Make or Break a Sale with the Kitchen

With an inventory of houses for sale that would probably take 2 years to sell off, homeowners may consider improving their present home to better accommodate their needs rather than sell.

Kitchen improvements should be relative to the price of the home - in other words, if you intend to update a kitchen in a home with sales potential in the $150s, you would be better off improving the quality of the cabinets rather than spending money on granite countertops.

On the other hand, if you expect to get offers in the higher end, it would be a huge disservice to use mica when the price range clearly demands granite.

Kitchen improvements that may make you more comfortable staying put and bring a good return when the market stabilizes are a built in dishwasher and a built in microwave. Drawers are a popular convenience as are drop-in stovetops & built in ovens. Be sure to stay neutral with the backsplash and countertop.

Think simple, think neutral, think tasteful. This is not the place to try your hand at eclectic decorating unless you plan to stay (and go neutral when you move).

The kitchen is an essential part of any home - consider hiring a contractor even though you may be able to do-it-yourself. Walls and floors are seldom plumb, an experienced installer can make mediocre cabinets look good - often the trim work can make or break a kitchen's final appearance.

Two or three decades ago, kitchens were isolated and out of the way but not today; today's kitchens are an integral part of the home where the busy lives of family members intersect. The cook in the kitchen does not want to be isolated from the guests.

An attractive kitchen can close the deal or ruin the sale. How's your kitchen look?