Inexpensive and creative ways to make your home look inviting.
If crystal chandeliers and genuine marble countertops are a stretch out of your budget, you simply need to get creative with what you have and what you can afford. This according to Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, who suggests that the homes that sell the fastest are not necessarily those with the most expensive fittings, but rather those that have the most inviting universal appeal to them.
“Many sellers make the mistake of over investing in a property in order to maximise their return. However, in many cases, it is possible to give a home an expensive look and feel without maxing out one’s credit card,” Goslett explains.
1. Fix up and neaten the space
“Even high-end homes can look inexpensive when it is filled with clutter, debris, and dirt. The quickest and most affordable way to make a property seem more expensive is to clear away all clutter, polish all metal fittings, paint over scuff marks and chips, repaint discoloured ceilings, and fix any chipped or damaged cupboard doors and skirting boards. The better the condition of the home, the higher return a seller can expect, as buyers will not need to factor in these additional maintenance costs when deciding on an amount to place as an offer on the property,” Goslett explains.
Find tips on decluttering your home here.
2. Be patient and shop around for the best deal when purchasing furniture or other statement features for your home
“It is not always necessary to purchase an expensive brand-name item to make a property look more expensive. Furniture, for example, can have a huge impact on the look and feel of a property. But, since furniture is not a fixed feature, the quality and origin will have no bearing on the resale value of the property. Sellers who know where to shop can find items that make the space look just as expensive as a space filled with luxury branded items, but for half the price. Online second-hand sales portals and discount factory shops are great places to find bargains.”
Conversely, sellers are advised to spend whatever limited funds they might have on updating outdated fittings. “It could be worth spending a little bit more to purchase quality fittings such as faucets, handles, and light fixtures. These items often cost less than replacing whole cupboard units or retiling, for example, yet have similar effects on updating the appearance of a property,” says Goslett.
3. Remember the little things, when renovating
However, for those who are renovating simply to upgrade the experience of living in the property, there are various small additions one can make to add an air of luxury to the home. “Consider all the little luxuries you enjoy when staying at an expensive hotel. Things like high-quality bedding, lingering perfumed fragrances, and heated towel rails are features which immediately spring to mind. These kinds of features can easily be integrated into your home and are relatively affordable changes to make,” Goslett suggests.
4. Consider the value of the addition
“Updates are normally embarked upon for one of two reasons: (1) to enhance the living experience of the home or (2) to increase the resale value of the property. Sellers who take on any renovation with the second intention in mind should be cautious not to overprice their home within their suburb. For example, it will take longer to sell if the renovations completed enhance the value of a property to a R2 million price point in a suburb where the highest recorded sales price was closer to R1 million. It is therefore advisable for sellers to consult with a reliable real estate professional who can inform them of recent sales in the area before going ahead with any costly renovation projects,” Goslett concludes.