The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home, and it’s often the “make or break” room for many buyers. So, when it comes time to sell your home, you should have a close look at this space and consider your options before placing your home on the market.

Your kitchen is often an area that you can add value – a great kitchen will also increase the number of interested buyers into your home. So, what can you do to yours to catch potential buyers’ eyes and persuade them put an offer on your home?

As with any pre-sale renovation or spruce up, keep a tight rein on the budget. Talk to your Sales Consultant about what your asking price should be before and after a kitchen makeover. Then set your budget at a portion of that difference. You don’t want any makeover plan to eat too far into that financial gain, or there’s no point in doing it! You may find that with very little financial outlay, you can make a huge difference. You shoud also avoid anything that involves changes to plumbing and electrical wiring to keep costs down.

Here are a few ideas, and things to think about for improving your kitchen:

• Freshen up cabinetry and/or walls with a coat of paint and new cupboard or drawer handles. As a rule, if you want to create the illusion of a bright, airy, and spacious kitchen. Neutrals are a good idea as more buyers prefer this, and can then add their own personal touches.
• Decluttering and cleaning is another cost-effective way to spruce up your kitchen. Keep open shelves, cupboards, and pantries looking orderly and functional. Make sure all surfaces are clean. If benchtops are looking old and marked, consider replacing them. There are a huge range of different benchtop options available for all budgets.
• The same is true for flooring and wall tiles. If you can, replace old, stained, worn flooring or cracked tiles and peeling linoleum – and make sure tile grouting is looking clean and fresh.
• Look up! Don’t forget about the ceiling and lighting. The kitchen should be well lit, and don’t forget to at least clean, and preferably paint the ceiling.
• Think about flow. Can the kitchen be improved by shifting the dishwasher, fridge or oven? Do doors clash? Is the fridge in the wrong place? If there’s something about the way you use your kitchen that has always irritated you, it may well irritate buyers as well. If you can change it within your budget, it is worth doing.
• A good size sink can make a huge difference to the kitchen – particularly if you currently have an older kitchen which often have small sinks. Tapware should also be well-maintained and clean.
• Before you start, make sure you know exactly what you want to do to your kitchen and why and stick to it. Think about the big picture – general improvements such as space, storage, functionality and light. Make your plan around achieving these with good quality materials and as cost effectively as possible.
• Think carefully about what you are going to include as chattels in the kitchen. If you have a difficult space designed around a particular fridge for example, consider leaving the fridge behind as part of the kitchen. Anything difficult to replace that is a key part of the kitchen should be included in the sale if possible.

For more tips on getting your home ready for sale, speak to one of our sales professionals on 4628 7444.