Three different future sellers have asked me this question, so I figured it’s time to share my thoughts. If you’re thinking about selling your home in the new year, here’s where I stand on pre-sale kitchen remodeling.
Kitchens are typically the primary renovation target in a property. The kitchen is where everyone pretty much lives these days, and it’s the core of a home. You can certainly command more money when you’re selling if you have a remodeled kitchen. Buyers come through the property and don’t knock money off the list price for the new kitchen they “need” to do. But that’s only if they like the remodeling you’ve done.
And therein lies the rub: If you’ve just renovated your kitchen to make it more appealing to buyers, whether you will achieve that goal will largely depend upon the individual buyers out there at the time you’re selling.
However, sellers have been successful with “light” kitchen remodels—updated counter tops, perhaps some painted or replaced cabinetry, and new appliances. These are the types of jobs that can be done relatively quickly with a committed contractor, and can sometimes make a big difference in how much a buyer will pay.