Interactive Planning Tools

Renovation Scenario Evaluator

Compare three strategic pathways — sell as-is, light preparation, or full renovation — before committing to any direction.

Overview

Most renovation decisions are made before the math is done.

When families inherit a property, the renovation question surfaces early — and the instinct to "fix it up first" often precedes any honest analysis of what that will actually cost, how long it will take, and whether it will meaningfully improve the net outcome. This tool is designed to surface that analysis before any commitments are made.

The tool compares three scenarios — sell as-is, light preparation, and full renovation — using inputs you control. It accounts for renovation costs, carrying costs during the holding period, transaction costs, and a cost overrun buffer. The output is not a single "right answer" but a structured comparison of the tradeoffs involved in each path.

Observed Reality

Some of the most expensive mistakes in inherited property situations happen when families begin renovation work before fully understanding what the property is worth as-is. The decision to renovate should follow evaluation — not precede it.

Who This Is For

This tool may be helpful if…

You've inherited a property and are weighing whether to renovate before listing

Family members are pushing toward renovation without a clear financial analysis

The property has deferred maintenance and you aren't sure what to address

You want to understand what different preparation strategies will realistically produce

You're an executor trying to make defensible decisions on behalf of an estate

You're an attorney or CPA advising a client through an inherited property sale

What It Covers

Inputs, logic, and outputs.

Inputs

Property values

Enter estimated as-is value and estimated value after full renovation — the gap between these drives the entire analysis.

Inputs

Renovation costs

Separate inputs for light preparation and full renovation budgets, with an adjustable cost overrun buffer.

Inputs

Timeline & carrying costs

Adjustable timeline sliders and monthly carrying cost input — because holding costs compound quietly over a renovation period.

Outputs

Three scenario comparison

Side-by-side net proceeds for Scenario A (as-is), B (light prep), and C (full renovation) — with the highest-net scenario flagged.

Outputs

Risk indicators

Renovation premium, overrun risk buffer exposure, and carrying cost exposure — three signals that often tell a different story than gross proceeds alone.

Outputs

Contextual observation

A plain-language interpretation of what the inputs suggest — including when the as-is path makes more sense than the numbers initially imply.

Interactive Planning Tool

Projections are based on entered assumptions and are illustrative only. Actual renovation costs, sale prices, and carrying costs vary. This tool is for planning purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or real estate advice. Consult a licensed real estate advisor, CPA, and attorney before making major property decisions. · InheritedPropertyAdvisory.com · Brendan Gustafson, Broker Associate, Kentwood Real Estate City Properties.