Our Top 5 Tips – Do I Renovate My Existing Home or Purchase Another Home?
With our current New Zealand property prices, you might be asking yourself, do I renovate my existing home or purchase another home that has already been renovated? If you sell in this current market, you are also going to buy in this current market. This means, you might get a great sale price, but if you are looking to upgrade from your current living arrangements, you will end up spending a lot more for a newly renovated house. The best option might be to renovate your current home.
Here Are Our Top 5 Home Renovation Ideas to Add Value to Your Home
1. Landscaping
Studies have shown that the ratio (money spent: value added) is greatest when landscaping your home. Some ideas may include:
- A new deck.
- A new outdoor living space.
- New paving and paths.
- Adding a pergola and sun shading area.
- Kids sand-pit or play huts.
- Replace any old fencing.
2. Kitchens and Bathrooms
These are typically two of the most expensive rooms to renovate in your home, especially if you move any existing plumbing. However, these can also add the most value when renovated to a good standard. One thing to keep in mind when renovating your bathroom is that if you only have one bathroom or kitchen in your home, renovation works may need to be planned around a family holiday or at a time when you do not need to use these facilities.
3. Cosmetic Improvements
Applying a new coat of paint to the inside and outside of your house will modernise your house and give it a new lease of life. Make sure you get some good advice on the colours you choose from some experts before you start painting.
Installing new floor coverings including carpets, tiles, overlay and flooring is a cost-effective way to freshen up your living areas.
4. Add An Extension
Do you need more room, have a growing family, need more storage or an extra toilet? These are only some of the reasons you may need to add an extension to your existing home. This is a more expensive option and involves professional drawings, building consent and a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). However, adding an extension can add value to your home and also help create a home that works for both you and your family.
5. Energy Efficiency
As winter comes to another cold and bitter end, it may be time to prepare for next winter by:
- Adding insulation to your home.
- Double glazing existing window units or installing new aluminium inserts.
- Changing the way you heat your home.
- Installing solar panels or using wind power.
These are just some of the options you may want to look at to decrease next year’s power usage or to live a little more comfortably. If you organise these changes before the winter rush, you may get better off-season deals.
These are just our top 5 home renovation ideas and there are many other options to personalise your existing home including:
- Basement conversion.
- Adding a garage or minor dwelling.
- Adding a swimming pool.
If you are thinking about any of these home renovations take a look at our 4-Star Guarantee to find out more about us, see our story or contact us. We specialise in transforming your house into your dream home.