Deciding how much to spend on a house before putting it on the market is tricky. <\/strong><\/p>\n Should sellers splash out on a fancy new kitchen to appeal to potential buyers? Or just add a lick of paint?<\/p>\n Painting<\/a> surfaces can make a big difference \u2013 and it\u2019s not expensive. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to one property expert, the answer is somewhere in the middle. Cathy Morrissey, known as The Reno Chick, says it all comes down the house.<\/p>\n \u201cThe property itself is always the starting point, so it\u2019s nearly impossible to put an actual figure on it. It is true that people who invest up to $10,000 before selling can achieve a much better sale price,\u201d Morrissey says.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have a dated 1950s or 1960s home, in desperate need of complete renovation, it will probably cost $100,000 to bring it up to scratch for sale and that money and time invested, you simply won\u2019t get back in most areas. So, it makes no sense to pour money into it.\u201d<\/p>\n Conversely, it can be foolish to leave a property as is, flaws and all.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people go to an open for inspection, it\u2019s human nature to look for what\u2019s wrong,\u201d Morrissey says.<\/p>\n \u201cThey see flaws\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>the broken light fitting, the bright red, dated feature wall, maybe a hole in the plasterboard and they mentally start adding up what it will cost to repair, then take that figure off the price they\u2019ll offer<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cVendors absolutely should do the cosmetic stuff. Either do it yourself or pay someone else to get the property to a point where the flaws aren\u2019t so obvious. Painting can make a big difference, and it\u2019s not expensive,\u201d Morrissey says.<\/p>\n Curbside appeal at 96 Miller Street. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Curb appeal is an area where a small investment can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if inside is immaculate, think about how the property looks from the street, as that\u2019s what people see when they drive past.<\/p>\n \u201cBoosting the curb appeal doesn\u2019t have to be expensive. Do a tidy-up, add a bit of mulch and some fresh, new plants, maybe paint the driveway, then buyers will want to come in,\u201d Morrissey says.<\/p>\n In many cases, the best person to engage is a property stylist, who can show vendors how to present a property in the best possible light.<\/p>\n \u201cThey understand how to sell the vision and can suggest what small things can be done\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>what to keep, what to get rid of, what kind of furniture<\/a> to use, how to set up rooms to maximise their appeal and impact.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may be as simple as clearing out clutter or painting a wall here and there, but it can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n \u201cEven in the case of a very dated, pink 1950s bathroom, you can scrub it clean, add some cute towels, a plant, to make it as appealing as possible, rather than a problem, and you\u2019ve spent just a few hundred dollars. The less faults people can find the better!\u201d Morrissey says.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere you have a $1 million property, $5000 spent on a stylist can add $100,000 to $200,000 to the final sale price,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"courtyard](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/23140906\/courtyard-maintenance_800x600.jpg?resize=871%2C653&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nCosmetic updates are worth it<\/h3>\n
![\"Curbside](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/10115948\/96-Miller-Street-OConnor_800x600.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nCurb appeal matters<\/h3>\n
Invest in a property stylist<\/h3>\n