Ideas and inspirations

Do a google image search, go for a drive around the area and see what others have done.

Hi johny

Dubstep has asked a very important question.  The manner in which you should renovate for renting out the property would be different from if you were to sell it.

If you are planning to rent it out, you want to make the place presentable and freshlooking, but not too personal in style.  For instance, white walls and ceiling (in a wash & wear paint), polished chrome fittings, and dark-charcoal carpet.  You would want the anti-stain carpet, but do upgrade on the underlay.  Makes a big difference to liveability and reduction of coldness under-foot in winter.  Be clear in explaining to your carpet people that it is a rental and ask them to show you which carpets offer durability and anti-stain, and ask them to explain WHY they are durable and anti-stain.  As I said keep the walls and ceiling plain ie white.  The tenant will add their own personality to the place with pictures and knick-knacks.  If you go and paint a feature wall in a dominant colour it will be hard for people to imagine themselves in the place if the colour you chose is not to their taste.  Also darker colours on the walls and ceilings make a place look smaller.  I like dark floor coverings as I figure even if the tenants spills red wine on the carpet, you won't be able to tell.

If you are renovating to sell, well that is a different story.  You'd probably opt for a different type of carpet for a starters.  You could consider the lighter coloured carpets as an owner-occupier would be intending to look after the place better than a tenant would, and of course lighter makes the place seem bigger.  If you are a floorboards person, you might do Bunnings DIY floating floors for a rental, but proper floorboards for a reno and sell (if the demographic demands it).

Go and look at a heap of properties in the area that are targeted at the same market that you are pitching for, see what is on offer, and observe how quickly certain types of properties get snapped up while others linger unsold.  Talk to agents about what buyers want.  Then you'll know confidently what to do.  What is a suitable strategy in one town may not apply in another, so we can only give you ideas.  You'll still have to investigate your town for yourself and be certain what your target market wants to buy.

so johny, what is your ultimate outcome with the property???
sell it or rent it out?