Material Matters: Upgrading Your Kitchen for Resale

If you’re planning to sell your house, a kitchen badly in need of updating can make or break a sale. When contemplating a kitchen upgrade, choose kitchen materials for resale value that will appeal to greatest number of potential buyers. Resist the temptation to choose a design that fits only with your own personal style. If your goal is to sell, your money will be better spent if you keep broad appeal and functionality in mind.

The same rules apply to your remodel as they do to your new home. You won’t be impressed by a kitchen that has such an individualized design that your style can’t possibly fit. More likely, you’ll choose a new home with a kitchen that makes you say WOW or just needs a little tweaking—for the most part, you can live with the existing design.

Timing

When deciding on kitchen materials for resale value, choose colors and styles that aren’t over-the-top trendy. To what extent and how you change your kitchen depends a lot on when you plan to list your house. If you’re planning to sell in a few years, plan your remodel to fit into the way you use your kitchen now. If you plan to sell right away, make the changes more neutral and functional.

Three Top Areas for Remodels

• Appliances
• Cabinets
• Flooring

Appliances, cabinets, and flooring are the three main areas that potential buyers either embrace or walk away from.

Old appliances always make potential buyers want to lower the price of a home. You don’t have to install professional-grade appliances in order to impress prospective buyers, but you can’t go wrong with mid-range stainless steel.

The look of kitchen cabinets can make or break a sale. If your cabinets are sorely in need of an upgrade but you can’t quite afford new ones, give them a new look with paint. The trick to painting kitchen cabinets is to do a flawless job. If you do it yourself, make sure you learn how to make it look like a professional job. Nothing screams a DIY project more than paint drips and streaks. Also consider replacing the hardware.

If your kitchen needs new flooring but your budget won’t cover hardwood, check out the alternatives. There are less expensive flooring materials that give that hardwood look. Vinyl or porcelain tile are good options that you will enjoy while you’re waiting to sell and are pleasing to potential buyers.

Kitchen Materials for Resale Value

There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule about how much you should spend in order to get a higher percentage return on your investment. You don’t have to break the bank in order to upgrade appliances, cabinets, and flooring. When you remodel with resale in mind, choose materials that will appeal to the largest number of prospective buyers to help increase your return.

Updated Kitchens Sell

An updated kitchen will increase the likelihood of you getting top-dollar for your home and will decrease the number of days it’s on the market. Even with a limited budget, you can make changes that will appeal to potential buyers, and you will enjoy the changes while you wait for that perfect offer.