Most home buyers are looking for homes that are updated. If a particular home isn’t updated, many potential buyers will start adding up the cost to update the kitchen and the bathrooms, at minimum, and may not offer as much for those homes.
Kitchens sell homes, and kitchen remodels are where updates will be noticed first. So, if you are considering updating your home to compete with similar homes in your neighborhood, there are a few areas of focus that you can prioritize based on cost. The first update I’d suggest you consider is painting your kitchen, especially if it hasn’t been painted in the past five years. Fresh paint in a neutral color is a very inexpensive, yet simple way to update your kitchen.
Second, I’d suggest you replace any or all of your appliances with stainless steel models. Buyers still want stainless steel. Next to paint, updating your appliances is another cost-effective way to quickly update your kitchen. Third, I’d suggest you take a look at the flooring in your kitchen. Buyers prefer tile or other hard flooring. Eighteen-inch porcelain or ceramic tiles in neutral colors are relatively inexpensive, yet provide a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to updating the look of your kitchen.
Along with updated flooring, buyers are looking for non-laminate countertops in kitchens, and granite or quartz are highly desirable upgrades that will quickly update the look and style of your kitchen. There are various levels (or pricing) of granite, and I would be happy to suggest which level of granite would be appropriate for the price range of your home.
Finally, the last update to consider when prioritizing costs in a kitchen remodel is updating your cabinets. Depending on the type of wood and the style of cabinet you currently have, simply painting or refinishing your cabinets may do the trick. If the interiors of your cabinets are in good condition but the style of the doors is not current, refacing may be a better option to update your cabinets. With refacing, the doors and drawer fronts will be removed, and they can be replaced with any style or finish. A finished wood veneer will be affixed to the cabinet sides, and new knobs and handles can complete the updated look.
Whatever you choose to do with an eye toward updating your kitchen, the results will be sure to help you maximize the final sale price of your home. I look forward to working with you to prioritize the costs of any remodel or update you plan to undertake.
