Is it worth freshening up a flat before selling it?

Renovating before selling a flat? Sounds absurd? Not at all. Owners planning to sell their property usually do not want to spend more money on freshening it up. That is a big mistake! Money invested in preparing the flat will more than pay for itself. Why?

The first impression is key

Dull grey-brown walls, grime, ugly greasy stains and damp marks do not look attractive. The look of a flat says a lot about its occupants, but above all about problems with the property. The first impression matters most. Walls, floors and ceilings are the calling card of our home. Their condition also has an enormous effect on the value of the flat. Sometimes cosmetic changes alone, such as painting the walls in light colours or repairing minor defects, are enough to raise the value of the property. It does not have to be a complete renovation.

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The devil is in the detail. Clean windows, vacuumed floors, freshly painted walls and ceiling, replaced sockets, minor electrical work or new ventilation grilles – these are nuances that matter quite a lot to the sharp eye of a future buyer. The condition of the windows is also a very important aspect for the buyer. Of course, replacing them involves some costs, as one window costs around 1 thousand PLN, but a unit fitted with brand-new windows is in demand on the property market. Today we are dealing with a buyer's market, in which buyers can pick and choose among the listings available at an estate agency. To attract their attention, the flat must be properly prepared.

Freshening up a flat pays off

It often happens that when we inherit a property from an elderly relative, it is not only neglected but also cluttered with unfashionable furniture. The walls are decorated with old, often peeling wallpaper, the floors are covered with linoleum, and the rooms are stuffy and dim. If we want to sell such a unit at a good price, a cosmetic makeover is necessary. The flat should be aired, the furniture thrown out, the wallpaper torn down and the walls covered with white paint, which not only makes the room look bigger but also gives an impression of freshness. Removing old chandeliers or cleaning the parquet will also help.

Tidy properties sell better

A person looking for a unit ready to move into "straight away" will gladly turn a blind eye to a slightly higher price if in return they receive a freshened-up home and are spared the hassle of repainting it themselves. The value of a property prepared in this way can rise by as much as several dozen per cent. It is estimated that 1 thousand PLN invested in freshening up a flat can translate into an increase in its value of as much as around 10 thousand PLN!

If we want to raise the standard of the flat to a premium level, intended for clients with deeper pockets, we can also decide to modernise the unit and use the services of an interior designer. This is often the case with restored historic tenement houses, apartment buildings, or post-industrial buildings whose interiors are being turned into fashionable lofts. However, this undertaking involves considerable financial risk and uncertainty as to whether we will manage to find a suitable buyer who will compensate us for the costs incurred in the flat's makeover.