Handyman Articles - Kitchens and Bathrooms that Sell Homes

Great kitchens start with a great design so it is important that you highlight the best features of your kitchen. Great windows can be showcased by new curtains, an island can be stage to illustrate its varied uses, lots of storage is valuable but you will need to hide many of your belongings to create the appearance of boundless storage.

Home stagers are a new profession involved in the real estate industry. They help home owners remove clutter from their homes and rearrange furniture to create a feeling of spaciousness. While researching this article, I found a great web site to illustrate the value of staging bathrooms, and of course the technique can be applied to all aspects of your home, inside and outside.  

Kitchens That Sell - It is unlikely you can change the basic layout of your kitchen. You can however, show off its best features by dressing them up to enhance the overall feeling of the room. Projects My Handyman has helped home owners to:

Replace the counter-tops to update the kitchen. One home owner said "now I love my kitchen so maybe I don't need to move." A less expensive alternative is adding a pleasing back splash that wows buyers. Change hardware to update cabinets that are in good condition. You can also replace cabinet and drawer fronts if the current style is dated, but in good shape. Replace light fixtures and/or windows to add light. Frequently Realtors recommend new appliances, i.e. stainless changes the look and feel quickly. There are reasonably priced packages which include refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave.

Hearthstone Kitchen Designs

Flooring is another area where you can quickly change the mood of the kitchen, especially if your current flooring is worn and dated. A fresh coat of paint using a popular, yet neutral color can change the personality of any room including the kitchen. Home stagers offer color consultations to help you identify the best colors for your kitchen, from the current popular ones. Routine maintenance items should be taken care of. Repair leaky faucets and drawers or doors that are difficult to open and close, replace grout that is crumbling and re-caulk the back-splash if it does not sparkle. Just as important is creating a spacious feel by removing clutter from surfaces and cabinets/closets a buyer might open. Finally you want the room to look and smell clean. Wash appliances and cabinets, counter-tops, sinks and faucets. Don't forget the garbage areas and remove all evidence of pets.

- After kitchens, bathrooms are the next rooms that a key to buying a house. They need many of the same touches as your kitchen, only on a smaller scale.

• Assess your fixtures and update those most dated. Faucets should be clean and shiny, along with all other metals from light fixtures to the sink and bathtub/shower.
  
• Add lighting with a new fixture, or possibly a new medicine cabinet with built in lighting.
  
• A fresh coat of paint and coordinated towels, hung on updated towel rods/hooks are inexpensive ways to give the room a new look.
• Routine maintenance items should be taken care of. Repair/replace caulking around tub/showers and sinks, repair/replace grout as needed and repair/replace leaky fixtures.
• Clean everything - toilets, sinks, faucet hardware, mirrors, soap dishes, etc and keep towels, shower curtains and bath mats clean.
  

• Open all drapes and blinds during the daytime and turn on all lights for evening showings.
• Clear the hallways, stairs and closets of all clutter. Every buyer wants lots of storage.
  
• Arrange furniture to create a spacious look and clean/organize closets, storage, etc to create visual space.
• Turn on the air conditioning during summer.
• Turn on the heat during winter, and light the fireplace.
• Ensure carpets and floors are always clean.
• Place potpourri or fresh flowers around the house.
  

Tina Gleisner, President of My Handyman of Southern NH, publishes Handyman News and writes articles that address customer concerns. Copyright © 2008 by 4 Walls 1 Roof LLC.