Many real estate experts will tell you: It’s the kitchen that often sells a home. Most kitchens have a lot of features that will be used on a regular basis, and there is a lot of money poured into the creation of that space. The kitchen is also the part of the home that ages the fastest, in part because appliances show their age so well, but also because kitchen styles can change a lot over time.
A modern style in your kitchen is a great asset that can increase not only your home’s value, but the market demand for your property. If you are looking for ways to increase your home’s value, such as for an upcoming sale, you can make tons of headway by introducing some changes in your kitchen. Here are some tips to help you up your value and secure a higher list price.
Upgrade your appliances
Appliances aren’t cheap, but if you do the upgrading yourself, you’ll end up making a profit. Buyers can get overwhelmed with the prospect of swapping out decades-old appliances, and it can be hard for them to look at your kitchen and envision these changes for themselves. Invest in better models of the appliances you will be selling with the home, such as the refrigerator, the stove, the dishwasher, and the microwave, if it’s built in to your cabinetry.
Invest in energy-efficient models and even those outfitted with smart technology. New models of Whirlpool appliances, for example, use smart technology to better control water and energy use, and they can be synced with one another or even apps on mobile devices.
Improve your cabinetry
Standard cabinet styles and hardware can look a little blah. You’ll be much better off updating your cabinets, even if you don’t replace them entirely. Consider different handles and other cabinet hardware to update its look, and add a new coat of stain or paint to strengthen the colors in the room.
Change your flooring
If your kitchen has linoleum on the floors, you have an easy course of action to take: You need to improve your flooring. Linoleum may be easy to clean, but it’s pretty unattractive and unfit for a modern kitchen. Consider other easy-to-clean surfaces like tile or hardwood flooring, which will better complement your other finishes and will add value to your home.
Consider a new backsplash
A backsplash can sometimes be an overlooked feature, but when it’s done well, it can change the whole complexion of a kitchen and get rave reviews from prospective buyers. Even better is the low cost of adding a backsplash to your kitchen’s walls, not to mention the fact that you can easily do it on your own. Go out and find a custom tile pattern whose colors go well in your color scheme, and add the new backsplash to your kitchen’s walls. Keep in mind that it also serves a functional purpose of protecting the wall from water and food damage.
With a little effort put in to shaping up your kitchen, you could position yourself for a much better home sale experience. Kitchens have a very tangible effect on a home’s value, so remember that your money spent will be well worth it when you go to sell the home. And then you can take those profits and put them toward your new residence.
Holly is an Indianapolis native who works with her father in the real estate industry flipping houses. When she isn’t scouting out her next house, you can find her blogging on behalf of Sears and other brands she loves.