Love it or list it? Property gurus say 'Queenslanders' are made for keeps
IT’S the dilemma facing homeowners this spring selling season: renovate or sell? We asked the experts and it seems Queenslanders are made for keeps.
Last financial year, Queenslanders spent $1.6 billion on home alterations and additions, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.
In Brisbane alone, residents forked out $872 million for renovations in 2017/18.
Homeowners in Brisbane’s south splashed the most cash on upgrading their properties — spending a whopping $132.5 million, followed by Brisbane’s inner north, where homeowners spent more than $117 million.
The suburb where the most money was spent on renovating in the past financial year was Paddington-Milton, with residents there forking out more than $32 million.
New Farm was next, with homeowners spending $24 million on renovations, followed by Ashgrove at $22 million and Bardon at almost $21 million.
“The interesting thing is that the Queenslander home is probably one of the most popular forms of architecture I’ve ever come across in Australia.
it is hard to go wrong investing in a property that had history.
“There’s nothing like an original Queenslander, so if you happen to have an original one, then you’ve got something that is likely to be really sought-after in a couple of decades,” he said.
“Sydney and Melbourne’s old houses are taken seriously — really, really seriously.”
“Queenslanders are up there as one of my favourite homes,” “I love the architectural style — I find it so elegant and full of character and personality.”
Mr Whitaker said he loved the traditional look of the Queenslander home from the outside, with a modern interior.
ANDREW WINTER’S TIPS FOR RENOVATING IN QLD
*Preserve the old, rather than build new
“We’ve always presumed you need to flatten it and put a slab down — that’s not the case anymore.”
*Don’t put the bedrooms upstairs in a raised, two-level Queenslander
“It’s a big mistake to raise and put the bedrooms upstairs because you’re hiding all the character of the original home in the bedrooms.
“You need to put the living areas in the original part of the home, otherwise it’s a bit of a waste.”
*Remember that even the most dreary home can be resurrected
“You can install roof lights into rooms, get rid of sliding windows, and put in louvres to inject more light.
“*Use the climate
“You have the most wonderful climate in Queensland, so maximise the light and indoor/ outdoor flow as much as possible.”
ANDREW Winter and Neale Whitaker know all about the headaches of renovating.
As well helping hundreds of homeowners transform their rundown properties, the property guru has just spent 12 months giving his Gold Coast home a complete makeover, while the interiors expert is in the middle of refurbishing a cottage in country NSW.
The co-hosts of Love It Or List It Australia will battle for the hearts and heads of homeowners across the country in a new season of the show as they grapple with the dilemma of whether to renovate or sell.
And while the stars sit on opposite sides of the fence on the show — Mr Winter always wants the homeowners to sell, whereas Mr Whitaker wants them to keep the property and renovate — both agree the Queenslander is for keeps.