Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Sep 28, 2013 7:50 am Hi everyone! Just joined this wonderful forum as we are planning a facelift in and out for our 60's home. As its very square in its shape we are hoping that it can be made to look more "modern". Please see picture attached of the facade - any ideas on how we can transform it? We were thinking rendering the brick, new windows and doing something with the fascia but not sure what? Any advice would be so much appreciated Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ http://tinypic.com/r/33b1r3t/5 Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 2Sep 28, 2013 9:33 am I think if you took out those plants and the old concrete in front of them, then replaced the windows with larger more stylish ones, and rendered the brickwork and painted it a nice light grey colour or something, then replaced the two single garage doors with a modern double garage door it would make a big difference. And if you pressure washed the driveway concrete it would make it look much newer and more modern. The front of your house is quite square so you could soften it with some nice modern plants like strappy dark ones and ornamental grasses and maybe even some palms or cordylines. You could also install some up/down stainless steel wall lights on the brick wall under the verandah and maybe even build a deck over the steps from the front door and along the verandah, I hope I've given you some good ideas, keep us updated with whatever you do to your house : ) Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 4Sep 28, 2013 9:52 pm I'd also spray the roof a dark grey instead of the brown. If can't afford replace garage then spray that too. Also paint the rails and poles (not sure on colour, depends on what colour you do your render) Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 5Sep 29, 2013 1:57 pm Not to be rude but are you certain that it will be worth doing so much to the house?? Would it not be a knock-down project in 10 years or so? Rendering and new windows and changing concrete all sounds very expensive and would you get that value back if at its core it's a little boxy 60s home? Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 6Sep 29, 2013 2:22 pm Thanks for all the responses so far - very helpful. Its along the same lines as what i was thinking. I have also been tossing up as to whether its worth redoing the house, however I don't think the costs would be anywhere near as much as building a brand new house. We would only be changing facade/facelift, no structural changes or building at all. We have cleared some of the bushes already, so here is an updated pic of the house from a few angles. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 7Sep 29, 2013 2:24 pm Any more advice would be so much appreciated! Even cost estimates would be so helpful as I honestly have no idea Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 8Sep 29, 2013 2:31 pm Okay I received a very self righteous and stroppy PM from someone who thought I was being snobby and dissing the OP's house. Can I just say that wasn't my intent at all. I'm not judging anyone's house! But hubby and I love those shows Selling Houses Australia and Andrew Winters always talks about not throwing good money after bad, and not spending heaps to do up something that inherently won't gain value etc. I was just trying to seriously question whether it's worth that kind of money investment, that's all. It's hard to tell what kind of house it is by that one picture but for example if it's a little 2 bed, 1 bath, in a really nice suburb then it's not going to be worth spending 20 grand on the façade?? But if it's got the kind of floor plan that will lend it being saleable in another decade or so then it may be. I hope I didn't offend the OP and wish other busy bodies would leave me alone. Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 9Sep 29, 2013 2:35 pm Actually H&H have you perhaps spoken to a real estate agent about whether they think it will add value to the property to do these renos? Sometimes they can give good advice. Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 10Sep 29, 2013 2:48 pm We originally bought the house at land value as its in a very expensive Melbourne inner suburb. Building a house could cost around the 500 - 600k mark, whereas renovating may cost 100k (rough estimates) without adding/building anything on. The price difference is huge, especially if we were to live in comfortably for 10 years and then maybe sell or knock it down ourselves and rebuild. Re: Advice on Facade Facelift for Newbie 11Sep 29, 2013 2:54 pm Yes obviously there's a massive cost difference but what I'm saying is, why would you renovate at all for 100k if you think in 10 year you'll be knocking it down?? You'd be 100k worse off for living in a prettier house for 10 years wouldn't you? Why not just do the bare minimum to make it comfortable to live in like basic kitchen/bathrooms (then you might be able to afford KDR at 7 years instead of 10). And I'm no real estate guru but if you bought it at land value then surely it's clear the house itself isn't worth much and dressing it up in lots of money is just throwing money down the drain. But that's just my thoughts. Once again not JUDGING anyone (as I'm sure your land and eventual house will be worth a heck of a lot more than a lot of us! Hehehe), just trying to offer opinions. 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