Inheritance with potential: How to make aging properties attractive to the younger generation

The house where Grandma lived for 40 years is up for sale. When the heirs step inside, they see valuable memories, family history, and a sense of continuity. Potential buyers, on the other hand, scroll through the photos on Homegate and often see only one thing: dark rooms, patterned wallpaper from the 1970s, and a kitchen that looks like it belongs to a long-gone era.

This creates a classic dilemma: heirs want to achieve a fair price for solid building fabric. But today’s buyer generation—Millennials and Gen Z—has been visually shaped by Pinterest, Instagram, and architecture blogs. For them, a house that “has potential” is often off-putting at first, because the visual bridge to the modern living dream is missing.

Switzerland is facing an unprecedented demographic wave. The baby-boom cohorts will be passing on or selling hundreds of thousands of properties in the coming years. At the same time, a young generation is entering the market for whom new builds are often unaffordable. The problem is a “matching problem”: while older properties score points with substance, young buyers expect an aesthetic on a new-build level. The first hurdle to sales success today isn’t the price—it’s the very first image in the listing.

Young buyers assess a property within seconds. Their visual perception is shaped by perfectly styled interiors. Michael Racle knows from daily practice that it is often very specific details that trigger immediate defensive reactions in the young target group. Particularly striking relics of past decades now act as a real blockade to the imagination.

In addition to the notorious colored tiles in wet areas, it’s often outdated kitchen appliances or a gloomy feel to the rooms that signal: a lot of work awaits here. So it’s not about hiding the property’s condition, but about deliberately directing attention to what matters and lowering the mental hurdle.

Many heirs make the mistake of photographing the house “as is.” But for a sale, buyers need a “neutral canvas.” Less is more: every item that does not help convey the size of the room should be removed. Cleaning windows for maximum light and replacing broken light bulbs are small measures with big impact. Interested in how to prepare your property optimally? Read our checklist: Prepare a property for a photo shoot.

For inherited properties, virtual home staging is often the ideal solution. Instead of renting furniture physically, the photos are edited digitally. Outdated fittings are neutralized and replaced with modern design. Michael Racle emphasizes, however, that despite all digital brilliance, honesty toward the customer comes first. Visualista’s goal is to provide inspiration without creating false expectations.

In practice, this means: we show the potential, but we do not conceal the current condition. An “beautified” image that leads to disappointment during an in-person viewing harms the sales process more than it helps. Authenticity remains the key to avoiding “viewing tourism” and addressing only genuinely interested buyers.

Especially with older properties, the camera forgives nothing—unless you use it professionally. Professional real estate photography makes optimal use of daylight and works with perspectives that let rooms breathe. At Visualista, we focus on highlighting architectural strengths: a high ceiling, a distinctive bay window, or the view into a mature garden are your strongest selling points.

Images spark emotion; the text provides the arguments. Visualista uses cutting-edge technologies here: with the use of AI, text-image combinations can now be created that are perfectly aligned with before-and-after visualizations. This makes the “rough diamond” tangible in words as well. Still, the rule applies: be honest. Transparent communication prevents prospects from dropping out disappointed after a viewing because the property was misrepresented.

Older properties are not a burden, but an opportunity. The right presentation determines whether your property is perceived as an “old house” or a “dream home with character.” For Michael Racle, the decision to seek professional support is above all a matter of efficiency and partnership.

Visualista helps you get the best out of your property. Let’s find the right buyer together.

Is it worth renovating before the sale?

Cosmetic interventions like fresh paint are almost always worth it. Major renovations often don’t return the full investment, because buyers have their own ideas. Virtual staging is the smarter and more cost-effective route here.

How should I deal with very personal furnishings?

Remove family photos and religious symbols. That makes it easier for buyers to imagine themselves in the house. Anything that is extremely distracting at first glance should go.

Should outdated bathrooms be shown at all?

Yes, for transparency. However, a photo of an outdated bathroom should be supplemented with a high-quality visualization that shows how modern the space could look. That takes away the fear of the remodeling project.

What matters more: professional photos or virtual staging?

These days you can’t do without professional photos. They are the absolute foundation. Virtual staging is the ideal add-on that makes the decisive difference, especially with empty or heavily outdated properties. If the budget is tight, start with professional photos and add staging if the desired result doesn’t materialize after a short time.