Preparing your home for sale is more than simply tidying up and giving the place a good vacuum if you want to maximise the value.
It’s a great idea to focus on the rooms that have real selling power. For most homes – apartments and houses – these are the living areas, bathrooms and kitchen.
Buyers will also pay a lot of attention to the number and size of the bedrooms, but there’s not much you can do about this when preparing to sell.
Doubling down on your kitchen is always a great idea because it’s one of the most influential areas when people decide what they want to buy.
Many of today’s buyers will recoil at the idea of having to renovate the kitchen of a home they’ve just bought, while others will relish the opportunity and recognise the fact that old benchtops and cupboards make the home cheaper.
The kitchen is also the subject of significant swings in fashion and taste.
Red kitchens now scream 2010, just as black taps say 2020. One moment interior designers are telling you to have open shelving, the next all your jars and appliances need to be out of sight.
So, we offer a few tips for getting your kitchen ready for today’s buyer. We hope you find them helpful.
Open shelves – They’re popular at the moment, but don’t overdo it. Too many will make your kitchen look chaotic. For the purposes of selling, use open shelving to add visual interest rather than have a practical purpose.
Splash of colour – All-white kitchens tend to be bland when showing them to buyers. There’s nothing visual to latch onto. Maybe use an open shelf to hold red canisters. The very least you should do is place some colourful flowers strategically to break up that Arctic vibe.
Being minimalist – Clutter is a sin when preparing your home for sale. So, a minimalist kitchen ticks every agent and buyer’s box. Keep the benchtops free of the sandwich maker or slow cooker. A kettle and toaster are acceptable, but not much more. And it would be cool if the kettle and toaster matched.
Big clean-out – Most buyers will wander through the kitchen and open the drawers and cupboards to check the storage space and whether the doors stick or soft-close. Storage space is critical, so make sure your cupboards and drawers are half-empty to give the impression of sufficiency.
Benchtop titans – If you have the budget to improve your kitchen, look at replacing the doors of cupboards and drawers, and install a new benchtop. Marble is the king of benchtops but many buyers know they have a maintenance challenge. Instead, go for the more affordable quartz or granite options.
Splashback strategy – Some sellers will opt for a fresh splashback to give their kitchen a lift. That’s never a bad idea if you have the money and it’s the best option if the rest of the kitchen is in good shape. Don’t fall into the trap of going for a pattern or bright colour. Be safe and keep it neutral.