If you are looking to sell your home a key priority for you will be to sell for the most amount of money possible. You can trust that your agent will work their hardest to help you achieve the best sales prices possible, but what can you do as a vendor to help improve the value of your home? What rooms should you focus on to attract the most amount of people.
This month we are going to look at one room that can make or break a sale - the kitchen. The kitchen is usually the most expensive room in any house so in most cases prospective buyers don’t want to see a kitchen that needs a total upgrade. Don’t panic though as there are a number of small inexpensive things you can do to make your kitchen more appealing to more buyers.
What you are trying to achieve
A successfully staged kitchen feels inviting, a place your future buyer could see themselves enjoying as the heart of their home. The staged kitchen will look, feel and smell clean. The benches should be clear of clutter, but not void of life, it should feel spacious and light filled with a touch of luxury.
Not sure how to get this feeling? Here are some tips on how to get the perfectly styled kitchen:
Get the kitchen professionally cleaned
Getting a professional cleaner to clean your kitchen is a great investment. They have the skills and attention to detail to ensure every nook and cranny in your kitchen is clean and presented in the best possible way.
Clear the Clutter
If you have more on your kitchen benches than in the cupboards you need to clear the clutter. A coffee maker and toaster are about the only appliances you should be able to see – moving everything else out of sight will help create a sense of space and order.
Fresh coat of paint
Apart from cleaning, a fresh coat of paint can work wonders in a drab kitchen, especially if cooking splatters have become a feature! Don’t go crazy with the colour, perhaps look to match the colour of your bench or cupboards or if in doubt go with a crisp white – this always look fresh.
You may find that your walls don’t need a total repaint but take a close look and patch up any imperfections. Don't forget your worn tiles - a little primer and paint can make a huge difference to these too. A professional painter can normally paint a kitchen in only a few hours
Add Appliances
Buyers know just how expensive a new oven or dishwasher can be, so they may shy away from your house if they think they will need to spend up big on replacements for these appliances. If your appliances are out of date, consider replacing them. It may be a worthwhile investment
Do Up Your Doors
Swapping cabinet doors can give your kitchen a whole new look. If entirely new doors are outside your budget you can make a huge difference by simply replacing the handles of your cupboards and drawers.
Making the most of Open Shelves
Open shelving can look fabulous – if it is kept neat, tidy and dust free. If you have open shelving focus on making them look as neat and tidy as you can – to give the impression they are really useful and a nice way to display items. Place your best plates, cups and glasses, (no chips) on display and leave some open space to suggest there is ample room.
Lift the Lighting
Being a task room, the lighting in a kitchen is something buyers will take careful note of. A good idea is to install florescent or spot lights under top cupboard to provide light for the bench-top work area.
Bench-Tops
Many people think that replacing a scratched and stained bench-top is just too costly, but not all bench-top materials are that expensive. Laminate can be an economical alternative and will give a great instant fix. This small investment could save your sale!
Fix the Floor
If your kitchen floor is a little worse for wear, lift the lino and if you have them, polish the floorboards underneath – if they are in good enough condition - otherwise lay vinyl flooring, which is easy to clean. Alternatively, you may like to use tiles for a contemporary cool feeling.
Tidy in inside of your cupboards & Pantry
It seems odd but potential buyers will look in your cupboards and drawers to see what type of storage you have, plus it also gives an insight into how organised and tidy you are and indirectly how well you may have maintained the whole house. If the drawers are full it will give the impression that there isn’t enough storage so remove the clutter and keep only items that match and look tidy.
Who doesn’t like looking at a well organized pantry? (or maybe it’s just me) To get this, remove some of the content on your shelves and spend some money buying matching food storage containers or open display baskets. Group similar products together to create a sense of order. You’ll be surprised as to how this simple job changes the feel of the pantry.
Use cookbooks as accessories
Cookbooks with their fabulous coloured covers are a great addition to the kitchen. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a collection of cookbooks so firstly choose the best and brightest and display them on the open shelves (if you have them) or neatly stacked on the bench.
The final luxury touches
Make sure that your old dish cloth and scrubbing brush are out of sight and spend some money on luxury soap, a nice soap container and hand moisturizer and place them neatly near the sink.
A pretty casserole dish (like the Le Creuset ones) or a kettle can look great on the cooktop and add a bit of interest, as can pretty colourful tea towels hung over the oven door handle. Fresh flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit help to add life and brighten up your kitchen. You don’t need to spend a fortune on flowers and can simply drop them into an old jar to give a relaxed and welcoming look.
Good luck with your kitchen styling! Spending time getting this room looking its best is a great investment of your time.
