When Brandon lost his job in COVID he used his love of design to give upcycling furniture a go. He started with a coffee table he found on the street for free, then progressed to drawers, then to dining tables, bedside tables and even beds.

He’s now upcycled nearly 50 pieces of furniture and often sells items for double his asking price.

Additionally, research from Gumtree reveals that the trading of pre-loved, unwanted or unused items in Australia could be worth over $48 billion, and has grown 89% over the past 10 years.

With that in mind, here are 6 top tips for upcycling and selling furniture on Gumtree:

Paint to perfection – A splash of paint can do wonders in upgrading a pre-loved piece of furniture and doesn’t have to break the bank. You can get sandpaper and a small pot of paint – often they cost less than $50 – and can liven up a piece of furniture perfectly. Spray paint is another good option. For example, that popular gold mirror everyone is looking for at the moment can be easily made with a pre-loved mirror off Gumtree and a can of gold spray paint, for half the price. Don’t forget the sealant either so your paint job stays intact!

Best pick: Wooden furniture is one of the easiest things to upcycle as damage can be easily sanded down and painted over. There’s generally more wooden pieces of furniture ready to be upcycled than anything else too, making it simple to find. Tip: antique white-washed finishes are always a big hit and probably the easiest style to replicate.

Picture perfect – A potential buyer will be more likely to be interested in a listing if there is more than one image. You can upload up to nine images on a Gumtree listing,  so there’s no reason to not share every angle of your piece of furniture. Make sure you take the photos in a well-lit space and show any detail that the item might have.

It’s all in the detail – Don’t simplify your language or skimp on the details when putting your upcycled piece of furniture up for sale. Instead, you should describe the item you’re listing with unique phrases and words, like “French Provincial” or “perfectly imperfect”. See how other items are being advertised to get some inspiration from the language used.

Research is key – Do your research to see what’s currently trending in the furniture space both on Gumtree and online. See what’s currently for sale and compare your product to it. If you’re wanting to upcycle some furniture, do some research on the kinds of items getting the biggest bucks on Gumtree. This research is also great inspiration for what you might want to create, so start a vision board with items you’re eager to find and upcycle.

Timed to perfection – Aim to post your ad just before the weekend to maximise the views and interest you’ll get. With many people at work during the week, they might not be checking Gumtree as often. Buyers want something to do on the weekend and it’s when they’ll have the most time to look for something new to purchase for their homes. Do your best to respond quickly to potential buyers too; stay on top of interest by turning on notifications in the Gumtree app and be friendly and helpful in your dealings with fellow Gummies.

Want to learn more about upcycling, renovating for profit and more? Read more advice from our experts

The post 6 top tips for upcycling on Gumtree appeared first on Completehome.

What does it take for them to move from the selection to the decision phase of buying? For this post, I’m sharing with you some of the simple but effective property renovation tips that’ll help you lock in those dollars.

Do It Now

In Australia, it’s a common belief that properties don’t actually sell in winter. But you know what? The Internet now enables prospective buyers to shop around without even leaving the comfort of their own homes. So shopping for a house now is much like shopping for clothes online. This means that you can actually renovate all year-round. Doing so also offers you more access to tradies as during off-peak seasons, as there’s not much flurry of activities going on.

Enlist the Professionals

You can surely go DIY but know that you can always team up with the professionals to implement the renovation plan for you. Doing so brings heaps of benefits. For one, you can capitalise on their specialised knowledge in renovation. Two, you’re given peace of mind that with proper planning and supervision, the project will be completed on time. Three, you can save yourself from the stresses related to managing the renovation. And four, you’ll prevent the risk of under or over capitalising on your renovation.

Go Upward and/or Downward

When you renovate, check on the opportunities to add or create space as permitted by the floor plan. Now, note that you should only do this if it’s applicable without compromising structural integrity. You can either find underutilised spaces or create one. An example would be adding a utility room to a large bathroom. Another example would be creating a loft or a basement. The idea is that as long as the additional space further improves livability, it can help add value to your home.

Always Think about Your Market

From the simplest details to the paint colour you choose, always keep your buyer in mind when you renovate for wealth. That’s because you want to create a space that strangers would want to make their own. Think about this: buyers that actually buy your property and not your taste. You might have an impressive sense of aesthetics but at this point, it’s no longer about you; its all about your buyers.

Be Proportional

The prospect of adding a room to a property is attractive due to the perceived value it can add. However, if you manage to create five bedrooms and just one bathroom, you might have a hard time convincing prospective buyers. That’s because regardless of the capabilities of a property, you still need to make sure that the number of rooms you create is in proportion to usable space. So if you’re marketing your property for a family of seven and yet the kitchen can only barely contain 4 people, selling becomes a challenge.

Boost Your Street Appeal

First impressions matter. And when you’re selling a property, you don’t get a second chance. So build on what buyers see first: the exteriors of your property. This includes the lawn, the paint, the windows, and the entryway. Make it as striking and impressive as possible – something that compels buyers to give your property a closer look.

For more information

Zadel

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But there’s something about adding or reinventing a space or a room on a property that makes it more valuable and more attractive to buyers. Here’s some of the rooms that when created or renovated correctly, can add immense value to a property.

Turning the Loft into a Functional Space

If you have a loft on your target property, put it to good use. From being an empty space, the loft can become the children’s bedroom, an office space, a studio, or simply a place used to re-energise and to disconnect from the world. However you want to the loft to be, always keep in mind what your target users will use it for. What it becomes then, in relation to functionality, can help boost the value of a property. And don’t forget: you can do the same for basements.

Adding an Extension

Extensions is another way for you to add value to a property. Not only does it create space in an otherwise cramped area; it also offers functionality. You can turn the room into any functional space you deem the property needs most. But keep in mind that while extensions are a flexible way for you to add space, you still need to consider council restrictions. You also need to make sure that you have enough budget to cover for the costs.

Renovating Your Kitchen

There’s plenty of opportunity to add value in the kitchen. For one, you can install energy-efficient appliances. Two, you can maximise storage. And three, you can update the backsplash and the countertops. You can even give it an entirely new look! The smallest change, provided that it’s relevant, can add value to the heart of every home.

Creating a Utility Room

If allowed by the floor plan, you can add a utility room. If not, you can divide an underutilised room for this purpose. You can then install a washing machine or a dishwasher and add a large sink to add functionality. In doing so, you can free up space in other rooms and divert domestic work into a specific area.

Open Up the Floor Plan

The idea is to not only permit for unlimited movement but to also make your property is more spacious, well-illuminated, and well-ventilated. It permits for an optimised way of living. But while the prospect of an open floor plan is enticing, it may not always be possible. That’s because walls serve to keep your property’s structure up. So think about your options when it comes to opening up space, like using sliding doors, without affecting your property’s structural integrity.

Add a Basement

When you’ve already built high enough above, then your only option is to go underground. Adding a basement offers an opportunity of not only having more space but also the chance to add function-specific rooms like a gym, swimming pool, a work studio, or an entertainment room. Then again, digging presents a challenging work, so you need to allow for more time for this to be completed.

For more information

Zadel Property Education

The post Renovating these rooms can add value to a property appeared first on Completehome.

Some may are realistic but some may not always be possible. Just like believing…

… That Perfection is Possible

Always favour quality over perfection. When it comes to generating profit from property renovation, quality craftsmanship is one factor that’ll help significantly boost its market value. Besides, things like tiling, painting, and brickwork are done by humans. And being a property renovator, it’ll be your duty to make sure that your project is progressing as planned and that the type of work done meets your quality standards.

… That Budget will Work Itself Out

As with any project, budget is the first thing that you should be thinking about. It’s something that you should be planning for. Take into account labour and material costs, factoring in things like downpayment, ongoing payments, and your final payment. You should also remember one important thing: to pay your tradies on time every time. It’s a critical part of maintaining a great working relationship with them.

… That the Cheapest Bid Will Do It

One thing about settling for the cheapest bid is that you won’t always get the best results. Just like what I’ve mentioned about perfection, you ought to be looking for quality work on your project – not the one that offers the cheapest costs. So what you can do is to consult multiple contractors, collect proposals from them, and compare the costs. You can also ask to review their previous projects and see how those performed in the market following the renovation.

… That All Contractors are Licensed

Sure, everyone you know can present themselves in a business-like manner. But what you ought to be looking for is the proof that they’re legally in business. Ask to see their license and ask about important things like liability insurance. You’re going to try to make things as safe as possible and to implement quality work, but if any of these things ever ‘fall short,’ then you know that you’re off the hook when it comes to legal liabilities.

… That the Project will Be Completed in a Jiffy

Commonly, cosmetic renovation projects take 6 weeks or more to be completed. That’s why it’s important that you work closely with your contractors to establish a timeline and a sequence of how each work needs to be completed. Being organised is the key to efficiency – and preventing over or under capitalisation.

… That You Can Go Impersonal

Look, your attitude influences the decision of a contractor to work with you and how they’ll approach the project. So if you think that you can put a considerable distance between you and your trades, then that distance will eventually reflect on the finished work. Be friends with your contractors. Talk to the trades and ask them about what they’re doing. Let them feel proud about their expertise. You’ll learn a thing or two while establishing an open relationship with them. And oh: don’t forget to ask for their opinion. They know their craft better than you do.

… That You Can Take their Word for It

Yes, you and your contractor are supposed to have a working relationship built on trust. But always remember that a renovation project is a formal project that requires a written agreement. Put everything – and I mean everything – in writing. It’s always good to have a solid reference to go back to in case clarification is needed. In addition, having a written agreement sets realistic expectations for you when it comes to the outcome of the project.

… That You Can Renovate for You

Of course, you can renovate for you! But if you’re renovating for wealth, then you should do it for your market. After all, they’re on the buying end. They’ll be looking for a place that they’ll identify with, and a place that they can customise. So in everything you do, as in every business, put your customers in mind first.

For more information

Zadel Property Education

The post Setting the proper expectations when you’re renovating for profit appeared first on Completehome.

It’s true that property renovation is a totally different strategy if you intend to profit from the property industry. It’s one of the fastest ways for you to manufacture equity and to generate cashflow. But in practice, the business of property renovation involves creating a system to help you ensure an efficient renovation timeline and optimised profits as a consequence.

So what do you need to know?

1. Property Renovation isn’t for Everyone

In renovation, you gain some but you can lose some. It’s a result of the combined contributions of various market factors that determine whether or not a property renovation project will be successful. So success is all about the actions that you do at the onset and how you do them. Research, planning, due diligence, and spotting valuable opportunities in the property are key elements to increasing a property makeover’s profit potential.

2. You Have to Renovate in the Right Suburb

There’s such a thing as a ‘renovation suburb.’ This is a suburb ideal for renovation for wealth. And how do you find this suburb? Research. You have to know where to find a property that you can renovate and that allows you to forecast your profit margin. For me, I keep a checklist that I use when I review potential property leads. This ensures that I have all bases covered before I make a decision to buy and to renovate.

3. You Have to Select the Right Property

Once you’ve picked the suburb, you can’t simply walk up to an agent and say that you’re buying the house he or she is selling. Keep in mind that not all properties out in the market have the potential to be renovated. There are structural, aesthetic, and financial analyses that need to be conducted before making a decision. Besides, apart from houses, apartments and terraces can also be renovated.

4. You Have to Factor in Costs

You need to be able to work your numbers out. How much renovation work is needed? How much will that work cost? How much will the property cost post-renovation? It’s a good habit to always keep the end in mind while you’re crunching those numbers so that you can properly estimate your profit margin.

5. Damaged or Defective?

A good decision for you is to target dated properties or those that have defects on them. These are properties that you can ‘fix’ through renovation. However, you should still consider the existing floor plan as you can’t simply alter the property’s skeleton. While you can move walls and windows around, you can’t simply deviate by taking off a beam as doing so may affect the structural integrity of the building.

6. Buy Well

The best way to make sure that what you’re buying is really worth it is to uncover vendor motivation. Why are they selling? How flexible are they when making adjustments to the asking price? At times, vendors make decisions based on their idealised price or the price they were told they can get when they sell. In this case, its always a good idea to know why they’re selling. This is when you can start negotiating.

For more information

Zadel Property Education

The post Property renovation as a business: 6 must-know tips appeared first on Completehome.

In this installment, we’ll be looking at the top 5 reasons as to why homeowners should seek professional help when it comes to their renovation projects.

Renovators are great listeners

You probably have a beautiful vision of how your home will look like post-renovation. But the question you should consider is this: how will you exactly turn that vision into reality? Professional renovators are great listeners in a way that they’ll help put your ideas into tangible plans. In turn, these plans will help with the construction process. In the end, the product of such construction is the home you’ve always been dreaming of.

Renovators have experience

Of course coupled with experience is expertise. You all know what they say about experience being a great teacher. So turning to renovators for help means that you minimise risks, losses, repeat work. This is because renovators are skilled at making realistic suggestions. Through these suggestions, you can ensure that you stay on point with your renovation plan, and that you won’t fall for the so-called renovation traps.

Renovators are knowledgeable

Apart from their experience, renovators also have spent a great deal of time getting educated about the ins and outs of renovation. They went to school so they can get their qualification. They get qualified so they can get their license to practice. What this means is that they possess the necessary credentials such that they conform to industry standards and existing building codes.

Renovators are reliable

The great thing about renovators is that you can count on them for help even if the renovation process is over. That’s because they have a wide range of contacts from the different sectors of the construction industry.
Renovators have a set of recommended tradies, too! So they can help you get in touch with electricians, plumbers, you name it.

Renovators are great financial planners

That’s in the context of a renovation budget. Renovators make sure that you stay within your budget as its easy to go beyond, especially if you haven’t renovated before. So if you think that you can save a lot on costs when you go DIY, there’s a great chance that you won’t. By working with a renovator, you’ll feel a lot relaxed because you don’t have to worry about going over your budget.

The post 5 reasons why homeowners should hire renovators (The state of Australian home renovations – part 4 of 4) appeared first on Completehome.

For this installment, we’re going to answer yet another question:

What role did professionals play when it comes to renovation?

Using data from the same survey conducted by Houzz, let’s get started by looking at the types of professionals homeowners who renovated have hired to help out:

Overall, 89% of homeowners who renovated in 2015 turned to specialists for help.

The table below shows the percent distribution of homeowners who hired specialists:

So if majority of homeowners hired professionals, why did they do it? Take a look at the top 3 reasons for each type of professionals below:

Apart from quality results, project management, budget management, and sourcing quality products and materials, there are other reasons why most homeowners opt to hire renovation specialists.

In the final installment in this series, we’re going to look into a more focused discussion about the valuable contributions of professionals in renovation. Specifically, we’ll look at the contributions of pro renovators.

The post The role of professionals in renovation (The state of Australian home renovations – part 3 of 4) appeared first on Completehome.

If you recall, the research findings revealed that there’s been a 5% increase in homeowner renovation activity in the country for the past 4 years. The research calculated that close to 8.4 million out of the 13.6 million homeowners in the country did renovation work on their property.

We closed our discussion by asking this question:

What motivates homeowners to renovate?

In this installment, I’ll be presenting and discussing the data published by Houzz Australia, a visual platform for home renovation and design that allows homeowners and professionals to interact in an online community.

The research entitled Houzz & Home – Australia, was compiled in Q2 2016 and was published in August of that same year. The research provides an overview of the home renovation activities done in 2015 and in early 2016. The data was gathered based on reports made by homeowners within the Houzz Australia community.

Let’s get started!

What did Australians do to their homes?

Homeowner data from 2015 revealed that the following home-related activities were undertaken:

It was also revealed that homeowners planned to undertake the following activities in 2016:

As you can see, more homeowners planned to renovate in 2016. In the first installment of this series, we mentioned that this was indeed the case as more homeowners did renovate their homes, with the majority of them undertaking minor repair or alterations.

What do Australians prefer: renovating or buying?

To put things in context, ‘buying’ means finding that ‘perfect’ home and not doing renovations after the purchase. That’s in line with the thought that the perfect home already suits the needs of its occupants. In contrast, ‘renovating’ involves renovating the primary home to suit the needs of its occupants. Results revealed that more homeowners preferred to renovate rather than to buy. But why?

Homeowners who chose to renovate than to buy the perfect home were concentrated in the 25 to 34-year age range. The primary reason stated was that renovation is more affordable.

I find this interesting because the sense of affordability created by renovation is actually aligned to a long-term result: increased home equity. Renovation is a strategy that allows homeowners to manufacture equity on their property. That’s regardless if the homeowner intends to sell the property or stay in it long-term.

What motivated home renovations?

2015 was considered as a sluggish time for the renovation sector. In the first installment, we mentioned that there had been a consistent renovation activity in NSW but it seemed to have stalled in other states. For homeowners who renovated in 2015, they cited the following reasons for doing so:

The motivations stated by homeowners in this research are actually considered as the ‘market pains’ in the renovation sector. Lack of time, lack of finances, changes in lifestyle and family structure, lack of knowledge in renovation, and routine property upkeep are some of the factors contributing to homeowner indecision.

With the availability of the resources that initially were impediments to renovation, it made sense that these homeowners were finally able to renovate their homes.

How much did homeowners spend on renovation?

On average, the total expenditure reported by homeowners on Houzz was $68,300. Here’s how it’s broken down by age range and according to annual household income:

In terms of payment method, 78% of those who renovated utilised their savings or personal finances to fund their renovations. Other sources of funding as reported were cash from mortgage refinance, credit card, line of credit, and gift or inheritance.

What priority areas were renovated or added?

Data gathered in this section answers the question, ‘what do I want to renovate or add to my home?’ Here are the results:

In a renovator’s perspective, you might be wondering: will renovating these areas actually drive equity up for a property? How much equity will be added if you renovate a property’s kitchen, for example?

I’m saving a discussion about the relationship between equity and renovation for another time. But what this research reveals is that renovation is definitely being planned by homeowners. This is especially so for those whose homes were built between 1981 – 2000 and home with owner-reported values between $500,000 – $999,999.

Finally, as reflected on the research discussed in Part 1 of this series, 82% of those who renovated are homeowners living in detached, single-family dwellings.

In the next installment of this series, we’ll be looking at the role of property renovators and other professionals in the renovation sector when it comes to successful renovation.

The post What are Australians doing to their homes? (The state of Australian home renovations – Part 2 of 4) appeared first on Completehome.

It can be recalled that in mid-2015, Australia’s median house prices has risen to $660,000. Back then, Darwin experienced the biggest increase among the capital cities and Sydney was getting close to hitting the $1 million mark.

The easing dwelling prices stated in the report seemed to convey that 2016 wasn’t a good time to sell. But even then, some of those who intended to put their property on the market weren’t oblivious to one strategy.

A strategy aimed at increasing home equity.

The good news is that this equity can be manufactured.

It’s called property renovation.

Property renovation has long been touted as a property investment strategy that almost always guarantees profit as long as it’s done properly. That is, getting a professional property renovator involved in order to pick the most suitable alterations and effectively use home renovation to add value to a home.

But back in 2015, the Australian renovations industry was progressively sluggish. In fact, HIA reported that while renovations were performing well in NSW, it had been slow in other areas, especially during the 2011-2013 period.

The Rise of Australian Home Renovations

In the same report, RP Data hinted that the Australian renovation sector may slowly start to resurrect in 2016. This outlook was corroborated by HIA Senior Economist Shane Garrett. According to Garrett, three factors may contribute to the strong return for Australian renovations in 2016:

• Low interest rates
• Positive economic growth
• A boost in mid-term employment

The factors above were predicted to collectively boost consumer confidence. Roy Morgan Research, an Australian market research company, revealed that the consumer confidence index was 116.3 on 08 December 2015 – a significant increase from the previous month during that period.

So with these favourable indicators opening 2016, what happened then?

Australian Homeowners Mobilised

Roy Morgan Research recently published their findings comparing Australian renovation figures in 2013 and in 2016. These findings are interesting.

First, the study involved 13.6 million homeowners. Of that total number, the study found that close to 8.4 million homeowners renovated in 2016. That’s a 5% increase from 2013’s 7.5 million homeowners.

Second, new homeowners or those who only spent less than a year at their address at the time of the research were more inclined to undertake renovations.

Third, most homeowners who renovated lived in a separate dwelling as opposed to those who lived in units or flats.

But what about renters? Isn’t there an opportunity for them to renovate as well?

The answer can also be taken from the research data. It reveals that the decision-making process for renting households is very different from those who actually own their homes. With renovation or home improvement generally considered as the landlord’s responsibility, renters don’t feel the need to renovate.

But, when looking at trends in Australian renovation, there’s some activity among renters as well, although the figures are small. Findings indicate that long-term tenants were more inclined to undertake home improvements. This may be explained by the sense of security they have on their lease and the length of time they’ve stayed in their rented spaces.

So among Australians who renovated, what did they exactly do?

Australian Home Renovation Projects

The research categorised the renovation projects according to the jobs completed. Here are the figures:

I can’t help but think about what actually prompted this favourable change in the Australian renovation sector. There’s undoubtedly a lot of factors at play that allows homeowners to undertake a renovation project.

However, as renovators, we need to rely on reliable property market analysis in order to understand the process that homeowners go through before they finally decide to renovate. This now falls into the hands of our Australian Property Market Analysts like John Lindeman.

For now, we can answer one question: what motivates homeowners to renovate their property?

I’m answering that question in the next instalment of The State of Australian Home Renovations Series.

For more information

Zadel Property Education

The post The state of Australian home renovations: Trends in Australian renovation (Part 1 of 4) appeared first on Completehome.