The Challenge
The backyard cottage had dated kitchen and bathroom finishes and scuffed walls. Buyers would have mentally budgeted for its renovation and lowered their offers.
BeforeAfterQueen Anne, Seattle, WA
Queen Anne backyard cottage
A Queen Anne property prepared with its backyard cottage presented as a finished guest or rental unit.
- Property
- Detached ADU
- Bed / Bath
- 1 / 1
- Size
- 550 sq. ft.
- Timeline
- 7 days
- Status
- Completed
Our Plan
Refresh the cottage kitchen and bath, repaint and clean it, and tidy the yard between the two buildings.
Property Overview
- Address / area
- Queen Anne
- City
- Seattle, WA
- Property type
- Detached ADU
- Beds
- 1
- Baths
- 1
- Sq. ft.
- 550
- Occupied / vacant
- Vacant
- Condition before work
- A backyard cottage with dated kitchen and bath finishes.
Scope of Work
Kitchen
- Cabinet & hardware update
- Counters
Bathrooms
- Vanity & fixtures
- Shower refresh
Interior
- Interior painting
Curb Appeal
- Yard cleanup
Cleaning
- Final cleaning
Timeline & Investment
StartAug 4, 2025
CompletionAug 10, 2025
Total days7
Total investment$16,500
Budget breakdown
- Kitchen
- $6,000
- Bathroom
- $5,000
- Painting
- $3,500
- Yard & cleaning
- $2,000
What We Improved
BeforeAfterBedroom window wall
Cleared, painted and furnished — same window, same beams.
BeforeAfterFrench doors
Fresh paint, new trim and flooring by the garden doors.
Sale Result & ROI
Estimated as-is value$1.24M
Pre-sale investment$16.5K
Sold for$1.31M
Estimated ROI294%*
- Listed for $1.3M
- Days on market 10 days
- Estimated value added $65K
*Estimated ROI. Sale results also depend on market conditions, pricing, location, marketing and agent performance.
Final Result
The cottage presented as ready to rent or host guests, adding clear value to the listing.
Before
After
Preparing a Home for Sale?
We’ll identify the improvements that matter before listing.