Whether you're in the property sector or not, being a nice home is almost a soothing experience in itself. Beauty is one of humanity's most basic desires – we love it when the surface is beautiful, as it evokes treasures and invites further exploration.
For this reason, refreshing the exterior of a dwelling is absolutely essential to add value and enhance the attractiveness. This reflects the value you think of a property, which in turn influences what others see. A well-kept lawn, a freshly painted wall, a clean pool and lush, bustling vegetation – all point to an important and well maintained home.
"When we start planning to renovate the exterior of a property, the main areas we focus on are establishing a realistic budget and creating a shock factor that will provide a good first. impression to potential buyers who will arrive on the property, "says the renovator. Dean Zarif. "We are always looking for who our target market is and at what price our property will be sold."
Exterior renovations are hard work, but not necessarily mandatory. Many times, this can simply be a cleaning and cleaning process. The key is knowing what you can do with the potential of the facade and what you want to do with the resources at your disposal – creativity is the name of the game of renovation.
FIRST STEP: EVALUATING WITH CARE
With an outdoor renovation, it is important not to miss the forest for the trees. This is the overall effect. It is therefore prudent to start the renovation process by carefully evaluating the elements with which you must work.
Start by looking at the front yard from a distance. From this point of view, how do all the elements work together? What seems out of place? What seems to be worn? What's wrong? What complicates the way you navigate the region? What's wrong with the general style?
From here, you can deepen every part of the facade – from the roof and garage doors, through the walkways, fences and mailbox – and define the task at hand.
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Find the best asset of the property and build your vision by highlighting it. Is there a pool in the front yard? Then put the spotlight on with well placed lighting and surround it with a border of beautiful plants. If the focus is on a beautiful garden, keep it at the center of attention by landscaping and landscaping the flora so as to catch the eye.
STEP TWO: CLEANING
A sad looking facade can often be the result of a lack of proper maintenance. Deep cleaning can reveal hidden treasures and suggest that things are not as bad as they seem at first glance. Under all this mess outside could be a beautiful foundation.
For example, it can be difficult to work with pools, given the potential for extensive maintenance and repair. Zarif was happy to discover the benefits of a good cleaning when renovating his property (see Case Study, page 16).
"We only had to empty and thoroughly clean the pool with acid and repair an aesthetic crack," he says.
STEP THREE: ELIMINATE HEDGES
A garden overgrown makes everything darker, wilder and dirtier than it really is. A good size can therefore reveal a large space to work.
"With such a large block of land – this property measured over 1.5 acres – that looked like the untamed Amazon forest when we bought it, our goal was to search most shrubs and trees fallen and remove most of our landscaper to build new gardens and resurface around the pool, "says Zarif.
"It gave it a really clean and low-maintenance appearance, as well as a kind of blank canvas if someone wanted to get in and move the gardens to the next level."
FOURTH STEP: RENDERING THE WALLS
Brick exterior walls do not have to be part of your design nightmares. Through rendering, a process similar to plastering an interior wall, you can create a new surface.
"It's amazing the difference this brings to the appearance and feel of the property, especially when painted," says Zarif.
Although the rendering process can be customized, it requires the right conditions and a little know-how. So you need to use rendering professionals, unless you really know what you're doing.
"It is obvious that you are looking for rendering vendors because it is not uncommon to reduce by 75% the price that large rendering companies pay."
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The different types of renderings include acrylic, mineral and silicone silicates. When working with an exterior wall, you must have the right mix to make the surface waterproof and that it adheres well to the original wall. The plaster is usually applied in at least two layers and, between each layer, the walls must be properly protected from the weather.
STEP FIVE: REVAMPING THE ROOF
All roof renovations are not significant, and you may be surprised to learn that you can reseal and repaint your entire roof for a few thousand dollars. This makes a huge difference, not only aesthetically, but also at the property's outlets, as it ensures buyers that there are no cracks or leaks on the roof.
"Redoing the roof, cleaning it and repainting it can help complete the modernization of the exterior of a building," says Zarif.
The first step is to remove debris from the roof, such as branches, twigs and leaves, to prevent water from being trapped under the shingles. If there is damage, a good dose of sealant can often be enough to deal with leaks while adding a layer of waterproofing and insulation.
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It is important to maintain the roofs regularly. Do a basic cleaning from time to time, but call professionals at least once a year. In addition to having the necessary tools for a very good cleaning, they can also check the possible damage.
6th stage: shoot it down
Part of the renovation is deciding what to keep and what to remove, especially if it adds clutter to the yard.
It's there that comes into play a plan for the property. You must have a vision of what needs to be done. If you have any doubts about the use of a barbecue that seems totally out of place with the aesthetics you want and will be used in the future, it is better to take it down than to leave it occupied. precious space. This way, you have more room for the elements that suit your refreshed look.
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Look for opportunities to reuse existing areas for different purposes. For example, turn the barbecue into a planter and make it appear with a nice coat of new paint. Put some lighting or make a storage space. If a wooden bench is not very attractive, place it under brightly colored cushions to create a makeshift sofa for your outdoor entertaining. You can even turn an old set of cabinets into flower boxes.
STEP 7: BEWARE OF HIDDEN HAZARDS
An invasion of termites is one of the worst things that can happen to a property and you will not always see the damage until it's too late. Even furniture damaged by termites may seem solid, until you put weight on it and that gives.
"A specialist will endeavor to remove any termite-related activity from the house itself, as well as nests in the yard. There are also preventative measures that you can use, such as a complete termite barrier, as well as stone or gravel against the outside walls, "says Zarif.
Have a vermin professional inspect before purchasing a property. If you invest less than $ 500 in tax deductible, you will have peace of mind.
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Do not try to manage a possible termite attack yourself. Get the professionals to do a deep extermination. Termites are known for their persistence in returning to a home where they have already left their mark, so hunting them once may not be enough. A professional can apply powerful treatments that can last for years and prevent them from coming back. The same goes for all the other pest problems that you may have inherited.
STEP EIGHT: BE PREPARED FOR THE PROBLEMS OF TRADIE
Although DIY has a reputation for saving a lot of money, it is sometimes better to use trades. But when working with third-party service providers, complications are almost inevitable.
"I lost count of the number of times trades tried to change prices or charge extra for work that should have been included in the original price," says Zarif.
"With renovations, traders often prefer an hourly rate to cover themselves with unexpected problems. We would not recommend leaving deals with which you have not worked before and establishing some trust with working alone because it is a recipe for disaster. "
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When you engage in a tradie, putting everything in writing is essential for you to avoid a headache if the rules of engagement change. Do your best to get a fixed rate and write a snapshot of the scope of the work that they have to decide on. It is also advisable to be on site as much as possible. If this is not feasible, inform your trades that you are watching them by sending a text message or calling for progress reports.
CASE STUDY
For his latest project, Dean Zarif looks after a house about to collapse – literally! But a solid exterior renovation restored its legs to the property
When Dean Zarif and his partner, Alyssa, finalize the purchase of a house in the suburb of Moreton Bay, in Cashmere, they have almost nothing to save.
"The damage to termites was such that termites were packed and left because there was nothing left to eat. The whole house had to be completely wedged section by section, stripped and cropped, which took a little over three weeks. The house was literally about to collapse, "Dean said.
The exterior walls were covered with "ugly and rough brick" – something that Dean and Alyssa were eager to change by using a rendering system. They also focused on the property's existing pool, a major asset that had not been cleaned or cared for for years. The pool was to be drained, cleaned of many years of decaying leaves and washed with acid. In addition, the surrounding area required extensive clearing of fallen trees and shrubs for the pool to be visible from the house. Dean and Alyssa built new stairs leading to the pool and added a new pool enclosure. cut the trees to free up space.
While Dean and Alyssa were executing their vision of the front façade of the property, population problems threatened the project's completion. For example, the previous owner of the property ended up interfering with other on-site transactions, despite his agreement with Dean.
"We gave the landlord six weeks so that he stays in the property without any rental fees as part of the purchase negotiations, provided that we can work on the pool and l ''. exterior of the house, including landscaping. A few days after the settlement, the previous owner returned all my off-site transactions, claiming that it was too noisy and that he only wanted anyone on site until the end of six weeks! "
However, in the face of these problems, Dean and Alyssa completed their renovations – and in the end, all the work was worth it when they managed to generate a profit of more than $ 150,000.
Dean Zarif (photographed here with his partner Alyssa)
renovates properties for eight years
Disclaimer: All indicated products and prices are correct at the time of printing. The advice contained in this article is provided as general information only and should not be considered as financial advice. Make sure to talk to a qualified professional before making an investment decision.
