This property was sold by John Mooney Real Estate Wagga within 24 hours. Director Jacinta Kelly said “great paintwork, good storage options, tidy gardens, and the addition of new kitchen handles” contributed to its sales appeal. Photo: Supplied.
If you’re thinking a fresh coat of paint could be just the ticket to boosting your home’s appeal – and add dollars to its value – you’re right.
That is, unless you do it yourself and get it wrong, says Jacinta Kelly, director of John Mooney Real Estate Wagga.
During her nearly 25 years in the business, Jacinta has seen her fair share of bad paint jobs. And her advice is, if you’re not a real stickler for detail, don’t do it!
“Some people choose to do their own renovations and they’re not always that good at it, specifically when it comes to painting,” she says.
“I see so many houses where they’ve attempted to do a feature wall … you have to be so careful with your taping and cutting in, and have lots of attention to detail.”
Getting in a professional painter can be costly and it’s not always strictly necessary if you are looking to improve the sale price or even rental return on a property, according to Jacinta.
In fact, she says sometimes it’s better to just give your walls a really good clean with sugar soap, than have a crack at painting yourself.
At a time when current cost of living pressures mean many people don’t have a lot of spare cash to splash about on home improvements, Jacinta says small changes can make a big difference to how potential buyers or renters perceive the value of a property.
“We’re not saying you have to spend $50,000 – if you spent, say, up to $5000 wisely, you could definitely get more than double that back,” she says.
A refresh of kitchen and bathroom areas is a great place to start, with cost-efficient upgrades such as new tapware, handles, lighting, or even installing a new sink or splashback all able to add huge appeal, according to Jacinta.
“If your benchtops are undamaged and in good condition, you can leave them,” she says. “We say most buyers and tenants want fresh and functional kitchens and bathrooms – they can generally live with the other stuff.”
Adding shelving or storage capacity is always a winner, according to Jacinta, although she warns once again that when it comes to DIY additions, “it’s better to do nothing, than do something badly!”
And if you are going to go ahead with painting – either yourself or through a professional – it’s safest to keep colours neutral, she adds.
Jacinta Kelly, director of John Mooney Real Estate Wagga, says this property at 3 Minya Place, Wagga, is a good example of presenting a neat and tidy outside area. Photo: Supplied.
Outside, a good tidy-up of the garden is highly recommended.
“Make everything as neat and tidy as possible,” Jacinta says. “Pull out those old shrubs, tidy up piles of leaves and focus on creating a low-maintenance garden environment. Even something as simple as pressure washing concrete surfaces can really lift the appeal of the exterior of the property.
Creating liveable areas outside is still very much on trend. “Definitely that idea of bringing indoor living outdoors is massive at the moment,” she says.
Jacinta’s number one piece of advice when considering what, if any, home improvements you need is to try to minimise objections a potential buyer or tenant may have.
“We say every objection they have is a lower offer,” she says.
If you need some direction or tips on where to start, it’s a good idea to ask a reputable agent who is prepared to give you “real advice” and also provide a new appraisal if you have recently completed renovations, according to Jacinta.
But at the end of the day, she believes taking the time to do a thorough clean is one of the best – and cheapest – investments you can make in terms of maximising the potential value of a property.
“One of my big bugbears is dirty kitchens and bathrooms,” Jacinta says.
“Make sure there are no signs of grease on your cooktops, remember rangehoods can get really grotty and give your grout a really good clean.
“It really does make such a huge difference to how you feel about a property when you walk through that door!”
