But first, consider how much effort you want to put in! Check whether the improvements that you make will return their value to you on sale by comparing to sales of similar properties in your area.
Lets start with some quick fixes first:
1. Paint! It can be something small, like the letterbox or your front door, or go the whole house if you have energy to spare.
2. Update fittings. One of the first things buyers tend to look at are the doors and cupboards, locks and light fittings. Make sure these are all functional, and consider upgrading any old or mismatched items.
3. Curtains and blinds. Contemporary window treatments can make your whole home feel different and add value to your property. If your existing window treatments are tired and worn think about replacing them with light, airy ones or even shutters or vertical blinds.
Not only will these give your home a fresher, more modern feel, but they’ll also let in more natural light – making your home appear airier, brighter and bigger.
4. Landscaping and Outdoor Entertaining. Clean up the garden, put down a thick layer of fresh mulch for an immediate lift. Punnets of annuals for some quick colour, and repair any broken or missing paving. Weed and Feed alternated with Seasol on the lawns to get them in good condition. Making space for an outdoor BBQ, Firepit or Herb Garden are other great lifestyle options. What about an outdoor chessboard for something a bit different?
5. Kitchen and Bathroom uplift. Fully reburbishing a kitchen, bathroom or even laundry is expensive, however replacing taps, cupboard fittings, a new mirror, treating mouldy silicone and cracked tiles can all have an immediate freshening effect. For sale, new fresh towels are also a great investment (plus you can take them with you).
6. Floors. If you have timber floors investigate the cost of having them refinished. If that is prohibitive a clean and polish also works wonders. Tile floors can have professional grout cleaning which makes a huge difference, and any broken tiles should be replaced if possible.
7. Additional storage. We can never have enough! If you have an unused corner in a bedroom, hallway or garage consider adding built in cupboards. No need to buy new, there are always Ikea cupboards for sale on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, plus if you go to the ‘As it is’ section at Ikea you can often find what you need at heavily discounted prices.
Now for some bigger ticket items. Consider if you are planning to stay in your home for some time, or if the standard of homes in your area supports the investment in case of resale.
8. A new kitchen, bathroom and/or laundry. If you have time and know how you can do a lot yourself here. Keep an eye on sales listings on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace for high end kitchens from demolitions and you could score an absolute bargain. You can also get a very nice result with Ikea or Bunnings flatpack kitchens. You will save a LOT of money if you can handle most of the installation yourself, otherwise if not do shop around for a reliable tradesperson. Cheaper is not always best, so see if you can check reviews.
9. Add a bedroom or office space. Do you have any large rooms that could be split to make an additional room? Could you convert the roof space, or the Garage? The three major factors that drive a property’s price are the location, land size and number of bedrooms. Make sure you speak with an architect for this sort of renovation and don’t forget you may need council approval for your plans.
10. Add a Granny Flat. Estimated cost between $40-150K. If you have the space, a granny flat can add value for many reasons. Families could use the space as a rumpus room for the kids, a place for the in-laws to stay or a home office. Rented out, astute buyers see the opportunity of additional income to help with their mortgage.