Kitchens: The Heart of the Home (and the Sale)
The kitchen is used more than any other room in the house, which makes it the most important room to stage in your home. Potential home buyers are looking for a kitchen that is as beautiful as it is functional.
Buyers want to view it without any unnecessary countertop appliances and clutter. By showcasing your kitchen in the best possible light, you can potentially sell your home faster and; increase the closing price. Even in a slow real estate market, making your kitchen attractive to a buyer could make the difference.
Clean up the kitchen
Studies have shown that one of the dirtiest places in the home is the kitchen. Before you list, pull out those rubber gloves and give everything a good scrub so that the kitchen sparkles. Replace unsightly floor tiles or sand/re-finish the hardwoods. And in a worst-case scenario, consider a complete floor makeover.
Pay special attention to the cabinetry; in older homes, it’s common to see cracks in the beaded caulking between the ceiling and the trim above the cupboards. For less than $10, you can buy a pre-mixed tube of crack filler and make it look like new. Also, to give the kitchen an inexpensive facelift, consider replacing the fixtures – an affordable way to give doors and drawers a second wind.
Clutter is a kitchen killer
Kitchens are the focal point of almost every home. A great rule of thumb for the staging of a kitchen is to leave no more than two appliances on your counter. After you’ve uncluttered the kitchen counter, brighten and soften the space by adding some fresh fruit, new dishtowels, a cookbook, and a plant or flowers.
Modernizing today will help you sell tomorrow
Modernizing your kitchen can help you sell your home for years to come. Renovating your kitchen now will let you enjoy new appliances while boosting the value of your home for the future. While you may want to take specific appliances with you, stainless steel can make almost any kitchen sing.
Another way to add value to your kitchen is to install concealed appliances – hiding the dishwasher and fridge, for example, can really spice up your kitchen for buyers. Also popular are microwaves with convection ovens (prices can vary between $200 to $900 for higher-end stainless built-ins) – another appliance quickly becoming a staple in most modern kitchens.
If you can’t replace appliances, be sure to have them repaired and cleaned. It’s also a good idea to clean your fridge and stove, as buyers will almost always open oven and fridge doors.
Consider replacing your counters, especially if there are stains or cracks. And white counters can leave buyers feeling bland about a kitchen (and ultimately about buying the house). If granite, marble, and corian are not in your budget, there are laminates that look very close to the real thing.
Lighting
Take the time to make sure all the existing light fixtures have working light bulbs. Make sure the blinds are open on all the windows and the under cabinet lighting is on. You may even want to add a small table lamp or two to accent a dark corner.
… And the kitchen sink
Another kitchen remodeling idea is to upgrade your “sinkware.” New faucets, soap dispensers and sinks (whether you are reglazing or replacing altogether) are affordable ways to give the kitchen an immediate facelift. Don’t forget, buyers love to turn on the kitchen faucet when touring a home. They want a spotless sink that looks clean (without a lot of scuff marks or any grime) enough to wash their dishes in.
The kitchen is the most important room and biggest selling feature in your house. Staging it properly can make every potential buyer say, “this could be my kitchen.”
by Tisha Gay