What not to fix when selling your home
Data from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) shows that house prices increased in May, and with interest rates lowering, homeowners wanting to relocate, upgrade or downsize, may well be thinking now’s the time to do it.
We all want the best price for our property, and while this favourable sellers-market may tempt homeowners to invest in upgrades to get a better price, remember not everything needs fixing and you may not get the return on investment in terms of money, and the time and effort spent doing the upgrade.
Here’s a guide of what not to fix when preparing to sell your home.
Outdated kitchens or bathrooms
While traditionally, it’s kitchens and bathrooms that ‘sell homes’, full-scale renovations may not deliver the return on investment you expect, or indeed in some cases, cover the cost of the renovation. If these rooms are clean, functional, and structurally sound, consider some low-cost cosmetic fixes, such as new handles, tapware, or a fresh coat of paint.
Minor cosmetic imperfections
Most potential buyers are looking for a house they can live in, and make their own; they tend to overlook small imperfections such as small paint chips, scratches on the floor or dated light fixtures. These can easily be fixed when they move in.
Landscaping overhauls
While curb appeal matters, you don’t need to hire a landscaper to redesign your front yard. Mow the lawn, tidy the garden, and remove any clutter; there is no need for expensive paving, retaining walls, or major planting projects.
Major renovations
While open-plan living is becoming increasingly popular, reconfiguring your home’s layout is a major cost and risk. Structural work won’t always pay off, particularly as everyone’s tastes are different, and the layout still doesn’t tick boxes.
Most buyers will look past a dated layout if the price reflects it; they can customise the space themselves post-purchase.
Overcapitalising for the property
Think about where your house is located and who your potential buyer will be. Don’t overcapitalise with premium fixtures, high-end appliances, or designer finishes.
Align your pre-sale spend with the expectations of your local market—not The Block TV show!
What to focus on
Instead of full-scale fixes, focus on presentation, not perfection, such as:
- Decluttering and staging to maximise space and light
- A deep clean inside and out
- Basic maintenance (fix leaks, replace broken lights, oil squeaky hinges)
- Neutral paint touch-ups if needed
The goal isn’t to make your home perfect, but to make it feel liveable and well cared for, and to showcase its unique features – you want the potential buyer to imagine themselves living there and making it their own space.
Get the right agent
If you are thinking of selling, a critical factor in the sales process is getting the right agent to ensure you get the best price in the current market and your sales process runs smoothly.
This is where we come in. As well as giving you a non-obligation quote, our experienced and innovative team can also fill you in on the market conditions, and can give you great advice on what you can do to improve your property right now; we are constantly achieving great results for our clients, often exceeding price expectations.
As one of Newcastle’s longest established real estate offices, we have developed unique marketing strategies to ensure your property appears at the top of the search list for your type of property. Plus, we have a database of potential buyers looking for many different types of properties, so we can get your property directly in front of people genuinely interested in your type of property.
To give you some idea of what your property is potentially worth in today’s market, use our online guide.
Give us a ring on 02 4954 8833, send us an email to: mail@apnewcastle.com.au, or call in at our office in Cardiff – we’re constantly achieving great results for our clients and we’d love to help you.
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