Selling a home in Desjardins in 2025 requires more than just putting up a sign on the lot. Buyers are well informed, often accompanied by a building inspector, and they compare several properties before making an offer. A house that hasn't been refreshed in 10 or 15 years is at a real disadvantage, not because it's in poor condition necessarily, but because first impressions play a huge role in perceived value and offers received.
The trap many homeowners fall into is renovating too much, or renovating without a strategy. Poorly targeted renovations can swallow up a budget without generating a proportional return on the sale. Conversely, a few well-chosen interventions - kitchen, bathroom, paint - can make a significant difference to the final price and speed of transaction.
At Solutions Rénovation Québec, we accompany owners in the Lévis and Desjardins in exactly this kind of situation. We'll help you distinguish between what pays and what doesn't, and do the right work, the right way, so that your home is ready to seduce buyers.
Why invest in pre-sale renovations
A buyer visiting a home is making an emotional as well as a financial decision. They project themselves into the space. He mentally evaluates what he would have to change. And each thing he identifies as needing to be redone is a deduction he mentally makes from his offer, often exaggerating the real cost.
Targeted renovations can increase the market value of a property by 5 to 15 % depending on the local market and the work carried out (reasonable estimate based on trends in the Québec residential real estate market). But even more than value for the asking price, they reduce objections to the offer. A clean, functional kitchen, a bathroom with no signs of damp, freshly painted walls in neutral tones - these are all reasons to negotiate down.
The strategic approach is to identify the few high-return interventions and do them right, rather than renovating everything indiscriminately. This maximizes the net gain on sale, without sinking the budget into superfluous projects.
The risks of not renovating or of poor planning
A house with kitchen dating from the 1990s, a bathroom that smells of damp and walls with strong custom colors generate lower offers, it's documented. Some buyers outright refuse to make an offer on a property that requires too much visible work. Others obtain financing conditional on corrections detected during the inspection.
Return on investment varies according to the type of work. Neutral paint offers an ROI of over 100 % in most markets, it's one of the few interventions where you get back more than you invest. A well-targeted kitchen renovation generates an ROI between 75 and 100 %. Bathroom modernization, between 50 and 100 % depending on the scope of work (reasonable estimates based on data from the Quebec residential real estate market).
What reduces ROI is excessive luxury in a neighborhood that doesn't justify it, or poorly executed DIY work that is identified during the inspection and becomes a negative negotiating point. A licensed RBQ contractor is also a guarantee that the work presented to the buyer has been done according to the rules, which has real value in a transaction.
Not sure where to start? Contact us for a free consultation, We'll come and assess your property and propose a renovation plan tailored to your budget and sales objectives.
Priority renovations to maximize value
Three areas have the greatest influence on the buying decision: the kitchen, the bathroom and the general condition of the walls and finishes. These are the areas to invest in first, and where the best returns are obtained. Excessive luxury projects or secondary room renovations rarely generate a commensurate ROI in the context of the Desjardins market.
Another important principle: avoid DIY for jobs that look the part. A buyer who identifies poorly finished housework, uneven ceramic joints, paint applied without preparation, DIY plumbing, draws a general conclusion about home maintenance. This is the opposite of the desired effect.
Modern, functional kitchen
The kitchen is the room that sells a house, or slows down the transaction. You don't have to tear it all down to make a real difference. A strategic refresh can completely transform the perception of a space: replace countertops with quartz, add or modernize a functional island, new light fixtures, replace cabinet fronts if they're in good structural condition.
This type of intervention can be carried out with a budget of 20,000 $ to 40,000 $ depending on the size of the kitchen and the materials chosen (reasonable estimate). The aim is not to create the perfect kitchen, but to remove the elements that make a buyer say «I'm going to have to change everything».
Safety and durability RBQ
As soon as the kitchen work touches on plumbing or electricity, moving a sink, adding an outlet, etc., we're there to help. GFCI Whether you're dealing with a new water supply or a modified hood circuit, you're entering the territory of regulated work requiring an RBQ-licensed contractor. In the context of a sale, this is particularly important: a buyer whose inspector detects non-compliant electrical or plumbing modifications has strong negotiating leverage. Work carried out by a licensed RBQ contractor, documented and in compliance, is protection for you as the seller.
The materials chosen must also take into account the climatic realities of homes in the Lévis region: humidity, temperature variations and thermal cycles that put a strain on joints and surfaces. A quartz countertop, for example, resists humidity well and doesn't require regular sealing like granite, an easy-maintenance argument that buyers appreciate.
Functional bathroom
The bathroom is the second most scrutinized area during a visit. Buyers look at the state of ventilation, traces of moisture on the walls and ceiling, and the joints in the shower or bath. A bathroom that smells musty or has stained ceramic tiles sends a negative message about the property's general upkeep.
A targeted modernization, replacement of the vanity, new faucet, removal and reinstallation of shower tiles, improved ventilation, paint, can be achieved with a budget of 12,000 $ to 20,000 $ (reasonable estimate). Again, the aim is not perfection, but to eliminate visible objections and leave a clean, well-cared-for impression.
Some energy efficiency programs like Logisvert may apply if the work includes low-flow plumbing equipment or ventilation improvements. Check the eligibility criteria when planning your project, as this may reduce the net cost of the work.
Technical standards and RBQ
Bathroom ventilation is governed by the French Code de construction of Quebec, an undersized or poorly installed extractor is a non-conformity detectable during an inspection. In Desjardins homes over 25 years old, this is a frequent occurrence. Correcting this before the sale avoids unpleasant negotiations at the time of the promise to purchase. Plumbing work, such as replacing shut-off valves, faucets and bathtub seals, must be done properly to avoid water infiltration, which, in Quebec's climate, can cause significant damage to walls and adjacent structures.
Interior and exterior painting
This is probably the most cost-effective intervention available to a homeowner who wants to sell. A house freshly painted in bright, neutral tones looks larger, better maintained, and easier for a buyer to personalize. ROI often exceeds 100 %, you recover more than you invest from the sale price (reasonable estimate).
Neutral colors - off-white, light gray, warm beige - also facilitate home staging and depersonalization. A buyer visiting a house with burgundy walls in the living room or brightly hued bedrooms has to make a mental effort to project himself into the space. Neutral walls remove this obstacle.
Materials and climate
In the context of the Lévis region, the selected paintings for high-humidity areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, basement, must be resistant to humidity and washable without degrading. Eco paints without VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are an increasingly attractive option for buyers conscious of indoor air quality. For exteriors, paints and primers must be formulated to resist freeze-thaw cycles and UV rays, an important factor in our climate, where a poorly chosen paint can flake off in two winters.
Ready to evaluate your project? Request a free estimate, We'll come and see your home on site and propose a plan tailored to your sales objective.
Other strategic renovations to consider
Once the three priorities - kitchen, bathroom and paint - have been covered, there are other interventions that can improve the overall perception of the property without requiring large budgets.
Refreshing floors deserves attention. Gravelled wood floors or coatings Aging vinyl gives an impression of neglect even in an otherwise well-maintained home. Sanding and refinishing floors of existing wood, or the replacement of worn siding, significantly improves the overall impression of a space.
Staircases, banisters and outside galleries are often overlooked in the preparation of a sale, yet they are elements that the buyer touches and tests during the visit. An unstable banister or a staircase with creaky treads sends a negative message. A gallery with peeling paint is visible from the street, even before the buyer enters the house.
Interior lighting is also an often under-utilized lever. Replacing dated fixtures with modern, brighter models can transform the perception of a space without great investment. A well-lit living room looks bigger and warmer than a dark one with fixtures from the 1980s.
Exterior renovations and home appeal
The first impression is formed before the buyer walks through the door. The condition of the facade, the siding, the entrance and the grounds determine the entire visit. Small, targeted jobs such as freshening up the paint on the front door, replacing a damaged section of siding or cleaning up the facade can significantly improve the buyer's perception of the property from the moment they arrive.
For siding work in the Lévis and Desjardins region, durable materials such as’aluminum or fibrocement are particularly relevant. They resist freeze-thaw cycles without requiring regular maintenance, an argument that well-informed buyers appreciate, especially in a region where winters are demanding for exterior materials.
Would you like a professional outside look at the condition of your facade before you go to market? Contact us for a consultation, We identify what needs to be corrected before the sale.
Why call on Solutions Rénovation Québec?
Renovating to sell is different from renovating for yourself. Priorities are not the same, the budget must be managed with greater discipline, and every decision must be weighed against its impact on the transaction. It's an exercise we know well at SRQ.
SRQ strategic approach to resale
Our approach always starts from the same point: understanding your objective. What is your target market date? What is your available budget? What will buyers see first in your property?
From there, we prioritize. Kitchen, bathroom, paint first, because that's where the ROI is most demonstrable. Then, if necessary, the exterior elements. We avoid prestige projects that exceed what the market in the Desjardins and Lévis area can absorb, because investing 60,000 $ in a high-end kitchen in an area where houses sell for 350,000 $ is not a profitable strategy.
We also manage the necessary permits, the coordination of trades and RBQ compliance, so that the work carried out is presentable to the buyer and his inspector without any grey areas.
Support and guarantees
All our work is covered by a 5-year warranty on labor. In the context of a sale, this is an argument you can pass on to the buyer: the work was carried out by an RBQ-licensed contractor, with a transferable warranty. It's as much a protection for him as it is for you.
We'll also advise you on available grants and programs that may apply to your project-Logisvert, energy efficiency programs, municipal assistance-to reduce the net cost of your renovations before you sell.
Our team of 5 to 10 specialists, depending on the scope of the project, more than 500 projects completed in the region and an average score of 4.9 out of 5, This is the basis on which we work with each owner, whether they sell or not.
Preparing your Desjardins home for sale? Request a free quote or call us at 418-476-1747, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
FAQ: Pre-sale renovations at Desjardins
Which renovations provide the best ROI before selling?
The three interventions with the best return on investment are, in order: interior painting in neutral tones (ROI often higher than 100 %), targeted kitchen modernization (ROI between 75 and 100 %), and the bathroom (ROI between 50 and 100 %) (reasonable estimates based on trends in the Quebec residential real estate market). These figures vary according to the local market and the starting condition of each property, so an on-site consultation can help you assess what applies to your situation.
Is it necessary to renovate the entire kitchen or just certain parts?
Not necessarily the whole kitchen. In many cases, a targeted refresh - replacement of countertops, new cabinet fronts, modernized faucets, new central light fixtures - is enough to transform the perception of the space. If existing cabinets are in good structural condition, replacing them entirely may not be financially justified before a sale. The goal is to eliminate the elements that make a buyer say «I'm going to have to change everything», not to recreate a magazine kitchen.
What's the added value of neutral paint?
Fresh, neutral paint is one of the most effective interventions before a sale, because it acts on several dimensions at once. It improves the luminosity of spaces, facilitates the buyer's projection into the house, and communicates a message of serious maintenance. The cost is relatively low in relation to the impact on perception, and in many cases, more is recovered than invested in the final selling price.
Do renovations have to be RBQ-compliant, even for resale?
Yes, and this is particularly important in the context of a sale. The inspector appointed by the buyer will examine the work carried out. Non-compliant electrical, plumbing or structural modifications become negative negotiating points, or even conditions on the promise to purchase. Work carried out by an RBQ-licensed contractor, documented and compliant, protects the seller and reassures the buyer. This is a real advantage in any transaction.
How much should you budget for your kitchen and bathroom?
For a kitchen, allow between 20,000 $ and 40,000 $ for targeted refurbishment, countertops, facades, fixtures, minor plumbing (reasonable estimate). For a bathroom, between 12,000 $ and 20,000 $ for functional modernization, vanities, taps, ceramics, ventilation. These budgets vary according to the size of the space, the original condition and the materials chosen. An on-site quotation will give you a precise figure for your home.
Do small exterior renovations improve sales?
Yes, significantly. The first impression is formed before the buyer enters the house, and the condition of the facade, siding, front door and porch determines the rest of the visit. Small, targeted jobs - refreshing the paint, replacing a damaged section of siding, cleaning the facade - improve the overall appeal without requiring a major investment. In the Desjardins context, where many homes are 25 to 40 years old, the condition of the exterior is often what distinguishes a property from others on the market.
Are Logisvert subsidies available for resale?
Some of the work eligible for the Logisvert program - replacement of low-flow plumbing equipment, ventilation improvements, insulation - can be carried out as part of a pre-sale program. Eligibility criteria depend on the type of work and the current condition of the property. We advise you to check available programs when planning your project, and can help you identify what applies to your situation during consultation.
Can SRQ manage renovations and RBQ compliance for me?
Yes, that's exactly what we do. We take care of planning the work, coordinating the trades, applying for permits if necessary, and ensuring end-to-end RBQ compliance. You don't have to manage multiple stakeholders or navigate administrative requirements alone. We keep you informed every step of the way, and deliver a clean job site with complete documentation of the work carried out, useful to have on hand for the buyer and his inspector.
Solutions Rénovation Québec (SRQ), RBQ-certified general contractor RBQ license: 5811-7821-01 2552 chemin du Fleuve, Lévis, Québec, G6W 1Y3 Tel.: 418-476-1747 | renovationsolutionsquebec.ca Areas served : Lévis, Quebec, Beauce, Chaudière-Appalaches, Centre-du-Québec, Mauricie, Eastern Townships