Innenarchitektur und Reformen

Tips for home renovations when listing your property in Costa del Sol

Juli 2023

1. Focus on “value-for-money”

There are many renovations that have a positive impact without necessarily costing too much; some are even “zero-cost”.

Top cost- effective improvements:

Decluttering – Removing excess furniture and tiding-up before visits, will make your home more appealing to potential buyers. This applies to interiors, gardens and terraces.

Typical examples include removing shampoo bottles from showers, exercise machines from bedrooms, excess appliances from kitchen countertops, unwanted furniture, etc.   

As a general tip, Apps for selling second-hand items are very popular in Costa del Sol. You may be surprised at how you can even make a profit from unwanted items. In addition, there are numerous local charities and second-hand furniture stores in Costa del Sol that can remove excess furniture for free.

Painting – A popular saying is that “white is the colour of Andalusia”. This holds true for traditional and modern properties. A coat of white paint will create a sense of space and brightness.

It should be noted that older properties in Costa del Sol built before 2010 often have textured walls (a technique locally known as gotelé). In most cases it is highly recommended to smoothen walls. This extra expenditure could go a long way at modernising your home.

Floor Polishing – Older Spanish homes tend to have marble flooring, which is ideal for keeping interiors cool during the summer. For this reason, there are many specialist floor polishers in Costa del Sol. In addition to making the interiors feel fresher, they can fix cracks and imperfections.

Light fixtures –  Changing the electrical circuits should be done only if strictly necessary, as it will involve an electrician and cost considerably. A cost- effective way to make your home appear newer is to simply change the electric switches and sockets, or change older light fixtures.

Cosmetic changes –  Superficial improvements can often go a long way to modernise your home, without having to spend a fortune. Typical examples include changing curtains and door handles, as well as cabinet doors in kitchens.

2. Avoid subtracting

As a general rule, it is advisable to avoid reducing the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, unless there is an overwhelming architectural reason.

This is because buyers have a minimum bedroom requirement when searching for a property (instead of a maximum); so a reduction will have an adverse effect on the number of visits. The same logic applies to laundry rooms, garages, guest toilets and so on. 

If you want to turn an extra bedroom into a new home office, cinema, gym and so on, it is generally recommended to maintain the existing structure, or better yet, to have a multi-function room. For example, a home-cinema with a sofa-bed and private bathroom, which could easily be used as a guest bedroom.

3. Views are very important

Costa del Sol offers breath-taking views of the sea, golf courses and mountains. In some places it is possible to see the rock of Gibraltar and the coast of Africa over the horizon.

Unlike cosmopolitan cities like Malaga or Barcelona, buyers generally want panoramic views and are willing to pay a premium for them (up to 30% in some cases).

Relevant improvements may not necessary require structural works, such as enlarging windows. Sometimes, it could be as simple as installing a mirror or removing obstacles.

4. Avoid substantive reforms unless necessary

In most cases, major reforms involving constructors should be avoided. Works like water-proofing terraces, upgrading bathrooms or changing windows could cost considerably, without necessarily improving the value of your property.

Reforms should only be carried out if there is a valid reason. For example, if you have an old property in an excellent location, where reformed properties can sell for a much higher price, or if there is something wrong with a property that puts buyers off.

It is always advisable to obtain professional advice, especially from someone independent from the contractors carrying out the works. Our team of interior designers at Golden Design can advise as to the best options, in addition provide plans, renders and quotes before starting the works.

As experts in the real estate sector, we can provide a reasonable estimate of the expected price and viability of a project.

5. Finish it!

If you have an unfinished project, such as swimming pool, BBQ area and so on, please ensure that it is complete before putting your home in the market. Most buyers are put off by promises or potential problems.

6. Conclusion

It is not necessarily expensive to make your home more appealing to potential buyers, in order to have a quicker sale at a higher price.

Reforms are an excellent way to increase your property value; but only if done correctly and depending on the market conditions and the specific circumstances of a property.

Whatever your plans, please contact us and we would be glad to offer personalised advice.