Should you renovate before selling? Advantages, risks and feedback

16/10/2025
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rénover avant de vendre

Should you renovate before selling? In 2025, this question has become unavoidable for any owner wishing to sell his or her property under the right conditions. The context has changed: buyers are increasingly sensitive to energy performance, regulations are tightening, and a poor DPE can seriously hamper a sale – or even cause it to fail.

Faced with these new demands, renovating before selling can represent a real opportunity: enhancing the value of the property, selling faster and negotiating less. Reinforced insulation, efficient heating, a well-cared-for appearance… all these elements reassure buyers, who are often looking for a home that is “ready to live in”.

But beware: not all work is equal. A poorly calibrated or overly expensive renovation can be counterproductive. You need to assess the real benefits in terms of the local market, the type of property and your sales strategy.

In this article, we review the real benefits of a pre-sale renovation, the pitfalls to avoid, concrete feedback from 2025, and possible alternatives. The aim is to help you make the right choice, without unnecessary extra cost or loss of value.

The advantages of renovating before selling

At La Crèmerie immobilier, we see it every day in the field: a renovated property changes everything. In 2025, buyers’ expectations have evolved – they’re looking for a comfortable, high-performance home, and above all, one that doesn’t require any work. A property that’s “ready to live in” is reassuring, and triggers a purchase. When we accompany a seller on a renovation project, the results are clear: more qualified visits, minimal negotiation, and often a faster sale. On average, a renovated property can sell for up to 20% more than one that needs to be refurbished, especially if it is upgraded from a DPE F or G to a better energy class.

But it’s not just a question of price. It’s also a question of perception. A redone kitchen, a modernized bathroom, good insulation or a new boiler… these are strong signals for buyers. It shows that the property has been maintained, that it’s in good condition and that it’s ready to move into. If you’re aiming for an efficient sale, without waiting months or negotiating downwards, then renovating intelligently before selling is often a real winning choice.

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The risks and limits of pre-sale renovation

We always encourage sellers to think in terms of strategy, not just appearance. Renovating can be very beneficial, but only under certain conditions. First, the work must be profitable. If you commit €30,000 to renovating in an area where prices have plateaued or demand remains low, you risk never recouping your investment. This is particularly true in rural areas or smaller, less dynamic towns.

Secondly, not all work is equal. Repainting or changing a floor may improve the first impression, but if the thermal insulation or heating system remains obsolete, the DPE won’t budge – and buyers won’t be fooled. You have to aim for the right things: insulation, woodwork, heating, ventilation… these are the things that really reassure and enhance the value of a property.

Finally, there’s the reality of the situation: deadlines. Between the tight schedules of craftsmen, possible delays and seasonal constraints (not blocking a sale in spring or summer), renovating requires real planning. Without it, you run the risk of missing the right window of opportunity to sell, or of putting up for sale a property that’s still under construction.

Feedback

Our experience in the field is clear: a property’s energy performance has a direct impact on its value… and its ability to sell. In many medium-sized towns and suburban areas, we see houses rated F or G remaining on the market for several months, or suffering discounts of up to -20%. Buyers hesitate, negotiate hard, or walk away in the face of future energy renovation costs.

Conversely, as soon as a property has a good DPE – A, B or even C – and has been recently renovated, the dynamic changes completely. These properties sell quickly, often at the advertised price, with little or no room for negotiation. This is a real confidence-booster for buyers.

However, it doesn’t have to be all about major renovation. Some of the sellers we work with opt for a hybrid solution: carry out an energy audit, collect quotes, identify available grants, then provide the buyer with a clear dossier. This allows them to remove any obstacles without having to start work on the property.

And of course, home staging remains a winning strategy: a little redesign, careful decoration, a space that’s well showcased… and you change the perception without blowing the budget.

What are the alternatives if you don’t want to renovate?

Not everyone can, or wants to, renovate before selling – and that’s understandable. At La Crèmerie immobilier, we offer alternatives to keep sales moving smoothly and in line with the market.

The first option is to sell as is, at a clearly attractive price. This may suit investors, property dealers or DIY enthusiasts. But beware: you have to accept a significant discount, especially if the DPE is poor. In some areas, this can represent a loss of up to 20% compared with a renovated property.

Last but not least, it’s possible to add value to a property without actually doing the work. How can you do this? By accompanying the sale with a complete dossier, including an energy audit, estimates for the work to be carried out, calculation of subsidies such as MaPrimeRénov’, an estimate of the savings to be made using the DPE… This gives the buyer a clearer picture, helps him to project himself, and reassures him as to the feasibility of the project. This is often a real plus in a sale.

At La Crèmerie immobilier, we go even further: our partner architects produce realistic 3D visuals and, for large-scale projects, we even offer virtual reality immersion via headset. This kind of staging brings out the full potential of the property, removes the psychological obstacles associated with renovation work, and creates a real “coup de coeur” even before renovations have begun.

Conclusion: should you renovate before selling in 2025?

According to our expertise, the answer is yes… in the vast majority of cases. In 2025, renovating before selling has become a real lever for increasing the value of a property, both to attract a more demanding clientele and to avoid the discount associated with a poor ECD. This means selling faster, with less negotiation, and often at a better price.

But beware: renovating is not always the right option. You need to think like a strategist, not a technician. Every sale project deserves a local market analysis, a detailed estimate of the cost of the work, and a careful analysis of your objectives (speed, profitability, target buyer profile).

At La Crèmerie immobilier, we sometimes advise you to renovate, sometimes not – but always with transparency, backed up by figures, and a true vision of your overall project. Sometimes, a simple energy audit or a well-prepared renovation file is all it takes to conclude a sale under the right conditions.

Take the time to set the scene, surround yourself with the right people… and you’ll make the right choice.

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FAQ

➡️ What work should be done before selling?

Before you sell, there are a number of things you can do to make your property more attractive. Renovating the kitchen or bathroom, repainting the walls or updating the lighting are simple gestures that make all the difference. Home staging can also be used to enhance volumes without major work. The aim is to show your home as clean, well-maintained and ready to live in – and any pre-sale renovations must be well chosen to be convincing right from the first visit.

➡️ Is it profitable to renovate before selling?

Energy renovations or improvements to key areas such as heating, insulation and bathrooms can be highly profitable, provided you calculate the cost of the work and the return on investment. If the added value will enable you to sell your home faster and at a higher price, then yes, it’s a good deal. However, it all depends on the local market: in some areas, it’s better not to over-invest.

➡️ How can I increase the value of my home?

To increase the value of your home, focus on its general condition, energy performance and visible features such as the kitchen and exterior. Well-targeted renovations can improve your home’s appeal, and therefore its selling price. In a competitive real estate market, every improvement counts to make your property more attractive to buyers.

➡️ What are the advantages of renovation?

Renovation offers a number of advantages: it increases theattractiveness of the property, improves its energy performance, reduces negotiating margins, and enables you to get a better price. This is often a double benefit: better resale value and reduced selling time. All that remains is to target the strategic items to maximize the impact.

➡️ Should you renovate or sell as is?

The answer depends on thecondition of the property, the local market, the cost of the work, and your targetbuyer. Sometimes, renovation is essential to avoid tough negotiation. In other cases, selling as-is with a discount may suffice, especially if you’re targeting investors or do-it-yourselfers. A serious appraisal is the key to good negotiation.

➡️ Which jobs are the most profitable?

The most cost-effective work prior to a sale is often the modernization of the bathroom and kitchen, and a complete repainting. They have a direct effect on the impression left during viewings, without incurring excessive costs. The important thing is to carry out simple, effective work, and to carefully analyze the potential return on investment.

➡️ How to attract buyers?

To attract buyers, make sure your property is renovated, clean, well-maintained and attractive. Home staging is very useful: by working on the generalappearance, decoration and lighting, you improve the perceived value. A well-presented property makes buyers want to move in, and reassures them that it’s well-maintained.

➡️ Tips for renovating before selling?

Before taking the plunge, ask a professional or your real estate agent for advice. Carry out an energy audit to find out where you need to act, and concentrate work on key areas. It’s also important to anticipate the need for an energy performance diagnosis (DPE), as this has a major impact on buyers’ decisions. Preparing a clear file with quotes, grants and work carried out is a real plus during viewings.

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