10 top tips for renovating a property to rent or sell

11 June 2010

Reno Tip 1: Wash the walls and repaint them

The results will amaze you and the cost of doing it yourself will too. Cost of sugar The cost of paint varies but when buying paint, work on the basis that one litre will cover about 15 square metres of surface.

The flatter the sheen, the more imperfections are covered however, low sheen and no sheen paint is harder to keep clean.

Recommended: low sheen for walls, acrylic semi-gloss paint for the doors and window and door frames.

Reno Tip 2: Get rid of all the rubbish inside and out

Adding built-in wardrobes or new window treatment such as shutters can spruce up a house for sale or rent

Built-in wardrobes with mirrored doors and plantation shutters are just two things you can do when renovating

Rubbish accumulates so we need to manage it. Recycle what you can and, if you can’t, get rid of it anyhow.

Think about pruning trees and bushes at the same time to spruce up the garden.

Minimum charge about $155 but for lots, it could be up to $900 to a $1000.

Reno Tip 3: Add built-in wardrobes

Built-in wardrobes help clear away the clutter (see tip 2). Think about adding mirrored doors if space is an issue and you want the place to look bigger. For a rental property, it will make your rental property more desirable than one without built-ins.

Make sure you get good quality as the cheap stuff won’t last.

Cost about $1500 not including installation but shop around.

Reno Tip 4: Replace window treatments

Nothing brightens a place quite like changing the curtains or blinds.

The latest heat and sun resistant blinds look stunning and add an environmental advantage to keeping the place cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

For a truly gorgeous look, go for shutters. They’re expensive but worth it.

Cost varies on what you decide but remember, if it’s cheap, it’s probably inferior quality.

Reno Tip 5: Replace door handles

Replace door handles throughout the interior. Go for brushed stainless steel which is fashionable and available at hardware stores for about $10 per handle.

Reno Tip 6: Change the floor coverings

Change that old carpet with some new carpet and the place will immediately look a thousand times better. Polished wood flooring will add value and can sometimes improve your rental return.

Reno Tip 7: Spruce up existing floor coverings and curtains

If changing the floor coverings is too costly, have them cleaned and deodorised. Do the same for curtains. It will give your place a new lease of life.

Costs: Carpet cleaning from about $40 per room but most have a minimum charge.

Curtain cleaning is about $25 per metre.

Reno Tip 8: Update your kitchen

A new paint job in the kitchen will get rid of the grime and stale food smells. Use a fair dose of sugar soap for preparation, then a good primer before applying a semi-gloss paint. To finish the new look, add new handles to cupboards and drawers.

Reno Tip 9: Give your bathroom a makeover

You don’t have to do a full reno, regrouting the tiles in the bathroom will make the tiles look new. It’s a great trick for sprucing up a bathroom.

Then if you want to go a bit further, replace taps and fittings including towel rails.

Cost of grouting tools and grout under $30 from your local hardware

But you’ll need to use some elbow greese. Get instructions on how to regrout from an endless lsit of how-to videos on YouTube.

Reno Tip 10: Get wired and secure

Security is a big issue these days and worth adding secure locks and security doors. You might even want to add an electronic security system.

Consider adding Foxtel – this can add value to a rental property and mean extra $$$. If you have a short-term rental property, add wi-fi as a free extra. Increase the rent according to cover the cost.