Top Tips: How To Update a Kitchen to Receive High ROI on Resale

Since the beginning of civilization and home construction, kitchens have been the area home buyers zone in on. As a species, humans tend to gather and communicate in one central area. In a home that central area is the kitchen for most families. Remodels have been targeting the kitchen to get the highest return on investment for resale. Are you wondering what should I update in my home and where do I start?Are you empty nesters and thinking of sizing down, but haven’t made updates to the home in a while?Well we will give you industry insider tips to have you reaching for the best return on your investment for remodeling and resale! Today let’s focus on the kitchen. 

Where Do I Start?

Color Choice: When you see homes on network TV home shows and have ever been in a model home community what do you notice about color choice? Typically, it is aesthetically appealing to go with soft neutrals on the walls and carry the color throughout the main common areas of the home. So first, highest ROI item, you guessed it, paint! Those kitchen walls need a fresh coat of paint. Whether you hire professional painters or do a quality job yourself, a new neutral color choice will brighten the atmosphere. If your home is open concept, carry the color into the connecting living and common spaces. The home buyers eye loves continuation and aesthetically it makes your home feel larger.

Cabinets: Next, upgrading the cabinets goes far. There may be a new market trend for a different style of cabinet than what is in the current house and a complete gut job may be necessary. However, if your house is not that old, this is where you might save a lot of money, but receive a high ROI with refacing or resurfacing the current cabinetry and adding new hardware. Additionally, cabinetry on average makes up a third of a kitchen and this is where the mentality more is better really rings true. The more storage space in a home the more appreciated and the more you the seller, will reap the reward. Lastly, consider height when selecting new cabinetry. Why height? Do you like photos where 3/4 of the image appears cut off? No me either or most people. When kitchens have cabinets that go to the ceiling and don’t abruptly stop, it says three things to he viewer.

• Show stopping luxury look.

• Storage for days.

• Inviting and spacious.

Please, as a professional in the industry, I strongly encourage you when buying new cabinets for that kitchen remodel cabinetry to the ceiling! If pre-existing bulkhead exist, this is where you really want to consider removing that. You may receive a handsome benefit. The buyer’s offer may positively reflect the labor of removing the bulkhead.

Countertops: The surface of your kitchen is the third large area that plays to overall aesthetic and visual appeal. Additionally, this is where we start to see design trend and current market demographic desires. No longer are home buyers wanting the very popular granite of 15-20 years prior. Home owners are loving quartz and you see quartz in many kitchen remodels today. Quartz may not be a budget item do to the expense. You have to weigh the cost of Quartz against the expense and will the ROI be there. Whatever, countertop you go with functionality and safety are key, do not slim the budget there. Don’t pick a countertop you can’t set hot items on without a protective layer or they’ll burn. Don’t pick a countertop like butcher block and not seal it to protect bacteria from getting in the wood while cooking. You know the house the best. Where is the money most needed in the kitchen and if you were moving in new what would you need to see in that kitchen to justify the price you are offering?

Fixtures and Lighting: Sink faucet slightly wobbly from the teenagers pulling on it? Update it and select new bright fixtures or technology savvy fixtures. Do you have the dome ceiling light in the kitchen? Time to upgrade. This is where trendiness may be a cost or could be a benefit for ROI. Go too trendy and you may have to have the home on the market a little longer because you are targeting a specific demographic; however depending on the market you are in, that trend could be very financially beneficial and worth the wait. This is where having a REALTOR® or a trusted professional insider with an eye for design and up to date knowledge of the market is important prior to the remodel. Demographic and items such as lighting and fixtures work in conjunction to ROI.

Backsplash or Not, That is the Question: Backsplash can save and protect certain areas of the home. Consider cooking spaghetti against those freshly painted Sherwin Williiams Alabaster walls. Ouch, those walls now have a nice red sauce color. Magic Eraser only works so many times. You may want to choose a neutral backsplash or a simplistic not too trendy backsplash. Also, an accent of backsplash may be the right choice for cost effectiveness and a pop of pow with protection. Besides function and cost of backsplash, the other importance always goes back to aesthetic appeal. Is the backsplash I am choosing going to appeal and entice others to purchase this home or does this only appeal to me and certain people? Uniformity is visually appealing, it goes back to my point of continuation and the appearance of being more spacious. Solid backslashes are a good choice. Print backsplashes are more target specific and can turn a buyer with a different style away. Choose wisely.

Layout: Configuration must be intelligent here. Create a space where people may flow freely without confinement and doors and drawers may open without interference. Buyer’s minds are trained to see how would I interact in this space.

Appliances: First, if you are doing a remodel expecting a high ROI for resale, allow the appliances to convey with the sale of the home. Modern energy efficient appliances not only cut down on energy bills, but they justify payment. A buyer is much more apt to put in a strong over-asking price offer when the kitchen comes with upgraded energy efficient appliances. The buyer knows they will be saving future money on their energy bill and not forking out money immediately to replace your old out of date appliances.

Flooring: Flooring is a facelift that may be unnecessary or could immediately increase the value of your house. Back to continuation, buyer’s minds are trained to see sight lines and continuity. Are you carrying that flooring throughout the home or the level of the kitchen? If so the ROI will most typically be positive. Are you only replacing the kitchen floors? This takes more thought than cost vs expense. Whatever floors you select, the best choice is low maintenance durable floors with a neutral color palette. Consider these potential issues regarding flooring prior to selection:

• Can they withstand water and being wet? No? Ok next!

• Can an item be dropped on them without the floor cracking? No? Ok next!

• Will they appear dirty the same day you clean them? Yes? Ok next!

If they can withstand water either alone or with a protective sealant, they don’t damage easily, and they appear clean and hide minor imperfections of daily life than those are the floors to go with. Some options, buyer’s are loving are wood plank tile, engineered wood, and upgraded vinyl floors that appear similar to wood.

When planning a kitchen remodel whether for current or future resale, you’ll probably use the assistance of professionals. Allow their input on timeline and scheduling of projects, especially if you plan to coordinate with more than one specialist. As long as you have a thoughtful renovation timeline and carefully plan, you’ll make it through the process positively. 

When in doubt, ask the professionals like a contractor, designer, or friendly real estate experts (oh hi there!). Any questions regarding the kitchen remodel, just shoot us a message. We are able to assist you with your remodel to ensure you receive a great bang for your buck, and we have connections with some wonderful (and trustworthy) industry experts.