When we hear the word cosmetic we tend to think of makeup or some form products to quickly improve appearance. Cosmetic renovation is much the same, by replacing tired looking items in a property can dramatically improve its appearance and desirability to a prospective buyer.
Generally cosmetic renovation allows visual uplift without the need for any structural building work. Basically anything you can see on the surface would fit into the category of a cosmetic renovation, while hidden items such as wiring, plumbing, moving / replacing walls etc.
Here’s a basic although not exhaustive list of cosmetic updates…
- Internal Wall Preparation and Painting (walls, skirts, radiators, ceilings, doors etc.)
- External Painting (Suffits, fascias, fencing, doors etc. if wooden)
- Light fittings and window furnishings
- Flooring (carpet, vinyl, laminate, tiles etc.)
- Re-colouring (such as the surfaces of a bathroom)
- Internal hardware (door handles, kitchen door handles, bathroom accessories, even a toilet seat)
- External items (house number, letterbox etc)
- Garden landscaping (cut grass, or turf if required, general garden tidy up)
There are other items that could be added to the list depending on the house type and construction which would still be considered as cosmetic, but the list provides ideas of quick and easy updates which add value to a property.
Our rule requires no more than a 10% spend of purchase price on the updates.
Let us know your thoughts…