Increasing The Value Of Your Home #3: Kitchen and Bath
It’s the third day in our Home Improvement series, designed to help you increase the value of your home so you can negotiate better terms on your mortgage or avoid a negative equity situation.
If you’ve ever watched a home improvement or home flipping show on TV, you know that kitchens and bathrooms are what add value to a house.
You always get your money back and more when you improve these areas but what if you don’t have $30,000 available to install everything brand new? Not to worry. There are plenty of little things you can do to give these areas some pizzazz.
- If your kitchen cabinets are looking a little tired, consider refinishing or painting them. This can make the room look entirely different. Lightening the stain on wood cabinets or painting MDF ones a cheerful color can make the kitchen look a lot bigger than it actually is.
- Something as simple as buying new switch plates for outlets and light switches can make your house look more modern and appealing. Installing the same style throughout the house will give some continuity between the rooms and instantly make everything look newer.
- Changing the hardware on your existing cupboards can also make a huge difference. Brushed nickel or silver is a very popular look at the moment and can make you kitchen look sleek even if you don’t have stainless steel appliances. If you have room in the budget, consider updating the kitchen faucet as well. These can be pricey in the store but often you can find new ones in the classifieds left over from other people’s renovation projects.
- If you have a tile countertop that is looking a bit tired, consider regrouting. Sparkling white grout can give the impression that the whole counter is new, even if it is 20 years old. Replace broken or cracked tiles if you can match the color.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the next installment of our Home Improvement Series. These inexpensive ideas could be just what you need to help your home keep its value.
