Freshening up a flat before selling – is it worth it?

When you decide to sell your flat, you certainly want it to look its best. That is why you are thinking about renovating it, or at least freshening up the rooms. But check what is worth doing and which jobs are completely pointless.

A good first impression – freshening up a flat before selling

Freshening up a flat before selling is a really good idea, especially if it has visual flaws that could adversely affect how the property is perceived by a prospective buyer. Where should you start? Above all with the large surfaces that catch the eye as soon as you enter the flat. We are talking, of course, about the walls, which should be freshened up, that is, painted. It helps if the walls are clean and light, as this adds airiness to the interior. In addition, painted walls give the impression that the flat has recently undergone a major renovation. If you do not want to spend a fortune, even the cheapest paint available will do.

Freshening up the floor and the most important rooms

The next step will be to freshen up the floors, which are also a surface that catches the eye on entering. After just a few years floors can be scratched or cracked, and traces of discolouration may appear on them. People looking for a property to buy very often pay attention to such shortcomings. So it is best to lay new laminate flooring or to sand and refinish the parquet. In the case of tiles you can use modern paints for such surfaces; they are not expensive, so you will certainly not feel the expense in your budget, which could not be said if you decided to replace such a floor. If you do not want to buy paint, simply clean the tiles and grout thoroughly.

You must not forget the most important rooms in the flat. The kitchen and bathroom are places that should be clean, tidy and, above all, functional. Before selling, focus mainly on cleanliness, so remember to scrub all the bathroom fittings very thoroughly, and in the kitchen replace the worktop if the current one is worn out and you can afford to.

Details make a huge difference

Prospective buyers may pay attention not only to large surfaces, although we have those covered. They will probably want to study the details, where surprises that lower the price of the property may be hiding. Examples include skirting boards coming off, sockets hanging loose or light switches that do not work properly. Other troublesome defects include loose door handles and burnt-out light bulbs. Make sure none of these problems shows up when a potential buyer views the flat.