The Journey Of A Fixer-Upper In Willaston

I sat with a seller who had completed fixing up an old house near Gawler Belt. When they bought the place, the house was ugly. Rotten floorboards. The garden was a jungle. Most buyers walked in and turned around. They saw money. This couple saw potential. that local real estate is solid. They knew that under the dirt, was value. They purchased it for a bargain price. The work began.

Flipping houses is hard. It is not like on TV. There is mess. Long weekends. It is budget blowouts. If you are smart, it is the best way to make money in real estate. You create value. You don't wait for the market. You build it. This case study is proof what you can do in the gawler real estate market.

I helped them through the process. I didn't paint, but with advice. "Save on that," I told them. "Fix this," I recommended. Knowing where to spend is the key to profit. If you spend too much means you lose. You must understand what adds value in this suburb. I provide that insight.

The Ugly Duckling On The Street

The property was sad. It smelled of old cigarettes. The cabinets were 1970s. It was ugly. It was the worst house in a good area. The old saying: find the fixer-upper in the best location. The location value is already there. You can fix a house; you cannot fix a location.

They bought it for low $400s. Finished properties next door were selling for $650,000+. The gap was there. It required effort. Massive effort. Plumbing issues. It was deep. They checked the structure. It was solid brick. They bought it.

People want turnkey. They want to move in. They pay a premium for someone else's hard work. If you can to renovate, you get that money. The market pays you for the risk. That is the business. Renovate and sell.

Planning The Renovation Budget

The limit was sixty thousand. It is tight for a whole house. They had to DIY. They ripped out carpets themselves. That saved $5,000. They painted themselves. Painters are expensive. Sweat equity keeps cash in pocket.

Cash went in the wet areas. Those rooms matter. Installed flat pack cabinets with stone benchtops. It seemed luxe on a budget. Updated the vanity with white and grey. Sanded the floors. Beneath the rugs were beautiful jarrah floors. Polishing them made it pop.

They didn't extend. Extensions are expensive. They kept the footprint. This is smart flipping. Visual changes return the most. Painting a brick wall modernizes it cheaply. Adding a room costs tens of thousands. Don't overcomplicate.

The Hard Work Of Renovation

Over two months, they worked every night. People saw the skip bins. It started to shine. The dark facade was rendered white. The mess became a lawn. Simple landscaping fixed the curb appeal. First impressions count. It gets buyers through the door.

Indoors, it opened up. Neutral tones reflect light. Stay neutral for resale. The goal is everyone. Blank canvas allows them to picture living there. The wood gave character. It was stunning with character bones.

I checked progress every few weeks. I kept them focused. "Don't forget the light fittings," was my advice. Dark rooms don't sell. LEDs were installed. It sparkled. It was ready. Budget: On track. Speed: Fast.

Marketing A Freshly Renovated Home

We hit the market. We used professional staging. Vacant rooms look small. Styling sells. The investment was small, it looked like a magazine. The photos stopped the scroll. Rental investors enquired because it needed no work. Owner occupiers were the goal.

The headline was: "Just Unpack and Relax." That sells. Opening day was busy. A huge crowd. Neighbours came to look at the renovation. Real bidders were fighting for it. They wanted it.

We received multiple offers by Monday. People loved it. "I love the kitchen." They forgot the old house. They just saw the lifestyle. Renovation works.

Calculating The Profit Margin

It went for $635,000. Let's do the math. Purchase: $420k. Spend: $58,000. Fees: $25,000. All in: $505,000. Sold: $635,000. Net gain: $130k+. In two months. Great wages. That is the reward.

Risks exist. Buying high initially ruins the deal. Bad budgeting hurts you. Purchasing well and control costs, profit follows. In Evanston, the opportunity is there. You just need to find the ugly house.

If you want to flip, register with me. I find the dumps. I will let you know if there is profit. Get advice. I enjoy renovations. Let's find your project. Call me today.