If you've been thinking about selling your home and moving into something "newer", take into consideration the top things that increase your home's value. A few studies have shown that kitchen and bathroom remodels are one of the most effective ways to get a return on your home investment. Many homeowners can see up to 92% return on their initial kitchen investment, followed by 80% return on external needs like roof and window replacement. In hot housing markets, remodeling bathrooms and kitchens can recoup more than 100% of the initial investment in upgrades.
Here are 5 ways you can update your kitchen:
BEAUTIFY YOUR COUNTERTOPS
If you have an older home, this is the best way to make a huge difference in your kitchen. Instead of choosing the lowest hanging fruit, laminate, which is nice but hardly increases the value of your kitchen, examine all of your options. Laminate can look very nice, but is not heat or scratch resistant and will need to be replaced faster than any stone counter. It is also possible to ruin laminate with certain chemicals that remove the finish. While you may not be able to afford the highest grade granite, it is resistant to heat, most scratching, and low maintenance. There are multiple levels of granite (depending on what the granite company supplies) starting with the base level of 1, and sometimes going as high as level 7. Lower grade granite is still very nice, but as you go up in levels, the uniqueness of the patterns and the thickness of the granite itself will determine the price. You can definitely find affordable granite countertops. There are also other options like glass, which is somewhat heat resistant, but can crack more easily than granite. Additionally, you can find marble, quartz, butcher block, concrete, and others, which all have their pros & cons regarding coloration, hardness, durability, and heat resistance. One of our consultants can walk you through all of your countertop needs and help you choose the best for your home and budget!
CABINET INSTALLATION
Like countertops, cabinets come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and styles and can be painted just about any color under the sun. There are three basic types of cabinets, base, wall, and tall. Base cabinets sit alone the floor, wall cabinets are installed to hover over countertops, and tall cabinets typically reach from the floor to the ceiling, or close. As for materials, varieties of wood and wood particle board will give you a wide range of price. There are also plastic-based materials used for cabinets, however like laminate, they are less durable and are not as appealing to the eye, as the quality degrades quicker than wood. There are also three basic cabinet door options when choosing the right look for your kitchen. Doors and drawers can have a full-overlay which covers the entire frame of the cabinet edge to edge & door to drawer. There is also a partial overlay, in which they only cover part of the frame, and then full-inset, where the doors and drawers are built to the line of the frame and do not stick out, but the entire front of the cabinet is flush.
JUST THE KITCHEN SINK
Deep double sinks have been a hot commodity for a while now, and we can see why. Utilizing the disposal for food scraps on one side, while allowing dishes or washed food to sit in the second side. While stainless steel sinks have been the most popular, there are a number of varieties you can find in a sink. If you're looking for a clean, high-white kitchen, maybe a farmhouse fireclay sink would be best! You can find farmhouse sinks in both single and dual bowl. The downside is that this sink is white and may show food junk faster than a stainless steel sink. Copper sinks are another option, but are much more work to keep up. Copper, although incredibly beautiful, will react negatively with other metals and materials that are left in the sink. These are probably the most high maintenance of the kitchen sinks, as they can also dent rather easily. Stone sinks are also an option for those looking to get creative with their sink space.
CLEAN TILING
Over time, the grout around your tiles will begin to flake off or stain from use. If a good cleaning does not do the trick, it may be time to re-grout! Broken or missing tiles also indicate a good time to have your tile replaced. While it might not bother you, it is less presentable when trying to convince someone to purchase your home. In some kitchens, there may be tile in the backsplash, as well as, the floor. Note that floor tiles are very different than wall tiles, as floor tiles typically offer a "non-slip" texture, whereas wall tiles can be glossy and slick. Like everything else in your kitchen, there are a number of styles & materials you can choose from like glass, ceramic, limestone (travertine), porcelain, marble, granite, and many other rock composite materials. Durability, price, and styke will be your top comparisons when choosing tiles. Porcelain and marble will obviously be more expensive flooring and require more maintenance than a limestone floor tile, but typically have a more beautiful pattern and finish. Backsplash tiles are most frequently glass, which can come in just about any color and pattern you can imagine.
APPLIANCE BUNDLES
Yes, we know that this can sometimes be a scary choice for many, as appliances are not cheap. But updated appliances are crucial to getting the full value for your kitchen. It won't matter if you recently installed granite countertops and beautiful new cabinets, if your electric stove from 1970 has 3 out of 4 burners than work and are slightly warped. Often times when updating appliances, bundles could save you hundreds on your initial investment. The most recent trend for home appliances have been stainless steel. They're easy to clean, have clean lines, and match just about any combination of colors and patterns. This is a huge plus if you cannot fully remodel your kitchen, but want to invest in versatile appliances. Some opt for the standard metal, white sets, or vintage-looking sets, depending on their budget and style. Many homebuyers look for energy-efficient models, which even if you're not moving, could save you a pretty penny in the long run.
