How can I increase the sale value of my property?

Short answer: You add the most value to your property through work that costs time rather than money: clearing it out, cleaning it unusually thoroughly, washing the glass and windows, replacing yellowed switches and sockets, fitting trim where it is missing and touching up damage. Major works shortly before a sale rarely return what they cost. On top of your own work, it is the marketing that lifts the price – good promotion on social media delivers an average of about 2.4% more on the sale price in the Icelandic market, based on a comparison of 100 properties sold between 2023 and 2025.

Start by “starting to move out”

The most effective step costs nothing. Think of it as already having started your move: pack away the clothes and belongings you will not need over the coming weeks or months and put them in storage, with relatives, or in boxes stacked neatly.

The fewer clothes and possessions on show, the “lighter” the property becomes. The space looks larger and the contents stop being overwhelming. When windows, shelves and tables are crowded with things, the eye is distracted and a buyer finds it harder to picture the space empty – or to see how they would make it their own with their own furniture.

Clean thoroughly – and then a little more

The next step is cleaning, and it can go well beyond an ordinary weekly clean. Two areas deliver the most:

• Glass and windows. When the glass is dirty, a prospective buyer feels the house has not been well looked after and that the windows may be due for replacement. Clean glass makes the space brighter, leaves the view unobstructed and gives the impression that the building is in good condition.
• Kitchen and bathroom. These are the rooms buyers inspect most closely. Grout, taps, the oven, and cupboard doors inside and out.

The small details that cost little and show at once

Once the property has been cleared out and cleaned, you move on to the details. In this order:

1. Switches and sockets. Old, yellowed switches are one of the clearest signs that a property has not been maintained. New switches are cheap, the job is quick, and the difference shows immediately in the photographs.
2. Trim. Fit skirting, cornice or door trim where it is missing. A missing length of trim makes a room look half-finished.
3. Touch-ups and small repairs. Fill and touch up damage on corners, around door frames and wherever there has been most wear. Tighten loose door handles and cupboard doors that hang crooked.
4. Paint where the walls are visibly marked. Not the entire flat by default – only where it is genuinely needed.
5. Bulbs and lighting. Replace blown bulbs and keep the light temperature consistent across all fittings in the same room.

What does not pay off?

Major works shortly before a sale rarely pay off. Once you have decided to sell and buy elsewhere, the appetite for big jobs is usually at its lowest, and your mind has moved on to the move itself rather than to making the property nice for the next owner.

A new kitchen is the clearest example: the cost mounts quickly and there is no guarantee the buyer shares your taste. The same goes for major layout changes, expensive fitted units and bespoke solutions.

The rule is simple: repairs that remove a buyer’s reservations pay off. Works intended to impress them rarely do.

In what order should this be done?

The order matters, because each step makes the next one easier:

1. Decluttering and packing – otherwise you are cleaning around your belongings.
2. Repairs and painting – otherwise you are cleaning twice.
3. Deep clean, glass last.
4. Photography and video.
5. The property goes on the market and the marketing begins.

In an average flat this is usually a few evenings’ work, and nearly all of the cost is time rather than money. There is therefore seldom any reason to postpone a sale because of the preparation – it takes less time than most people expect.

And then the marketing takes over

Once the property is ready, the rest depends on how many people see it. Professional photography and paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram, the field Baldur fasteignasali (licensed estate agent) specialises in, can lift the number of people who see the property online from 200–300 to 2,000–4,000 and deliver an average of about 2.4% more on the sale price – based on a comparison of 100 properties sold between 2023 and 2025.

That side of things is covered in more detail in the article “How do I get a higher price for my property?”.

In short

• The most effective work you do yourself costs time, not money.
• Start moving out: fewer belongings make the space larger and brighter.
• Clean unusually thoroughly, especially the glass and windows.
• New switches, trim and touch-ups are the cheapest jobs that show immediately.
• Major works shortly before a sale rarely return what they cost.

Frequently asked questions

Should I rent furniture or hire a stylist before selling? In most cases it is enough to clear the property out substantially and arrange what is left neatly. If the property is completely empty, some furniture can help buyers judge the size of the rooms, but it is rarely necessary to rent a full set.

What if I am living in the property while it is on the market? Then it is about holding the standard you reached. Keep boxes ready for whatever accumulates, keep tables and window sills clear, and allow for a quick run-through before each viewing.

Get in touch

It costs nothing to walk through the property and get a list of what is worth doing – and what can safely be skipped. Contact Baldur Jezorski, licensed real estate agent (löggiltur fasteignasali), on 450-0000 or send a message via 450.is for more information on which steps will add the most sale value to your property. Free and without obligation.

Related articles

• How do I prepare my apartment for sale?
• Is it worth painting before selling?
• Which renovations are not worth it before selling?
• How do I get a higher price for my property?

Thinking of selling? Get a free valuation from Baldur Jezorski, licensed real estate agent in Hafnarfjörður, reply within 24 hours.

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