My local real estate agent, Jim, referred me to my latest project management client. The vendor Jeff had just accepted a new job in Sydney and had to relocate in 2 weeks.

Jeff’s problem – he needed to sell his home and he needed to sell it fast! Jeff’s biggest problem – his 1970’s house was still in its original condition and he didn’t have time to get it ready for market.

So I met with Jeff and told him how Houses to Impress could take care of his whole house renovation for him, eliminate the stress and leave him free to concentrate on the big move.   I assessed the property while I was there and gave Jeff my expert opinion on what needed to be done to bring his 1970’s home into the 21st century so we could attract some serious buyers in this very tough market.

Jeff was willing to invest some money in some home improvements as he hadn’t done any upgrades since he moved into the house in 1983. He was well aware that it would be very difficult to sell the house in its present condition, in the current slow market.  Jim, the real estate agent, appraised the house “as is” at $280,000 – $300,000. I did a quick calculation on the upgrades that were required and estimated that to fully renovate and style the house for sale would cost about $20,000 – $25,000. Jeff was prepared to spend that amount to ensure he could sell his home fast and for a higher price. I discussed my planned renovation ideas with Jim, the agent, and after doing some comparisons for the area we both agreed that the market price “after reno” would sit in the range of $330,000 to $350,000.

Jeff was happy with these estimated figures and gave me the go ahead to project manage the cosmetic renovation. I immediately got to work with a plan that would enable me to get the whole job done in 30 days.

Step 1 – Renovation Plan

Kitchen

• Remove old narrow style kitchen
• Get electrician to install new power points
• Install new kitchen
• Remove old freestanding stove and replace with new oven, cooktop and range hood
• Install new sink and modern flick mixer tap
• Install tile splash back

Bathroom

• Remove and replace old shower screen
• Remove old style vanity and replace with a new corner unit
• Resurface existing wall tiles
• Resurface existing floor tiles
• Get electrician to install new 3 in 1 heat/lamp/light and replace power points

Toilet

• Resurface existing floor tiles
• Replace cistern and toilet seat

Laundry

• Resurface existing floor tiles

Paintwork – Interior

• Repair minor cracks and gaps in cornices in most rooms
• Paint all ceilings
• Paint all walls
• Prime and paint wall paneling in main lounge room (same colour as walls)
• Paint all door and window trims

Paintwork – Exterior

• Spray Paint old galvanised fences
• Spray Paint shed
• Paint some areas of timber gables at front and rear of property where needed

Main bedroom

• Remove old doors from built-in robe
• Install new doors, frame and return on built-in robe

Bedroom 3

• Remove built in desk and bookcase to open up the space

Flooring

• Remove 70’s shagpile carpet from bedrooms, lounge/dining and hallway
• Replace with new Godfrey Hirst textured loop stainmaster
• Lay new vinyl (over top of old vinyl) in kitchen

Gardening and exterior improvements

• Remove weeds from old garden beds
• Place bamboo screening on one section of fence to hide ugly fence
• Add low maintenance plants to rear garden beds
• Add eco mulch to all garden beds over top of existing scoria
• Trim back all shrubs in front garden
• Repair small sections of wood rot in front windows and paint
• Remove amber glass from front courtyard area and replace with timber slats to match existing features in courtyard
• Paint letterbox

One of the main keys to success in project management is great planning and organisation. Next step will be gathering my dream team of tradies and coordinating the work to fit in with my home makeover schedule.

See some teaser photos below!!

So it was great to read an article in the local Advertiser stating that home makeovers are starting to become the norm.

Local leading Real Estate Agent Anthony Toop of Toop and Toop says the humble home makeover has come a long way.

“It’s gone from being a rare occurrence to being a normal practice,” he says.

“For us over the past 10 years it’s probably gone from about 20 per cent of our clients using it to 80 to 90 per cent.

“Twenty years ago, it was zero per cent.”

Mr Toop says properties that hit the market without a makeover were at risk of not reaching their selling potential.

“There is an expectation from buyers that they will be looking through a property that has been presented well,” he says.

“It does make a difference. The consumer generally struggles to visualise how a property could look.”

Mr Toop says the average investment on a home makeover is $1000 to $5000 and that it can result in up to a 10 to 15 per cent increase in selling price. “It can also speed up the sale process a little bit and change the category of buyers looking at the home,” he says.

If only more Real Estate agents would make it a standard practice to incorporate the services of a professional home stager as part of their marketing strategy then more home sellers would be exposed to the great benefits of increased home presentation and sell their homes faster for more!

Find out how our Sold for Top Dollar Transformation Package™ can help you with a home makeover that will knock your buyers socks off.

Do you want your property to appeal to a wider range of buyers?

Do you want your home to stand out from the crowd?

Do you want cost effective solutions to your home presentation problems?

Home Staging and Cosmetic Renovation techniques by Houses to Impress will help give you a unique selling point to present your property so it’s ready to sell! Irrespective of the extent of the project, our attention to detail delivers results to our clients that are absolutely outstanding.

Our professional online home staging consult will help you plan a cost effective home makeover that will reap you thousands of dollars PROFIT when you sell. Imagine what you can spend that extra $20,000, $30,000, $40,000 or more on …….

• Your new dream home
• A brand new car
• A family holiday
• An investment property

Don’t just take our word. Read a testimonial from a Real Estate Specialist who regularly recommends our services to her vendors.

“As real estate salespeople, our number one job is to achieve the highest possible price for our vendors. Unfortunately our best efforts can sometimes be hindered by a seller who is unable to view their home objectively. What may seem “attractive” to the owner may look vastly unappealing from a buyer’s perspective. A seller who lives in the home twenty-four-seven, can often find it difficult of see the woods for the trees. Houses to Impress know how to present your home in such a way that buyers have to have it! I would estimate that I have never yet met a client that would not have experienced great benefit from Charyn and Kate’s expert home staging transformations.”

Rebecca Foster – Real Estate Specialist – Ray White Northgate