Kitchens sell houses, but understanding which features and fittings buyers really want can be the difference between over-capitalising and getting a great price.

Graeme Metcalf, from Dan Kitchens in Sydney, says home owners looking to update their kitchen should focus on four key areas.

Metcalf says butlers’ pantries, appliance choice, cabinet height and benchtop surface selection all play a role when it comes to selling a home.

1. Butlers’ pantries aren’t just a fad

Homes need to have enough space to add a butler’s pantry to an existing kitchen. Picture: Dan Kitchens Australia

“A butlers’ pantry or s...

Full of terms like approved land use, transition zones, residential amenity, flood overlays, planning scheme amendments and minimum lot sizes, property zoning is unquestionably complex, but understanding it is critical when buying and selling real estate.

Zoning is a framework, generally set out by state and territory governments and applied by local councils, which dictates what can be built where and how. It regulates the pace and pattern of development, growth and character of an area.

Restrictions, codes and processes do vary between states, but the main zones are residential, commercial, indus...