A good kitchen can add 6% to your asking price, so it’s no wonder that many of our sellers opt to install a new kitchen before putting their house on the market. But kitchen renovations aren’t just about adding value: they can also make your property more desirable to buyers if you’re looking to sell quickly.
Making the right decision is about weighing up the purpose of the renovation – is it to add value, or make a quick sale? Once you’ve identified what your priority is, you can start planning the projects that are right for you.
Here’s our list of kitchen renovation projects that can make a difference to your property sale:
Weigh up cost vs return
How much is your house already worth, and what is the top price bracket for your street or local area?
You need to know this before you invest in any changes, as you could end up spending more on your renovation that you can recoup in your asking price. Once you know your current value compared to your potential value, set your kitchen renovation budget and stick to it.
It’s also good to set a renovation and sale timetable, too. If you are looking to sell quickly, make sure any works will fit within your ideal schedule. If they won’t, think about the pros of raising your asking price compared to the cons of delaying your move.
DIY vs professional help
If you’re extending, remodelling or doing any major plumbing and electrical works on your kitchen, always bring in the professionals. It just isn’t worth the hassle of starting a project that you will struggle to finish, not to mention that some work can be dangerous to attempt on your own and will need certification, like rewiring.
If you’re opting for smaller kitchen works, however, you might want to do it yourself. But before you get started, ask yourself: do I really have time for this project, and will I finish it to a good enough standard?
Bad DIY – whether it’s a shoddy paint job or poor repairs – is incredibly off-putting to buyers. In some instances, you are better off getting a quote from a local tradesman and communicating that cost to the buyer, rather than trying and failing a DIY project that will stick out like a sore thumb at viewings.
Small changes, big difference
If you don’t have the budget or time for a full renovation, there are small changes that can refresh the space and help buyers see your kitchen’s potential at viewings:
· Give your walls a fresh coat of paint
· Upgrade tiling and grouting
· Replace tired, damaged or dated cabinet doors
· Refresh door handles and accessories
· Declutter and organise (you’d be surprised at how good kitchen storage can transform a buyer’s perception of the space)
You might have also seen advice elsewhere to repaint cabinets as a quick (and cheap) kitchen fix, but we’d only really recommend this if you have good quality wooden cabinets. Even then, you should only take this project on if you’re confident you can do a decent job. Poorly painted or sprayed cupboards will make your kitchen look worse (especially if you use the wrong paint or varnish).
Change your lighting
If you have trouble with your kitchen lighting, fix it now. Is there enough light for the space? Do you have LEDs on an old halogen circuit? Is your lighting control out of date and unpredictable? These are the sort of problems that buyers will notice, and they can tarnish an otherwise attractive kitchen.
Remodel the space
If you don’t want to start knocking down walls and digging foundations, you could opt to remodel your kitchen instead. New floors, new lighting, new layout and new cabinets can dramatically change your kitchen space, making it feel bigger and more user-friendly. Besides, simply adding a new kitchen to your existing space can add value, as it’s one less thing that a buyer will need to spend money on when they move in.
Extend your kitchen
Fully renovating and extending your kitchen is the biggest risk in terms of cost vs return, so make sure you get it right.
Think about what the extension adds not only in terms of kitchen space and function, but character and style. Extensions that look like a box on the back or side of a building and fail to merge with the rest of the property’s aesthetic (contrasting windows, brick etc) can deter viewers: buyers today expect a more natural extension of the house.
It’s also important to think about scale. Adding a very large kitchen/diner can look at odds in a house with smaller proportions, especially if it eats into that much-coveted (especially in south east London) outdoor space.
However, with the right kitchen extension and renovation, you can add serious selling power and value to your property, so it is worth exploring.
If you want to talk through what option is right for your sale, we’re always happy to have a chat. Call us on 020 3519 9121 whether you’re ready to sell or just looking for some advice to get started.