Want to help sell your home faster? Think about the heart of your home – the kitchen.
As late as the 1970s, a formal living room was the centerpiece of a home. In today’s age of open floor plans and more casual lifestyles, the kitchen has become the heart of the home and integral to entertaining.
You’ve probably heard the adage, “the stomach is the way to the heart.” That saying is proving especially true today. The kitchen is the place where we nourish our bodies and those of our loved ones. You likely see your kitchen every day and your guests probably see it during every visit, so it’s no wonder this room plays an important role in the home buying and selling process.
Unfortunately, kitchens can be one of the most expensive rooms to update or renovate. These projects can also be the most labor and time intensive of all home renovations. It’s not just a new layer of paint, which is why most buyers want homes with up-to-date, move-in-ready kitchens.
When thinking about updating your kitchen, you can find yourself faced with a wide array of complicated decisions, from flooring, tiling, cabinets, counters, appliances, and more. To help decide the type of kitchen you should consider, start by looking at homes for sale in your neighborhood.
The main thing to remember as a seller is to not price yourself out of your market. If homes in your neighborhood are selling for $200,000 with tidy, efficient kitchens, then upgrading to granite, travertine, and marble at the price tag of over $40,000 may not be a wise choice.
However, if your home is in a higher-end neighborhood, then it may be time to think luxury. Your older home may have a well-kept, highly functional kitchen, but a buyer will take one look at your tile counters and white appliances and become lost in the stress of how much money and time it would take to update the room.
In the video clip below from The Wall Street Journal, Anjali Athavaley shares the latest trends in luxury kitchens, including hiding high-end appliances, incorporating sitting areas and keeping countertops empty.
The key is not to become overwhelmed. Sometimes a kitchen update can mean doing just a few minor changes, like getting rid of clutter, updating appliances, changing the paint color to a neutral tone or changing cabinet pulls.
The bottom line is a kitchen can sell a home. Do a little research and find out what your kitchen needs to make it competitive with homes for sale in your neighborhood. Also, get a second opinion! One of the qualified Realtors at Luxury Living Fort Lauderdale can help determine what it will take to get your home sold in the least amount of time and for the most amount of money.
The Fort Lauderdale real estate market is very competitive, so it’s especially important to make informed decisions before listing your house for sale.
