Hi PC,I agree that the front yard is absolutely the best place to spend your money when landscaping and in general when renovating the exterior of a property. With my clients, I typically try to create a crisp, clear, modern effect by minimising the number of plants in the yard. It may be a matter of paring back what is there already. Or if there…[Read more]

Hi Rich,You might be better asking this question on a NZ forum. Try http://www.propertytalk.com/forum/ where you can select NZ as a country and find out there. I know NZ looks like a small place but prices vary greatly. However, one thing I can say is that now is still a good time to buy there. You might also get some info from…[Read more]

Hi, Yes you can resurface laminate but I have to say this is not something I usually recommend to my clients for bench-tops (doors etc.. are ok because there is less wear and tear on them). If you were going to re-surface, make sure you use a professional application company and ensure there is a guarantee attached. I would start by getting a…[Read more]

Hi dblissAs a general rule, improvements to the interior will increase your yield and improvements to the exterior will increase equity, so make sure the outside is tidy but don't spend a lot of money here (however, if you wanted to reval at the end of your reno you might put a bit more effort here).The others are right – a fresh paint job (walls…[Read more]

Hi,I would tend to recommend that because this is your first reno to use one of the bathroom companies or a project manager. I don't think the big guys are necessarily better – you just need to do a bit more homework and reference checks on the less know renovations businesses. In fact I think you are more likely to get better, more personal…[Read more]

Hi Jess,I think the most critical thing to do when reno-ing from afar is to have your scope of renovation work set in stone BEFORE YOU START. Know exactly what you are planning to do (colours and specifications of everything all written down on one document) for your various tradies to price/work from. There are several benefits of doing this:1)…[Read more]

Hi everyone,

I presented at Stephen and Cheries workshop in Sydney last weekend (about the design aspect of renovations) and think that their course is one of the most thorough, process driven courses I have ever seen. There are lots of great courses out there and this is one of them. Yes it does seem expensive perhaps, but once you have the…[Read more]

Hi everyone,I presented at Stephen and Cheries workshop in Sydney last weekend (about the design aspect of renovations) and think that their course is one of the most thorough, process driven courses I have ever seen. There are lots of great courses out there and this is one of them. Yes it does seem expensive perhaps, but once you have the…[Read more]

Hi Johann,Well done on buying an IP. Can I suggest you look at renovating your kitchen? I have had clients with the worst of the worst kitchens and we have still managed to renovate them really effectively. You may think there is no hope but take a look at some of the photos on our website for a bit of inspiration……[Read more]

I have a fantastic property mentor contact in Sydney. He will help you with your property investing strategy and guide you through the process. He does not specialise in renovations necessarily but an excellent person to talk to with a broad range of knowledge. They also do free group info evenings (all over Australia actually) with really helpful…[Read more]

Hi Jonathan – the other way to look at it is to not do the reno work yourself, but educate yourself on how to manage others to do it for you (maybe this is what you're thinking of?). This way, you can have several jobs on the go at once or you can carry on your day job (if you want to) and do reno's on the side.I work all the time with property…[Read more]

Hi Michael,I agree with Mike and Jason – get a mentor (who specialises in renovations) if you can as you go through the process.I have also heard that Stephen and Cheries course is very good. I have a number of clients who have done this and say it is very thorough. The other option is Ana Stankovic from Winning Formulas for Success. She has a…[Read more]

Hi,I agree that carpets in bedrooms is generally a good idea. Christian is right, carpeted floors of course give a cosier feeling and hard floors a cooler feeling.You should consider the climate of the area your units are located before deciding what you'll do. Carpet is suitable for many areas of Australia, but I regularly have clients in WA,…[Read more]

Hi again,It does depend on the area your property is located in and the expectation from potential tenants. A good idea is to contact local property managers to see what the competition is up to. Do other properties in your units' price bracket offer a dishwasher?Of course it is always nice to have a dishwasher so people are likely to pay a little…[Read more]

Hi,I can't help you with a 'formula' but I can highly recommend a basic reno to not only increase yield, but also increase equity in the property.Many of my clients spend less than $10k-$15k on a reno and usually increase the value of the property by at least triple that. Actually I had a client a few years back who, when I told them how to reno…[Read more]

Just checked out your website Adam – a great option for people renovating IP's.Well done – and good to know where I can send my clients to buy modern looking fixtures without too much expense.Cheers

Although it's a pain (and sometimes a costly or lengthy process), I think it is always better to 'do it once, do it right' when renovating. If you need approval from council then definitely get it. Short cuts may cost you in the long run as the others have said. Also, consider that if anything happens and you need to claim on your insurance,…[Read more]

Hi Fredo,I have staged all the properties I have sold (quite a few now!) and have always sold quickly and usually for the amount I've wanted. I work with property investors and owner/occupiers all the time – and I always advise the same thing… invest a few thousand dollars up front to create the best impression you can.There has been research…[Read more]

Hi Mocckie, You may also be interested in some e-Books I have written for renovators of investment properties (Cherie Barber has actually purchased all of them!!!). These are based on my 17 years of experience as a designer and working in the renovation/construction industry.A really great resource for anyone wanting to reno for profit. More…[Read more]

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