Will renovating your kitchen increase your home’s value?

It is a well-know saying that the kitchen is ‘the heart of the home.’

Whether small or large, the kitchen is where the meals are created – it fuels the bodies, minds and souls of friends and families all over the world. Food is a key part of all our cultures, so it’s no wonder the kitchen is often considered the central core of any home and other areas are often designed leading to or from it.

Updating your kitchen can improve your quality of life. A light bright kitchen with plenty of storage will be a dream to create meals in and entertain from.

But it is a costly exercise to renovate, so the question you need to ask yourself is – am I doing it for me, or am I doing it for a future buyer?

Renovating purely to sell can be tricky, as you don’t want to over-capitalise. There’s a lot to consider when planning to renovate a kitchen to increase your home’s value. If the sole purpose is to make extra profit, then you may be in for a surprise!

Remember that when renovating to sell you’re looking to impress potential buyers not yourself. A kitchen upgrade should be approximately 3–8% of the value of your home. Consider the value of your property and be wise with your spending.

Understand your target market. What areas of the home will they value most, and where will they spend most of their time? An appealing kitchen gives your real estate agent a positive talking point, which can lead to a higher sale price, as it appeals to the emotional attachment that buyers have for the house. You want your buyer to feel like they can move in without having to make significant changes to the home. If the kitchen needs upgrading, you can be sure a buyer will overestimate the cost of doing that and drop their offer price by that amount so keep that in mind. Ask your agent for their advice when making this important decision.

A general estimate of the return on a kitchen renovation is a return of 60–80% of your cost to renovate. This shows that it may not be worth spending a lot on a kitchen renovation when you’re looking to sell right away.
But if you do go ahead, make sure to plan adequately, with a reasonable budget to stick to, in order to get the best results and return.

Refresh your paint colour
An outdated paint colour on the walls can make your space feel tired. Choose an on-trend colour that also works with your existing kitchen cabinets. White never fails to create an open lively feeling.

Give your cabinets a refresh
A simple paint job can make all the difference. Make sure you use the right paint for the cabinet surface – you can bring in a professional to do this for you – or you can do this yourself!

Update your hardware
Updating your handles is such an easy way to refresh your space. Choose cabinet handles that suit your kitchen’s overall aesthetic.

Update your kitchen tapware
Upgrading your kitchen taps is a great way to bring freshness and ‘polish’ to your kitchen. Over time, our taps become scratched and collect limescale. New taps are easier to clean and will sparkle at your Open Homes!

Change your lighting
Lighting can make all the difference to the overall atmosphere of your kitchen. There are many variations of lighting to consider including sconces, pendants, and LED down lights to improve task lighting.

Creating a space that is enriching for you and your family is very important. Investing in remodelling your kitchen can increase your quality of life immeasurably, and definitely worth it if you are planning to stay in your home for a long time. As well as increasing the value of your home, you will enjoy using the space too!

Kitchen design
How your kitchen is positioned can be critical for light, warmth and flow when entertaining. Consider the orientation of your current kitchen – should it be relocated to another area of your home, or perhaps just rotated in its existing space?

If you have the budget to undertake a larger renovation, try to incorporate a kitchen island. It provides good storage, a large preparation and serving area. With counter stools it will become a place where family and friends can linger and chat while food is being prepared. After all, social gatherings usually revolve around food!

Update your appliances
Updating appliances such as a new dishwasher, rangehood, oven and cooktop can be costly but a great way to add value to your home. Unreliable appliances are not only annoying for you, but can be a turn-off for future buyers.

Choosing your kitchen style
So you’ve decided to go ahead and renovate your kitchen – but where do you start?

Take some time to look online and in magazines for kitchens you like, then choose a kitchen company or interior designer with kitchen design experience, to work with you to make your dream kitchen a reality!

We would love to help you with your kitchen project.
Give us a call to chat about your plans, or book an appointment and come and see us!