Simple changes that will add major value

ADDING value to a home is the priority of any renovator or home flipper – it’s top of mind for most home owners today.

So how do we increase the value of our homes without breaking the bank? News.com.au columnists Shannon and Simon Vos (winners of The Block in 2014 and ambassadors for Russell’s Reserve) explain how:

◗ Paint: The cheapest and most DIY friendly option to increase any home’s value is a new coat of paint inside and outside your home. The value added from a paint makeover could net a return of tens of thousands of dollars, and with most paint companies offering colour consultation to ensure you get the colour scheme right, it’s a no brainer in the reno world.

◗ Render: Dated brick homes can look colder than a Hobart winter, and the quickest way to update those ’60s bricks is with a coat of cement or acrylic render. A rendered look can also be easily applied to a home with cladding. It’s simply a matter of removing the existing cladding, applying a ‘blue-board’ base and an acrylic render is then trowelled onto the board. ◗ Update the front: First impressions last, and an update to the front or the entrance of your home can lead to a huge spike in your home’s value. It may be a simple paint or cladding upgrade, or even a landscape overhaul, but having a stunning frontage to your home is sure to impress any potential buyers.

◗ Add a bed: The price difference between the average two bedder and three bedder is usually somewhere between $200,000 and $400,000. Simply a huge jump. Considering the run of the mill cost to build an additional bedroom is between $50,000 to $80,000, even the most dimwitted of renovators can see this as a sure bet.

◗ Improve the landscaping: The best room in the house isn’t inside the house and the great Australian dream is to have a great backyard and an impressive front. But more often than not it’s the landscaping that gets left behind in the renovating game. For the front, it’s all about framing the home’s facade and making a great first impression. For the back it’s all about space. Create the space for adults and kids to run around freely.