Whether you’re ready to sell or have just bought a new property, the chances are a little home improvement is on the agenda.
While many homes are ready to move into, few deliver entirely on their vision – there’s always something you want to change or update to suit your personal taste.
DIY enthusiasts revel in both these challenges, while others run a mile at the idea due to a lack of time, skills or interest in wielding a screwdriver and nail gun.
I’m a big believer that when it comes to your biggest asset, it’s a good idea to leave upgrades to the experts. As your local real estate agent, I get to see inside properties both before and after some fantastic upgrades. The vast majority have been delivered by quality tradespeople.
Often, my clients will struggle to know where to start when it comes to finding a contractor. There are a lot of general builders out there, but sometimes a five-star finish requires specialist skills. Below are the types of contractors you want to get to know and have on your speed dial.
- Carpenters – Masters of their craft, a great carpenter can make fantastic in-built cabinets, bookshelves and even bathroom vanities with water-resistant woods such as bamboo. The work will be unique and a constant pleasure.
- Electricians – Their skills go beyond the norm of installing light-fittings and ensuring supply to your home. They can cable a data network, fire alarms and audio-visual equipment for a home theatre.
- Lighting consultant – Allied to the work of an electrician, a lighting consultant can make your home come alive with lighting solutions that you might never have considered. When it comes to selling your home, stylish lighting can be a real winner and with so many considerations and technical elements, these experts can be worth the investment.
- Plasterers – Never accept anything less than an expert in this field. They’ll not only do the job right but take half the time of a mere mortal.
- Painters – This is probably the task most of us think we can do ourselves. If so, you’ll need the patience of a saint. All that cutting-in and preparation work can be a killer. New gyprock walls can take three even four coats, and still need more. If you’re planning to do the exterior, be careful up that ladder. A painting contractor will come in with their team, do a professional job in half the time you can do it yourself. For many of us, the cost of avoiding the stress and mess is money well spent.
- Tilers – It’s easy to think you can do this job, too, with a little time and application. The technique seems so easy, especially with those plastic spacers to keep everything straight. Maybe you can do this yourself, but expert tilers can take on complex jobs that will add value to your home. They’ll offer amazing ideas for how to tackle a particular challenge and get the job in a fraction of the time, while also dealing with awkward tile cuts like a boss.
- Roofers – Got a leak? Don’t spend your weekends staring at the roof and cussing. Leave it to experts who see these problems every day, not twice in a lifetime.
- Landscapers – These guys are not just gardeners, of course. Their value is creating a vision for your garden, not just moving rocks and laying turf. A landscaper will offer not just a design but the plants that will turn the plan into a luscious reality.
- Concreters – Their skills vary enormously from laying a polished concrete floor complete with under-floor heating and delivering unique kitchen benchtops to creating a driveway that won’t crack or wear for years to come.
- Floor-layers – Please, don’t try this unless you know what you’re doing! Laying Linoleum is possibly one of the most frustrating tasks imaginable. There’ll likely be glue everywhere, bubbles in the floor, edges that aren’t quite flush to the corners – the list goes on. Whether you want vinyl, carpet, a floating floor or a quality hardwood timber for your flooring, get the experts to install it.
If you’re about to undertake any home improvement but wondering whether it will add value to your home, please contact me. I’d be happy to discuss buyer trends in our neighborhood and the features of a home that add value so you can make an informed decision.