Renovating Property For Profit

Buying a house to renovate can be an excellent way to build equity and create profit — but only if you buy the right property at the right price. This is where a professional buyer’s agent can make all the difference.

A good buyer’s agent does more than just find properties; they match each client’s renovation goals and budget with the best possible options on the market.

They understand that not every house is worth renovating — and they know how to spot the difference between a money pit and a real opportunity.

Once they know your goals, they’ll search for properties with the best potential for value-adding improvements. They know which homes in which suburbs are likely to deliver strong capital growth.

They can quickly identify floor plans that lend themselves well to cost-effective upgrades, and they’ll help you avoid properties with costly hidden issues.

A buyer’s agent also saves you from overpaying. They’ll research comparable sales, negotiate with selling agents, and bid for you at auction if needed. This can be invaluable, as many renovators lose profit before they even start by paying too much upfront.

The right agent will also connect you with trusted professionals, such as building inspectors, architects, and tradespeople, to help you get accurate renovation cost estimates before you commit.

Most importantly, a buyer’s agent keeps emotion out of the deal. Many first-time renovators fall in love with the “idea” of a project and overlook the numbers. An experienced buyer’s agent will help you stay focused on your budget, timeline, and ultimate goal — to turn a profit.

If you’re planning to renovate for profit, having a buyer’s agent on your side can be one of the smartest investments you make.

With their market knowledge and negotiation skills, they’ll help you buy the right house, at the right price, with the best chance of delivering a strong return.

Renovation Case Study

Glen came to Wise Real Estate Advice with a clear goal: to find the right property to flip for profit.

His plan was straightforward — buy an older, rundown house, renovate it, and sell it for a solid return within nine months. But he wasn’t sure what to buy or where to look.

Building the criteria:
Glen partnered with a skilled carpenter, and he would finance the entire project himself. With strong hands-on renovation skills available, he was ready to tackle most tasks himself — which gave him an advantage.

We recommended focusing on Brunswick. This suburb matched Glen’s budget and had strong resale potential — renovated homes here typically sell for much more than unrenovated ones.

There was also a steady supply of older, rundown properties coming onto the market, which increased his chances of finding the right project.

Together, we narrowed the brief to: a single-fronted weatherboard home with three to four bedrooms, at least one bathroom, and one living area. Structural integrity was a must — we didn’t want Glen spending time or money replacing stumps, walls, or the roof.

The goal was a straightforward cosmetic renovation: sanding floors, painting walls, updating fixtures and fittings.

Finding the right property in this market wasn’t easy. Demand for renovator’s delights in Brunswick is always high, and competition at auctions can be fierce.

But after about three months of careful searching and bidding, Glen secured a property at auction — ready to start his renovation journey with a clear plan and strong resale potential.

The Finished Renovation 20 Henty Street, Brunswick.

Mark provided great advice, and saved me an enormous amount of time and research in finding properties that fit my criteria. Despite the fact that it has been a tough market for buyers, Mark was very patient, and we eventually closed the deal on a great property after the auction thanks to Mark’s negotiations. Mark is a very professional and knowledgeable Buyer’s Advocate and I couldn’t be more happy with his service. GLEN