How to maximise a home’s value

Land tenure 

Is the home freehold or leasehold? Freehold is when you own the land and the building(s) it sits on, whereas with leasehold you are leasing the land upon which the building sits, and the tenure is usually set for a period of time. 

Land 

The land component can make up half to two-thirds of the total property value. Land inflation is usually where most owners make their true capital gains. 

The building itself

Take a look at the building and the quality of the materials used. Will it need significant maintenance in the future? Villas are gorgeous, but can require a bit of maintenance over time, as opposed to modern homes. 

Indoor and outdoor flow 

Indoor and outdoor flow is such a great feature of a home. Ensuring your outdoor living environment is looking good is just as important as what's inside. We generally spend just as much time indoors, socialising and entertaining. 

Décor, fittings and fixtures 

Generally, buyers can tell a cheap fitting from a quality one. It does make a difference to buyers paying a premium for a home; it is the small things that people notice. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom(s) as these areas are typically the most expensive to fix. 

Owning property is an excellent way to build wealth. Historically, property has been a less volatile investment with real estate values invariably tracking upwards over time. What’s more, you have the added benefit of being able to “leverage” your existing real estate investment to buy an investment property using borrowed money and grow your property portfolio even further.