Should you change your kitchen when selling?

Thinking of selling your home but it needs quite a bit of work? Wondering how much work you should do before putting it on the market?

Rachel our Sales Consultant and Valuer says “There isn’t a day that goes by when a homeowner does not ask my opinion whether they should replace the kitchen or bathroom before putting it on the market. Given that the kitchen and bathroom are two of the most important rooms – and can easily look the most dated, it may seem obvious to tackle these first before putting it on the market. However, you might lose time and money in the process.”

Should you change your kitchen?

The short answer is no. Even if you get a new fairly basic design, replacing the kitchen and bathroom may be a waste of time as it may not be to the new buyers taste, costing you a lot of unnecessary time and money!

What you can do in the short terms is add a lick of paint to the cupboard doors, this is more straightforward, cost effective and can make a big difference.

Some buyers will simply ignore your cabinets and imagine their own new, gleaming replacement. The worse it is, the easier it is for viewers to simply look at the space, examine the floorplan, and make plans to change it all.

It will also take time to source new units and appliances, then find a builder or tradesman to do the work – time during which your property could have been on the market. The question is whether you will make that money back when you sell your home, and whether it’s worth the hassle.

Will a brand-new kitchen make my property go up in value?

It’s important that the price bracket of your kitchen matches the price bracket of your home. There’s no point investing £20,000 in a fancy new kitchen if your property is worth £200,000 – you just won’t get your money back.

DIY is a more cost-effective approach to home renovations, but it is not without risk. Before you begin your project, map out exactly what is required, how much of that you can do yourself and what, if anything, will need the skills of a professional.

If all you’re doing is painting the cupboard doors or adding new handles, DIY may be the best route to take.

If you would like our opinion on your kitchen or bathroom and would like to know the current value your home is worth, then feel free to get in touch.