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We are smack dab in the middle of the holiday season right now. Fortunately, you can still decorate (with a bit of restraint) even when you try to sell your home during the holidays. However, you need to let your home shine through those decorations. Overwhelmingly, today’s buyers put an updated kitchen and bathrooms at the top of their list. So, before you list your property, consider making some of these kitchen updates that won’t break the bank.
Kitchen Updates for the Budget-Conscious Home Seller
Stash the Stuff
Clear counters make them (and your kitchen in general) look much larger. It also gives the impression that your kitchen includes tons of storage. Remove items from your cabinets that you do not use on a regular basis. Pack them away. Then, neatly place your blender, toaster, spices, etc. inside the cabinets. This allows easy access when you need them but clears the counters for when buyers come looking.
Keep Counters Clean
Another one of the “kitchen updates” that actually cost you nothing to perform. Seems like a no-brainer, right? But you might be surprised how many sellers forget this simple step. Buyers like to run their hands over surfaces. You don’t want sticky, stain-filled counters to be the impression they are left with.
Easy Island Solution
Extra prep space in a kitchen always impresses. But, adding a permanent kitchen island typically costs between $3000 and $5000. For the budget-conscious home seller and for those with smaller kitchens, add a butcher-block counter on wheels. This allows the homeowner to wheel it out when they need it and then tuck it away when they are done.
Add Light
No one likes a dark room, especially in the kitchen. And if your kitchen includes those old fluorescent lights popular in the 80s, it is definitely time for an update. Replace those with nice pendant lighting over an island. Or add flush-mounted or recessed lighting in their place. Under cabinet lights also add extra lighting directly where you need it, on your countertop workspace.
Update the Appliances
Today’s home buyers also like to see energy-efficient appliances. That includes the refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. If your appliances belong in a museum, you need to replace them. Fortunately, many companies offer great sales at this time of year. So, you may even score yourself a discount for these kitchen updates.
Fix the Flooring
Old linoleum. Broken tiles. Torn vinyl. Our kitchens see a lot of traffic. Because of that, our floors take a beating. But you do not need to spend an arm and a leg to make your kitchen floors look great. Check out options at your local big box store. While installation can oftentimes be done by a homeowner, pay a little extra for the pros if you do not feel up to the task. You want your floors to look their best.
Add Some Green to Get More Green
Finally, add a few plants here and there for a nice finishing touch. A window herb garden provides wonderful smells, adding another subconscious layer of “buy me” to your decor.
Muna Dionne, your Inland Empire specialist with Coldwell Banker Realty
