In the latest episode of Love It Or List It Australia, John and Sharyn face a common property dilemma – update their retro home or sell it?
Sharyn and John with hosts Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker. Picture: Love It Or List It Australia
Sharyn is over the outdated house and wants to use the proceeds of selling the house to fund a sea change. John is keen to stay put, loves the green and serene location and doesn’t feel the need to rock the boat.
So can a dated 70s home stuck in a bit of a time warp deliver modern-day home comforts and up-to-date style?
Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker hosts of Love It Or List It Australia take a look at this period property and offer their advice.
List it: Why now is a great time to sell
Classic empty nesters, Sharyn and John’s children have moved out so the couple don’t necessarily need such a big place, says Winter.
“The big house, the family space is just not needed. Gardens, maintenance and the like are all attached to the big family house and when it’s not needed do you really want to spend the time and money on looking after your big home?” he says.
The sitting room come dining area has since morphed into a bright, welcoming hub of the home. Picture: Love It Or List It Australia
The house is located in St Ives, on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, NSW, where the median price for a four-bedroom home like this one is currently $1,930,000.
The couple’s life now is quite different to the amenities this area offers and Winter says they should sell and move elsewhere.
“The main reason I believe this couple should list their home is actually a combination of all things. The house is too big, too bland and not right for a couple of empty nesters, the location just too suburban and cut off. Who can ignore the pure dollar benefit of a move plus a chance to sell in a booming market?” he says.
Love it: Creating a forever home
Despite its dated interiors, Whitaker says the house has “good bones” and it’s in a great location.
“It’s funny how so many things from the 70s have a real stigma attached to them. There’s nothing wrong in my book with 70s houses – they are just as adaptable to modern living as houses from any other era. John and Sharyn’s was no exception,” he says.
Re-orienting the living areas would make a big difference. Picture: Love It or List It Australia
The key question with a renovation for this propety is, which features should they retain and which rooms need to be redone?
“John and Sharyn’s house has several features typical of 1970s houses. The internal raw brick walls are worth preserving to add character and can be modernised by whitewashing. The things that date the house, like internal arches, would have to be removed,” he adds.
The master bedroom should be a haven – just like this. Picture: Love It or List It Australia
A refreshed kitchen plus a new look for the living areas would create cleaner, cosier spaces that suit modern lifestyles.
“The kitchen is basically good and just needs a freshen up. Where I would spend most of the reno budget is in creating two bathrooms (main and ensuite) and giving the couple living areas that they would each call their own.
“The exterior of the house with its pool and direct access to beautiful bushland is one of the main reasons for ‘loving’ it. I would just ensure that any renovation establishes a connection between inside and out that had been neglected previously,” he says.
Watch Love It or List It Australia now exclusively on Foxtel’s Lifestyle to see what Sharyn and John did with this home.
For more Love it or List It Australia videos and expert advice go to lifestyle.com.au
