When a Sydney homeowner approached pre-sale renovation specialist Kristen Jackson with plans to sell her property, she knew it had potential. However, the home had quirky features and a confusing layout that risked turning many buyers away.
The challenge? Maximise the home’s value without overspending to achieve a quick sale. “Through strategic design choices and thoughtful updates, we were able to increase the home’s value by $370,000, netting the homeowner an impressive $277,500 in profit,” she says.
Kristen, founder of Wealth House, explains how they did it:
What we started with
The home, located in Sydney’s Sandringham—just south of the airport—was a large, two-story family house that had been altered over time to suit the previous owners’ needs. The layout was unconventional: the ground floor flowed naturally, but the upstairs felt disjointed, with two separate living areas. One section of the upper level could only be accessed via a second staircase at the back, which made the home feel divided.
Sounds confusing? Potential buyers would likely have the same reaction.
There were also quirky features, like a cupboard under the stairs that housed a bathtub, dryer, and storage, which only added to the home’s disjointed feel. The first priority was to address these oddities and create a cohesive, functional layout that would appeal to local buyers.
The renovation strategy
We started by unifying the upstairs spaces. Removing the wall that divided the areas allowed us to create a continuous hallway that connected both ends of the home.
The quirky cupboard under the stairs? We transformed it into a desirable walk-in pantry.
Additionally, we reimagined a redundant second kitchen, converting it into a fifth bedroom.
By enclosing the sunroom with statement glass doors, we turned what was a four-bedroom house into a five-bedroom home with a study.
Our most significant but necessary expense was a full remodel of the upstairs family bathroom.
We also incorporated features that buyers in this market expect based on comparable homes in the desired price point. This included an outdoor kitchen and main wardrobe built-ins.
Small updates, like replacing mirrors in two bathrooms and addressing necessary repairs, completed the transformation.
Design vision
When creating the design, I kept the potential buyer in mind: a professional family with multiple children, drawn to the home’s relaxing vibe of the area, yet quick to the airport, major highways and the CBD.
Inspired by the coastal location and the nearby suburb of Sans Souci (French for “without worry”), I aimed to create a modern yet calming atmosphere.
For the family bathroom, I envisioned a Mediterranean spa retreat, incorporating soft, concrete-look tiles and handmade feature tiles, complemented by soft lighting and curved mirrors. This tranquil, high-end feel carried through the home with curved feature doors, sheer curtains, and warm white paint to evoke a light and breezy coastal vibe.
Challenges and solutions
The biggest challenge was ensuring the newly renovated spaces blended seamlessly with the rest of the home.
For example, selecting a bathroom tile that complemented the existing hallway tile was tricky. The frosted bathroom window altered the appearance of tile samples in the space. After experimenting with several options, we chose tiles that appeared yellow in the showroom but gave the perfect grey-brown tone in the actual space.
Budget constraints were another challenge. We needed to deliver a high-end look without overspending. To achieve this, we opted for budget-friendly solutions like “steel-look” timber doors from Corinthian’s Manhattan range and IKEA Pax wardrobes, both of which added significant appeal on a budget.
The results
The renovation took eight weeks and was completed with a budget of $92,500. After a three-week sales campaign and an auction that attracted eight registered bidders, the home sold for $370,000 above its pre-renovation value. The strategic updates generated an additional $277,500 in profit for the sellers.
The results speak for themselves: we increased the home’s value, added significant profit for the homeowner, and achieved a quick, competitive sale.
Conclusion
This project illustrates how targeted, market-focused renovations can add immense value to a home. By addressing buyer objections and incorporating thoughtful design choices, we not only transformed the space but also positioned it to sell quickly and profitably in a competitive Sydney market.
You can see the real estate listing here.
Kristen Jackson runs Wealth House and is a pre-sale renovation specialist with a background in real estate.
