Install a New Kitchen or Improve The Existing One to Add Value to Your Home
A New kitchen (or refurbished) is one of the major factors affecting a house ‘s value. Kitchens are truly at the heart of any family home where buyers look for somewhere to spend quality time with friends and relatives, looking for a kitchen as the most important room in the home. It is the place where people gather to discuss the day’s events over a meal, and it is quite often a home’s main reception room. Kitchens that are well appointed and well designed can add premiums to house values like no other room in the home. If you can create a warm and inviting kitchen, you have a great chance of inspiring a bidding war for your house.
Relatively small investments can make significant differences to property values
There is no need to splash out upwards of £60,000 on a new kitchen to grab the interest of buyers. In many cases, only a few minor improvements and alterations are required to make a kitchen appealing, and the effect on house sale prices can be substantial. For instance, instead of forking out thousands for a new kitchen suite, replacing the doors can be just as effective. Replace a worn and tired worktop in just two or three hours, and transform any kitchen with the addition of some stylish hanging rails and accessories.
If your kitchen is oddly shaped, it may be worth considering some structural changes to create a more ergonomically friendly layout. Buyers like space to cook and entertain, and that can be tough in an L-shaped space. There should also be dedicated space for appliances such as washing machines and fridges and, wherever possible, integrate white goods into the kitchen cupboards.
Buy a kitchen for around £1,500 in a major DIY store such as B&Q or Wickes, but remember it is often possible to pick up bargains during end-of-season sales. By hiring a local contractor to fit a new, relatively cheap kitchen, you can transform your whole home into something far more desirable to buyers. However, it is also important not to forget lighting when staging a kitchen for viewings. Many old kitchens still have pendant lights, but the installation of halogen spotlights creates the white light that will showcase your kitchen fantastically.
Functional remodelled or new kitchens can increase house values
Potential buyers often want to move into a home without any fuss or added expense, and a clean, functional and well-appointed kitchen is usually a key factor in their decision. Although buyers don’t usually expect to see a sterile environment, they will expect certain levels of hygiene. For the best results, hiring a professional cleaning service will ensure any build-ups of grease and grime are removed – including around your cooker and extractor hood. Give particular attention to the cleaning of floor and wall tiles.
Island ranges are very popular with buyers at the moment, and they are often a key factor in achieving quick and profitable house sales. However, the most important aspect of your kitchen is functionality. Is there sufficient space for food preparation? Is there room for entertaining? Are all your appliances clean and in perfect working order? According to a recent HSBC survey, new kitchens that are both functional and ergonomically designed can add nearly £5,000 to net house prices. That means spending £1,500 to upgrade your kitchen before listing your home for sale could be a cost-effective strategy.
Most buyers are usually most excited by the kitchen of a home, as in most cases it will be the most used room in the property. If you can create the ‘wow’ factor in the heart of your home, you can significantly increase the chance of a favourable home valuation when it is time to sell.
Check our other posts to see factors which may increase your house value.
Infographic – 12 tips to increase your home’s value.