Kitchens Do Influence Buyers
July 14, 2009
Surveys still reveal that a kitchen remodel will give sellers a big bang for the bucks spent. However, not every seller can afford to replace all their cabinets, add new appliances and install a granite counter. While you might get 80+% of the costs of such a renovation when you sell your house, you might also not have the funds to spend on such a renovation.
Here is what a homeowner might do that would add some sparkle to a kitchen.
Over time, natural wood kitchen cupboards such as the oak and ash and birch cupboards that were used in the 1960s through the 1970s get to look very warn. Cooking vapors in the air and greasy residue attach to the wood and can make them look very grungy. Some cupboards in these time periods had no hardware handles or the hardware finish became dull through the constant use.
So......Remove all of the handles and knobs from both the cabinets and the drawers. Set the screws aside and put the hardware in the sink or in a basin filled with hot water and a few squirts of grease cutting dishwasher liquid. The soap will soak away the grime while you clean the cabinet surfaces.
As for the cabinets you can use a damp sponge with a dab of that grease-cutting dish washing liquid. Murphy's Oil soap can also be used to dampen your sponge. Using a new, clean and damp sponge, wipe the cabinet surfaces again to remove any of the soapy residue. Dry the surface with a lint-free micro fiber cloth and your finish should look as good as new.
It is also possible that your cupboards may need more than just a good cleaning and buffing. If the finish has worn away, it may be necessary to re lacquer or re varnish them. You might even consider painting them for a brighter and more contemporary look. However, before you apply any new finish make sure that the wood surface has been properly prepared. Proper preparation before resurfacing is vital for improving the look of tired cabinets.
When the cabinet surfaces are clean. reattach the hardware. At minimum cost, you will have given the kitchen a crisp and clean appearance. Crisp and clean should always be a sellers goal.
Surveys still reveal that a kitchen remodel will give sellers a big bang for the bucks spent. However, not every seller can afford to replace all their cabinets, add new appliances and install a granite counter. While you might get 80+% of the costs of such a renovation when you sell your house, you might also not have the funds to spend on such a renovation.
Here is what a homeowner might do that would add some sparkle to a kitchen.
Over time, natural wood kitchen cupboards such as the oak and ash and birch cupboards that were used in the 1960s through the 1970s get to look very warn. Cooking vapors in the air and greasy residue attach to the wood and can make them look very grungy. Some cupboards in these time periods had no hardware handles or the hardware finish became dull through the constant use.
So......Remove all of the handles and knobs from both the cabinets and the drawers. Set the screws aside and put the hardware in the sink or in a basin filled with hot water and a few squirts of grease cutting dishwasher liquid. The soap will soak away the grime while you clean the cabinet surfaces.
As for the cabinets you can use a damp sponge with a dab of that grease-cutting dish washing liquid. Murphy's Oil soap can also be used to dampen your sponge. Using a new, clean and damp sponge, wipe the cabinet surfaces again to remove any of the soapy residue. Dry the surface with a lint-free micro fiber cloth and your finish should look as good as new.
It is also possible that your cupboards may need more than just a good cleaning and buffing. If the finish has worn away, it may be necessary to re lacquer or re varnish them. You might even consider painting them for a brighter and more contemporary look. However, before you apply any new finish make sure that the wood surface has been properly prepared. Proper preparation before resurfacing is vital for improving the look of tired cabinets.
When the cabinet surfaces are clean. reattach the hardware. At minimum cost, you will have given the kitchen a crisp and clean appearance. Crisp and clean should always be a sellers goal.
posted by shirley harry at 7:47 AM
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