Should one isolate their property before selling it?
Pre-sale isolation: advantages, limitations, and points of caution for investing in the right place.
Energy efficiency and EPC score: a value lever
You are going to sell your apartment or house, but is it worthwhile to carry out insulation work? When selling, homeowners often look to increase the value of their property in the market, and energy improvement is one of the avenues considered.
A well-insulated house is more energy-efficient: less heat loss in winter and better preservation of coolness in summer. Buyers are increasingly attentive to energy efficiency, which impacts the comfort of the home and can lead to savings on bills in the long term. Insulating your property can thus increase its EPC score.
Cost of work vs resale gain: finding the right balance
Renovating before selling is not always a good idea: you shouldn't exceed a certain budget, or risk losing money. You must be able to justify the asking price. If the renovations are too costly and the price exceeds the market value, the property will take longer to find a buyer and you may be forced to lower the price.
Immoweb and Immopass published a report analyzing energy work on more than 500 houses in Wallonia since January 2023 and the gains per square meter upon resale. It turns out that it was not profitable to renovate a property for immediate sale, as the cost of the work was higher than the financial gain. However, the work can become profitable if you benefit from these renovations a few years before the sale, notably thanks to grants and renovation aids.
It is also recommended to carry out as much work as possible at once: combining several small successive projects is more expensive than doing them in a single phase. Similarly, improving your energy performance certificate (EPC) letter by letter is more costly than aiming for a more significant leap, for example going directly from an EPC G to B.
Sell better without renovating everything: focus on targeted improvements.
To sell better, targeted renovations may be preferable. If you do not wish to spend too much or take the risk of redoing all the insulation, it is advisable to focus on small jobs: sometimes it is the details that will make the difference and trigger the love at first sight.
You can refresh the living spaces like the bedrooms or the living room. A new paint can make the space feel larger and give a sense of newness. The outdoor space can also be improved: mowing the lawn, planting flowers, or repainting the terrace can make a difference during visits.
Finally, making an appointment with a real estate professional allows you to optimize the work and maximize the property's value by investing in what truly matters in the eyes of buyers.
