RIPE FOR RENOVATING
Owner transforms 1970s Belmont home into a modern gem
A MODERN transformation to a 1970s Belmont brick house has set the benchmark for those looking to renovate a property.
Buyers are keen to get their hands dirty for a house renovation in a bid to get into the market as well as to add value to a property.
And some renovations do not require structural changes, just a fresh interior with a coat of paint, new carpet and modern conveniences added.
This was the case for Kain Karnis , who bought 33 Learmouth St, Belmont, in 2017 for $422,000.
When he bought the classic brick house, there was wallpaper in every room, including the toilet.
“The plan was to renovate and then put it on the market. I think it has come up really well,” Mr Karnis said.
“I did big cosmetic changes with a new kitchen and bathroom, painted everything and ripped up all the flooring.
“It was relatively quick to do the inside, about three or four months, but the outside took a while as it was like a forest.”
Now, the rendered facade provides an enticing entry to the modern interior.
Inside, a new kitchen has stainless steel appliances and stone benchtops, there are timber floorboards in the living areas and built-in wardrobes in each of the three bedrooms, creating a contemporary family home.
Maxwell Collins, Geelong agent Laura Vander Noord is taking the 673sq m property to auction on March 2 at 11am, with price hopes of $540,000-$580,000.
“The renovation has been done meticulously and with a lot of care and it is in a good spot,” Ms Vander Noord said.
National valuation firm Herron Todd White’s Geelong manager Mark Harmer said the outer southern suburbs of Belmont, Grovedale and Waurn Ponds were still perceived as providing good value.
“You’ve got your 1980s single-level brick veneer houses, which are still neat and still affordable, and they are on a minimum 500sq m allotment,” Mr Harmer said.
“It’s a perfect house for a first-home buyer. They can get into the market, they’ve got a neat house and they can do their own touches over time.”
He said infrastructure in those areas added to the appeal. 124 PAGES OF GEELONG PROPERTY, IN GT TODAY