The kitchen is the one room that can make or break a sale. It’s usually the most expensive room in any house, so prospective buyers don’t want to see a kitchen that needs a total upgrade.
This doesn’t mean a total re-fit, but there are some small things you can do to make your kitchen more appealing.
Clear the clutter – If you have more on your kitchen benches than in the cupboards you need to clear it away.
Add appliances – Buyers know just how expensive a new oven or dishwasher can be, so they may shy away from your house if they think they will need to spend up big on replacements for these appliances. If your appliances are out of date, consider replacing them. It may be a worthwhile investment.
Fresh coat of paint – A fresh coat of paint can work wonders in a drab kitchen, especially if cooking splatters have become a feature! Don’t forget your worn tiles, a little primer and paint can make a huge difference.
Do up your doors – Swapping cabinet doors can give your kitchen a whole new look. If entirely new doors are outside your budget you can make a huge difference by simply replacing the handles of your cupboards and drawers.
Lift the lighting – The lighting in a kitchen is something buyers will take careful note of. Installing fluorescent or spot lights under the top cupboard can provide light for benchtop work areas or consider adding a pendant light above your benchtop for some visual interest.
Bench-tops – Many people think that replacing a scratched and stained bench-top is just too costly, but not all bench-top materials are that expensive. Consider using laminate or the slightly more expensive options like corian. This small investment could save your sale!
Fix the floor – If your kitchen floor is a little worse for wear, lift the lino and if you have them, polish the floorboards underneath – if they are in good enough condition – otherwise lay vinyl flooring, which is easy to clean. Alternatively, you may like to use tiles for a contemporary cool feeling.
Add some personality – Add vases of cut flowers, a bowl of fresh fruit or lemons on the bench. These personal touches will add something special to the room.