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THE KITCHEN - HOW IT CAN HELP SELL YOUR HOME More than likely, the majority of people looking at your home will have to cook at some point. Therefore, the one room that most buyers will always look at with the most scrutiny is your kitchen. The kitchen the one room that is the hub of activity in preparing meals, eating, and even sorting mail. The kitchen has also long been a place for people to just "hangout." Most people will say the kitchen is the heart of the home. A recent study shows that as high as 85% of buyers consider the kitchen to be the biggest deciding factor in their buying decision. Even if you don't have the time or finances to do a complete kitchen overhaul with custom cabinets, ceramic tiles, and granite or marble countertops, there are some things you can do to spruce up the kitchen that won't cost you bunch of money. These changes will greatly add value to your kitchen and could help speed up the sale of your home as well. • Apply a fresh coat of paint. Stay with neutral colors and use a satin or semi-gloss finish so things can be easily cleaned. • Consider purchasing new counter tops. You would be surprised at how many quality materials there are to choose from that are not too expensive. If you have a harvest gold or avocado green countertop from the 1970's, this small investment could make a huge difference. • Create a backsplash area. Use tile or even Stone It (a product sold at most home improvement or retail chains. This is a spray stone-like material that comes in colors and can easily be sprayed on for a wonderful effect), you can spruce up the entire look of the areas above the stove and sink. • Faucets and Sinks. I'ts a great time to change out the chipped or stained sink with a new one, complete with new faucets, which come in a wide variety of materials and colors. We recommend tainless steel sinks for two reasons. First, they look great, and second, they are the best choice for keeping bacteria to a minimum. • Don't be scared to accessorize. If you have a small wall area above the countertops, add some nice tile. If the hardware on your cabinets is old and dingy, add new hardware to liven' it up. If your curtains are outdated, hang a fresh, fun pair of curtains that allow a lot of light into the room. •Get rid of clutter. Although empty counters may not be very attractive, neither are countertops that are so cluttered with all the latest technology that the buyer can't even envision their own things in the kitchen. Keep your kitchen neat and organized. • Bring as much light into the kitchen as possible. This will provide a nice atmosphere. If your kitchen goes out onto a patio or deck, make sure the outdoor area is also neat and that there is a nice view from the kitchen to the outdoor area. • Showcase functionality. For example, if your kitchen has a nice desk for paying bills, showcase it. If there are other special features such as a trash compactor, or chilled wine rack, make sure those areas are pointed out as well. • Make sure all of your appliances are clean and in good working order. Don't think someone will bypass looking in the oven, because they rarely do. • If someone is getting ready to come through your house or if your agent is about to host an open house, start baking. The fragrance of fresh baked bread or goodies will add a nice homey feel to your home the minute buyers come into your home. Before you place your home on the market, look around the kitchen and make sure it's what you would look for in a home. If not, make appropriate changes. A very popular item in kitchens today is stainless steel. The gourmet look of stainless steel stoves, refrigerators, and sinks is appealing to many buyers. Now you might not be able to go out and buy all new appliances, but if you have other types of appliances, then consider changing out your hardware with stainless steel or even use stainless steel accessories. If you are in the market for new appliances, you can buy new stainless steel models but make sure the buyers know the appliances are coming with you. This will at least show the potential buyer what the kitchen could look like if they wanted to add stainless steel themselves. If you own an older home, you will probably have one of three designs: • The Galley • The L-Shaped • The U-Shaped These designs were all created from the "work triangle" concept where all appliances are positioned within several steps from each other. This idea was first originated back in the 1950s based on information from stay-at-home moms. By 1990, the designs of kitchens started to change based on changing lifestyles. More and more couples starting sharing the duties of cooking, families started eating more pre-packaged or frozen foods, and people needed more storage and space. |
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