Property Potential Review
PROPERTY POTENTIAL REVIEW
Buying a home? Understand its potential before you commit.
The home you're looking at today doesn't necessarily have to be the home you live in tomorrow.
Before purchasing a property, Bettswhite can help you understand its renovation, extension and planning potential — so you can make a more informed decision about whether the property could become the home you actually want.
Your property will be reviewed by Marcus Betts, Director of Bettswhite, drawing on more than 20 years of residential renovation and design experience and hundreds of completed projects across Sydney and the Central Coast.
We look beyond the existing floor plan to identify what could stay, what could change and where the real potential may be.
DON'T JUST LOOK AT THE HOUSE THAT'S THERE.
Look at what it could become.
When you're buying a home, it's easy to focus on what you can see.
The kitchen is too small.
There's only three bedrooms.
The living area doesn't connect to the backyard.
There's no ensuite.
The house feels dark.
But many of these problems can potentially be solved through good design.
The more important question is:
Can this property become the home you need?
That's what a Bettswhite Property Potential Review is designed to help you understand.
20+ YEARS OF SEEING WHAT OTHERS MAY NOT
After more than 20 years designing residential renovations and additions, you start looking at houses differently.
An awkward floor plan doesn't necessarily concern us.
Neither does an outdated kitchen, tired façade or badly positioned internal wall.
Those things can often be changed.
What matters is understanding the existing structure, site, planning controls and opportunities behind the property.
Marcus has worked across hundreds of residential renovation projects, from internal reconfigurations and ground-floor extensions through to major renovations and complete second-storey additions.
That experience allows us to look at a property and start asking the questions that matter.
Could we add another storey?
Could three bedrooms become four?
Where could the staircase go?
Could the rear of the house open onto the backyard?
Could we create a parents' retreat upstairs?
Could we add a granny flat?
Could the renovation potentially be approved through CDC?
Are there constraints that could make the renovation considerably more difficult?
Before spending hundreds of thousands renovating a home, it makes sense to understand these things.
Before buying the property is even better.
CHOOSE YOUR PROPERTY REVIEW
DESKTOP PROPERTY POTENTIAL REVIEW
$650 + GST ($715 incl. GST)
Found a property you're seriously considering?
Our Desktop Property Potential Review provides an experienced assessment of the property before you make an offer or commit to the purchase.
Send us the property address or real-estate listing together with what you'd ultimately like to achieve.
Marcus will review the available property information, existing floor plan and preliminary planning controls and assess the property from a renovation and design perspective.
YOUR REVIEW INCLUDES
Existing home and site assessment
Second-storey and ground-floor extension potential
Internal reconfiguration, bedrooms and bathrooms
Granny flat / secondary dwelling opportunities where relevant
Preliminary DA or CDC pathway
Obvious planning and site constraints
Marcus's overall assessment of the renovation potential
Concise written summary of key opportunities and issues
$650 + GST ($715 incl. GST)
Typically completed within 2 business days once all required property information has been received.
WANT MARCUS TO WALK THE PROPERTY WITH YOU?
ON-SITE PROPERTY POTENTIAL CONSULTATION
$1,950 + GST ($2,145 incl. GST)
For properties you're seriously considering purchasing, an on-site consultation allows Marcus to assess the home and property with you in person.
Before attending, we'll undertake preliminary research into the property and relevant planning considerations.
Marcus will then meet you at the property, walk through the existing home and site and discuss what you're hoping to achieve.
Rather than simply telling you what exists, we'll explore how the property could potentially be transformed.
YOUR CONSULTATION INCLUDES
Preliminary property and planning research
Review of available plans and property information
On-site walk-through with Marcus
Assessment of the existing home and site
Second-storey and extension potential
Internal reconfiguration opportunities
Potential locations for stairs, bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces
Granny flat / secondary dwelling opportunities where relevant
Preliminary DA or CDC considerations
Identification of obvious planning and site constraints
Hand-sketch design ideas where helpful
Discussion of the likely scale of renovation required
Concise written summary of the key opportunities discussed
$1,950 + GST ($2,145 incl. GST)
Sydney + Central Coast. Property access is to be arranged by the purchaser with the selling agent or property owner. Additional travel fees may apply outside our standard service area.
NOT SURE WHICH OPTION?
If you want an experienced assessment of the property's potential before making an offer, start with the Desktop Property Potential Review.
If you're seriously considering the property and want Marcus to inspect it with you in person, choose the On-Site Property Potential Consultation.
BEFORE YOU BUY. BEFORE YOU RENOVATE.
Two houses on the same street can have completely different renovation potential.
Lot size and shape, orientation, existing structure, setbacks, easements, heritage controls, bushfire, flooding, trees, access and the relationship with neighbouring properties can all influence what can realistically be achieved.
A property that appears to need a simple renovation may have constraints that aren't immediately obvious.
Another property that looks tired or poorly configured may have excellent underlying potential.
The purpose of the Property Potential Review is to help identify those differences before you commit.
SEE THE OPPORTUNITY OTHER BUYERS MAY MISS
Sometimes the best property isn't the one with the new kitchen.
It's the property with the best potential.
A dated bathroom can be replaced.
A wall can potentially be removed.
Rooms can be reorganised.
Living areas can be opened to the backyard.
Another level may potentially be added.
The challenge is knowing which properties provide those opportunities.
That's where experience matters.
NOT A BUYER'S AGENT.
A renovation expert in your corner.
Bettswhite doesn't find properties, negotiate purchase prices, provide property valuations or bid at auction.
Our role is different.
We assess the property from a residential design, renovation and preliminary planning perspective.
You're getting advice from someone who has spent more than 20 years looking at existing homes and working out how to transform them.
So when you're standing in a property thinking:
“Could we actually make this work?”
We can help you answer that question.
FOUND A PROPERTY YOU LOVE — BUT IT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT?
That's often where the opportunity is.
Send us the property and tell us what your ideal home would look like.
For example:
“We love the location, but we need four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a larger kitchen and living area.”
“We'd buy this property if we knew we could add another storey.”
“The house is too small, but the block is great. What could we do?”
“Could we renovate the main house and add a granny flat?”
The clearer you are about what you ultimately need, the more useful our assessment can be.
IF YOU BUY THE PROPERTY, WE CAN TAKE IT FURTHER.
A Property Potential Review is the first step.
If you purchase the home and decide to renovate, Bettswhite can then take the initial ideas and explore them properly through our Concept Design process.
From there, we can continue with:
Concept Design → Builder Cost Check → DA or CDC Approval → Construction Documentation → Construction Support
So the person helping you understand the property's potential can remain involved as that potential becomes the actual renovation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE YOU A BUYER'S AGENT?
No. Bettswhite provides residential design, renovation and preliminary planning advice.
We don't source properties, negotiate the purchase price, provide property valuations or bid at auction.
WHICH REVIEW SHOULD I CHOOSE?
If you're looking for an experienced assessment of a property's potential and we can obtain sufficient information remotely, the $650 + GST Desktop Property Potential Review is a good place to start.
If you're seriously considering a property and would benefit from Marcus walking through the home and site with you, choose the $1,950 + GST On-Site Pre-Purchase Consultation.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHETHER I CAN ADD A SECOND STOREY?
We can undertake a preliminary assessment and identify whether a second-storey addition appears to be a realistic option from a design and planning perspective.
Detailed investigation, survey information, structural advice or other consultant input may be required before the final design and approval pathway can be confirmed.
CAN YOU TELL ME IF THE PROPERTY QUALIFIES FOR CDC?
We can undertake a preliminary assessment of whether the property and proposed renovation may be suitable for the complying development pathway.
CDC eligibility can depend on numerous property and design requirements, so further investigation may be required before eligibility can be confirmed.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE RENOVATION WILL COST?
We can discuss the likely scale and type of renovation required to achieve your objectives.
We don't provide formal construction quotations as part of a Property Potential Review.
If you purchase the property and proceed to Concept Design, we can involve builders early and obtain real construction feedback based on an actual design.
CAN YOU REVIEW A PROPERTY BEFORE AN AUCTION?
Yes.
Property purchases often move quickly, so send us the property as early as possible.
Our Desktop Property Potential Review is typically completed within 2 business days after receiving all the information required to undertake the review.
BEFORE YOU COMMIT TO THE PROPERTY.
Understand what it could become.
Buying a property is a major decision.
If the home isn't quite right today, get an experienced renovation designer to look at its potential before you commit.
DESKTOP PROPERTY POTENTIAL REVIEW
$650 + GST ($715 incl. GST)
ON-SITE PRE-PURCHASE CONSULTATION
$1,950 + GST ($2,145 incl. GST)
Property Potential Reviews provide preliminary design and planning guidance only. They are not a property valuation, building inspection, structural assessment, legal advice, town-planning certificate or buyer's-agent service. Conclusions are based on information available at the time of the review. Further investigations, survey information and specialist consultant advice may be required.