neutral kitchen cabinets and countertops prepared for resale
In mere seconds, your kitchen can alter a buyer’s perspective on the whole home. The space might be the first thing that someone notices when they enter your home, and the way it looks and feels can color their entire view of your property. Even the spotlessly clean and impeccably-maintained kitchen can make someone think twice about your home if the space is ugly, outdated or poorly designed. When it comes time to sell a home, a kitchen remodel isn’t necessarily about creating the ideal space for you, but the modern, functional kitchen a potential homeowner will love.
Resale Remodels Versus Personal Remodels
There are several differences between the kitchen remodel you’d do for a home you own versus a kitchen remodel for resale. When you remodel for your future home, you might consider bold paint colors, unusual textures, high-end or designer materials that suit your particular needs and interests, and more. A resale kitchen remodel is all about broader appeal while staying functional and cost-effective.
The goal of a remodel geared towards resale is to make your kitchen feel fresh and move-in ready but not to spend more than someone buying your home would probably spend. A full-scale kitchen remodeling project may not make sense for your home, but a targeted, focused update or refresh can make all the right impressions at a lower price point.
A kitchen remodel for resale should typically:
- Improve the first look of the kitchen
- Show less wear and date, and replace those elements
- Use neutral colors and finishes
- Be more conservative about changing up the layout
Areas that Most Impress Buyers
Buyers are more likely to pay attention to surface features before anything else. Cabinets, countertop, lighting, flooring, and paint go a long way to how a kitchen feels when someone walks into a house. Cabinets generally make up a lot of the visible surface of a kitchen. If the cabinet boxes themselves are in decent shape, and the kitchen has a sensible design, refinishing, painting, or simply replacing the cabinet handles will go a long way in a kitchen remodel for resale. The neutral colors look great in photos and appeal to most people. Countertops are another big consideration for a kitchen remodel for resale. Easy-care countertops in colors that are neutral enough to work well with the rest of the home will make for a great resale kitchen. Avoid busy designs and bright or bold colors.
Make It Work Better Without Bigger Changes
A resale kitchen remodel doesn’t just have to feel good to look at, it needs to feel good to use. Dull lighting, lack of storage, bad flooring, or awkward kitchen layout will all turn buyers off. If the kitchen has a functional and sensible design, that’s what a kitchen remodel for resale should look like – https://nkba.org/planning-guidelines/. Expensive plumbing, gas or electric lines can cause kitchen remodel costs to skyrocket. Often, remodeling what already exists works better than building anew. The following kitchen remodel updates usually have excellent resale value:
- Better task and overall lighting
- A new sink and faucets with streamlined lines
- New cabinet hardware
- Extra storage space or a functional pantry update
- New, low-maintenance floors
These projects might not be considered as glamorous as they could appear, but in combination they can help to sell a kitchen as being well taken care of and a worthy investment.
coordinated kitchen finishes with neutral tile backsplash
Use Finishes People Will Live With
When remodeling for resale, aim for the classic and not the trendy (although, of course, that doesn’t mean that the remodel should be dull). Muted neutrals like warm gray or off-white; pale, natural woods; and stone-look surfaces can all be contemporary and fresh without being too specific. What matters most is consistency. Kitchen colors, materials and finishes shouldn’t clash; instead, they should feel intentional. Cabinet knobs and pulls, faucets, lighting fixtures and backsplash tiles should work together. Even the most simple, traditional tile backsplash can make a kitchen look polished, as long as you go for a style that will be easy to clean and coordinate with anything.
Know When to Keep Things Simple
More expensive updates don’t always make for better resale improvements. Although buyers want to see an updated kitchen, they might not shell out the extra for an expensive update here and there. Be cautious of the following:
- Unusually personalized cabinets
- Bold backsplashes
- Oversized, high-end appliances
- Delicate surfaces
- Expensive floor-plan changes
Rather than the above, focus on high-quality, uncomplicated changes that will elevate the look and performance of your kitchen. For resale, a modest, mid-range kitchen is usually a better option than a fully custom, high-end kitchen.
Make Sure the Remodel Belongs to the House
A resale renovation should match the house, the neighborhood and the prospective buyer. It helps if your house’s exterior is painted and in good condition; lights are working; and caulk is in good order. While these are very small improvements, it all contributes to the effect of a more substantial remodel. When a kitchen looks clean, current and ready to go, prospective buyers are much more likely to say yes.
