10 hot tips to get your kitchen cookin’

The kitchen is the heart of any home, so it’s no surprise it’s the favorite room to remodel.

You can enjoy the upgrade for many years, and it helps maximize the value of your property when you decide it’s time to sell.

As your local real estate agent, I believe remodeling your kitchen will likely bring you a better return on investment than work on any other room. And I’m not the only one – a Forbes magazine study says the same.

Your budget will determine how you approach the project. Perhaps your kitchen is sturdy and simply needs a facelift. In that case, you can focus on replacing the doors of your cabinets and drawers, and update the handles. 

If money allows, you might consider adding a new back-splash in a fashionable color or installing a new, top-of-the-range Quartz or stone countertop.

Sometimes, of course, you’ll want to pull out the entire kitchen and start again.

I recommend my client to seek quotes from kitchen suppliers and then consult me on exactly how much value it will add to the home. You don’t want to invest more than the amount it will add to the property.

In most cases, you won’t go wrong with a bright modern kitchen with modern appliances. It’s also fashionable these days to have ingenious storage areas to hide the gadgets and keep the countertop clear.

But where do you start to reach this goal? Here are five tips I offer all my clients before they remodel their kitchen.

  1. Get online inspiration – Use apps such as Pinterest and Instagram, and check out some of the cool kitchens. They’ll give you some great ideas that will get you excited about the project ahead. 
  2. Fix your budget – Before you get too carried away, lock in your budget and put aside an additional 10% for unforeseen expenses or must-have features that might arise.
  3. Decide what stays – Do you need new appliances, or can you stick with the same oven and stove? Or even the kitchen sink?    
  4. Start with the floor plan – It’s easy to be inspired by internet photographs, but apply an analytical mind to how your optimal kitchen should be laid out. The trend we’re seeing with buyers, especially those looking for a first home, is an open-plan kitchen that flows to the living area. If you’re thinking of selling in the short-term, then we suggest you leave the floor plan as it is.
  5. If you do one thing… Replace your countertops with a spectacular surface. Of course, ensure that its color matches the rest of the kitchen. Popular surfaces include quartz, granite, Laminate and polished concrete
  6. Quick and easy – New doors on cabinets and drawers is another great but inexpensive way to make an impact. Only do this if your kitchen has “good bones”. But if it’s ready for the garbage dump, then fancy doors aren’t going to hide the problem.
  7. Apply some technology – This is a high-impact but quite an expensive strategy, especially if you’re looking to get your money back from selling. Buyers love matching appliances, especially if they’re a European brand. Talk to us about whether such a costly set of purchases will give you a decent return on your investment.
  8. Revamp the flooring – Hardwood timber floors are popular with buyers right now, and your flooring can transform not just the kitchen but the overall impression of your home. 
  9. Power of paint – A fresh coat of paint can revitalize a kitchen. Keep the colors neutral as you don’t want to turn off any prospective buyers because you happen to love a bright blue and they don’t. Stay away from wallpaper as their patterns and colors can be polarising, too. 
  10. Stick to the basics – If you’re selling in the short-term, save your life-long ambition for a pizza oven or built in gadget for your next home. They’re very cool but unlikely to give you a return on investment when it’s time to negotiate a sale price.