Kitchen Remodeling – Dos and Don’ts to add value to your home

If you are about to put your home on the market, it would be a good idea to do a little research on your own. One of the most overlooked areas of the house is the kitchen. Maybe it is because we usually take it for granted, as we are always there, and it is always being used. But it is perhaps because of this that makes it one of the most valuable rooms that you have in your home.

According to the website Homelight, “Most agents will tell you that kitchens sell houses. That’s probably why both kitchen upgrades and full renovations top the list of what buyers want. Realtors also believe that kitchen renovations are the most likely to increase your home’s value—but that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll make back every penny you spend.” So, be deliberate in what you will be changing and doing to your kitchen as this will add value, or take it away from your final selling price.

Think of the kitchen as the heart of your home. This is where the family eats and this is where your family may spend their time most. This is the epicenter of your home and where news and food passes along and is shared. Here are a few ways you could add some value to your home through its heart – the kitchen.

Add an Island

This may not be always possible as you will need a good amount of room for it. You have to take into account not only how big the island will be and how much space it will occupy, but the seating and how that spills over, and where. Will there still be enough room for people to walk by?

Try to use a Neutral Color scheme for main areas

Use the neutral colors for main areas like the countertops, then add splashes of color through your refrigerator or some cute bench seats you have around a nook. This is so that it does not jar the eye too much and will not seem too cluttered.

Little things

If you are not in the market for big changes, maybe you can do small ones. The easiest really is to change out the handles of your cabinets and drawers. This is an inexpensive way to spruce up old cabinets and fading paint. Or you can even paint the cabinets as well! Give them a fresh coat of paint to make them look brand new. Another small thing to do is to play around with the lighting. If you and your family spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this may be something you would like to consider. Changing the bulbs from white to soft, for example, is one way to make the atmosphere a little cozier in the kitchen. Or maybe add a lamp in one of the corners to brighten it up.

Fixtures

This may still be a small project but still a significant though often overlooked one: try to change your taps and fixtures. This is a seemingly small thing, but it will change the way the sink area will look.

Big budget items

Now if you have some budget to play with, think about upgrading your appliances. Check first of course if you even need to, or if it just needs a quick tweak from an electrician and some good ole elbow grease this weekend to spruce it up. But if it has a serious (but cute) defect, then consider trading it in for a new model. If your microwave display screen does not show readable numbers anymore then it is time to change it out. If it’s insides are just full of gunk, consider just deep cleaning it.

Try to keep all these appliances more or less matching or have some sort of connection to each other. It just makes for a neater looking kitchen and will make your kitchen look spiffy.
Moneycrashers say that if you are looking to change the appliances, look to those brands that score high on the energy efficient scale. This is great for the resale value and sustainability of the house as a whole.

Whatever you do decide to do with your kitchen, remodel or redesign, or just repaint, make sure that it is really what you want to do. As we mentioned earlier, this is the heart of the kitchen. If you were to embark on that big time renovation, make sure that you and your family are willing to go through it as well.

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