From wanting a change to improving your home's liveability, there are many different reasons to renovate. It's also a tool used by homeowners and investors alike to add value to property!
It's worth keeping in mind that not all renovations have to cost the earth. Even the smallest of improvements will add value to your home. So, which projects will give you the best return come sales day? Keep reading to find out.
How much does it cost to renovate a home?
Before you get started, it's a wise idea to know how much the renovations could set you back. This way, you can set aside a renovation budget to keep you on track throughout the process.
A house renovation cost can vary depending on the scale of the renos, not to mention the size of the house. According to Houzz & Home Australia's 19/20 Home Renovation Overview, the median spend for home renovation projects estabilised at $20,000 in 2019. At the higher end of the market, ten percent of homeowners spent $150,000 or more. But here at Half Price Blinds we're all about working to budgets towards the lower end of the scale!
Ways to reduce renovation costs
Here are some simple ideas to transform your home without blowing your budget.
Outdoor Upgrades
When it comes to making a good first impression, you can't overlook the importance of your outdoor area. A mowed lawn, flourishing plants or even just a fresh coat of paint can make the world of difference.
- Paint: Either give your home's exterior a fresh coat in its existing colour or choose a completely new shade for something different. Light neutral shades will appeal to the widest range of buyers and may even increase the perceived size of the building.
- Door: Increase your curb appeal with a new door. Consider a door that best matches the architectural style of your home or one that allows in more light (e.g. glass panelling).
- Aluminium outdoor shutters: These window treatments can help to create a neat and uniform appearance. Appearances aside, shutters also tick a lot of boxes for home buyers, especially for those who value security, privacy and durability.
Modernise the Kitchen
You don't have to splash out hundreds of thousands of dollars for a remodelled kitchen. A few swaps and upgrades can be all you need to make any kitchen more modern and functional.
- Counters: If your counter has more scratches than a cat-owner's arm then consider replacing them. Counter tops can be picked up for discount prices from your local hardware store or even IKEA.
- Tiles: Splashback seen better days? Replacing it with custom tiling can be an easy and affordable way to modernise your kitchen.
- Handles: Grab a screwdriver and replace any rusty or dated handles with more modern versions.
Add a Home Office
With many of us having to convert dining tables and bedrooms to home offices over the past year, it's safe to say the value of a dedicated home office has been recognised. If you have the space, consider converting a spare room into a working space, complete with adequate lighting and plenty of power outlets.
Increase Natural Light
There's nothing more off-putting to prospective buyers than walking into a dark and dingy room. But how do you increase the natural light without having to install costly skylights or getting additional windows?
- Knock over a wall: Yes, it's messy, but it will make your home feel larger and much lighter. You can expect to pay approximately $300 to $1,000 to remove a non-load-bearing wall in your home. If you wall is load-bearing, it may cost up to $3,000.
- Install new blinds: Popular modern blinds like rollers, Romans and vision blinds will allow for greater control over light and privacy in your home. Simply adjust the controls throughout the day to maximise levels of natural light inside your home.
Beautify Your Bathroom
It may not be the first room your buyers see, but it will certainly be the room they remember. Similarly to the kitchen, changing up the countertops, retiling and upgrading any handles are great for giving the room an affordable refresh. You might also consider:
- Deep cleaning: For a room that's designed for cleaning, the bathroom can get surprisingly dirty over time. Give everything from your tiles to your windows a good scrub, paying extra attention to grout and fixtures that don't get frequently cleaned.
- Adding shutters: Aluminium plantation shutters are the best window treatments you can buy for the bathroom. They're durable, water-resistant and great for protecting privacy.
Home renos while renting
Knocking down a wall or landscaping the backyard might be all well and good if the building is yours, but what about if you're renting? For plenty of easy, affordable DIY rental improvements you can make to turn your rental property into home sweet home, check out this blog.
Have a question about installing DIY blinds? You might find it in our FAQs. Or, you can get in touch via Facebook or by calling my Australian customer support team on 1300 699 041 and they'll beat any competing in-store or online blinds quote you may have by a huge 10 percent!
You can find all of our shutters, awnings, curtains and blinds online for the lowest prices, guaranteed. Plus, we deliver Australia-wide from Perth to the east coast and offer free shipping on metro orders over $449. For all other orders, shipping is $27.
Toodles!
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