You have a house. It is old, but solid. You want to sell it or rent it for more money.
Most people think you need to demolish and rebuild.
You don’t.
At Amej Homes, we help clients across Nigeria increase property value with smart upgrades that cost little but add a lot.
Here are 7 upgrades that work anywhere – whether your property is in Ibadan, Enugu, Asaba, Kano, or Lagos.
1. Fix Your Title First – Adds 15% Instantly
This is the cheapest upgrade with the biggest return.
A house with C of O will sell for 15-20% more than the same house with only deed and receipt. Even if you have R of O, process it to C of O.
Many buyers will not even negotiate if title is not clean.
Cost: N300k – N1.5M depending on state.
Value Add: N2M – N5M on sale price.
2. Fencing and Gate – The First Impression
No matter how fine your house is inside, if there is no fence or gate, buyers will price it low.
What to do: Build a standard fence, plaster and paint it, install a good gate. Add security lights.
Cost: N1.2M – N2.5M for standard plot.
Value Add: Makes your property look secured and complete. Increases rental value by 20%.
3. External Painting and Compound Floor
A fresh coat of quality paint (not cheap) changes everything. Add interlocking or German floor in compound, not bare sand.
What to do: Use weather-resistant paint (Dulux, Berger). Do two coats. Clear bushes and level compound.
Cost: N800k – N1.8M for standard bungalow.
Value Add: First impression is everything. Buyers decide in first 30 seconds.
4. Toilets and Kitchen – The Deal Breakers
If your toilet and kitchen are dirty or old, nobody will pay premium.
What to do: Change WC, replace kitchen sink, put new tiles in kitchen and toilets, install a modern kitchen cabinet (even small one).
Cost: N700k – N1.5M for 2 toilets + kitchen.
Value Add: Women make 80% of rental decisions. Clean kitchen and toilet = higher rent.
5. Water and Light – Solve the Two Biggest Problems in Nigeria
If your house has steady water (borehole + overhead tank) and good electrical wiring with changeover, value jumps.
What to do: Borehole with submersible pump, 2 water tanks, proper plumbing. Rewire if wiring is old.
Cost: N1M – N1.8M
Value Add: Tenants pay N200k – N400k more yearly for house with steady water.
6. Security and Burglary Proof
In every state, security is now number one concern.
What to do: Install standard burglary proof on windows, good doors, and add solar security lights (not expensive).
Cost: N600k – N1.2M
Value Add: House rents faster and sells faster.
7. Small POP and Lighting
You don’t need full luxury POP. Do simple POP in sitting room and master bedroom. Add good LED lights.
What to do: Simple POP ceiling design + recessed lights. Avoid heavy, outdated designs.
Cost: N500k – N900k
Value Add: Makes house look modern in photos and videos.
What NOT to Do
Don’t add expensive Italian tiles in a low-income area. Don’t build swimming pool in a place where people need water.
Renovate according to your location and target buyer.
The Math
Let’s say your house is currently worth N25M.
If you spend N5M on these 7 upgrades smartly:
New value = N32M – N35M
Profit = N2M – N5M extra, plus faster sale.
That is how smart investors flip properties across Nigeria.
Final Word
The best real estate investors don’t always build new. They buy old, upgrade smart, and resell or rent at higher price.
You can do the same with your current property.
Want us to inspect your property and give you a renovation-to-profit plan?
Send us pictures and location on WhatsApp. We will give you a free 24-hour valuation and upgrade advice for your state.
