Having An Up-To-Date Kitchen Sells A Home!

                                                                         

As your Houston realtor I know the importance of a kitchen. If you are in the process or even thinking about, selling your Houston home, this is something for you to think about. It's a tool used by house flippers all across the nation. Stagers know its power.  What is this not-so-well-kept secret of real estate? Kitchens of course! They aren't just for eating...In fact, having an up-to-date kitchen can make the difference between your home selling...or not.  

Just think about it. When your family and friends come over, seriously, where does everyone end up spending the majority of the time? The kitchen! (Yes, the family or living rooms too but definitely the kitchen!) A kitchen is the heart of a home. This is true all across the globe. The old saying that the "stomach is the way to the heart" carries a lot of truth. Kitchens are where we spend much of our time and most of that is with our families. It's the room where we nourish our bodies and our spirits.

Because of the fact that kitchens are such an integral part of entertaining, they play an integral role in the Houston buying and selling process as well. This one room is the showpiece of the house. You'll see it every day and your guests will see it during most visits. This means Houston buyers want homes with up-to-date kitchens.

However... it's not just a new layer of paint. Kitchens can be one of the most expensive rooms to renovate. These projects can also be the most labor and time intensive of all home renovations.
Instead you find a complicated array of flooring, tiling, cabinets, and counters. This means Houston buyers may want a home with an up-to-date kitchen but they aren't willing to tackle this problem themselves. Most buyers want a kitchen that is ready to use the day they move in.

What do buyers look for in up-to-date kitchens? A lot of this depends on what price range your home is in.

One thing to remember as a seller is to not price yourself out of your market. If homes in your neighborhood are selling for $100,000 with tidy, but not luxury kitchens, then this is no time to upgrade to granite, travertine, and marble at the price tag of $40,000+. You simply won't find a buyer.

Scope out the competition. Use open houses in your area or MLS listings to find out what your competitions' kitchens look like. Do area homes have new solid wood cabinets and granite counters in today's designer colors? You'll be wise to consider making the same move. Are they including new stainless steel appliances and add-ons like dishwashers, wine-coolers, and trash compactors?

Or are you in a higher-end neighborhood? If you are then It's time to think high-end. Your older home may have a highly functional kitchen, but a buyer will take one look at your formica counters and white appliances and become lost in the stress of how much money and time it would take to remodel. If you don't want to put in the time yourself to make upgrades then you'll have to make concessions in the price.

Don't become overwhelmed, though. Sometimes a kitchen update can mean doing just a few minor changes. Change the paint color to a warm, neutral tone. Get rid of any clutter. Update your appliances, paint your cabinets, change the pulls, or get a high-end looking counter for a fraction of the cost (faux-granite or lower end granite). You might even save a bundle by doing much of the work yourself.

The bottom line is a kitchen can sell a home. Do a little research and find out what your kitchen needs to make it competitive with area listings.

If you need any referrals please call me, I do have several trusted people I can refer to you for ideas and assistance in things ranging from staging your kitchen to doing a complete remodel!
As always, we invite you to visit our website at www.DavidTheLocator.com and call us at 281-326-HOME! Good luck and have a great day!