So you’re considering putting your home on the market. It’s a big, heart-pounding decision which can bring with it many late-night panicky thoughts. ‘Should we re-carpet?’ ’Maybe we’d get more if we added a pool - or a loft?’ Sound familiar? You’re not alone, but - and you can trust our years of experience on this one - it doesn’t need to cost a fortune to make buyers see stars come show day. Here’s how.
Show your front door some love
It’s the gateway through which all potential buyers are going to enter your home, but have you had a good look at it lately? A new door handle and a fresh coat of varnish or paint could make all the difference when it comes to that important first impression. And, while you’re at it, why not add a cheerful pot plant and replace that dog-eared mat?
Freshen up your bathrooms
An old toilet seat, mouldy grouting and a rusty towel rack are enough to turn an otherwise respectable bathroom into a buyer’s nightmare. The great news? These are all cheap and fairly easy things to replace. New bathroom accessories are also a quick way to instantly modernise an otherwise outdated bathroom.
Other culprits to look out for: cracked tiles, dusty lights and air filters, and the creepy, mouldy shower curtain. Replace tiles where necessary, give every thing a good scrub - and consider replacing that shower curtain with an easy-to-clean glass door.
Give your landscaping a facelift
With some clever planning and creative thinking a garden that looks both beautiful and effortless could be exactly what makes your property stand out as a lifestyle oasis. No idea where to start?
Visit your local garden nursery and ask the staff for advice on indigenous plants that require minimal maintenance. While you’re there, enquire about watering systems - you’ll be surprised at the inexpensive options available. And don’t forget to pick up some seasonal flowers to add pops of colour to liven up your flower beds.
Upgrade your home security
For many potential buyers, security can make or break a deal. But thankfully it doesn’t need to break the bank. Think strategically about weak spots in your home. Pretend you’re Bruce Willis or Catherine Zeta-Jones trying to infiltrate a military barracks! (We thought that would help.) If you can get in, so can a burglar.
It could be that a fence needs to be repaired, burglar bars installed, or maybe a slam-lock gate for your front and back door. Your family will be protected in the meantime, and your bank account will thank you when your property gets snapped up at asking price.
Create new spaces
Chances are that there are areas in your home you’ve forgotten about, but with some strategically placed furniture they could be turned into real property assets.
Take that awkward space beneath the stairs, for example. With a well-designed built-in unit it could be transformed into a nifty work area. Or what about the kid’s playroom? All it needs is a bed and a cupboard to become an extra bedroom. And the outside storage room you’re afraid to enter? With a bit of organising and clever shelving, it could become a neat laundry room. Help your potential buyers see the promise in your property by doing some of the clever thinking for them.
Give your kitchen a Masterchef makeover
If you’ve ever been quoted on a full kitchen renovation, your eyes are likely glazing over at this point. ‘Makeover my kitchen on my budget? Yeah, right.’ But there are sneaky ways to transform your kitchen almost overnight, without having to sacrifice your family holidays for the next five years.
Step one. Replace your old kitchen faucet with a snazzy new one. Step two. Give those kitchen cupboards a revamped look by spray painting them. Step three. Fit new cupboard door handles. Step four. Replace those dingy light fittings with something a bit more special (An atmospheric chandelier? A sleek industrial pendant? The options are limitless). Step five. Stand back in awe of your (almost) new kitchen.
We understand how overwhelming it can be when deciding where to spend money on your home, but there’s no reason to panic. By working out your budget, starting small and thinking creatively, you really can increase the value of your property without having to kiss your hard-earned savings goodbye. And that’s the kind of home improvement we like the sound of!
For more smart renovation ideas, why not grab a cup of coffee and visit the Rawson Pinterest page? Inspiration - and a fair amount of awe - is guaranteed.
