Werribee renovators make $585k profit and plan treechange to Geelong

A Melbourne couple have revealed how they tackled an exhaustive renovation on the Werribee home where they got engaged and almost doubled its price in just five years. See the photos.

This Werribee weatherboard transformed a couple’s life and will help fund their move to Geelong.

First came the proposal, then came the reno and now Sean and Sarah Cross have turned their Werribee home into a $1.255m payday and are heading for greener pastures near Geelong.

The couple purchased the 1920s weatherboard for $670,000 in 2020 and spent two years transforming it, before selling last weekend for $585,000 more than they paid.

And while the windfall helped, it was still a bittersweet moment to farewell the home where Sean popped the question to Sarah in.

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“It was right in the thick of Covid lockdowns, I had to work with the agent to get access early the day we settled,” Mr Cross said.

“Sarah thought we were picking up the keys for the first time, my sister-in-law helped me sneak in that morning and set everything up.

“When she walked in, thinking it was the first time seeing it, she walked into a room all ready for the proposal. It’s a pretty special memory.”

The restored Victorian facade blends heritage charm with modern elegance after a full-scale renovation.

Before the transformation: the dated front of the Werribee home prior to renovation works.

The pair are not professional renovators, but leaned on family experience and a clear vision.

“My background helped. Dad used to be a builder, and my brother runs a big landscaping and construction business,” he said.

“I’ve been working with him on the tools since I was about 15, so I knew enough to get stuck in.

“And Sarah was across all the styling and design. She’s brilliant with that stuff. We made a solid team.”

Sean and Sarah Cross renovated the home themselves, rebuilding the rear and restoring key features.

The kitchen was overhauled with shaker cabinetry, a farmhouse sink, and SMEG appliances.

Hockingstuart Werribee agent Samantha McCarthy said the renovation went well beyond cosmetic updates.

“It wasn’t a full knockdown; think of it as splitting the house down the middle,” Ms McCarthy said.

“The front half, that beautiful original facade was preserved with all its period charm, including the fretwork, ceiling roses and original double-hung timber windows in the front bedrooms.

“The owners went to great lengths, rewiring, replumbing, even replacing century-old terracotta stormwater pipes. It was a proper renovation, not just a cosmetic flip.”

The extensively reworked rear of the home has gone from construction site …

… to an enviable living zone looking out to a heritage fireplace and garden greenery.

Ms McCarthy said the result struck a chord with buyers, attracting young couples, families and downsizers looking for a high-end home with nothing left to do.

“They obviously saved a bit by doing a lot of the work themselves, and that helped,” she said.

“The real value came from their attention to detail. We see plenty of half-hearted renos across this corridor, people spend $50,000 and it looks it.

The couple’s two-year renovation journey added serious value to the Werribee home.

The home sold for $1.255m after a stylish rebuild that preserved its Victorian character.

“Poor finishes, mismatched fittings, buyers pick up on that straight away. Sarah and Sean were meticulous. Every detail from the red-brick paving to the lighting and tapware was consistent and quality.”

Now with a $585,000 capital gain behind them, the couple are ready to begin again, this time in Inverleigh or the surrounding districts west of Geelong.

Rewiring, replumbing, new walls and more the renovation was far beyond cosmetic.

The decor mixes Hamptons touches with timeless finishes, styled by Sarah Cross with a modern eye.

“We’ve always wanted some land, a bit of space, and we’d been told for years that if you’re going to do it, do it before kids come along,” Mr Cross said.

“We’re hoping to start a family soon, so we figured we’d pull the trigger now, get set up in the next place before that all begins.”

The couple haven’t found their next home yet, but are already sketching out what their next renovation will look like.

The bedrooms are light-filled and calming, with vaulted ceilings, plush carpet and custom cabinetry.

“We’re already planning it. We’ve got a sense of what we want to do with it,” he said.

“But if we could’ve picked this house up and moved it to Inverleigh, we would’ve.”

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Originally published as Werribee renovators make $585k profit and plan treechange to Geelong