Minor Kitchen
Remodel
Over the last few years, minor kitchen remodels have become the most popular
home improvement project. For a modest investment, you can give your kitchen a
fresh, new look and make it more functional at the same time. You'll enjoy the
results for years to come - including when you sell your home.
No matter what the price range, just about every home buyer wants a modern
kitchen. You can usually count on getting back most of the cost of updating
your kitchen. In some places, especially urban areas, the resale value of a
minor kitchen remodel can even be more than the original cost.
The key to getting the most for your investment is not to do too much or too
little. As long as you have a functional kitchen layout, keep it intact -- when
you start moving appliances, sinks and cabinets, a simple project can become a
major remodel in no time. On the other hand, smart home buyers can usually see
through changes that are only cosmetic. |
Cost vs Value
Click here
to get the average Job cost,
Resale value and Cost recouped in a metropolitan area. |
Design Tips:
| (fixtures) |
The most attractive and functional fixtures
aren't always the most expensive. Commercial fixtures, which often cost less,
can add a clean, industrial look to a contemporary redesign. |
| (flooring) |
Laminate is generally less expensive than
other floor materials, and the selection is unlimited. Choose something that
adds interest to the current look of the kitchen but gives you -- or a buyer --
the flexibility to change color schemes in the future. |
| (countertops) |
Details like a tile backsplash can give a
custom look to new or existing laminate countertops without costing a lot. |
| (space) |
Crown moldings where the walls meet the
ceiling make any room feel larger, including the kitchen. |
| (paint) |
You can add drama and a designer feeling to a
kitchen with paint and wallpaper -- without making the bigger investment
required for tile, laminate, and other permanent improvements. At resale time,
even if your colors don't fit your new buyers' tastes, they know that
repainting and papering will cost them less than replacing countertops,
flooring, and other large changes. |
| (cabinets) |
Refinish your cabinets only if they're good
quality to begin with. It's easy to spot poor quality cabinets that have simply
been refinished, and they're a turn-off to most buyers. On the other hand, if
you have to replace your cabinets, the cost can turn your minor makeover into a
major remodel. |
| (cabinets) |
If you decide to replace them, remember that
cabinets are the most visible element in a kitchen. Get the best quality
cabinets you can afford, and have them professionally installed if at all
possible. Poor quality materials or a sloppy installation of new cabinets can
ruin an otherwise attractive kitchen remodel. |
| (details) |
Spend extra money where it matters -- for
example, on good, attractive cabinet hardware, a quality faucet, and quality
appliances. |
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