I recently advised a client who had just finished fixing up an old house near Gawler Belt. When they bought the place, it was a disaster. Old carpets. Weeds were everywhere. People inspected it and ran away. They saw work. But these sellers saw opportunity. They knew that property for sale gawler is well built. Under the ugly, was value. They took the risk cheaply. And they got to work.
It is tough work. Unlike The Block. It is dust. It is late nights. It is budget blowouts. With a plan, it is a proven method to make money in real estate. You make profit. You don't rely on growth. You create the growth. This story shows you what is possible locally.
I guided them through the process. I didn't paint, with market knowledge. "Don't spend money there," I suggested. "Fix this," I said. Knowing where to spend is the key to profit. Spending foolishly kills the deal. You must understand what buyers want in this suburb. That is where an agent helps.
Seeing Potential Where Others Saw Work
It was dated. It was smelly. The cabinets were 1970s. It was ugly. It was the eyesore on the best street. The old saying: purchase the dump on the best street. The location value is already there. You can fix a house; location is forever.
The purchase price was low. A renovated home nearby fetched high prices. The gap was there. But it needed work. Massive effort. Structural cracks. More than paint. They got building inspections. It was solid brick. They bought it.
Most buyers are lazy. They hate work. They pay a premium for a done house. If you have skills to fix it, you earn that premium. You are paid for the risk. That is how flipping works. Buy low, add value, sell high.
Crunching The Numbers Before Starting
They planned to spend a tight amount. That is not a lot for a full renovation. So they had to be smart. They ripped out carpets personally. That kept costs down. They did the painting by hand. Painters are expensive. DIY painting keeps cash in pocket.
They spent money on the kitchen and bathroom. The money rooms. Updated the kitchen looking modern. It looked expensive but cost $12,000. They re-tiled the bathroom with white and grey. Restored the wood. Hidden away were beautiful jarrah floors. Sanding and sealing made it pop.
No structural changes. Moving walls costs money. They kept the footprint. This is smart flipping. Cosmetic renovation give the best ROI. Rendering the front looks great cheaply. Building on is expensive. Don't overcomplicate.
Watching The Changes Happen
For 8 weeks, they were there daily. Locals noticed the trade utes. Changes happened fast. The dark facade was painted grey. The jungle garden became a lawn. Simple landscaping changed the feel. The front matters. It stops the car.
The interior, it opened up. White paint are safe. Stay neutral for resale. You want to appeal the masses. Blank canvas allows them to picture living there. The timber added warmth. It looked like a new home inside an old shell.
I dropped in regularly. I kept them focused. "Update lighting," I said. Dark rooms don't sell. LEDs were installed. It sparkled. The work was done. Total spend: $58,000. Speed: Fast.
Presenting The Finished Product
We launched the campaign. We hired furniture. Empty houses echo. Staging adds emotion. For a small fee, the images were amazing. The photos stopped the scroll. Landlords were interested too it was low maintenance. Owner occupiers were the target.
We wrote: "The Hard Work Is Done." That sells. Opening day was packed. Hundreds of people. Neighbours came to look at the renovation. Serious people were there too. They loved the finish.
We had a bidding war by Monday. The feedback was amazing. "The floors are great." They forgot the old house. They only saw the lifestyle. This is the power of presentation.
The Final Auction Result
We closed the deal for a great price. Let's do the math. Purchase: $420k. Renovation: $58k. Fees: $25,000. All in: $505,000. Sold: $635,000. Clear profit: Over $130,000. For a short project. That is $14,000 per week. That is the reward.
You can lose. Overpaying initially ruins the deal. If you spend too much eats the profit. Smart buying and fix it wisely, you win. In Gawler, you can do this. Find the diamond.
To find a fixer-upper, call Brad Smith. I list the wrecks. I advise if there is profit. Get advice. I enjoy renovations. Let's make you money. Call me today.
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