Buying guide

5 summer renovations to add value to your NZ property

Some projects are just meant to be done in summer.

Last updated: 14 January 2025

What does this mean? Well, in addition to making the most of the warmer weather to hit the beach, fire up the BBQ and work on your tan, this is also a reminder to get started on those summer renovation projects you’ve been promising yourself you’ll get around to.

Here, we’ll look at some of the property improvement projects that are easiest to sink your teeth into while the weather is more reliable. Not only will you feel the accomplishment of ticking something off your to-do list, you’ll also be adding value to your home, if you’re thinking about selling your property.

Summer renovation project inspo

1. Add (or improve) that deck

Decks are synonymous with Kiwi homes, and if you’ve always dreamt of adding one to your home, summer is the time to do it.

While decks can take a while to build-out, particularly if you’re looking at adding fancy features like a pergola or gazebo, there’s no time like the present to get started.

If your property already has a deck, summer is also a great time to do that important maintenance, or upgrade the existing structure. For example, refinishing your deck won’t only benefit its aesthetic appeal, but will also help to reduce splinters or cracks. This will make it friendlier for bare feet (who’s wearing shoes in summer?) and improve its longevity.

If you’re looking to really boost your outdoor living space game, a spacious outdoor kitchen can have a transformative effect on a home, and its resale value. Indeed, we reckon enhancing your indoor-outdoor flow in this way is likely to be one of the major hometrends for NZ properties in 2025.

Decks are the renovation project that you'll never get sick of enjoying.

2. Pressure wash your outdoor spaces

The gradual build up of dirt and grime on the exterior of your property can be hard to notice as you come and go each day. But we’d be willing to bet that, if you haven’t shown your exteriors some love in a while, you’d be surprised at the toll that the colder months have taken.

While the weather is nicer, this is the time to regain the upper hand. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can rent one from places like Bunnings or Hirepool relatively cheaply.

A couple of tips before you get started:

Do a recce of your home before you hire: check your house itself, garages, decks and other external structures. This will help you work out where you need to focus your efforts,
Direct the spray downwards: to avoid forcing water into cracks or seams, that might make them worse.
Be gentle on softer surfaces: use a lower pressure setting for structures like wooden decks that could be damaged.

3. Paint (both inside and outside)

If you’ve been thinking about giving your home (or just certain rooms) a new lick of paint, get this done during summer.

For exterior paint jobs, the reason for choosing summer is clear – rain ain’t your friend. However, ideally, you should avoid painting property exteriors during the hottest hours of the day, as this can cause the paint to dry too quickly and make your finishes uneven.

Less obviously, summer is also an optimum time to complete interior painting renovations. This is partly to do with the warmer temperatures allowing for quicker drying, but also because humidity tends to be lower in summer. Humidity can lead to premature peeling or paint bubbling, and is particularly problematic in moisture prone areas like Wellington and Auckland.

House painting is definitely summer job.

4. Renovate your bathroom and kitchen

There’s no hiding from the fact that bathroom and kitchen renovations can be disruptive – you kinda need access to a bathroom and a kitchen. But, these rooms are among the most important if you’re wanting to add value to your home.

But why summer? Well, it’s not so much to do with needing nice weather to conduct the actual renovations themselves, but more about making your disruption-minimising workarounds more appealing.

For example, if cooking in your kitchen is a no-go while the renovations are underway, summer provides much more opportunity for outdoor cooking and eating. You don’t need to have an outdoor kitchen to do this, because we doubt you (or the kids) will mind upping your BBQ intake for a little while!

When it comes to your bathrooms, there are a number of ways to deal with your bath/shower and toilet being out of action for a while. Of course, if you have a second bathroom with all these facilities, you’re sorted. But, other options include installing a portaloo in your garden, or even an external shower tent. Trust us, making use of these facilities will be a lot more bearable if you’re doing it in summer, compared with winter.

5. Start landscaping

Looking to spend some more time outside while also adding value to your home? Sprucing up your garden with a little landscaping is a perfect way to combine these activities.

The beauty of this renovation idea is that it can be as complex as you like. Potential ideas include:

Installing some fences: looking to add a little more privacy or provide somewhere for additional greenery to grow? Fencing can achieve all of this and more.
Growing some veggies: we all know that supermarket shopping isn’t cheap these days, so why not grow your own? This is also a great activity to get the kids involved with.
Lawn mowing: one of the easiest, yet noticeable ways of making your property look spick and span to potential buyers.

Author

Al Hall

Al Hall is a regular contributor at Trade Me Jobs and Trade Me Property. He’s dedicated to helping people succeed in their aspirations to find their dream job and place to live.