FAQ

Renovate to Sell FAQs

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YOUR RENOVATE-TO-SELL QUESTIONS, ANSWERED.

ABOUT KUDO

Kudo Homes prepares Melbourne properties for sale, managed for you. We plan what’s worth doing, bring in trusted trades and run the job to the date your home goes on the market. You see every quote and pay the trades directly.

Our work is overseen by a registered domestic builder. We’ve been operating since 2018, with more than 200 renovation jobs, big and small. We’re based in Keysborough and work across Melbourne.

You see every quote and pay the trades directly, with no mark-up on their work. Our fee is fixed and agreed upfront, so we don’t earn more when you spend more. And we’ll tell you what to leave alone, not just what to spend on.

For refresh work like painting, flooring and repairs, you don’t need to hire a builder. We bring trusted trades, you pay them directly, and we manage the job.

If an assessment shows the work needs a builder (waterproofing or structural work, for example), we’ll tell you plainly.

Our fee is fixed and set out in your proposal before anything starts. We don’t put a mark-up on trade work, so we don’t earn more when you spend more.

general questions

No. We do refreshes, not renovations, such as a new vanity, tapware, splashback or benchtop. If you need a full renovation, we’ll tell you and point you in the right direction.

Renovating a property to live in is typically all about personal taste, lifestyle needs, and long-term enjoyment.
 
Renovating to sell is a commercial decision. The focus has to be on broad buyer appeal – choosing improvements that support the strongest sale outcome rather than personal preferences that may not align with the widest market.
 
Both approaches require good planning and execution. The difference lies in the intent behind the decisions.

We plan and manage refresh work that helps buyers see the home at its best: painting, flooring, repairs, and kitchen, bathroom and laundry refreshes.

These jobs are usually time-sensitive, so we aim to get a property ready within a few weeks, not months. The exact work depends on the property and your sale date, which is why we start with a free assessment.

Ideally, before your home is listed and before any money is spent on preparation. If you’ve already appointed an agent, we’re happy to work alongside them to confirm sale timing and coordinate preparation accordingly.
 
The earlier we’re involved, the better. That said, we’re often contacted with only a week or two before listing, and depending on the scope of work, we’re always here to help.

Yes. We start with a quick phone call, then a free on-site assessment. We walk through the property with you and tell you what’s worth doing, and what to leave alone.

Yes. We work with owners preparing any property for sale, including investment properties.

We help you decide what’s worth doing, and what isn’t, so you don’t spend more than you’ll get back. The focus is a refresh that helps the property present well, not a full renovation.

No. We organise and schedule them, and you deal with us. The only part that’s yours is paying each trade for their work, and we tell you what’s due and when. Our fee is fixed and agreed upfront.

Some sellers remain in the property during preparation, while others choose to vacate – it depends on the scope of work and what’s most practical for you.
 
We’ll discuss this during planning and help you decide the best approach based on timing, comfort, and the scope.

We can do either.

If you already have ideas, plans, or guidance from your agent, we’ll work alongside them and refine the scope where needed. If not, we can help develop a clear preparation plan from the ground up, based on what will best support your sale outcome.

Before any work begins, we provide a clear scope and walk you through exactly what’s included, along with any decisions required along the way.

Our approach is fully transparent, so you know what’s covered, what’s not, and what to expect at each stage. This clarity helps avoid surprises and allows the preparation process to run smoothly and confidently from start to finish.

Yes. We regularly work alongside real estate agents once they’ve been independently appointed by the seller, helping ensure the property is prepared confidently and effectively for market. We’re also often recommended by agents who have seen the outcomes our sale-focused preparation delivers.

Our role remains independent and client-side. We manage the preparation solely in the seller’s best interest and are not affiliated with, paid by, or tied to any particular agent. Put simply, you choose your agent and we’ll work with you both to get the best outcome for you.

Yes. You’re free to choose any real estate agent you wish.
 
Kudo Homes works independently and on the seller’s side, while regularly collaborating with agents to ensure preparation supports the sales strategy and timing.
 
We’re not tied to any particular agency and don’t receive commissions – our role is simply to coordinate preparation so everyone is working toward the same sale outcome.
Most pre-sale preparation does not require council approval.
 
If any part of the proposed scope does trigger approval or compliance requirements, we’ll flag this early and guide you through what’s needed before work begins. Our planning process is designed to avoid unnecessary delays while ensuring everything is handled correctly and in line with regulations.

RENOVATE TO SELL

  1. Free assessment: we walk through the property with you and talk through what’s worth doing.
  2. Your Sale-Ready Plan: a short written plan of what to do and what to leave before you sell, with an overall cost estimate and our fixed fee.
  3. Trade quotes: you choose from our trusted trades and pay them directly.
  4. Managed for you: trades, timing and quality, through to the date your home goes on the market.

If you’re preparing to sell and want your property to present well to buyers, Kudo Homes is likely a good fit.

Our service suits owners who want practical advice and a managed job. It may not suit those looking for informal advice, quick reference quotes or full renovation services.

Pre-sale preparation means getting your property ready for the market with the right work, such as painting, flooring, repairs and kitchen or bathroom refreshes. It’s a refresh, not a renovation.

We focus on what buyers notice in photos and at inspections, and we tell you what isn’t worth doing. We plan the work, bring in trusted trades and keep it on track, so you don’t have to manage it yourself.

We can refer you to a specialist finance provider, with no repayments for the first 6 months. Approval and terms are set by the provider. The amount is repaid, and fees or interest may apply.

You pay our fixed fee to Kudo Homes, and you pay each trade directly for their work.

Yes. We plan the work back from your listing or auction date, and only recommend work that fits the time you have. Our aim is to keep everything moving toward your market date without unnecessary delays.

Yes. Most clients use ours because we’ve worked with them for years, but you’re free to use your own.

We plan everything back from the date your home goes on the market, and only recommend work that fits the time you have.

Yes. It’s your property, and every decision is yours.

We recommend what’s worth doing for buyers in today’s market, show you the trade quotes, and only go ahead with the work you approve.

No one can promise that. What we can do is help you fix the things buyers notice and avoid spending on things they don’t.

OTHER

Call us on 03 9124 9922, or send us a few photos and we’ll tell you where to start. You can also use the contact form.

Can’t find your answer on our FAQs page? Contact us and we’ll get back to you.

Selling
your property?

Pre-sale preparation

Know what's worth doing, and what to leave alone

We assess your property, tell you what’s worth doing and what to leave, estimate the cost, and manage the work through to the date your home goes on the market. We bring in trusted trades and keep it all on track.

Book a free assessment
Dining and living area prepared for sale by Kudo Homes – project 22KEA