What should I renovate before selling my house or apartment?
Before selling a house, ask yourself the following: which of the property’s shortcomings – the ones they have lived with without really noticing – should you focus on fixing? Comparis explains what renovations to consider in order to improve your chances of a sale.
09.08.2021
iStock / hikesterson
Is it worth renovating before selling your property?
Sellers who are looking to achieve a high price tend to invest in expensive renovation projects before selling, with the aim of increasing their chances of a sale. Careful, though: extensive renovation work such as replacing a bathroom and kitchen, or energy-saving measures like installing a new heating system are rarely worth your while. Here’s why:
Although an expensive bathroom or kitchen renovation might be to your liking, there’s no guarantee it will suit the taste of potential buyers. This kind of expense may therefore even reduce your chances of achieving a sale.
Your new kitchen or bathroom won’t retain its value forever. Depreciation must be taken into account when establishing the subsequent selling price.
Large renovation projects are costly and often involve increasing your mortgage. For reference, it costs between 25,000 and 40,000 francs to replace a standard kitchen – not including installation. If you are unable to transfer your mortgage to your buyer when you sell, you will have to pay an early repayment charge for terminating your mortgage ahead of time. Considering all of these points, it’s likely that extensive renovations will only achieve high returns in exceptional cases.
Instead, focus on making sure that the property makes a good overall impression, and don’t forget to point out early on where renovation work may be needed. Good estate agents will take any imminently necessary renovations into account when establishing the purchase price, so that the buyer will not be at a disadvantage.
Still not sure? Get advice from an estate agent on your chances of selling, and what renovation work might be worthwhile.
Choose your renovations with care
For the reasons outlined above, major renovation work is not recommended. However, there are some small steps you can take to get a positive effect with little effort:
Bringing façades and gardens up to date: first impressions matter, and the saying goes for selling a home, too. Make sure the property looks tidy both inside and out. Clean the windows and pathways, trim the bushes and trees into shape and mow the lawn. Remove moss and algae from the façade – you can get cleaning products for this from specialist retailers. Smarten up the garden, if you have one. Making a good first impression also means cleaning the letterbox, house number and front door.
Painting: freshly painted interiors are one of the best ways to entice buyers. Make sure the painting is done professionally. Use neutral colours. White ceilings make rooms appear larger. Once again, less is more.
What other steps can I take to improve my chances of selling?
Your home should appear well maintained and looked after. Clear out the clutter and give all the rooms a thorough clean. To ensure your home appeals to as many people as possible during viewings, you could consider using home staging strategies.
This article was first published on 26.09.2019