Sleek kitchen is the secret to selling
What’s the secret to selling your home in a competitive market? The kitchen? What’s the secret to selling your home for the best possible price? The kitchen? What’s the secret to selling your home quickly? The kitchen? With Anna Maria’s prime buying season on the horizon, it may be time to give your kitchen a makeover before getting it on the market. It’s something that can be done with surprisingly little money.
There are a lot of ways to resuscitate a kitchen without breaking the bank or dipping into your kids’ college fund. A $5,000 mini-makeover can give the kitchen a new and fresh look without a full blown renovation costing 10 times as much. It’s sort of like having a shot of botox instead of the Joan Rivers facelift.
A good place to start is with cabinets that may be structurally sound, but are looking a little dated. Spruce them up with a new veneer or sometimes just a coat of high quality paint is enough. Adding some crown molding at the top provides a finished look, and inexpensive cabinet organizers will also present a custom-made look to the kitchen.
Often the kitchen backsplash is neglected, but is an area that can make a decorative statement for practically nothing. Freshen up the backsplash with a contrasting color paint or interesting tiles in ceramic, glass or stone which only cost between $10 to $40 per square foot. If you already have stainless steel appliances, using stainless steel on the backsplash for a little more money, $100 to $150 per square foot, gives a really sleek look.
Speaking of appliances, nothing makes more of a difference in a kitchen than new appliances. Prices vary but it’s worth the $2,000 or $3,000 especially if your current appliances look like they’ve been through one too many Thanksgivings.
If you don’t already have a kitchen island that can be restored, adding one is a great idea. It doesn’t have to be permanent if space is at a premium. Even a small island on rollers will add charm, counter space and storage for less than $1,000.
Nasty, chipped or stained countertops will leave buyers with the impression that the house is not being maintained. You can replace them with regular laminate for as little as $550 for an average kitchen, or substitute some of the more expensive quartz and granite products available if your budget allows. The point is to make the countertops look clean and fresh.
The same thing applies with sinks and faucets. You don’t have to purchase the most expensive stainless steel sink and top of the line faucet. As long as it’s clean, shinny and leak free, no one will ask to see the sales receipt.
And last, but definitely not least, is to light up your kitchen with a safer and a more inviting glow. Please, please, please remove fluorescent fixtures especially if they’re mounted within a domed ceiling. It doesn’t take a lot to replace a few sheets of sheet rock and install flush high hats that will give better lighting and an updated look. Also, under counter lighting can be purchased for a few hundred dollars and again gives a customized look to the kitchen.
Don’t ask me why, but in a country where eating out has become a major social event, everyone still demands a great kitchen. All I know is that houses with superior kitchens sell faster and for more. It’s no secret, just good common sense.
