Renovating Before Selling: Is the Investment Worth It for Owners?
Renovation before selling: which measures raise the price, where you waste money and how agents recommend the right strategy.
Renovating before selling – almost every owner asks: is a new bathroom, kitchen or just fresh paint worth it? In Switzerland buyers often pay premiums for modern condition, but not every investment returns in the sale price.
The key is the ROI calculation: which measures bring more than they cost? On makli.ch, local agents advise what makes sense for your region and property type.
What pays off: kitchen, bathroom, floors and facade
Kitchen and bathroom are often the biggest levers – buyers quickly estimate CHF 30,000–80,000 for a full renovation. If your kitchen dates from the 1990s, a modern but not luxury update can significantly raise the sale price. Same for the bathroom: new tiles, modern fittings, no leaking joints.
Floors and paint are cheaper quick wins. Fresh white paint and oiled parquet look better in photos and viewings immediately. The facade pays off mainly for houses when visibly neglected.
Where you waste money: over-renovation and taste
Over-renovation is a trap: a CHF 150,000 luxury kitchen in an CHF 800,000 flat rarely adds CHF 150,000 at sale. Buyers have their own taste – neutral, timeless choices sell better than extravagant design.
An agent knows the local market. Get a first estimate before major investments and compare offers on makli.ch – often CHF 5,000–15,000 is enough for maximum effect.
Conclusion: invest strategically, don't renovate everything
Renovating before selling pays off when you choose the right measures and know the market. Get advice from an agent who sells in your region – not from a contractor who wants more revenue.
List on the owners page and compare agents with renovation experience – free on makli.ch.