From "Liability" to "Sold": The 7-Day Chartwell Auction Rescue
From "Liability" to "Sold": The 7-Day Chartwell Auction Rescue
We received an urgent call from an investment property owner living in Australia. After years of tenancy, her Chartwell home had fallen into a state of serious disrepair. With interest rates shifting, she needed to take the property to auction immediately, but in its current state, the house was at risk of failing building inspections and underselling.
She needed more than just a painter. She needed a project manager who could diagnose the issues, fix them properly, and get the property market-ready in one week, all while she was 2,500km away.
The Hidden Risks
Our initial site inspection revealed issues that were invisible from the street but critical to the property's value:
- Roof Failure:
A previous "budget fix" involved putting silicone over rusting nails. This had trapped moisture, causing the steel to rot and snap, leading to active leaks.
Exterior Neglect:
The brickwork was heavily soiled, glazing putty was falling out, and the paint on the soffits was flaking.
- Overgrown Grounds:
The section was a jungle. Neighbours' ivy had smothered the shed and fences, and the garden was blocking the property's potential.
The Solution: Restoration & Smart Savings
We didn't just paint over the cracks. We engineered a solution that maximized the sale price without blowing the client's budget.
- Full Roof Restoration:
We removed every single rusted nail. We mechanically grind the rust spots that were particularly present on the sheets surrounding rusty nails, treated the steel with a converter, and re-screwed the entire roof using Galvanised screws with EPDM rubber washers. Wide gaps were reinforced with structural charcoal tape before we applied a premium 3-coat paint system in Grey Friars.
Smart Value Engineering:
The client originally wanted to paint the bricks. We advised against this to save her thousands. Instead, we used a specialized chemical wash to reveal the natural vibrancy of the red brick. We then focused the budget on modernizing the garage door, soffits, fascia, gable ends, decorative peaces above the windows and trims with a fresh color scheme.
- The "Tomar" Difference:
To ensure the property looked its best, our team cleared the overgrown trees, removed the ivy, and weed-eated the entire section at no extra cost.
The Result
In just seven days, we transformed a tired rental into a sharp, watertight home.
- Roof:
Fully restored, warrantied, and leaking no more.
Street Appeal:
A modern black fence, and a natural color stained fence now frames the property, contrasting beautifully with the clean red brick and white soffits.
Interior:
Damaged Gib was plastered and color-matched, leaving the interior flawless for open homes.
The property went to auction ready for market, with a happy vendor and a relieved real estate agent.
Client Feedback:
We cannot thank the team at Tomar Contracting enough. The professionalism, communication, efficiency, quality and expertise provided has been second to none. We enlisted Tomar Contracting to carry out roof restoration works as well as cosmetic painting of roof, facade and surrounding fences. We truly believe the tasks undertaken were in the best possible hands. Our primary objective was to ensure our property was “Sale Ready”, and curb appeal was maximized to get the best price come auction day. The team addressed all our needs in a prompt manner with a level of confidence and skill that put our minds at ease and quickly eroded any anxiety we may have had. The team at Tomar Contracting did not rest, and ensured every detail was managed with the highest priority. Futhermore, Tomar Contracting took on additional requests at short notice, including bulk rubbish disposal, garden maintenance and landscaping, internal wall repairs and painting, not within their initial scope, with ease and to ensure our deadlines and budgets were met. We cannot recommend more highly and know Tomar Contracting will be the first people we call on the next occasion.
