find me a home

A recent Sydney Morning Herald article points to this recent report from Archicentre – the results from a poll of over 800 architects to see what the trends were in renovations. A look at this report could help you decide which home improvements will increase the value of your home, and which will not necessarily break even.

A few other ideas that don’t involve costly renovations:

1. mow the lawn; tidy the outside of the house – in times of mortgage stress, a photo of a house where the backyard is untidy suggests that the vendor is desperate to sell, and that they would take a lower price.
2. clean and tidy the bathroom – it’s a room where someone who is inspecting the house will quickly sense how well the rest of the house has been looked after.
3. remove clutter: rent some storage if you need to – a house that is full to the rafters gives a sense of being smaller than it actually is: if you clear out some of your belongings, you will instantly create more space.
4. clean the house thoroughly – in keeping with tip number 1, this will present your house in the best possible light.
5. air any rooms that need airing – though it won’t come up in the online listings, someone who inspects your house in person will be able to tell that some rooms have a musty odour. This is especially worthwhile if you have pets.
6. add some energy-efficient light globes – with so many people looking to save the planet, it doesn’t hurt to send the message to potential buyers that you are interested in doing your part.

If you’re trying to work out a fair price for your property, you can use the price estimation tool at findmeahome.com.au.