Easy and cheap ways to renovate your property in 2023 for under $9000

Upcoming house inspection or auction? One of the most common pieces of advice heard within the real estate industry with any kind of viewing of your property is to renovate your property. But more often than not, sellers are left stumped with how and what to spend on in renovations to give their property that extra edge. With just a few DIY skills, you can easily improve your home's value through some simple renovations for a great profit. Here are some handy ways to simply and easily renovate your property.

Kitchen

The heart and soul of every home, renovating your kitchen is an easy game changer when it comes to selling your property.

• Counters: Taking out your old, worn out counter and replacing it with a simple and natural stone counter top is a relatively simple task. Just pick up a counter top at your local hardware store and bring your kitchen to life with a sleek new counter top. (Average cost: $600)
• Kitchen cabinets: Have any plastic cabinets? Swap them out for some solid wood cabinets to give your kitchen a more antique look. Simply unscrew the hinges of your old cabinets and secure your new ones in. (Average cost: $60 per cabinet)
• Handles: An easy fix for any worn out kitchen – just use a screwdriver to get rid of those old rusty handles and replace them with several new ones. (Average cost: $6 per handle)
• Remember to stage your kitchen for sale. This doesn't have to cost you a dollar - it's all about making the space clean, uncluttered and inviting for when prospective buyers inspect the property.

Bathroom

Whilst buyers can overlook some aspects of a property, bathrooms are definitely a sensitive point for most buyers. A dirty bathroom is generally off-putting and can be disastrous to the value of your property if left unattended.

• Updating: Simply swapping out old tap handles and shower heads can easily change your bathroom appearance from mouldy and ageing, to new and modern. Make sure you take off any excess grease which may come off when changing the handles and heads. (Average Cost: $200 tap handles; $500 shower heads)
• Tiles: Renovating your bathroom floor is a sure way to completely invigorate your bathroom's appearance. Using large, light coloured tiles can make a bathroom appear more spacious and appealing. (Average cost: $15 per tile *500x500mm tile)
• Plumbing: For some of the more keen eyed buyers, easily and inexpensively update plumbing by re-piping with PEX or plastic tubing. (Average cost: $3 per metre PEX pipe)
• Don't forget to make the space as clean, spacious and inviting as possible on inspection day. An outdated bathroom can be overlooked if it is well cared for, but dirt and grime is never ok.

General

To make your house look accommodating and new without having to go through every nook and cranny, here are a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind when renovating common living spaces and rooms:

• Paint Job: A paint job is a simple way to lighten up your house and get rid of any furniture marks or signs of wear. Look for lighter cream colours to make your house more welcoming and well lit. (Average cost: $13 per litre)
• Floors: Old and ageing carpet can be off-putting and give a bad first impression to home buyers. Rip them up and put in some new timber floors to give your house a fresh and younger look. Already have timber floors? Bring them weathered hardwood floors back to life with a coat of timber oil to make them look as good as new. (Average cost: $55 per 1.5 SQM timber floors; $25 per litre timber oil)
• Curtains: Exchange any old or outdated curtains you may have with simple blinds to make your rooms appear more spacious and tidy. Simply detach your old railings and install your new blinds in. (Average cost: $25 per metre)

Outdoors

First impressions are vital, and ensuring your outdoor appearance is in top shape is key to this. A well groomed and tidy yard, and front entrance will help leave a positive lasting impression in your buyer's mind.

• Deck maintenance: Decks can add a definite character to your property when in good condition. Recoating and staining your deck with a few layers of coating can bring out its original colours and emphasise the best of your garden. (Average cost: $13 per litre)
• Garden Beds: Simply prune, trim and weed your garden to quickly neaten up your yard. This will easily clear up room and make your house more orderly and well maintained. (Average cost: Free)
• Landscaping: Add some perennial plants and fresh soil to quickly liven up your garden. All you need is a trowel and some garden gloves to plant and scatter the soil. (Average cost: $4 per 25 litres – soil mix; $10 per plant – perennial plants)

Renovating your property is a smart choice when it comes maximising your property's value, and getting a good real estate agent can be the difference in securing a great deal. A good real estate agent can add a tremendous amount of value to your property through a combination of knowledge, experience and contacts.