It’s great to be back on Channel Nine’s The Block and I’m seeing some really innovative stuff from this year’s contestants. It’s amazing to see The Block slowly transformed week to week from a state of total disrepair to a series of amazing new homes. And if the ratings are anything to go by, a strong passion for renovating still exists among Australian home owners today.
by John McGrath
Renovating requires a lot of creativity and a strong vision for how you want your home to look. I am constantly surprised and impressed by the clever ideas people come up with – not only on The Block but also in many of the properties that our agents market for sale.
Trends in home styling are constantly changing as more ideas come to light and particular fashions take hold. I remember when painted feature walls were all the go but nowadays you’re far more likely to see designer wallpaper. Granite and marble used to be the top choices for a new kitchen but now CaesarStone is king.
It’s really exciting to see the trends change as people experiment with new or unusual products. The trick is not to take it so far that when you go to sell, your home is just too “out there” for buyers. One mistake people make with renovations is thinking only of their personal enjoyment of the property rather than future re-sale. For example, if you’re living in an apartment, the odds are you will want to upgrade to a house at some point and you’ll have to either sell or rent out your apartment. So you don’t want to renovate it so uniquely that you lose buyers (and money!) because of your choices. I suggest maintaining a neutral universally-appealing colour palette, using high quality fittings and fixtures and then accessorising with the quirky stuff to suit your personal style.
When you eventually sell, your agent might recommend removing the accessories to expose the neutral template of the home, which will enable buyers to more easily imagine how they’d put their own personal stamp on it.
On The Block, one of the things I always look for is meticulous presentation. If you’re renovating to sell, it’s really important that everything is done well. Something small like a bit of paint outside the edges on your ceilings could really worry your buyers, as they’ll draw conclusions about how much care went into the major works if there’s small imperfections at every turn. Meticulous presentation gives buyers confidence to compete for your property.
If you’re looking to sell, here are my top five pre-sale presentation tips.
1. Tidy up the garden – a $5,000 makeover can definitely add $5,000 to $10,000 if it’s done right
2. Detail the home – get the windows sparkling, water blast the grime off the exterior
3. Touch up the paintwork – it’s inexpensive and effective
4. Styling – you don’t need a professional, just get an objective opinion of what furniture and accessories work
5. De-cluttering – if your home appears clean and well-organised, it takes away a lot of people’s fears about problems lurking below the surface
For more renovation and presentation ideas, watch The Block on Channel 9 at 7pm weekdays.
