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Don’t renovate before selling, the demand for fixer-uppers in Brisbane is so strong, property experts are warning homeowners about the risk of renovating before they list.

Madeleine Hicks from Hicks Real Estate at Everton Park said, “we are seeing buyers looking for homes that they can do up.  Especially the older style timber properties that we have in abundance in Stafford and Everton Park.”

“Buyers are loving the larger blocks that we have as well as the great city views” Hicks said.

SQM Research managing director Louis Christopher said too often people splash too much cash jazzing up their homes for a big sale.

“In a downturn, buyers will not value the renovations as much as the homeowner,” Mr Christopher said.

“We know the market will penalise over-capitalisation.”

Don’t renovate before selling

Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker. Picture: Mike Batterham

Star of Foxtel’s new show Love It or List It and design guru Neale Whitaker agrees, adding the decision to sell or renovate a property demanded thought and research.

“Be careful about overcapitalising,” Whitaker said.

“Have a look at similar properties that are unrenovated like yours in your area and see what they’re going for – and the type yours would be like after a renovation and what they’re going for.

“(Then) work out whether it’s worth doing because, let’s face it, even the most basic renovation is costly.

Don’t renovate before selling

Even the most basic renovations are costly.

“But if you are torn, look at the potential resale value of the house as opposed to the property you would be thinking of buying and whether that’s a realistic transaction – and also the value that could be potentially added to your home.”

Whitaker said the majority of homeowners who decide to stay and renovate want to create more space.

“If they’ve been living somewhere for a long time, they stop realising the potential under their nose but with careful planning they can create the space they need,” he said.

“On the show we came across rooms that were completely redundant – one room was completely occupied by a cat – people get used to living a certain way.”

Renovations are booming in Brisbane’s inner-ring including Albion, Stafford, Alderley and Everton Park, with building renovations and carpentry the most popular, according to Australia’s largest network of trades professionals, hipages.com.au.

The data also showed bathroom and kitchen upgrades were a high priority with homeowners.

Mr Christopher said homeowners could renovate their property on a budget, sell it and upgrade to a better property for themselves.

“There are more buyers and freestanding houses in the marketplace,” he said.

“I don’t think we are in a market that is going to value one’s renovations all too well.”

Mr Christopher said Brisbane’s property market had improved however added “the pendulum is in the middle”.

“We are seeing more interstate migrations to Brisbane because of the price difference,” he said.

Love It Or List co-host Andrew Winter advised buyers to have realistic expectations when selling their property.

“Don’t expect to sell easily,” Winter said. “Never believe that your house will sell for more than market value, it can happen but generally it won’t.”

He said to avoid seller’s remorse it was important to hang on to your property if your financial situation allowed.

If you are thinking about making a move in property talk to the team at Hicks Real Estate first.  They know the North West because it is their backyard.

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Hicks Real Estate is a Brisbane based, full-service real estate agency supporting buyers and sell as well as renters and property investors. With almost 20 years experience in the local market, we are the real estate experts you can rely upon.