Family Homes Vs Investment Properties – Renovation Guide for 2021
Are you looking at adding comfort and convenience to your home? Or renovating for an investment property?
Intention or motive is a key factor when planning your home renovation. It will determine your budget, the type of suppliers, raw materials, design and time-frame of your renovation. When you are renovating with the intention of renting it out or selling then your budget can be more limited as you do not have to make the house luxurious.
This article will discuss three broad intentions for renovating a home in Auckland: 1. Renovations for renting your house, 2. Adding value to sell in the future, and 3. Home renovations for family comfort and functionality. It will cover budget and recommended materials for each category.
What will this article discuss about home renovations in Auckland?
We will discuss there broad intentions for renovating a home in Auckland. This guide will provide a comprehensive guide for planning your renovation based on 3 broad categories. It will talk about budget, types of materials that we recommend for the three types of renovations based on your intention to renovate in Auckland.
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Renovations for when you want to rent your house in Auckland
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When you want to add value to your home to sell in Future
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Home Renovations for a family home – to increase functionality and comfort
1. Intention of renting your property
When you are renting your property your two aims should be aesthetics and functionality. When it comes to aesthetics you want to renovate your kitchen and bathroom with a medium range budget. Tenants are looking for a place which is modern and with minimal wear and tear. They also look for homes that are functional so they face the least amount of inconvenience.
Kitchen renovations in Auckland for rentals
Renovations and upgrades can increase rental yield by improving property appeal and functionality. This article details 10 specific ways to achieve this, such as...
You can use mid-range materials for counter tops which will look nice and are durable but will not break your bank. Materials such as laminate, Engineered stone and glass counter-tops could be a great option for the kitchen if you are looking at renting the house out. They look great and will instantly make the home look much more appealing to the tenants. Laminate flooring is also a good option for such kitchens as they look great, are good for the budget and are durable.
How can renovations and upgrades increase rental yield?
10 ways to increase rental yield through renovations and upgrades
Bathroom renovations in Auckland for rentals
A full house renovation in Hillsborough can significantly improve rental yield by addressing outdated features and enhancing overall appeal. This project focuses on achieving better rental returns through comprehensive upgrades.
How can adding rooms increase rental property value?
One of the tricks for getting most out of your rental property is to make larger rooms into two different rooms. If you have a two bedroom home then it would be rented for about $550 on an average in most Auckland suburbs. But if your lounge is very spacious, you could erect a wall making a small study out of the lounge. This would give you a third bedroom or study. This would effectively let you increase the rent of your place. The added wall would cost you as much and is almost always possible because there is no structural change if the wall is added inside the house.
How can a full house renovation in Hillsborough improve rental yield?
Rental Full house Renovation in Hillsborough to get better rental yield
Painting in Auckland for rentals
If your home has started looking worn down then a good paint job throughout the house can also prove to be a good investment. The important thing is getting it done by a professional. A good paint job will make all the difference to your home and overall aesthetics of your rental property.
2. Intention of reselling or adding value to your property
If you are thinking of selling your house in the future then you should renovate with the intention of adding value to your home. Adding value does not mean that you have to spend a lot of money to ‘add value’. The perceived value of your home is the buyer’s perception of your home.
Todd Chandler's renovation in St Heliers aimed to add value before selling by focusing on key areas. This case study details the specific upgrades and their impact on property value.
Kitchen renovations and Bathrooms renovations to add value
When trying to sell your home you want to make sure that your bathroom has no plumbing issues, leakage or damage. That is the first thing that you should fix. You do not have to install the latest fixtures or accessories if your present toilet and shower are still in good shape. If they are however dated then it would be a good idea to pull the old bathtub out and install a new shower. The idea is to make the buyer have a higher perceived value of the home.
The kitchen is another aspect of the house that should be looked into before selling your home. If your kitchen is very outdated and has started to look shabby then a change is in order. Change the flooring and pull down the old cabinets to give your kitchen a fresh new look. There is no need for customisation; simply use the most basic cabinets and counter-tops to make it look modern.
Todd Chandler’s Home renovation in Saint Heliers to Add Value before Selling (see case study below)
How did Todd Chandler's renovation in St Heliers add value before selling?
Todd Chandler’s renovation in St Heliers to add value before selling
Why should you avoid themed renovations when selling your home?
When selling your home it is good to stay away from modelling your rooms after certain themes. This might actually become detrimental to the sales process as your personal themes might not appeal to the buyer. If you are going for classic themes then it would be okay as classic timeless themes do appeal to most people. We would however not recommend renovating your home keeping a theme in mind as the return on investment for a project like that would not be great.
Painting in Auckland for Adding value
Adding a fresh coat of paint to the exterior and interior of your home can also add considerable value to your home in the minds of the buyers. Again, we would advise you to paint in neutral colours as opposed to bold colours. Buyers will be willing to buy a house at a higher price if the house is well painted and looks striking.
Adding a deck to add value to a house
An old, dated kitchen in Blockhouse Bay was transformed into an open-plan space through a full kitchen renovation. This transformation involved modernizing the layout and aesthetics to create a more functional and inviting area.
3. Intention of giving your Family home to add comfort
When it comes to doing your own home renovation, then the options are unlimited. You can renovate your home based on your priority and needs of your family. If modernising your home is a priority then kitchen and bathroom would be the first few things to consider renovating. If you want a stylish makeover then you have plenty of options based on your budget, trends and personal preference for your home renovation.
Kitchen renovation in Blockhouse Bay for a family home (see case study below)
How was an old kitchen in Blockhouse Bay transformed into an open-plan space?
Lynette and Henry's kitchen in Bucklands Beach was renovated to enhance functionality for their family. This project focused on creating a more practical and efficient space tailored to their lifestyle.
Kitchen Renovations in Auckland for a family home
If you want more functionality then consider changing the interior of your cabinets to the current shelf storage system trend. These cabinets have custom built shelves in cabinets for different types of appliances. This saves space and adds functionality to your kitchen. There are also numerous styles and designs available for designer kitchens if you want to add a touch of luxury to your home. Most renovation companies have an in-house designer that can help you with the design process and source supplies to complement the style of kitchen you are after.
Lynette and Henry’s Kitchen renovation was done keeping their lifestyle in mind (see case study below)
How was Lynette and Henry's kitchen in Bucklands Beach renovated for family functionality?
Bathroom Renovations in Auckland for a family home
You could renovate your bathroom based on the needs of your family. If you are a growing family then you could convert your en-suite into a separate bathroom and toilet. Or you could convert the bathroom and toilet to make a luxurious en-suite. This type of renovation will really depend on your budget and your needs.
How can adding or reconfiguring rooms enhance a family home?
You could add or pull down walls to either add rooms or make your current rooms more spacious depending on what you want out of your house renovation.
Amber and Craig's full home renovation involved comprehensive changes to their property. This case study provides details and visuals of the project, showcasing the transformation.
 Before the kitchen renovation |  After completion (see case study below) |
What was involved in Amber and Craig's full home renovation?
Amber and Craig’s full home renovation (picture above)
Materials for family home renovations
When doing your home renovation we recommend using premium materials and supplies even if it means doing your renovation in stages. For example use granite or marble or solid wood for your kitchen counter-tops rather than laminate as you want to be able to enjoy the luxury of your home.
 Guru and Neeta’s Kitchen renovation (Kitchen area + Bar area) |  (see case study below) |
How did Guru and Neeta's kitchen renovation add luxury, comfort, and convenience?
Guru and Neeta's full kitchen renovation was designed to add luxury, comfort, and convenience to their home. This project focused on creating a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing space tailored to their needs.
Featured Projects for Family Homes and Investment Properties
Investment Property to increase rental yield in Hillsborough
Our client had a 2 bedroom house in Hillsborough which fetching very little rent due to its state. It was an old house with a very old and dilapidated bathroom and kitchen. Our client renovated the entire house in accordance with the current tenancy laws. The bathroom and kitchen was renovated with mid-range durable and easy to maintain materials see full project specifications
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Todd Chandler’s renovation in St Heliers to add Value before Selling
Todd Chandler initially started his renovation for the family but then decided to just add value to sell it. We renovated 3 of his old leaky bathrooms with mid-range materials. The entire house was painted and the decks were re-built in accordance to the code of compliance see project specifications
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Full home renovation in Avondale for a 3 generational family living together
A full home renovation with structural changes, making space and room for 3 generations to live with comfort and convenience. This home needed to accommodate three generations with each generation having its unique needs in terms of convenience, comfort and aesthetics see full project specifications
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What are the best rental renovations for my investment?
Rental renovations are very different from Family home renovations. This guide discusses these differences in terms of budgets, materials used and customisation. Kitchen and bathroom renovations are the top two renovations that increase rental return for investment properties. You can also read our article on 10 best ways to increase rental returns on our article https://superiorrenovations.co.nz/rental-renovation-and-upgrades/
Do I have to manage my own renovation?
Renovation companies like ours provide a project manager for every renovation who manages the entire renovation as well as all different trades involved.
Do i have to get my own builder, electrician or plumber?
If you are doing your renovation on your own and sourcing all trades then yes. However renovation companies like ours provide our clients with all the different trades which go into any renovation. So we would provide electricians, plumbers, tilers, builders, grouters, painters, plasterers, installers, waterproofer, and project management.
Do i have to get my own products?
Our company will provide all products required to renovate any given area of your home. We have longstanding relationships with our suppliers. We take you to our various supplier showrooms so you can pick and choose your fixtures, flooring, lighting, tiles. For kitchens we built custom cabinets.
Still have questions unanswered? schedule a no-obligation consultation with the team at Superior Renovations
Or call us on 0800 199 888
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