Australia’s Real Estate crisis, brought to you by flipping TV!

Okay, I’ll admit it—I’ve watched The Block more than once or twice. It’s easy to get swept up by the amazing transformations and seemingly huge profits. But here’s my issue: homes are not pure financial products—they’re where we live our lives. The true rewards are to be found in the rich experiences they foster, not only in a resale price.

But the whole nation has gone Flipping mad – you can see that in our real estate crisis. I’m not saying I have the solution, but it would certainly be helpful if we could all just settle down, in the fullest sense.

Settling does not mean compromising.

Rather than creating a house for a buyer we don’t even know, I think it’s better to focus on creating a lovely, practical space for your own family. Renovating to improve your quality of life offers daily returns, enriching the time you spend in your home. It’s time to value houses as homes. A place where you feel settled.

Is it an improvement?

Turning a neglected property into a high-value asset has an undeniable allure. But for me, a home becomes properly valuable when tailored to your own needs in a way that supports all your activities – almost invisibly. Of course, as a designer and cabinet maker I would say that. But it is a common-sense idea. A house provides shelter, but a home gives us comfort, identity, and belonging. A home reflects our own tastes, hobbies, habits, and experiences, grounding us with a deeper sense of connection. These are the qualities we should seek to improve.

Transforming a house into a home.

More than shelter, a home is a sanctuary, where we feel entirely at ease and recharged. Homes strengthen connections; they’re the places where we break-bread together and create traditions. A home oKers a sense of permanence and safety, a place where we can be at ease and be ourselves. Home is a place of self-expression, it supports our well-being and enhances our quality of life.

If you’re going to renovate and you want to maximise your returns, consider the things that money can’t buy. Make improvements that enhance your daily lives and enable moments of connection, belonging and expression, discovery and recharge.

This is the real value beyond any sale result. A home transcends mere shelter to comfort, connection, and long-lasting values.

Don’t be a Blockhead.

I know, it’s not all Scotty’s fault, but a considered and balanced approach to homeownership is essential. If you’re thinking of making improvements, renovate to enhance your life rather than to attract future buyers. The ultimate return on investment is the life lived within those walls—not the sale price.