Texas Real Estate Blog & Market News

When selling your home, you may begin to wonder what exactly will catch the eye of potential home buyers. Although, of course, this may differ from buyer to buyer, there is one area of the home that you simply can’t go wrong remodeling or sprucing up for sale. And that’s the kitchen.

Kitchens today are where the family gathers. It is, in fact, the heart of the home and it has the ability, time and time again, to sell a house.

Today’s kitchens must represent today’s buyer, and they must have the wow factor. They must be a place to entertain, to unwind, and to spend a family meal together. They must have superb finishes, high-quality appliances, and plenty of cabinetry. They often play just as big of a role as the family room or great room, and many of today’s homes are therefore built with these two important rooms of the home side by side, in an open floor plan concept.

Although the kitchen is the place to spend your money when it comes to renovations, it is also important to understand that they can also be the most expensive rooms to renovate. From natural stone countertops to beautiful floor tiles and custom cabinetry, a kitchen has many parts to consider; none of which are very budget-friendly.

So, you have a kitchen you want to remodel before selling, but you don’t where to start or where to spend your money. What do you do?

•  Hit up some open houses and get familiar with what today’s homes offer in terms of kitchens and kitchen amenities. You can start by looking at open houses in your price range, as this will give you the best idea where to start in terms of your kitchen remodel. Is custom cabinetry a constant, and what type of countertops is usually installed? Do homeowners prefer higher-end kitchen appliances, or are basic appliances found? Pay close attention to these details because these are the houses which you will be competing against.

•  Look at the photos and videos in your local MLS. Many real estate companies will post pictures, virtual home tours and videos of properties for sale, so it is quite easy to take a look at what these homes are offering in terms of kitchens. Again, it is important to make sure to look at homes in your price range, as you don’t want to spend too much money on a kitchen remodel that you won’t see a return on when you sell.

•  Think about special features that will attract buyers. Just some of the special items you may want to put into your kitchen remodel include: a wine chiller, a warming tray, a garbage disposal, track lighting, a high-end faucet or decorative lighting. If you want to renovate your kitchen to set your home apart from others in your price range, consider adding a few special features that will attract attention, but not break the bank. You can often get plenty of inspiration from visiting your local home improvement store!