Maintenance & Renovation: How to Keep Your Property Valuable
A house needs care to remain a safe home and stable asset for decades.
The Renovation Backlog Trap
Many property owners enjoy their home for years without setting aside reserves for major repairs. When the roof and heating need to be renovated at the same time after 20 or 25 years, financing often reaches its limits. Neglected maintenance not only reduces quality of life but also significantly lowers your property's market value.
Expert Tip: The 1 Percent Rule. As a rule of thumb: Set aside about 1% of the building insurance value per year for future renovations. For a house worth 800,000 francs, that's 8,000 francs annually. This way, you build up the necessary capital for major renewals in time.
Know the Life Cycle of Building Components
Every element of your house has a limited lifespan. Smart planning is based on these cycles:
- After 10–15 years: Interior painting and minor service work on building systems.
- After 20–25 years: Replacement of the heating system and renewal of kitchen appliances and floor coverings.
- After 30–40 years: Major investments such as roof renovations, facade insulation, or window replacement.
The Annual Building Check
- Roof & Gutters: Are the tiles secure and drains free of leaves?
- Facade: Are there cracks or algae growth indicating moisture?
- Building Systems: Has the heating been serviced and the boiler descaled?
- Exterior: Are fences, paths, and drainage in good condition?
Conclusion
Those who understand property maintenance as an ongoing process save money in the long run and secure resale value.
Frequently Asked Questions
2 answers about this topic
Value-preserving are works that maintain the existing condition (e.g., repainting or replacing an old heating system). Value-increasing are investments that raise the standard (e.g., installing a luxury kitchen or a conservatory extension). While the former is often tax-deductible, the latter increases your property's value for a later sale.
Yes, usually even twice over. First, your ongoing energy costs drop massively (e.g., through a heat pump or better insulation). Second, your property's marketability increases, as modern buyers place great value on sustainability and low ancillary costs.
Author
Adis Kavazovic
Head of Insurance & Financial Planning
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