A great kitchen can sell a buyer on your home. While it might sound convenient to give someone credit to do updates later, a kitchen that feels fresh and ready to use the way it is could easily tip the scales, and prospective buyers don't look forward to doing the work any more than you do. Short of a full remodel, here are a few ways to make your kitchen into a buyer's dream.
1. Materials matter: remove as many brass fixtures as possible.
While there are ways to update a kitchen’s look using brass, it’s safe to assume that this is a choice that is best left to buyers themselves. Anything that contributes to the general datedness of the kitchen should go. Even simple fixes like changing out brass knobs will go a long way in helping buyers see your kitchen as updated and fresh.
2. Change the drawer pulls and cabinet knobs to stainless steel or brushed nickel
On the same note, these materials will look sleek, sophisticated, and neutral in any kitchen. Smooth and not too shiny, hardware that looks updated but doesn’t make a statement is the way to go.
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3. Surface-level: paint or re-stain cabinets. Consider re-facing them if the cabinet boxes are in great shape.
Cabinets take up a lot of visual space in a kitchen, so it can be difficult for buyers to see past an unappealing stain or color. The whole space will look contemporary and fresh with the right adjustment. Bright white paint is always a good way to brighten a space, and dark stains have been popular in recent years.
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4. Modernize: add new stainless steel appliances.
There’s no better way to give off the impression that a kitchen is in top shape than new stainless steel appliances. Stainless steel has been popular for a while now, but the trend isn’t going anywhere. In fact, the material has been popular for long enough that many buyers have come to expect it. Trends in countertops and tile backsplashes may come and go, but stainless steel will be a safe bet for the foreseeable future.
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5. And on the subject of countertops…
Granite is still popular, but other options are gaining traction too. If your countertops are looking outdated, quartz, marble, and butcher block are other materials to consider. While this project can be a big undertaking, it could make all the difference in the long run.
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