Bentleigh Renovate to Sell Case Study
Project Type: Renovate to Sell
Project
ID
48JAS
Low-Budget Renovation in Bentleigh Unlocks Hidden Value
A low-budget renovation designed to maximise sale price with minimal spend.
The owners of this dated two-bedroom home in Bentleigh, in Melbourne’s south-east, had inherited the property and wanted to sell. They knew it wouldn’t reach its full market potential in its current condition, but with no renovation experience – and no upfront budget – they didn’t know where to start.
That’s where Kudo Homes came in. We provided expert guidance on renovating for profit and styling to sell. By choosing our ‘renovate now, pay later’ model, the owners were able to complete $36,000 worth of improvements without paying a cent until the property settled.
With a clear goal to maximise sale price and attract buyers fast, we focused on smart, low-cost updates that deliver high impact. A full interior repaint and polished timber floors instantly brightened the space. We introduced a neutral colour scheme to enhance natural light and provide a clean backdrop for modern furniture staging.
The kitchen and bathroom were left intact as they were in great condition, and a fresh coat of paint and tile clean made them feel brand new. The lounge room’s beautiful fireplace and leadlight doors didn’t need more than a refresh and staging to shine.
Beyond the interiors, the home received a full exterior soft wash, front and backyard landscaping, and a professional clean. We added new tiles to the laundry and toilet, trimmed back trees, laid fresh mulch, and cleaned up all outdoor spaces for maximum street appeal.
To save money and reduce waste, we rehomed unwanted furniture and household items rather than sending them to landfill, cutting down on tip fees and helping the environment.
With expert staging and thoughtful updates, this transformation was complete within just two weeks. The result? A beautifully presented home, ready for market, with no upfront cost to the owners and nothing left to do.
Oh, and they made a whopping $160,000 more than their agent told them to expect after the renovation costs were factored in.
THE FINAL RESULT
Kudo Homes was able to renovate and style the property to achieve a sale price of $888,000 – $163,000 more than the top of CoreLogic’s estimated value range. We achieved this result within two weeks with a budget of $36,000, and nothing for the owners to pay until settlement.
Selling price: the property sold for $888,000.
Owner investment: our client spent $36,000 renovating this property.
Based on the corelogic data, the owners profited $163,000 more than the estimated value range as you can see below.
You don’t always have to spend big to make a good return. This two-bedroom property could have done with a new bathroom; it was clean, tidy and functional, but was significantly dated. However, the postcode deemed it unviable. Adding another bathroom to this property would have cost around $18,000 in additional funding which – in our opinion – had a too greater chance to eat into the owner’s profits. It just wasn’t worth the investment.
What You Get With YOUR Kudo Renovation
A better renovation experience. built around clarity, care, and quality.
Smart Sale Preparation
Clear, market-led decisions focused on how buyers experience the home.
Buyer-Focused Presentation
Considered finishes selected for broad market appeal.
Vetted Trades
Skilled, respectful tradespeople who respect you and your home.
Clean Job Sites
Work areas kept tidy, safe, and respectful throughout preparation.
Clear Communication
You’re kept in the loop from start to finish no surprises.
Expert Project Coordination
We coordinate decisions, trades, and timing to keep preparation efficient and outcome-driven.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
- We assess your property
- We recommend what’s worth doing
- We manage everything through to completion
Our Process
1Consult & Quote
We go over your expectations and goals. Then we prepare a fixed quote that aligns with your budget – no surprises, just smart updates that make financial sense.
→ You’ll feel confident we’ve heard you and costs are clear from the start.
2Planning
We measure up and plan the works so your pre-sale reno is scheduled to be complete by the date you’ve arranged with your agent to go up for sale.
→ This is where you see how our project management expertise makes your life so much easier.
3Selections & Prep
We help finalise materials and finishes, ensuring everything is ordered, approved, and ready for install.
→ Kudos project coordination avoids delays and keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes.
4Build & Handover
We manage the full renovation process – trades, planning, timelines, and quality checks – right through to your final approval.
→ You get a seamless experience and a finished space buyers will love. Because it’s all about getting you a maximum return.
Book a Free Renovate-to-Sell Visit
Find out what’s worth renovating, what to avoid, and how to maximise buyer appeal – all with clear timelines.
Renovate to sell FAQ's
What is 'Renovate To Sell' exactly?
Renovate to Sell is a strategic way to prepare a property for sale, focused on improving buyer appeal and sale outcome rather than long-term renovation decisions.
It involves completing the right work to help a property present better, attract stronger interest, and support a better result without overcapitalising.
At Kudo Homes, we manage this process end-to-end, with clear planning, controlled scope, and flexible payment options designed to support sellers through the lead-up to sale.
What Does ‘Pay On Settlement’ Mean?
Pay on settlement means the cost of your pre-sale renovation is covered upfront, allowing the work to be completed before your property goes to market.
Once the property sells, those costs are paid back from the sale proceeds at settlement. This allows sellers to prepare their home properly for sale without needing to fund the work in advance.
The option is designed to support you in achieving the best outcome by ensuring cashflow doesn’t become a barrier to boosting buyer appeal by presenting your property at its best.
Who Qualifies For The Kudo 'Pay On Settlement' Payment Option?
If you’re preparing to sell and there’s clear potential to boost buyer appeal through the right improvements, you’re likely a good fit.
We chat with you first to determine whether undertaking work makes sense, or whether selling as-is is the better option. Our advice is practical and honest – we won’t recommend work unless we believe it’s likely to improve your sale outcome after all costs are considered.
Because of our experienced and honest approach, sellers often see a meaningful uplift in their result once the property is properly prepared for sale.
What If My Property Doesn’t Sell?
If a property takes longer than expected to sell, that’s ok.
Pay on Settlement is designed to align repayment with the sale of your property, and the process is flexible enough to accommodate normal variations in sale timing.
Our preparation approach focuses on broad buyer appeal and market readiness, supporting a confident sale without creating unnecessary pressure around timelines.
Do I Get A Say In The Work That Gets Done?
Yes – it’s your property, and all decisions are made with you.
We’ll guide you on what typically adds value and improves buyer appeal in the current market, but you’re always involved in the final decisions. Our role is to provide clear advice and recommendations, then coordinate the agreed scope in a way that supports your sale goals.
How Long Does A 'Renovate To Sell' Renovation Take?
For properties being prepared for sale, most projects are completed within 1-3 weeks, depending on the agreed scope.
We understand that once you’ve decided to sell, timing matters. Our process is designed to move efficiently so preparation doesn’t delay your sale or disrupt your next steps.
With clear planning and tight project coordination, work is sequenced properly, downtime is minimised, and everything stays moving – without compromising quality.
Do Kudo Homes Work On Investment Properties?
Yes. We work with all property owners who are preparing to sell, including those with investment properties.
We help sellers decide what work is worth doing – and what isn’t – to improve buyer appeal without overcapitalising. The focus is on practical, sale-aligned preparation that supports a clean, confident result, rather than undertaking a full renovation where the risk and return no longer stack up.
The same principles apply: intentional scope, clear decision-making, and preparation aligned with the sale outcome.
Other Questions?
If you have other questions related to your renovate to sell renovation, and you can’t find it on our FAQ’s page, feel free to contact us! We’re always here for you.
Selling
your property?
Renovate Now & Pay On Settlement
maximise your sale price
*As of publication, every Kudo-renovated property has exceeded expectations by the client and their agent when it is sold. We only take on presale renovations we believe will deliver a genuine return after the cost of the reno is factored in. It’s all part of our code of ethics.
