Driveway or Bathrooms for PPOR ?

Discussion in 'Renovation & Home Improvement' started by Stoffo, 6th Feb, 2017.

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Driveway or bathrooms

Poll closed 17th Apr, 2017.
  1. Driveway

    1 vote(s)
    6.3%
  2. Bathrooms

    14 vote(s)
    87.5%
  3. Pay down mortgage

    1 vote(s)
    6.3%
  1. Stoffo

    Stoffo Well-Known Member

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    Hi folks,
    As per the title.

    My delema is to reno bathroom/ensuite (and possibly laundry)
    Or
    A new driveway............ o_O
    Or
    Pay down mortgage

    Have a large chunk of the $25k in savings o_O

    Background, early 80's built house, already done the kitchen, meals, dinning, lounge, bedrooms and tidied up outside (mostly :oops: ).

    So, driveway quote is approx $25k (lots of cracks from trees, since removed)
    Or
    Main bath and ensuite overhaul (All extremely outdated)
    Or
    Pay down mortgage (costs $300pw :D)

    What would you spend the money on? (no, not another investment)
    Looking forward to possible resale (should things turn to poo! )
    Am leaning toward a reno to enjoy (not paying down the loan so much)

    Please be kind with responses :rolleyes:
    Cheers :cool:
     
  2. Scott No Mates

    Scott No Mates Well-Known Member

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    Install a long drop. Then there'll be plenty left for everything else.
     
  3. Stoffo

    Stoffo Well-Known Member

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    Already have a "long drop" :confused:
    (To the road)
    20170206_193959.jpg
     
    Perthguy likes this.
  4. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    I'm guessing from your comment about "reno to enjoy" this is your main residence?

    If you might need to sell in a hurry, having done bathrooms now means no rushing to do them before listing. Driveway can be done without upsetting the inside of the house.

    If you can live with the bathrooms as they are and the selling is only if things go bad, then maybe throw money into the mortgage instead.
     
  5. Propertunity

    Propertunity Well-Known Member

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    Bathrooms would add the most value.
     
  6. Marg4000

    Marg4000 Well-Known Member

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    Would the property sell better and easier with renovated bathrooms?
    If unrenovated, would a buyer discount the price by the assumed cost of renovating?
    If so you might as well do them now and enjoy them yourselves.
    Or have an each-way bet - renovate the worst one and pop the rest of the money in the offset account.
    Marg
     
  7. WestOz

    WestOz Well-Known Member

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    Maybe show us some detailed pic's of the bathrooms and driveway, some of us maybe able to make suggestions (incl diy) to split the cash each way.
     
  8. neK

    neK Well-Known Member

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    Whatever gives the best return.
    ie (Future Rent - Current Rent) x 52 / Spend.
    My most recent reno returned about 18-20%.

    I'm leaning towards bathroom.

    No one is going to pay extra money because its a nice new driveway vs an older cracked driveway.

    There are ways to make an older driveway look decent.... usually mowing the lawn and edging does the trick.
     
  9. Stoffo

    Stoffo Well-Known Member

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    Pics as requested
    Main bath (got to love the clam Shell basins)
    Ensuite (old school swelling laminate)
    Driveway (there is no patching the missing chunks:oops: )
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: 7th Feb, 2017
  10. Stoffo

    Stoffo Well-Known Member

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    Good points, thanks ;)
    Makes me wonder even more now :oops:

    "If" you (as Mr Joe Average) were a prospective purchaser what would be seen as the biggest expense/obstacle to purchase ?

    If many houses are sold by street appeal and first impressions then the driveway would be seen as a major turn off.

    When we bought it we also thought "the bathrooms can wait":confused:
     
  11. neK

    neK Well-Known Member

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    Nicer landscaping would hide the "ugly" driveway.

    Though given it is for a PPoR, which one annoys you the most.

    Bathroom
    Driveway
    Less Cash?

    Fix the item that causes the most stress.
    Less stress = more time to focus on important things.
     
  12. Lizzie

    Lizzie Well-Known Member

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    I think the bathrooms have it!

    Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses - so if you foresee that you might need to sell, then I'd get this done and out of the way in a stress free moment where you have time to shop for bargins and do some of the work (ie, demolishing) yourself
     
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  13. wylie

    wylie Moderator Staff Member

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    I'd also say the bathrooms affect the value considerably more than the driveway (which could be done very quickly if you decide to sell.)
     
  14. dmb1978

    dmb1978 Well-Known Member

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    Like stated above. Definitely bathrooms. The driveway can be prettied up by the edging landscape to draw your eyes away from it.
     
  15. bob shovel

    bob shovel Well-Known Member

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    why not both ;)
    the driveway looks like it could be removed back to the strip drain and just do the front section. you could just do a roadbase and stone job or pavers to keep costs down but pretty it up
     
  16. Kat

    Kat Well-Known Member

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    Are you intending to sell soon?

    If not, my personal preference would be to have the money in an offset account.

    If you spend the money, you won't get any return unless you sell. Putting the money if offset means you get an immediate return.

    You can always do the renovations later.
     
  17. Joshwaaaa

    Joshwaaaa Well-Known Member

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    How big is your driveway? $25k sounds awfully expensive
     
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  18. Brian84

    Brian84 Well-Known Member

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    Just do a driveway resurface and some coloured sealer over the top and you will still have money to do the bathroom and ensuite as well.
     
  19. WestOz

    WestOz Well-Known Member

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    I'm with the others, enjoy internal update if your gunna be there for awhile.

    Don't have to get $ carried away though.
    Replace the vanities, basins with mixers, rather than the old fashioned duel (simple to diy plumb).
    Get a couple of cabinet makers in to throw around (sus) ideas.
    Make up a timber frame for the mirror/s to cover the damaged edges.
    Fresh coat of paint that draws attention away from the floor tiles.

    Re drive;
    Bit hard to tell from that pic but if that's the worst of it I'd dig/blow out the loose stuff, dig out the grass & a bit of crap next to it, give the drive a good scrub with some hydro acid then blast it with a high pressure cleaner.
    Run some garden edging down, up against, the side of the drive, back-fill. The edging is now acting as form work, mix up some concrete in a barrow (without gravel) fill/patch the holes/cracks, give it a couple of coats of driveway paint or stain.
    Few small low maint native plants & some mulch, maybe a couple of solar garden lights.

    However, not worth doing anything if its not gunna make a diff to rental or sale price, get an agent or two around and see what they suggest.
     
    Brian84 likes this.
  20. Otie

    Otie Well-Known Member

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    My advice:
    Keep the existing driveway- a new one won't make it look a whole lot different. Most people wouldn't even notice the money spent. If you have to, asphalt over it. Would cost 2-3k.

    Do the bathrooms BUT on the cheap. You could easily renovate them for under 5k each if your smart about it. Get a plumber to change the vanities (under 700-1k for both easy) (buy new ones cheap) Get a tiler in to tile over the floor (you can get an adhesive from National Tiles to do this, or demo and re-sheet the floor yourself, get a tiler to tile the bathroom floor only. Replace all taps etc.
    Before you sell, get the bathroom tiles all sprayed/resurfaced in white and replace the shower screens.
    You could do all of this for under 10k I think.
    Leave remainder in the offset for a rainy day:)
     
    Last edited: 7th Feb, 2017
    Angel and Gypsyblood like this.

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