Renovating before resale: a sound investment?

Should you renovate your property before selling? Many people think that renovating their property before putting it on the market is a good strategy for achieving a better sale.

This is not entirely wrong, but bear in mind that buyers will often carry out some minor cosmetic work to adapt the property to their tastes. They may not like a property that you have renovated yourself. Others prefer the option of moving straight into a pristine flat or house. Finally, some people like interiors with character, even if they may seem dated to you!

We should also remember that undertaking building work is time-consuming, costly and unpredictable, and requires regular supervision. This is why selling the property as is, at the market price, can sometimes make better financial sense. Unless you work in the trade yourself, it can make life unnecessarily complicated for little tangible profit.

Would you still like to make some improvements?

We recommend certain improvements that often pay off and to which buyers attach the greatest importance:

1. Double glazing: if your property is located in a noisy area, installing double glazing is a sensible choice, as noise is a key concern for some buyers. However, please note that replacing window frames sometimes requires planning permission.
2. The kitchen and bathroom: alongside the bathroom, the kitchen is what buyers scrutinise most closely. There is no need to replace everything, but it is important for these two rooms to look as clean as possible. Replacing the worktop, repainting or replacing the tiles may sometimes be enough.
3. Paintwork: refreshing the paintwork is undoubtedly one of the easiest things to do! Opt for a neutral colour; white remains your best choice.
4. Flooring: do you have wall-to-wall carpet, lino, old tiles or worn parquet flooring? Opt for classic parquet flooring, as this is what most people are looking for. Often, sanding and treating the existing parquet will be enough to give it a new lease of life!
5. Electrical compliance: bringing the electrics up to standard can sometimes be a relatively minor expense… but an important one, as the buyer will have to bring them up to standard in any event!
6. Insulation : insulating the roof, installing a thermostat, replacing the boiler, etc. These are measures that can help attract buyers. Find out about the financial assistance available!

Tip: If you are selling a house, do not neglect the exterior work! It may seem incidental, but a well-maintained garden, a terrace in good condition and an attractive front door will immediately make the property more appealing!

As a general rule, assume that essential renovation work will always pay off, while other improvements may simply help you sell a little faster and sometimes achieve a slightly better price.

Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of renovating your property before selling, you may wish to find out more about the latest developments in the property market. We invite you to browse our blog, which is packed with interesting articles. And if you would like to daydream about property for a while, view our available properties.