The decision to renovate is a common sticking point for homeowners, who can spend hours weighing up the cost benefits.
Whether your motivation is to add value to your property or to add a touch of your personality to the home, renovations are expensive and debt often follows.
By working with us at Progressive Loans you will be able to find solutions that benefit your long-term goal, rather than hindering future plans.
A survey by Finder.com.au found only 27 percent of homeowners think refinancing their home loan to renovate is a feasible option to raise funds for the next big step.
In this survey, 93 percent of homeowners who refinanced to renovate, said they had concerns over whether they would be able to afford the repayments, and whether the proposed renovation would add value to the property.
While we your broker cannot assist you with forecasts on future property values, we can help you reassess your current financial position, run through your plans and future payments, and decide if you can afford to take on more debt.
Laying the foundations
With a broker in your corner, the next step is to investigate how much you need to borrow. Work out the specifics of your renovation, what the average cost to renovate is in your area and how much you are eligible to borrow. You should aim to spend no more than five percent of your property’s value on the renovation.
If renovations are likely to take over your living quarters, you may need to also consider the additional cost of accommodation for the renovation period. This is another cost to factor into your budget.
Get bang for your buck
Once you decide to renovate, if you are trying to add value to a house to resell, it is important to look at the rooms and areas that will add the most value. These are average renovation prices, however, prices will fluctuate based on the city and suburb.
- Kitchen
If you are a fan of the show The Block, you will know kitchens sell houses. According to realestate.com.au, the average renovation cost you should be spending on a kitchen is between $12,000 and $16,000.
- Bathroom
The average bathroom space in Australia is six square metres. Look to spend around $9,000 – $12,000 as the bathroom is a highly trafficked space and needs to appeal to a wide variety of investors.
- Other areas
An extra bedroom or a deck outside both add appeal and improve the standard of living for the homeowners.
Finishing touches
The final hurdle to look at is the council fee. The council can charge you up to $2,000 for an application fee, although prices can vary. After speaking to a broker and finalising the renovation, make sure you account for an extra 10 percent in your funds, to cover any unexpected costs.
All prices are indicative only, and cannot be relied upon for accuracy.
Deciding on the type of loan
If after the assessment and investigation you decide to renovate, there are three types of loans to consider to help refinance and renovate your house: a line of credit loan, a construction loan or increasing your existing home loan.
Contact us via our contact us page.
In a 2015 Finder.com.au survey, 42 percent of homeowners said they were worried that, by unlocking home equity, they would not be able to afford the larger repayments on their mortgage. However, every household and property is different, as are the funds needed to achieve a renovation.
To make sure you get a great outcome, speak to us sooner rather than later.
Your friendly finance broker,
Terry
