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.

The number one strategy I use to add massive value to any property is to use modern design. All of the homes I have bought, renovated and sold since becoming a full time property renovator were built in the 60’s and 70’s and generally they were still in their original condition. Mosaic tiles, terrazzo floors, pastel bath ware, wall paneling are some of the traditional styles from those eras that I have easily upgraded to a more modern look to appeal to today’s target market of buyers. The bottom line is that today’s buyers are buying a lifestyle not a house and if you can give them that lifestyle using modern design and furnishings you will satisfy their needs and in return add thousands of dollars PROFIT when you sell.

The following article by Real Estate Agent, Paul Raine of Brock Harcourts, Brighton sends home this message. Modern design equals modern price A good home design can add so much value to your house, and it doesn’t have to cost a bomb to achieve the desired result. A clever modern design starts with an understanding of how people live in their homes. New home builders are now using modern technology to build homes that are attractive, highly functional and feel good to live in. Some features of an ideal modern home design that will add value to your home are:

• Efficient use of space. Even small homes can reflect some of the spacious characteristics of a larger home. Using high or raked ceilings can add to the sense of space and also allow for larger windows to visually extend your home.
• Open layouts. One of the more popular design trends is the open plan concept. Depending on the size of the home, an open plan may replace or complement formal living and dining rooms.
• Natural light. Advances in the technology of windows and doors, including double glazing and energy-efficient glass and window frames, make today’s new homes light and bright, without losing heat in winter or overheating in summer.
• Kitchens that work. With today’s open layouts, the quality and the finishing details of a new kitchen are done with careful attentiontomatching or complementing the surrounding spaces. Focuses are on well appointed, organised workspaces, attractive, separate eating areas, and great natural and built-in lighting.
• Flexible space. New home layouts are designed to accommodate changinghousehold needs over time. A den can become an extra bedroom or a nursery. General use rooms can be converted to a home office, family entertainment area or a home theatre.
• Built-in convenience. Look for direct access from the garage to the home, garages and utility areas with good storage space, walk-in robes and additional features such as extra-large pantries, lots of shelving and a built-in area for waste and recycling bins.
• Lots of storage. A new home is designed with plenty of built-in storage to eliminate clutter.
• Ambience. New homes have shiny surfaces, clean lines, warm natural materials, pleasing curves and attractive accents – making them a great place to live.

By utilising these features, you can make an older home extremely appealing, and increase its value at the same time.

                  Before                                                    After

So if you are looking for inspiration to modernise your exisitng home to appeal to the broadest market I recommend you spend some time viewing new home displays.