What should I renovate before selling my home?

1. 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. But be aware 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:

1. Although an expensive bathroom or kitchen renovation might be to your liking, there’s no guarantee that it will suit the taste of potential buyers. This kind of expense may therefore even reduce your chances of achieving a sale.

2. Your new kitchen or bathroom won’t retain its value forever. Depreciation must be taken into account when establishing the subsequent selling price.

3. Large renovation projects are costly and often involve increasing your mortgage. As a guide: it costs between 25,000–40,000 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 into account any imminently necessary renovations when establishing the asking price. The buyer will not then 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.

2. 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:

• Spruce up the exterior and garden: first impressions count – this also applies when selling a home. 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. If relevant: tidy up the garden. Making a good first impression also means cleaning the letterbox, house number and front door.

• Painting: giving interiors a fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to entice buyers. Make sure the painting is done professionally. Use neutral colours. White ceilings make rooms appear larger. Here, too, less is more.

3. 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.