From EPC stress to sales opportunity: making renovation homes tangible
June 25, 2026 | Post by: Chari Lenaers
A home with character, space and potential.
But also: a less favourable EPC score.
For many potential buyers, that is exactly the moment when doubt starts to creep in.
“How much will this cost?”
“Which works are really necessary?”
“What does this mean for my budget?”
“And will I be able to get this financed by the bank?”
With the integration of Setle renovation reports in RealSmart, real estate agents can answer these questions faster and more concretely. Not with vague estimates, but with a clear renovation report that gives potential buyers a better understanding of a property’s renovation potential.
Two real estate agencies already using Setle through RealSmart explain how it strengthens their sales conversations.
“Buyers get a realistic picture much faster”
At Optie M, Mariek Martens mainly uses Setle for homes with an F-label. These are precisely the types of properties where potential buyers often have many questions. Not because they do not see the potential, but because it is difficult for them to estimate what is needed to improve the home’s energy performance.
According to Mariek, the greatest added value lies in the transparency you can offer as a real estate agent.
“Through the tool, we received a clear and comprehensive overview of the works and costs needed to bring a property from an F-label to a D-label or better. This helps us give potential buyers a realistic picture of the renovation costs and the impact on the EPC much faster.”
That clarity immediately makes the conversation more concrete. A renovation property becomes less abstract for the buyer. The focus shifts from uncertainty to feasibility.
“A valuable service for buyers and banks”
At Century 21 Immo K, Setle is also actively used for E- and F-label properties.
Katrien Ceuleers especially sees how the renovation report helps buyers better substantiate their plans. Not only during the sales process, but also when discussing a possible renovation loan with the bank.
“It is a valuable service to be able to offer this to buyers, with the message that they can present it to banks when negotiating renovation loans.”
According to Katrien, this leads to a stronger and more constructive sales conversation.
“It helps keep the conversation constructive and build trust. Today, this is definitely an added value in our sales process.”
In the video, Katrien Ceuleers from Century 21 Immo K explains how Setle helps them guide potential buyers more effectively when it comes to renovation properties.
More confidence in the renovation story
What both real estate agents make clear is this: Setle helps make renovation costs easier to discuss at the exact moment buyers need clarity.
For homes with a less favourable EPC score, it is no longer enough to simply say that “some work still needs to be done”. Potential buyers want to know what they are getting into. They want to understand whether a property fits within their plans, budget and financing options.
With a Setle renovation report, they quickly get a well-founded view of the possible works, indicative budgets and EPC impact. For real estate agents, this provides an additional way to guide buyers and reduce uncertainty.
An extra asset in RealSmart
Thanks to the integration in RealSmart, real estate agents can easily use Setle within their trusted workflow.
This turns a renovation report into more than just an extra step. It becomes a practical tool to better guide renovation properties, frame them more clearly and bring them to market with greater confidence.
Because the more concrete the renovation story, the stronger the sales conversation.
Discover Setle via RealSmart and experience how renovation insights can become a valuable addition to your service as a real estate agent.