Whether your client is planning on selling their home soon or they want a fresh look without moving, the below upgrades can increase their home’s value without breaking the bank, giving it the look they’ve been dreaming of while minimizing cost and maximizing profit. The kitchen is always one of the most daunting projects to tackle. There’s so much that goes into it – more than just furniture and the right plasma TV. You have to consider the floor, walls, countertops, appliances, lighting, hardware, etc. Below are a handful of ideas that will keep your client’s home up to date without totally emptying their pockets:
1. Rehabbing the cabinets
Cost: $100-300
With the proper stain/paint kit and some new hardware, a person can completely rehab old, dated and dusty cabinets. A nice semigloss finish in white can brighten the space, catering to a modern or traditional style. Brand new hardware can be found at any typical home improvement store, but can range from $1 to $100 for one handle/knob depending on style and finish, versus $10 to $20 for a whole set found at a local salvage shop, like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore shops. If the kitchen is a bit tight, taking off the doors on the upper cabinets, all or just a few, can help to make the space feel less cramped. As long as it’s kept clean, it’ll feel more open and might be the perfect chance to display glassware, china or any other piece of artwork that’s been hiding in your home.
2. Replacing or adding a backsplash
Cost: $100-500
The walls behind a stove and sink can get dirty over time, ruining the appeal they once had. By replacing or adding a backsplash, new energy is brought into the space. Cost, again, varies upon the size of the kitchen and what materials are being used, whether it be subway tile, modern glass or mosaic. You’ll want to find something that pops out from the cabinets and blends with the countertops, or something that offers a variety of colors, in order to draw the eye nicely from top to bottom, giving attention to the new paint job and complimenting the colors and patterns that appear underneath. The backsplash can be where your client experiments with designs and contrasting colors. Choosing the material and cut/placement are also crucial in complimenting styles within the home. Whether it be stone formatted in herringbone to create a warmer, more detailed look, or a simple mosaic or subway tile soldiered, bringing in clean, refreshing accents.
3. Re-finishing or replacing flooring
Cost: $100-900
Just like the walls in a home, the floors can make just as much of a difference in the style and appearance. For the kitchen, it’s important to have floors that can be easily cleaned and compliment the rest of the space. If lucky, the client already has great hardwood flooring that just needs some sprucing up with a fresh sand and stain; however, this might be a bit intense if the flooring is carried throughout the home. A cheaper option that will work in a more traditional setting is painting the floors, perhaps creating a checkered pattern, using contrasting paints, stains or washes. For more modern spaces, tile, slate and stone are options to explore although prices can sneak up on you by square foot. Laminate hardwood is always an inexpensive option and can look great; however depending on what previously existed, it may not help out the value of the home. If you want hardwood floors, but want to avoid the cost and don’t want to entertain the idea of laminate, there’s tile that looks like wood, combining the warmth of the wood and durability of tile. Cost can change dramatically depending on the size of the kitchen, if the floors continues throughout the home and whether your client can splurge on material.
4. Bringing the countertops up to date
Cost: $70-500
Replacing countertops can be a huge task, but the end results are always worth it. Butcher block and concrete counters are sleek and durable. Both can be stained, and they won’t break your clients’ pockets like granite. If granite is something they really want but can’t afford, faux-granite finishes look authentic and will definitely spruce up old laminate counters. Three-Form Chroma countertops are also very clean, giving an über modern appearance; although, they can get a bit up there in cost. If there is space for an island, consider adding it in. It’s an amazing feature and maximizes the use of the kitchen space.
5. Keeping it well lit
Cost: $200-500
It’s key for a person to be able to see what they’re doing when they’re cooking, entertaining or completing any other task in the kitchen. Pendant lighting is a great look, particularly over the sink, island and breakfast bar. When picking types of pendants, it’s important to think about their color. If the kitchen harbors a lot of darker tones, choose a material and design that offers the opportunity for light to bounce around in the space. In a space with lighter tones, darker accents can be used, but there’s nothing wrong with acquiring other bright fixtures. Pendants range in cost from super cheap to super expensive; this all depends on the material and where they’re bought. It’s wise to use an electrician if these fixtures aren’t already installed in some manner, which is where a lot of the cost can come from. A super easy fix that does not require any sort of service is under-cabinet lighting. These are super easy to install and may be the cheapest and most effective lighting available. Using LED bulbs and other energy efficient materials are great for saving cost and maximizing value.
6. Upgrading your appliances
Cost: $500-2,000
Everyone knows that stainless steel appliances are a must-have, but the prices can go well into the thousands for the top brands. If your client doesn’t have them already, going back to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore shops or even going online to Craigslist, they can find all sorts of new and used appliances for half the price, including microwaves, ovens and refrigerators. If there isn’t a microwave directly above your stove, adding a hood can create a feeling of luxury and the appearance of a real Chef’s kitchen.
Other simple fixes like re-polishing the sink, applying a fresh coat of paint on the walls and hanging a pot rack are great and easy ways to make a kitchen look better and to increase a home’s value. The best thing is all of these can be done by the homeowner, with some help here and there. This eliminates major costs from an install team or contractor.