Five ways to turn your house into a ‘Cash Cow’

Putting up your house for rent or sale? There are ways to make your house stand out in the property market without overspending.

If you’re looking for inspiration and fresh ideas, here’s a collection of expert tips to help you get the most bang for your buck.

5 ways to prep your house for sale or rent and turn it into a ‘Cash Cow’:

1. Street appeal

First impressions count, and the entrance to your property is the very first thing prospective buyers or tenants will lay their eyes on. It might be worth tidying up or expand your parking space, add some plants and maybe give your house exterior a new coat of paint.

Need help choosing the right colour for your facade? Check out these handy suggestions.

2. Ready to entertain

Is your outdoor space a little uninspiring? Do you have a well-maintained garden to show off?

A simple and affordable project could be to put your ‘green thumb’ to work, and create a small vegetable garden or plant colourful flowers all around. If you have a bit more budget, why not add extra features like a DIY pallet sofa, outdoor string lights or a fire pit for warmth in the night?

3. Try a paint job

A fresh touch of paint is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to give your house a makeover.

Choosing the right colour scheme is important (and maybe fun, too?). Neutral palettes are usually the safest option, but if you’d like to get a little creative, this interesting read is all about ways to develop a balanced colour combination.

4. Heat it up

The latest House Condition Survey has revealed some sobering facts: 47% of New Zealand’s houses lacked adequate insulation; 46% of all homes surveyed had unheated bedrooms, and 5% were not heated at all.

With mould and dampness being one of the most common concerns, particularly in rentals, investing in efficient heating solutions makes sense. There are various options you can choose from, including heat pumps and double-glazed windows.

5. Extra space

It’s not the cheapest option, we know it, but it might be worth considering. Adding an extra bedroom is a great way to increase the appeal of your property. Also, depending on the layout of your property, you may be able to turn two small bedrooms into one larger room…

Obviously, before you start knocking down walls or adding extensions, it’s a good idea to have a chat with a real estate agent and/or registered valuer and make sure that your plans are good value-for-money.

All in all, whatever home improvements or expansions you’re willing to undertake, keep your target market top-of-mind, and ask for help or advice. With a well-thought plan and attention to detail, there’s potential for good returns.

Are you readying to sell your home?

Talk to a Mortgage Adviser early on so that we can help you with mortgage pre-approval and ensure your financial ducks are in a row ahead of time.

You might also like to learn more about our debt & mortgage advice services as a starting point.

It’s a service that comes at no cost to you*, and puts your interests first – learn more here.


* Our standard Mortgage Advisory service is provided free of charge as we are remunerated (paid) by the banks, but we also provide specialised services and advice for non-conforming, credit-impaired, business and complex cases. After our free initial no-obligation consultation, we will advise you if a fee may need to be charged before we undertake any work. In many cases we may find a simple solution for you. 

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