Wareemba family’s agony after undertaking stunning renovation

Malcolm and Georgia Clark, with daughters, Sloane, 9, Elle, 6, are selling an upgraded home in Wareemba. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

A Sydney couple who snapped up a somewhat tired semi in a competitive auction market back in 2017 have unveiled the jaw-dropping transformation of their Wareemba home into a serene family sanctuary.

And now, heartbreakingly, they’re moving on – for a reason that is becoming increasingly common across Sydney’s soaring housing market.

Georgia and Malcolm Clark bought the two-bedroom home at 345 Great North Road, Wareemba for what was then an “entry-level price”, with a vision to inject new life into the dated inner west property.

“The place had a lot of potential,” Ms Clark said.

BEFORE: The home pictured in 2017, before the family bought it.

AFTER: The home after it was renovated.

The couple, who were just starting a family when they moved in, fell in love with the suburb’s tight-knit community and peaceful charm.

“We picked Wareemba because it wasn’t too busy but close enough to everything,” Ms Clark said. “There was just a patch of grass out the back of the house and a Hills hoist. Now it’s a lush green space.”

Their backyard transformation is now the stuff of real estate dreams. With a west-facing yard that captures the sunset, and a spacious open-plan kitchen and dining area at the heart of the home, Mr Clark said it’s the perfect haven for a young family.

“It’s such a beautiful spot to spend time with the kids,” she said. “But it’s also got a lovely, well-sized master bedroom. There’s really a bit of everything here.”

Ms Clark said the yard was little more than grass and a Hills hoist when they bought it.

They added trees to the back.

But as their needs grew, so did the tough reality of Sydney’s booming property market.

“The type of home we’re looking for now, our forever home, it’s just completely different to what we wanted in 2017. We’re looking for more space.

“We love it here, it’s got such a great community, but we’ve become priced out.”

Their experiences expose a fundamental issue for many house hunters: property price rises have been so significant over recent years that they’ve become a barrier to selling. Those who sell often carry the risk they may not get back into their suburb of choice.

Their agent, Antonios Kanis, said decades of price gains, while being an incredible wealth creator for owners, have come with a downside.

“Some homeowners want to move but can’t because if they sold they wouldn’t be able to get back into their own area. There’s always a shortage of stock and that keeps prices high,” he said.

The kitchen before the renovation.

The kitchen pictured in its current condition.

The Clark family is now eyeing a move to Sydney’s northern beaches, but the decision to leave the community they love hasn’t been easy.

“It’s a delicate dance buying and selling in the same market,” Ms Clark said. “We’ve got a Plan A and we’ll see how it works. Timing for these things can be quite important.”

Their renovated Wareemba gem, listed with Antonios Kanis of McGrath Hunters Hill, is expected to attract strong interest from young families hoping to enter the sought-after suburb – one of Sydney’s smallest and most tightly held enclaves.

“Back in 2017, we went to auctions that went $200,000 or $300,000 over the reserve. It was intense,” Mr Clark said. “We were lucky to buy before auction.”

Ms Clark said the home would suit a young family.

With recent interest rate cuts expected to fuel fresh demand, their slice of the inner west could now be worth far more than they paid, proof that vision and a little elbow grease can go a long way.

“It’s a great spot,” Ms Clark said. “We’ve loved it here.”

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