Let's Talk Kitchens
October 2, 2007
Continuing a discussion of improvements you might make if you are thinking of selling your home, you need to take a good hard look at your kitchen. Even for prospective buyers who hardly ever cook, the kitchen is a key consideration in any decision to purchase a particular house. So ask yourself these questions:
1) Does the faucet drip? When was the faucet last installed?
2) Is the sink scratched or stained or chipped? Does it need re caulking?
3) Does the cupboard under the sink show signs of water damage?
4) How old are the appliances? Is the dishwasher rusty inside? Does the oven have baked on food that no amount of Easy-Off will remove?
5) Are the kitchen cabinets in need of painting or refinishing? Or are they just totally out of sync with contemporary design?
6)What type of counter tops do you have? Tile, Formica, Corian or granite?
Are they chipped or cracked?
7) What type of lighting do you have? Does it provide bright light over the main work areas?
8) What does the floor look like? Is it vinyl or tile and is it in pristine condition.
If you honestly answer these questions, you should know whether your kitchen will be someone's dream or nightmare.
Some fixes are relatively low cost but new appliances, counters and flooring will be expensive. However, most surveys consider the cost worth it for the seller who wants to attract a buyer at the highest possible selling price.
According to the 2006-2007 American Institute of Architects Poll, these are the top items buyers are looking for in a new kitchen:
*Upper End Appliances 65%
*Increased Pantry Space 64%
*Renewable Flooring 53%
*Wine Refrigerators/Storage 53%
*Integration with Living Space 53%
*Recycling Center 48%.
How does your kitchen rate?
Continuing a discussion of improvements you might make if you are thinking of selling your home, you need to take a good hard look at your kitchen. Even for prospective buyers who hardly ever cook, the kitchen is a key consideration in any decision to purchase a particular house. So ask yourself these questions:
1) Does the faucet drip? When was the faucet last installed?
2) Is the sink scratched or stained or chipped? Does it need re caulking?
3) Does the cupboard under the sink show signs of water damage?
4) How old are the appliances? Is the dishwasher rusty inside? Does the oven have baked on food that no amount of Easy-Off will remove?
5) Are the kitchen cabinets in need of painting or refinishing? Or are they just totally out of sync with contemporary design?
6)What type of counter tops do you have? Tile, Formica, Corian or granite?
Are they chipped or cracked?
7) What type of lighting do you have? Does it provide bright light over the main work areas?
8) What does the floor look like? Is it vinyl or tile and is it in pristine condition.
If you honestly answer these questions, you should know whether your kitchen will be someone's dream or nightmare.
Some fixes are relatively low cost but new appliances, counters and flooring will be expensive. However, most surveys consider the cost worth it for the seller who wants to attract a buyer at the highest possible selling price.
According to the 2006-2007 American Institute of Architects Poll, these are the top items buyers are looking for in a new kitchen:
*Upper End Appliances 65%
*Increased Pantry Space 64%
*Renewable Flooring 53%
*Wine Refrigerators/Storage 53%
*Integration with Living Space 53%
*Recycling Center 48%.
How does your kitchen rate?
posted by shirley harry at 12:19 PM
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