Beyond Blue Home Improvement Thread

[geoff]

Hi everyone. I'm Geoff and have been a dedicated Volunteer on the forums for 13 years. I am proud to have stopped some of the stigmas that are associated with mental health as well as doing my best to help others too

Before my health went south I was a builder in all aspects of home construction and renovation. If you don't have a handyman around I hope I can offer you some tips that may be of help. I have had many years of experience in home renovation and will do my best to help you out if you are stuck and need some advice

I hope my experience may be of help to the people on Beyond Blue and make their life a little bit better. Even if you need help with the most basic painting job or putting up a shelf I can help there too with some tips

I will do my best to get back to anyone that has a question when I can as this is social yet important thread

Geoff

[Guest_1584]

Gday Geoff and thanks muchly as always mate.

Mate you'd probably get a chuckle looking at this house it's such an odd one. But ahh. the porch isn't one of those big swoosh monsters all fancy and perfect or anything like that or the yup finish. It's pretty rustic and nothing flash at all but but very homely. l did build a monster on our last place though from scratch and that was a master piece haha. 8in square poles and 12in wide rails, l sculptured the step pole out of a beautiful curvy branch l cut off one of the cypress, But funny , that deck was so big it kinda killed the homeyness feel tbh and turn me off the big fancy stuff a bit.

No worries at all about the other board idea but l took a look and there's so many nails in the boards they aren't gonna be levered anywhere l wouldn't think . l'll just use the fill method thanks all the same bugger it that'll do.

Actually , bit worried about property prices by say the end of this year now , the way they're talking. Because l was thinking reno'ing through year and selling late Spring'ish maybe. But the way they're talking atm though we could be in for a big drop over this year . So over due too Aussie prices are insane so they might finally be right this time l reckon as Melbourne and Sydney are already dropping.

Any thoughts on all that Geoff , or anyone for that matter .

Cheers mate.

rx

[geoff]

Hey RX, the nails in the floorboards are those they used back in the older days, never bend only hurt your finger.

When house prices drop they will always rise again, this never stopped me from doing up any spec houses or our living residence, this will depend on your income, but as I was in the building trade, so any bits and pieces came in handy.

If you have the desire, the cash to do your house up, then that's what I would be doing.

A coat of paint does wonders to a house and any place will eventually sell in good times and in bad times, and in the slump times that's when people do go hunting for the houses that need doing up, because they are cheap.

The down market is going to stop Mr. A and Mrs. B with their 2 kids, dog and 2 cars from buying because they can't get a good price for their house, but it's not going to stop the investors.

It's catch-22 when the market is down people get a low price for their home, so they can only buy a low priced home, not the one they wanted, unless they borrow too much from the bank, if they lend them the money.

The same applies when house prices are high.

I think your house sounds rustic, and you must be clever to sculpture the poles, love to see it and the previous home.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Hey geoff , how you doin.

mate l really can't thank you enough for going into the market situation and experience.and thoughts. lt's mainly that l was considering selling at the end of the year which they're saying now is gonna get a lot worse by then see so if l went full reno l could lose it does that's the thing. lf l planned on sticking around it wouldn't matter.

but hell yeah , so right about even just some paint , man the difference even just that can make hell yeah. l'm thinking maybe just stick to cosmetic stuff for now so it won't cost much just labor. but it's the sort of place where even cosmetic alone with what l got it for will still add 50% to it, well on right now prices anyway so maybe that might be the go just for now, see how the year shapes up and what l'm doing better later. lt was the good old ugly duckling in the best spot in town story yaknow so even just prettied up will be big.

yep l'm an ex artist actually, painter but also sculptured a bit too . . that property had 12 70ft old cypress on it and it took me about 3mths to choose the right log but ahh, twas worth it it made that deck. l also chose two more of about 400ml across for the front entrance and we built this big gate to match . had a lot of people knock and ask who built the entrance but that was like that bed we thought it'd be an eff up for sure but it came up pretty good in the end,.

you sure right about those nails to btw . this place is all 60yr old hard wood with some very hardy nails l can tell ya, if you gotta take anything apart it takes some serious elbow grease haha,

Anyway thanks again geoff and all the best eh.

rx

[geoff]

Hi RX, I think you're on the ball and agree that maybe doing a cosmetic lift will do wonders for the house, and it will add 50 %, that's great, you don't have to add 250% that can be for your next venture.

If I look at the spec homes I did up, they have increased in value by 120% but the money we got at the time of sale was still a good price, so either you sit on the house, that's, not sell it, or get the price you want now or at the end of the year.

There will always be someone who will buy your house, whether it takes 1 day or 6 months, it will appeal to someone.

You must be very clever RX, proud of you.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Oh gee , thanks a lot Geoff and let me say to your insight and experience is very very appreciated..

Doubt l'll sit on the house though buttt, we'll see, So could l just ask your thoughts then, if l do aim to sell at the end of the year , given the forecasts , would you still do a full reno or just a cosmetic ?

l mean if l move then l need every cent l can get out of it but yaknow , prices and all if things do tank, not sure. Sorry if l've taken over the thread a bit .

Hope your well mate and had a nice wkend.

All the best . rx

[geoff]

Hi RX, I think the main areas people look at when contemplating buying a house are, and not in any particular order, are the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, bedrooms and backyard, not much left is there.

If this is the first place you have decided to do up and sell, I wouldn't be going overboard and spend all your finances, just a coat of paint, replace anything that sticks out like a sore thumb, no bouncy floorboards around bath, shower or sinks and check for termites, because if it's an old house any new buyer will have a pest inspection.

Do you know how to check for termites inside and outside?

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Gday Geoff.

no mate we've reno'd 5 places , 2 of them on small acre's , But non were overboard houses like just light stuff , cosmetics , a wall or two, landscaping and things.

This one is fairly light too, does need a kitchen and br though, fencing,painting, general pretty up.

but it's that market l'm concerned about l was thinking just stick to cosmetics so as not to spend too much just in case l can't sell or prices tank. but eh , ya know as you were saying there's always someone that needs a nice house ready to buy so l dunno, maybe l do the whole lot as l say l need every cent of profit l can get. on now prices and demand here l'd expect 100% roughly if l did the whole lot. lf prices do tank though who knows you know, not sure whether to risk it. right now,

All the best mate and thanks as always

[geoff]

Hi RX, always good talking with you.

You've reno'd 5 places, well done I love it.

One thing if I can mention is that you could spend megabucks on painting, putting new carpet in or perhaps a rehash of the kitchen so you don't have any money left in the bank so you can sell your property, but the new owner might come in and pull out the carpet because they don't like the colour, repaint the walls or do alterations themselves.

Actually sometimes having a kitchen that needs doing up is always a good seller and if the rest of the house looks clean and tidy, then you're on a winner, especially if you gain 50 % or so.

There are always people looking to buy a place and what they with it doesn't matter as long as you get your 50 % or how much profit you want.

I used to love doing houses up.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Gday geoff and thanks again as always.

Yep 5 all up. one was on 40acs. another on 1 ac, but divorce and all well , it's been a 6yr slog getting back to this,

not surprised you loved it l wish l'd chosen it as a career back when tbh.

but l could imagine how much money you could throw into a house but l've never spent much on mine there's so many out there where just labor alone plus a few k can totally change a property isn't there.

Anyway thanks again geoff , hope you've been rolling along ok.

All the best.

[geoff]

Hi RX, if you can do the labour yourself you can save squillions and 40 ac is an enormous property.

The last house we bought was on an 8 acre farm, the house was a good size with 3 bathrooms but to have any hot water had to be done by burning wood, that was first to go.

The house was brick and we virtually gutted the whole house putting a new kitchen, moving windows for doors etc, putting in a spa, redoing all showers x 3 and finished doing 98% of the work when The Black Dog came knocking on my door.

That's history and now live in a rented unit at least I don't have to chop wood for the coonara, just flick the switch.

Best wishes.

Geoff.