Kitchen Renovation Tips to Increase Property Value

If you plan to sell your home, you want to first increase its property value. A stunning kitchen renovation will do that. The key is to attract the majority of buyers without overcapitalising. The kitchen needs to be universally appealing, sophisticated and reasonably priced to make a return on your investment. Quality, style and design layout are essential ingredients for your kitchen renovation.

Quality Over Quantity

Before you cram your kitchen full of cabinets, remember: the more cabinets you add, the more money you pay. Instead of buying more, focus on quality in the cabinetry and hardware. Keep the cabinet count down, but use quality hinges and runners. Buyers look for features such as soft close drawers and custom made cabinetry. Do not opt for modular units that have filler panels, or ill-fitted cabinetry that screams cheap kitchen. Buyers want their new kitchen to look tasteful and expensive.

While internal fit outs—such as pull out pantries, pull out bins and numerous other space-saving fit outs—are practical additions to your personal kitchen design, the cost of adding them will not always reap rewards. They tend to be pricey and are best kept for kitchens that you plan on using yourself for many years to come.

Less is definitely more when it comes your kitchen renovation. It is not always necessary to crowd your kitchen with cabinets. Keep the cabinetry count down and aim for an overall design impact to increase your property value.

This kitchen is a beautiful example of using minimal cabinetry. The design is appealing and simple.

Style

While it may be tempting to design the kitchen to your specific tastes, you will be in a better position if you design it for the likes of many people. In Australia, this generally means keeping the kitchen bright, light and open. Use lighter colours to make the space look bigger and more open. Many people like White kitchens, even if it’s not the most daring option.  White gives the kitchen a spacious feel. White kitchens are also timeless, which is another plus if your buyer may be thinking of reselling down the track.

Aim for symmetry in your kitchen renovation. This creates a calm and appealing sense of integrity. If possible, keep wall cabinets the same size. Our eye is naturally drawn to repetition and symmetry. If you use many drawers, try to ensure they have the same configuration. For example, if you use a skinny drawer on the top and two pot drawers underneath, repeat this configuration.

White is a universally appealing colour for kitchen renovations. The space looks fresh, open and inviting, making it attractive to potential buyers.

Aim for symmetry in you upper and lower cabinets. With its wide sets of long drawers, the kitchen feels elongated and expansive. The wall cabinets are the same dimensions adding visual integrity.

Design Layout

The trend in Australia is to have an open plan layout for your kitchen renovation. This means kitchen/ dining/ living spaces are often combined. Buyers want a kitchen that is multifunctional. They want a space to prepare and cook in, but also a place where they can socialise, where the kids can do their homework, and where they can relax for a casual glass of wine.

If you have a generous floor plan to allow for it, a kitchen island is generally well sought after by buyers. You will need a generous floor plan. If you have the flexibility on deciding where your kitchen is going, aim for a part of the house that is open and has a nice view. People don’t want to see a kitchen that is tucked away in a dark corner of the house.

Aim to place your kitchen in a space that has a pleasant outlook. If people imagine cooking becoming less of a chore and more of a joy, you have a higher chance of selling to them.

Kitchen islands with multifunctional spaces particularly appeal to prospective buyers.

Author : nadiah