buyers a blank canvas so they can visualise their own furniture and furnishings in place. It’s also one less job they have to consider doing themselves when they move in. If you don’t have the time or skills to do it yourself, it’s well worth paying a professional.
Exterior appeal
Similarly, your home’s exterior, driveway, garden and outdoor entertaining areas can be tidied or upgraded to make that all-important first impression.
Sparkling clean windows are essential and if exterior paintwork is cracked or peeling it will look as though the house is old and uncared for. Again, engaging a professional painter or gardener can pay dividends; buyers are generally looking for a home that doesn’t require intensive maintenance.
And if you don’t have an outdoor entertaining area, consider adding one; it doesn’t need to cost a fortune but it’s part of the lifestyle in Winston Hills and Baulkham Hills that buyers are looking for.
The heart of the home
These days, the kitchen is the heart of the home and money spent here is almost always going to pay off. Most new homes have open-plan kitchen/dining/living rooms, so if you have an older-style enclosed kitchen, it can be worth opening it up and replacing it, to create a more appealing open-plan space.
Depending on the style and condition of your kitchen – and your budget, of course – options include going for a complete renovation or updating elements such as the benchtop, cupboard doors, splashbacks, and handles for cupboards and drawers. Buying new appliances such as a dishwasher and oven will give the kitchen a more modern, streamlined look.
Kitchen renovations
If you decide to install a new kitchen, your options are, in order of pricing, custom-made (made to measure – the sky’s the limit when it comes to budget), custom designed (standard units designed by companies such as Freedom Kitchens to fit your specific space) and flat-pack self-install modules from companies such as Bunnings. Again, it’s important to shop around, and also ask for recommendations for local kitchen companies.
Bathroom renovations
The trend in bathrooms is for spa-like, relaxing spaces. A dated bathroom can either be replaced, or you can refresh it with minimum investment. If you don’t want to go to the expense of installing a completely new bathroom, replacing the tiles and tapware will give it a clean, contemporary look; shabby tiles and bathtubs can also be repainted by specialist bathroom resurfacers.
Updated flooring
Flooring is another area where it’s worth spending some time and money. If you have wooden floorboards, check whether they need re-sanding and refinishing; a buff and polish might do the trick and you can hire buffers from companies such as Kennards.
Replacing fitted carpets if they’re looking worn will instantly improve the look of your rooms; prices typically range from $20 to $250 per square metre (not including installation), depending on the quality of flooring you choose.
Storage space
Finally, everyone needs plenty of storage space. Built-in wardrobes can be bought in modular form from companies such as Ikea, Bunnings and Freedom Furniture and ideally every bedroom should have one.
Check your laundry, too; it might have room for overhead cupboards or shelving that create valuable added storage space.
If you are a landlord with a rental home in The Hills District or looking to invest in a property within the region, and would like some local insights or property management expertise, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
If you are considering selling your Hills District home and would like some free tips on which areas of your property to update or renovate in advance of putting your home on the market, please do not hesitate to get in touch.