Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 11, 2011 9:16 pm Ive noticed a lot of display homes seem to have skirting boards and better quality cornices throughout. Is this is a growing trend? Obviously your el-cheapo investment townhouse won't have them. How would you rate the following in terms of the value they add to a new house upon resale? Please reply with Y (yes), N (no) or M (maybe: state why - ie adds wow factor but no actual monetary value). Ie, what are the best items to spend money on. 1. Skirting boards 2. Better quality cornices 3. Recessed ceilings in family/theatre 4. Thicker (30mm - 40mm) stone benchtops (kitchen, ensuite) 5. Solar hot water system + gas booster 6. Instantaneous gas hot water system 7. Ceiling fan in alfresco 8. Lots of drawers/spice rack/sealed bins under sink instead of just shelves in kitchen cupboards 9. Mirrored sliding doors to robes 10. Behind-the-wall toilets (is that the formal name? where the tank is embedded within the wall) 11. Security grilles on windows (front door is a must) 12. Spa bath in ensuite 13. Double vanity in ensuite 14. Colour monitor intercom 15. Feature landscaping (such as water feature, albeit small backyard) 16. His/hear WIR over one single big WIR 17. Main 3-way bathroom 18. Downlights throughout (excluding small bedrooms) 19. LED lights under overhead cupboards in kitchen 20. Security alarm w/motion sensors etc 21. WIR with fully-featured closet organiser Feel free to add your own tips for adding value!! Re: Things that add the most value in Perth... 3Aug 14, 2011 4:27 pm I think people will have different ideas as to what adds value and what doesn't. There is always things you need to change/add when buying a house as it is never 100% to your liking. Re: Things that add the most value in Perth... 4Sep 25, 2011 3:35 pm 1. Skirting boards Skirting boards are good because they connect the floor with the ceiling in a gradual way rather than blunt. You can get the snap on cornices from Bunnings + glue them on. Y 2. Better quality cornices Better quality is good, but I wouldn't really go with decorative cornices unless the internal decoration of your house supports this decoration. Maybe. 3. Recessed ceilings in family/theatre Yes. Raised ceilings, even though it takes heating/cooling the house longer, still increase house value. Y 4. Thicker (30mm - 40mm) stone benchtops (kitchen, ensuite) Yes. The harder, the more durable, the better. Y 5. Solar hot water system + gas booster Yes 6. Instantaneous gas hot water system Yes 7. Ceiling fan in alfresco Nice to have, make sure it can't be affected by water streaming underneath. Expensive to get the builder to do it; get a sparkie to install it later. I am getting one of these, so Yes. 8. Lots of drawers/spice rack/sealed bins under sink instead of just shelves in kitchen cupboards I prefer drawers in the kitchen rather than cupboards. More access. Y 9. Mirrored sliding doors to robes I think it's supposed to make the room look bigger, but personally I don't like them. More mirror that needs cleaning/windexing. N 10. Behind-the-wall toilets (is that the formal name? where the tank is embedded within the wall) No. They look awkward, and frankly it freaks me out, thinking that if I sit on it, it'll fall out of the wall. 11. Security grilles on windows (front door is a must) Yes. 12. Spa bath in ensuite If it doesn't incur too much cost, then Yes. 13. Double vanity in ensuite I say no - good for if you and your partner don't want to share, but it's just an extra sink that needs cleaning. N 14. Colour monitor intercom I love these! Better than a peephole in the door. I say yes! 15. Feature landscaping (such as water feature, albeit small backyard) If it's a small backyard, low maintenance would be appreciated. Some sort of paving/water feature etc would be nice. People pay more attention to gardens that you think. M 16. His/her WIR over one single big WIR I don't see the point, even though they're nice to have - to be honest, my partner has far less clothes than myself and I would just be putting my stuff in his too! So, maybe. 17. Main 3-way bathroom I assume you mean a bathroom with three entrances? N. 18. Downlights throughout (excluding small bedrooms) Get a sparkie friend to install these - very easy, for a tiny cost compared to what builders charge. Lovely, but depending on the wattage, they can kill the eyes! Y. 19. LED lights under overhead cupboards in kitchen This would look really nice in the kitchen, my mother has these. Looks great. Y 20. Security alarm w/motion sensors etc Put these in later (after building). Good to have, though. Especially with focus on security these days. Y 21. WIR with fully-featured closet organiser You can get Howard Storage World to do beautiful WIR fitouts. One of my friends got this done; cost her a bit though. ou can get IKEA flatpacks to do it yourself. This is a nice thing to have, but I think it's more convenient/nice to have for the owner, rather than resale. Maybe. Ally The last home I lived in didn't have a pool and when i went to sell it the agents were not happy, even telling me to put one in to sell the place. The agents weren't happy… 2 4250 Thank you. That is really helpful. Once we get the place done and passed for OC we can upgrade in the future once we get back on our feet and not paying mortgage and rent. 4 5727 The worst thing you can do is sign a building contract without a pre contract review. Over the years many people have come to me with disputes where they just signed… 0 8340 |