Home renovation: Dingy shed transformed into dream Californian bungalow

A home that once looked like a “glorified shed” is now a beautiful family home after a massive overhaul that added a huge amount to its sale price.

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Surrounded by butcherbirds, an orchard and an expansive 1.5 acres of flat and usable land, this dark and dingy “glorified shed” in Tamaree, near Gympie in Queensland, was a prime candidate for renovation.

And Karen Robinson – the co-director of the Gympie-based Hampton Home Builder group – was the woman for the job. Partnering with an investor, she was immediately attracted to the fruit trees and the brightness of the area, and said it was a “great block of land to begin with”.

She was right. While they bought the home for just $170,000, the renovated bungalow recently sold for $550,000, making a return of $380,000.

“As soon as I saw the property, I knew that I wanted to do it as a project that could showcase some of our products and our design ideas,” she told news.com.au. “I just thought it’s something that we can, you know, kind of go as big or as little as we want to go.”

“It had a really nice feel about it and a lovely aspect.”

The property before the transformation. Picture: Supplied/ Hampton Home Builders.

The finished project. Picture: Supplied / Hampton Home Builders.

Gone is the former shed-like home. Picture: Supplied / Hampton Home Builders.

And the result was impressive. Ms Robinson and her team removed the dark panelling, increased the steep of the roof to 30 degrees and revamped the cramped and cluttered interior. They also knocked down several walls to create an open-plan living space, built a skylight to take advantage of the afternoon light and added insulation to help temper Tamaree’s soaring summer temperatures. Tiny windows were replaced and a “white, light and bright” interior that transformed the “dark and dingy” space.

The property prior to the renovation. Picture: Supplied/ Hampton Home Builders.

The interior of the home is unrecognisable post-reno. Picture: Supplied/ Hampton Home Builders.

Looking at her renovation overhaul, the space she’s most fond of is the kitchen, which included a redesign of the butler’s pantry.

“We wanted to have the big cooktop in there because there’s such a big entertaining deck out there,” she said.

“I know myself in 20 years time, I would definitely love to live in a house that has a great kitchen. It’s got really great cooking ability, with details like the tap above the cooktop

“They’re things that I feel are really important when you’re designing a kitchen of someone who’s a bit of a foodie.”

The dining space is an entertainer’s dream. Picture: Supplied / Hampton Home Builders.

The finished butlers pantry features a wealth of storage options. Picture: Supplied/ Hampton Home Builders.

The fact they stayed true to the “quaint country style bungalow,” albeit with luxury and considered touches, was another achievement.

“I really like that American bungalow with high pitched roofs and the little veranda type feel at the front,” she continued.

“The number one thing was that it had that beautiful, cool, fresh feel of a quaint little country style bungalow. I really feel like we achieved that.”

The home’s three bedrooms were also given a fresh update. Picture: Supplied/ Hampton Home Builders.

The bathroom with its rendered walls is an example of the home’s more luxurious touches. Picture: Supplied/ Hampton Home Builders.

For anyone looking to embark on a major house flipping project, Ms Robinson says it’s imperative for DIY-renovators to prioritise the profit potential of a property when selecting a home.

Ensuring your marketing campaign targets the “right person” will also help achieve a maximum return on your project.

“Realistically, if you’re doing a major renovation project like that, it’s not worthwhile doing if you can’t add more than $100,000 to $150,000 to a property,” she said.

“Definitely do the research into your region, get to know the neighbours and what other sellers are putting out there.

“And if you know you can pick up a bargain and you’re confident you can deliver on the project, then go for it. It’s so exciting.”