The two top rooms suggested for remodeling a home for a faster sale are the kitchen and the bathroom.
Most people cringe when they hear this because they think they have to spend thousands of dollars to truly update these two rooms.
For many, they think all new appliances and cupboards are the best way to go. Kitchen remodeling almost always conjures up visions of replacing countertops and expensive fixtures but this really doesn’t have to be the way you go for an update! While you can take the remodeling to any degree, even the smallest of changes can make a huge difference.
Like any room in your home a fresh coat of paint can make all the difference. You can do something as simple as paint the walls and update the coloring in your kitchen to painting the cupboards as well.
A simple change out of hardware on the cabinets can add to a fresh coat of paint and create a whole new look. Many times something as simple as a coat of paint on the walls and cabinets with new hardware will look like you’ve updated your kitchen for thousands. It looks fresher, cleaner and more modern and can generally be a weekend DIY project that makes it look like you’ve replaced old, worn cabinets with new ones. Be sure to take the time to remove the doors and paint them full and correctly thought. There’s nothing worse than someone opening a cabinet door to see the old, tacky untouched areas that you may miss when painting cabinets with the doors still on.
You can take the kitchen remodel a step further and “update” your appliances without having to purchase new ones. Sheets of stainless steel faux covering, much like the old time “tack paper” is available to cover an old refrigerator to give it a whole new updated look. A roll of stainless steel faux covering of 27.5″W x 98″L can cost about $10 a roll. There are also faux stainless steel paints available if you prefer this method but for most rolling on a sheet of the “contact style paper” is easier and faster.
Of course if you are going to update the refrigerator to look stainless steel you will want to update your other appliances too. Built in dishwasher fronts can easily be covered in the stainless steel looking sheets and, depending upon the model, some even have fronts that can be removed and replaced with a pre-cut sheet that slides into the front. Covering your stove is a little more difficult and takes a little more time but can be done with some precision cutting and patience. In the end, for a few hundred dollars you can have all stainless steel looking appliances in your kitchen; giving it a new high-end look without having to actually replace the appliances.
Swapping out old and outdated lighting fixtures is another easy fix for many kitchens. If you have a 1970′s style swag lamp hanging over your kitchen table it may be time to rethink lighting fixtures. You can rarely go wrong with a simple, clean and updated fan with a light kit. Many people can install their own fans and lights with simple directions or even by taking some of the free courses offered at your local hardware stores. Lighting fixtures can take a dark and dreary kitchen and make it seem fresh and vibrant.
One last quick fix in the kitchen is swapping out your sink faucets with updated versions. Generally this is an easy project that most anyone with even a little bit of handiness can achieve. Removing an old fixture and cleaning the area around it can make a big difference. A shiny new updated faucet and spray hose can bring your kitchen into the 21st century for under $100 in many cases. Even high-end faucet kits can come in for just a few hundred and give your kitchen a fresh, clean, updated new look.
So what can updating a kitchen with inexpensive fixes like a fresh coat of paint, a new faucet fixture and a new ceiling fan do for you in a matter of sales? One of the first places that makes or breaks a sale is the kitchen. Even those who don’t spend a lot of time cooking want a fresh, new, and updated looking kitchen. Minor kitchen remodeling with an investment of anywhere from a few hundred dollars to the lower thousands, depending upon what you want to update, can actually recoup as much as 70% or more of your investment according to Remodeling Magazine. It will also give buyers a feeling that you have kept your home updated if you’re kitchen looks fresh, clean, and more modern.
As the saying goes, “Friends and family tend to gather in the comfort of the kitchen” so a kitchen that is fresh, clean, updated and inviting is definitely going to be a great selling point.
If you’re looking to sell your home and need help in determining what you need to do to make your sale happen faster we’re more than happy to help you out. Give our office a call and we can discuss your needs and ideas to help you sell your home. As always, we’re happy to serve you with the sale and/or purchase of a home and our top-notch staff is always ready to help you with every aspect of making your home purchase or sale go as smoothly and quickly as possible.
