Five ways to add value to your Spanish home.
With the Marbella real estate market having been on an upward trajectory for the past three years, both sales transactions and prices have been on the up. This up-turn has been driven primarily by the top end of the market where there is great demand, above all for new homes. At Altavista Property we have noticed that while everyone likes a bargain, purchasers know what they want and are willing to pay to get it. There is no doubt that modern trends of open plan design, new technologies and energy efficiency are highly desirable in a property, all factors designed into new builds. But with a shortage of brand new housing in Marbella what can people do to upgrade their home to not only ensure a sale, but also add value? 1. Open plan. Perhaps the biggest trend in contemporary properties is that of open plan layouts. The idea of open, flowing space incorporating living and dining areas—preferably with direct access to outdoor terraces and balconies—is a beguiling one for today’s home hunter. Unfortunately many older properties were designed to a different stylistic philosophy, yet it may be quite straightforward to simply remove non-structural walls to create an open living area. Sliding or French doors leading onto gardens and balconies are common, but if your property does not feature them, investing in having them fitted can be rewarding. 2. Create space. Space sells. If you own a villa and can get the planning permission, an extension can considerably increase the value of a property. This may be to enlarge a kitchen—spacious cooking areas are very much in demand now—or to add an extra bedroom. The living areas of apartments can be enlarged by making judicious use of glass curtains to enclose balconies. Their advantage is they extend the indoor living area during the cooler winter months, but can be opened up to make the most of those warm sunny days too. 3. Be energy efficient. While everyone likes the idea of going green, it has not always been possible to tell how energy efficient a property is. That has changed recently, with all homes being sold having to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) available to view. As energy prices are becoming an increasing worry to homeowners, having a property with a poor rating upgraded can be very cost effective. Solar water heating, double-glazing and insulation are all attractive to buyers and in some cases their installation can attract grants from regional governments. 4. Get connected. Many new build properties in Marbella feature the latest Domotic home technology systems and fibre optic internet capability, and these are now demanded more and more in resale homes too. Having wi-fi fitted throughout the house with sufficient band-width capacity certainly makes a home more desirable in the high-tech age we live in, as does the capacity to control lighting, audio and TVs from your smartphone. Spruce it up. If people can’t find a new home they tend to want one that is ‘as good as new’ instead. Make sure any maintenance is done, paintwork touched up and gardens kept trim. A small investment here can pay big dividends when it comes to the speed of sale and the selling price of your home. Should you require any advice when it comes to selling your Marbella villa or apartment, please contact us to arrange a viewing—we are only too happy to pass on the benefit of our many years’ experience.
