--- title: "Seven Costly Sins - Sin #3" description: "Part three of a seven part series, the 'Seven Costly Sins' that home owners commit when selling their home. Sin #3 - Over Capitalising" image: https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/hubfs/goldtaps-514x350.jpg --- [0800 030 646](tel:0800030646) - Search - [Contact Us](https://nzhl.co.nz/contact-us/) - [Find Us](https://nzhl.co.nz/find-us/) - [Client Login](https://nzhl.co.nz/login/) [![NZHL](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/hubfs/Nzhl_January2019%20Theme/Images/logo-footer-nzhl.png)](https://nzhl.co.nz/) - [Home Loans](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans) - - [Change to NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/switch-to-nzhl/) - [Buying your first home](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/first-home/) - [Buying your next home](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/next-home/) - [Interest rates](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/interest-rates/) - [Home Loan calculators](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/tools-calculators/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - - [How much could I borrow?](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/tools-calculators/) - [Where's my nearest office?](https://nzhl.co.nz/find-us/) - [How much deposit do I need?](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/first-home/getting-a-deposit/) - [Insurance](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance) - - [Your Life](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-life/) - [Your Health](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-health/) - [Your Home and Car](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-home/) - [Your Income](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-income/) - [Request a quote](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/request-a-quote/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - - [NEW! Reducing Life Cover](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-life/) - [Request a quote](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/request-a-quote/) - [Make a claim](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/make-a-claim/) - [About NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl) - - [In the Community](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/in-the-community/) - [Head Office](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/head-office/) - [Media Centre](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/media-centre/) - [Work with us](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/work-with-us/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - - [Our sponsorships](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/in-the-community/) - [Job opportunities with NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/work-with-us/) - [Why change to NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/switch-to-nzhl/) - [Articles](https://nzhl.co.nz/articles) - - [Finances](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/finances/) - [Insurance](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/insurance/) - [Lifestyle](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/lifestyle/) - [Property](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/property/) - [NZHL News](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/nzhl-news/) - - [Buying your first home](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/first-home/) - [Search](https://nzhl.co.nz/search) - [Home Loans](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans) - [Change to NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/switch-to-nzhl/) - [Buying your first home](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/first-home/) - [Buying your next home](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/next-home/) - [Interest rates](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/interest-rates/) - [Home Loan calculators](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/tools-calculators/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - [Insurance](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance) - [Your Life](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-life/) - [Your Health](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-health/) - [Your Home and Car](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-home/) - [Your Income](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-income/) - [Request a quote](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/request-a-quote/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - [About NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl) - [In the Community](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/in-the-community/) - [Head Office](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/head-office/) - [Media Centre](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/media-centre/) - [Work with us](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/work-with-us/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - [Articles](https://nzhl.co.nz/articles) - [Finances](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/finances/) - [Insurance](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/insurance/) - [Lifestyle](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/lifestyle/) - [Property](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/property/) - [NZHL News](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/nzhl-news/) ![goldtaps-514x350](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/hubfs/goldtaps-514x350.jpg) #### Seven Costly Sins - Sin #3 - Guest Contributor - 29th of September 2015 Part three of a seven part series, the 'Seven Costly Sins' that home owners commit when selling their home ## Sin #3 - Over Capitalising Many people make the mistake of making major renovations in preparation for sale only to find their investment was in vain. Renovations like new bathrooms, kitchens and extensions will help you obtain a sale, but won't necessarily earn you any more money come sale time. Basic, simple and inexpensive improvements can increase your home's appeal if you know where to invest. Smart improvements will increase the appeal of your home while eliminating potential negative feelings which will influence a buyer's offer. The more you can do to make your home look appealing to a buyer, the better your chances for a quick sale. Improvements that create the impression of larger space, better light, greater storage, privacy, security and warmth are always worthwhile. The biggest impact you can make is with paint and floor coverings so it makes sense to invest here. Make sure your paintwork is in great condition both inside and out. Sometimes, all that is needed is a scrub down to bring dull paint work to life. Where paintwork is tired it pays to get it done. Buyers often over-inflate the potential investment required which means you may miss out come sale time. Make sure all floor coverings are in great condition. As with paint work, the perceived cost of tired carpet or floorboards will be reflected in a potential buyers offer. For some buyers, it may be too much effort altogether. Make sure you steam clean carpets and buff floorboards at a minimum or consider replacing if needed. Replacing your floor coverings may be a little more expensive but its impact is well worth it. - [Sin #1 – Pricing outside the selling zone](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/seven-costly-sins-sin-1/) - [Sin #2 – Displaying your home ineffectively](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/seven-costly-sins-sin-2/) - [Sin #3 -  Over Capitalising](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/seven-costly-sins-sin-3/) - [Sin #4 - Ineffectively marketing your home](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/seven-costly-sins-sin-4/) - [Sin #5 - Letting emotions cloud your judgement](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/seven-costly-sins-sin-5/) - [Sin #6 - Choosing the wrong selling method](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/seven-costly-sins-6/) - [Sin #7 - Engaging the wrong marketing agent](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/seven-costly-sins-7)   *This is an extract from “How to avoid the Seven Costly Sins homeowners commit when selling their home” written by Mark Lambie* [Mark](http://marklambie.raywhite.co.nz/) is a top performing Sales Manager with Ray White in Christchurch and can be contacted via email (mark.lambie@raywhite.com), mobile (0274 400 200) or visit his [website](http://marklambie.raywhite.co.nz/) *The information contained in this article is of a general nature and should not be taken as advice. It reflects the opinions of the writer only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of New Zealand Home Loans.* [![New call-to-action](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/5029003/15f9b75f-b0b2-4fde-a7e7-54af0db03053.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/5029003/15f9b75f-b0b2-4fde-a7e7-54af0db03053) - Guest Contributor *Author* **Share this article** - LinkedIn - Facebook - Twitter - Google - Reddit - Tumblr ##### Related Articles Get in Touch With Us ##### Popular Posts [![Should you break your loan?](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1233077740.jpg?width=300&name=shutterstock_1233077740.jpg)](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/articles/should-you-break-your-loan) [**Should you break your loan?**](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/articles/should-you-break-your-loan) 11 June 2015 In my recent article I spoke about the[impact of the OCR if you are floating](http://www.nzhl.co.nz/are-you-benefiting-from-the-ocr-drop/). Today I’ll... [![5 reasons lenders decline mortgage applications](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/applicationdeclined-525x350.jpg?width=300&name=applicationdeclined-525x350.jpg)](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/articles/5-reasons-lenders-decline-mortgage-applications) [**5 reasons lenders decline mortgage applications**](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/articles/5-reasons-lenders-decline-mortgage-applications) 24 March 2016 There is nothing worse than dreaming of your own home, putting time and effort into... [**Negotiating Tips Every Home Buyer Should Know**](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/articles/negotiating-tips-every-home-buyer-should-know) 29 July 2015 The old saying is that in real estate, everything is negotiable. But is it really? [![Credit Card Tips](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/hs-fs/hubfs/creditcards-487x350.jpg?width=300&name=creditcards-487x350.jpg)](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/articles/credit-card-tips) [**Credit Card Tips**](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/articles/credit-card-tips) 14 January 2016 In today’s increasingly online world, credit cards are becoming less of a luxury and more... [0800 030 646](tel:0800030646) - Search - [Contact Us](https://nzhl.co.nz/contact-us/) - [Find Us](https://nzhl.co.nz/find-us/) - [Client Login](https://nzhl.co.nz/login/) - [Home Loans](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans) - [Change to NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/switch-to-nzhl/) - [Buying your first home](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/first-home/) - [Buying your next home](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/next-home/) - [Interest rates](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/interest-rates/) - [Home Loan calculators](https://nzhl.co.nz/home-loans/tools-calculators/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - [Insurance](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance) - [Your Life](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-life/) - [Your Health](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-health/) - [Your Home and Car](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-home/) - [Your Income](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/your-income/) - [Request a quote](https://nzhl.co.nz/insurance/request-a-quote/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - [Why NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/) - [In the Community](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/in-the-community/) - [Head Office](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/head-office/) - [Media Centre](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/media-centre/) - [Work with us](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/work-with-us/) - [FAQ](https://nzhl.co.nz/about-nzhl/faq/) - [Articles](https://nzhl.co.nz/articles) - [Finances](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/finances/) - [Insurance](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/insurance/) - [Lifestyle](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/lifestyle/) - [Property](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/property/) - [NZHL News](https://nzhl.co.nz/topic/nzhl-news/) - ##### Be social & follow us - - - - **Head Office** NZHL PO Box 161 903 Victoria Street Hamilton 3204 **Freephone** [0800 332 837](tel:0800332837) **Email** [info@nzhl.co.nz](mailto:info@nzhl.co.nz) ![NZHL](https://blog.nzhl.co.nz/hubfs/Nzhl_January2019%20Theme/Images/logo-footer-nzhl.png) **Disclaimer** *The information contained on this website is general in nature and is not intended as advice. It may not be relevant to individual circumstances and before making any investment, insurance or financial planning decision; you should consult a professional adviser. Copies of our disclosure statements are available on request, free of charge.* **[Our Privacy Policy](https://nzhl.co.nz/privacy-policy/)** © 2019 [NZHL](https://nzhl.co.nz). All rights reserved.