What can you save on, and what must be in the interior to attract future buyers and make the property competitive in the market? Which style to choose: modern or classic? Is the quality of finishing materials important? You will find answers to these and other questions in our material.

Style, smart technologies, layout, location, materials — everything that can increase the value of a property for sale. Architects and designers reflect on the actual demand of time, share their observations and give practical advice.

Evgeny Koblov: «A competent choice of professionals for investment apartments is immediately 50% of the profit from the invested funds. Even the bank will not give such a percentage»

Evgeny Koblov, architect, designer, Managing Partner of the A+A architectural workshop, Moscow

There are several categories of investment apartments that are attractive for sale in the future: premium and medium. The premium market is not so actively filled today, because high—end apartments start from $ 3 million and above, and the quadrature is from 160 sq. m.

Premium sector

• The current style is a modern light classic, not pomposity in any way. Minor decoration on ceilings/walls using classical elements. Everything is stylish, tasteful and only made of natural materials.
• An important condition of such apartments is the ergonomics of the space in terms of layout. (Often there are many square meters, but it is impossible to use the usable area due to the illiterate initial layout).
• All materials must be only natural and real. Preference is given to the best manufacturers in their field. Furniture — Italy, plumbing — Germany.
• In such an apartment there should be everything, right down to the toothbrush holder. For a person to come, and he didn’t need anything else, just to bring his things.
• As a rule, customers of the premium segment are people aged 45 and above. The smart home system is too complicated for them. Therefore, smart technology is not a fundamental or very important criterion.

Interior designed by Daria Goryacheva, Alexey Vyazminov (architectural workshop «A +A», Moscow). Photo: Sergey Ananyev

Middle segment

• Potential buyers are, as a rule, top managers, young people who love quality, beautiful and not very expensive.
• Smart home technologies are welcome, and adding them to the cost is reasonable.
• The advantage of such housing is design. The Italian sofa is not as important here as the furniture itself. Here you can save on most things, for example, on parquet or furniture. However, in the middle segment, the right kitchen (preferably German) with a good countertop and high-quality plumbing is very important.
• Light. It should be thoughtful, with the same glow temperature. The middle segment loves these things very much, and the owners focus their attention on this.

Interior designed by architects Alexey Vyazminov, Evgeny Koblov, Anna Goloukhova, Yulia Borisenko (architectural workshop «A +A», Moscow). Photo: Ilya Ivanov

Mila Uzikova: «The presence of natural finishing materials in the interior doubles its future investment position»

Designer Mila Uzikova, Moscow

In order for the interior to be investment-attractive for further sale, it must have a certain set of elements.

The presence of supply and exhaust ventilation, air conditioning, humidification — it is difficult to imagine a house or apartment without it now. This indicates a certain quality of life.

Smart Home management System. Even in the simplest configuration, it greatly simplifies the life of future customers. And if you expand the options and include heating, ventilation, home theater, acoustics — in total, this will give a product whose level meets the needs of modern investment much more. From my experience, I can say that everyone who refused any, even the most minimal automation system, then regretted it.

The interior is designed by Mila Uzikova and Elena Peregudova. Photo: Sergey Krasyuk

The area of the object should correspond to the minimum required set of premises, and a competent planning solution is a good indicator for any area.

The presence of natural finishing materials in the interior doubles his future investment position. Ceramics will not replace natural stone, just as natural wood has no analogues. Often, saving on some solutions, we use less durable and high-quality materials, but there are times when this is relative. For example, as an option, use a simpler technical light, more modest tiles and paint in the utility rooms. And there are legends about saving on textiles.

It is better to choose a universal interior style. It should not be cold or too elegant, but timeless and cozy, filled with high-quality materials and solutions that will not become obsolete over the years.

The interior is designed by Mila Uzikova and Elena Peregudova. Photo: Sergey Krasyuk

What exactly you can’t save on is plumbing, electrics, floor coverings made of high—quality and durable materials.

Zlatan Brkic: «Emotions are important for a profitable sale — the so-called wow effect»

Zlatan Brkic, Founder of AB Architects Bureau, Moscow

The most important thing, in our opinion, is the layout and functionality. Design trends are changing rapidly. At the same time, a well—thought-out layout, the ratio of function and aesthetics are permanent. If you show the buyer that the apartment is competently arranged and everything is chosen not just for beauty, but for life, including filling with technologies (not only «smart») — you will get a winning option.

It all depends on which client the interior is aimed at. For the premium segment, the interior should be as complete as possible, up to the decor and slippers. People with wealth are attracted to luxury, completeness: when you don’t need to do anything, waste time when you have everything, here and now. Like, for example, super elite apartments in London, Four Seasons, which were sold fully equipped. The apartments looked like a showroom with books and fresh flowers in vases. Such interiors inspire buyers.

Interior designed by AB Architects bureau

There are also buyers who are ready to get the minimum necessary set: kitchen, plumbing, dressing rooms, possibly some oversized items.

For a profitable sale, first of all, emotions are important — the so-called wow effect. It is wrong to think that expensive is good, and cheap is bad. The impression that is achieved through a competent combination of materials is important. Next, the function is what we tell with examples of life situations. And third of all, these are chips, unique solutions that literally cost nothing, but which are very expensive as inventions and for which they will want to pay over the price.

In our experience, the most popular interior is a modern design with classic elements. A versatile interior has more chances for sale. The stylistic solution of the apartment is set by the building itself. The interior should be a continuation of the house, correspond to the general mood.

The interior is designed by the AB Architects bureau. Photo: Sergey Krasyuk

The choice of materials is huge, and now there are very decent options on which you can save money. As for technology, we do not recommend saving here, this will avoid breakdowns. You can save a lot in the world. The most important thing is to be able to save! To do this, you need to be well versed in the market and materials, and experience plays an important role.

The smart home system is quite in demand now, and there are more and more budget solutions. It is also possible to make a preset for a «smart home»: in the future, the buyer will have the opportunity to finish everything for himself. So installing the basic functions of a smart home is a definite plus.

Our advice: make delicious interiors, make smart savings in the process and create interesting solutions and chips — in general, surprise customers!

Interior designed by Vedran Brkich, Lidia Brkich, Anna Garmash (AB Architects bureau). Photo: Sergey Krasyuk

Marina Kutuzova: «The classic style requires serious investments to perform everything at a high-quality and beautiful level. Therefore, a modern interior is more justified from an economic point of view»

Marina Kutuzova, designer, founder of the studio «Details», Kaliningrad

A project executed with a professional, competent and individual approach is already an investment in your comfort and pleasure of living in an apartment or house. But this is also an additional bonus if your plans change and a sale is required. Such objects usually look more attractive to a potential buyer, even if they initially do not satisfy him according to some criteria — location, area or, for example, the presence of a concierge.

Interior designed by Marina Kutuzova. Photo: Sergey Ananyev

If we talk about style, then the classic style requires serious investments to perform everything at a high-quality and beautiful level. Therefore, a modern style can be more justified from an economic point of view. In addition, it is more versatile, since there are much more connoisseurs of it.

Interior designed by Marina Kutuzova. Photo: Sergey Ananyev

It is always better to save on something that is easy to replace. The basic finish should be of high quality and thoughtful. Lighting is of great importance, which significantly affects the perception of space. It is not necessary to use expensive decorative lamps, it is important to create competent scenarios with a comfortable light temperature.

Convenient zoning, a well-thought-out kitchen, a comfortable sleeping and relaxing area are also very important. Despite some differences in the organization of everyday life of different people, the general principles of a high-quality home arrangement remain unchanged.

Interior designed by Marina Kutuzova. Photo: Sergey Ananyev

Maxim Baskov: «Apartments in new residential complexes from well-established developers have great investment attractiveness»

Maxim Baskov, architect, founder of the Hotel Richesse bureau, Moscow

It is important to understand what kind of investment we are considering and how we want to use the object in the future. If we make an interior for further sale, then this is one option, but if we want, for example, to rent it out, then we face completely different tasks and other criteria.

Ideally, the property should have everything necessary for life. With a full set of furniture, fabrics and technical equipment — in order for a person to see an absolutely ready interior for living, in which there are just not enough personal belongings.

The privacy of the space is difficult to maintain if the bathroom, dressing room and bedroom are located at different ends of the apartment. Apartments are well suited to achieve these goals, since there are no restrictions on planning solutions. After all, industrial facilities with extraordinary space, large windows and high ceilings are often reconstructed for apartments.

Interior designed by Maxim Baskov, Alexandra Al Tayar (architectural bureau of the Hôtel Richesse). Photo: Olga Alekseenko

If a person aspires to live in the center, he will rather find a suitable option (albeit with a smaller area) than give up his dream. Those who want to be closer to nature, real estate in the center is unlikely to be interested. Therefore, according to the degree of importance, the criteria can be distributed as follows: first, functionality, then location, and in the last place — interior and design solutions.

Apartments in new residential complexes from well-established developers have great investment attractiveness. As a rule, infrastructure with everything necessary is formed around such buildings: from shops, schools to gyms and cafes and restaurants. So it’s not just attractive housing, it’s a kind of lifestyle.

The interior of a country house. The authors of the project: Marina Sipko, Alexandra Al Tayar (architectural bureau of the Hôtel Richesse, Moscow). Photo: Sergey Krasyuk

If we talk about style, then the universal option is eclecticism, when the interior combines elements of both modern and classic style. In my opinion, it is also not worth filling the object with some extraordinary things that bear the imprint of taste.

It is not necessary to burden the interior, which is supposed to be for sale or long-term delivery with some very complex technical innovations, since initially the management of such systems is created for a specific customer request. And the new owner will have to monitor, discuss all these «smart things». Nevertheless, engineering systems must be designed and executed at a sufficiently high level and in accordance with the requirements of today. The use of high-quality equipment, preferably approved brands, has a good effect on the further implementation of the object.

Guest house. The authors of the project: Maxim Baskov, Natalia Sazhina, Alexandra Al Tayar (architectural bureau of the Hôtel Richesse). Photo: Sergey Krasyuk

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