Whether you’re looking to sell your home in the near future or just want to take on some projects that will end up paying off when you eventually decide to sell your house, investing your money in the kitchen is a great idea. When people are looking to buy a home, they are often sold by the baths and kitchen, making upgrades and renovations in these rooms really up the resale value of your home. But what type of projects should you take on and what you should leave for the next owner? To help you solve this problem, here are three kitchen upgrade you can and should do to boost the resale value of your home.
Countertop Replacement
Kitchen work surfaces that are made from quality materials are a big selling point for potential buyers. Because so much of your food preparation and cooking takes place on these countertops, and because they are one of the first things people notice about a kitchen, springing for a nicer granite countertop will definitely pay off for you. Kristen Hampshire, a contributor to HGTV, states that the type of granite you get isn’t that important, just so long as people can quickly tell that the countertop is made of granite. Because of this, you don’t necessarily need to bring in the most expensive slab to see a big increase in your home value.
Bringing in the Best Appliances
Appliances are another thing home buyers will instantly notice when they walk into a kitchen. If the appliances in your current kitchen are old, dirty or out of date, this could be a reason for potential buyers to give you a lower offer than you might like. This is why Heather Levin, a contributor to Money Crashers, recommends purchasing new energy-efficient models for your kitchen appliances. Not only will buyers recognize that they’re getting new appliances that will likely last them a while, but Energy Star-rated appliances will also save them money on utilities in the long-run, which could be a big selling point for your home.
Creating Custom Cabinets
Because the cabinetry often takes up the most square footage in a kitchen, this should be an area that you spend some time upgrading if you’re selling your home. Even just a good cleaning can go a long way toward making your cabinets more appealing to buyers. But if you’re wanting to go the extra mile and have these pieces increase your home’s value even more, Josh Garskof, a contributor to This Old House, suggests making upgrades like changing the hardware, painting, refacing the surfaces, replacing the existing doors, or adding moldings. Depending on how many of these upgrades you do and the quality of these upgrades, you could up the resale value of your kitchen by thousands of dollars.
The kitchen is one of the biggest selling points of a home. To ensure that you have the best kitchen your money can buy in order to get the greatest value for your home, use the tips mentioned above when undertaking kitchen upgrade and renovations.
