Renovating a city apartment for resale

Bianca-Jane asks:

I am considering selling my apartment in the city, and I need to know what renovations will increase my selling price. How do I make sure that I appeal to buyers without spending too much on getting my apartment ready for sale?

Jane says:

Making sure that your apartment in is top condition is an ideal way to make sure that you obtain the best sale price possible. The first thing to do in any type of property is to make sure that everything is clean and in good repair. Spend some time taking care of all those little maintenance items that have been put off and clear away the clutter. A home that looks clean and fresh is universally more appealing.

Specifically for a city apartment, you will want to consider your target purchaser. Knowing who your buyer is likely to be will help you customize any work that you decide to do, so that it appeals to them. Your apartment will probably be desirable to professional singles and couples, rather than families with children. It may also attract property investors, who would rent out the property to those same young professionals.

Spend some time researching other available apartments and the features that they have that your target buyer requires. Some interior design features that you will want to incorporate into any renovations that you complete include convenient areas for entertaining, wi-fi and cable hook-ups, and attractive modern fixtures. Consider environmentally friendly features like high efficiency lighting or bamboo floors.

These types of buyers will be looking for low maintenance, modern living space. Make sure that your apartment fits the bill with updated kitchen and bathroom, well-lit open spaces, and modern conveniences. An interior designer can help you determine the most cost effective changes to ensure that you don’t spend more money than you can make back on the related increase in your sales price. They are educated in the most in-demand Brisbane home designs and can ensure that your home is well received by buyers.

Clever improvements can not only increase your selling price, they can reduce the amount of time that it takes to sell your apartment.

Buyers will appreciate homes that meet their requirements and are clean and ready to move into. Property investors also will be willing to pay more for a property that can be immediately rented out with no additional time or investment needed on their part. Get your home in top condition to maximize the amount that you will have to put toward your new home and get moved into it faster.

Jane Eyles-Bennett is a Brisbane Interior Designer and the founder of Hotspace Consultants. She has over 20 years interior design experience and her business has helped over 500 home owners and property investors in the past 7 years alone.