Renovations make for a more comfortable home and with just a few small changes, they have the potential to increase the value of your property

When renovating a home, you need to consider both the present and future. While the changes should enhance your joy as an owner, they should also increase the value of your house – and you’ll cash in when you sell. We called in the experts for advice on the dos and don’ts to help you profit now, and later. 

It’s That Open Living 

Journalist for Rawson Property Developers Tim Cartwright says that opening up living areas has become increasingly popular in the housing market as space is limited. Knocking down intervening walls between the living and dining room, as well as the kitchen, will make your home even more attractive to buyers further down the line. It also offers a living situation more conducive to quality time with loved ones. ‘This means that the person cooking the meal can still be in contact with family,’ says Tim. 

A Green Footprint

Renovations are a great time to reduce your home’s carbon footprint, and the easiest way to do this is by choosing wisely when it comes to raw materials. Home buyers of the future are likely to place a premium on environmentally friendly finishes, so it’s a win-win. When it comes to a kitchen overhaul, co-owner of Pillay Properties Gona Pillay recommends bamboo cabinetry. It’s a durable and highly sustainable resource that grows and matures in only seven years, whereas trees take exponentially longer. Your bathroom is another area in which it makes sense to go green. According to Hedi Lampert Kemper, media manager of Greeff Properties real estate agency, a trend that is proving popular among buyers is that of water-saving apparatuses such as dual-flush toilets and eco-smart showers, which restricts water flow by pumping air through the shower rose to maintain pressure. Both of these also help lighten your water bill. 

Comfort, Convenience and Calmness 

Comfort, along with convenience, are the strongest motivators for redoing parts of a home, while changes that maximise these factors have great value for a potential seller too. ‘If you have to choose between a bath and shower, opt for the shower,’ says Gona, ‘as it better complements today’s fast-paced lifestyle.’ ‘Also consider painting walls in neutral colours for a calming effect,’ advises Tim. Keep in mind that the more neutral your colour scheme, the easier it will be for future buyers to envision their furniture in the space. Always opt for tiled floors as they’re easier to keep clean than carpets. ‘Good security systems are essential in SA today,’ says Tim. ‘The more you spend on security, the better for your family and home in the long run.’

Over-capitalising, Under Utilising  

‘Avoid over-capitalising on property,’ advises Jonathan Acutts, managing director of Acutts Estate Agents. This means that you’re spending more on upgrading your home with various additions in order to add to its value. ‘In this scenario, you either sell the house for less than what you paid for it, or it sits on the market for a long time and doesn’t attract buyers,’ explains Jonathan. ‘You over-capitalise by adding expensive but unnecessary features such as stone cladding and water features.’ 

You Can’t Buy Style  

‘Some things cost a lot of money, but are not always in good taste,’ says Tim. You’ll give your property wider appeal and, consequently, more market value if you avoid them. ‘Grandiose finishes tend to reduce value. The simpler, the better.’ For example, don’t get doric or corinthian columns when renovating a cape cottage. ‘You would just want a simple column.’

Words by Warren Glam
Photography: Unsplash