Remodeling Your Kitchen for Resale

New clients frequently ask, "What should I choose for my remodel that will appeal to future homebuyers?" The short answer is there's no way to predict what a future buyer will prefer, but an updated, maintained, and well-designed kitchen that fits the neighborhood with quality appliances and materials is always going to be appreciated. Let's look more closely at how to best prepare for a future sale.

Prioritize Your Preferences with a Local Twist

If you have lived in your home for many years and are thinking of a sale a few years down the road, our #1 piece of advice is to please yourself first with your choices. If you don't want white cabinets, then there's no reason to use them. I also recommend speaking with a local realtor to get their take on what people want in your neighborhood and hopping on Zillow to see how neighbors have updated their kitchens.

Practical Tips for a Resale-Ready Kitchen

Here are other practical suggestions on how to update with an eye toward selling:

• Choose a cabinet style that works with the style of your home. When in doubt, go with a wood painted Shaker-style that can be repainted by a future owner (or you can have them repainted when you are ready to sell).
• Choose an easy-to-maintain quartz countertop with an undermount single bowl sink. Quartz doesn't need to be sealed, doesn't stain, and is less likely to chip than natural stone, so it should look as good as new when you're ready to sell. Options with white backgrounds that mimic the veining of natural stone have more appeal than grey, black, or more colorful options.
• Install a decorative backsplash that starts at the counter or run the counter material up the wall to the underside of the wall cabinets as the backsplash. This will look more finished and high-end than using a short backsplash of the counter material.
• We recommend new appliances that meet today's safety standards (if you have a gas cooktop, make sure you have exhaust venting that goes to the outside or replace the gas with induction).
• Change out any appliances that aren't the same finish as the others (not including high-end ranges where the color or finish is intentionally different) so nothing stands out as being something that needs to be replaced. They don't all have to be the same brand but should look good together.
• Choose the right size refrigerator for the home's size and scale. A larger family home, condo, or townhouse likely needs a 36" wide model. Counter depth is always nicer looking and gives an updated feel. A smaller-size house, condo, or townhouse can have a 30" model or even smaller.
• Get the layout, functionality, and storage right. Ideally, you can unload the dishwasher without taking too many steps, put away non-perishables in a pantry designed for food storage, and have a good storage place for trash and recycling.
• If you have drawers or doors that hit each other or appliances when opening them because of tight corners, try to redesign the space to make sure that everything is accessible and functional. Sometimes choosing smaller appliances is the solution to buying more space in a tight kitchen. There are smaller dishwashers, ranges, and fridges that give you more cabinet space.
• Update the lighting plan. Remove fluorescent or halogen fixtures and add a grid of LED pancake lights in the ceiling (or swap out old-school recessed fixtures with LEDs) and undercabinet lighting.

Let's Get Started

At Kitchen Tune-Up we want to help you make the most of your home. We would love the opportunity to see your kitchen, show you door and hardware samples, and create a plan to update and upgrade your space to meet your needs. Contact us today for a free design appointment and estimate.