No buyer is going to want to put up a huge sum of money to purchase a home that they don’t like, unless they’re specifically looking for a fixer-upper. If your goal as a seller is to sell your home as quickly as possible, your best bet is to prep it in such a way that buyers can’t help but fall in love with your place. The more attracted buyers are to your home, the more likely they’ll be enticed to put in a handsome offer.
While every part of your home may warrant attention, the kitchen is particularly important. Great kitchens sell, and they also garner higher bid prices. If you’re considering tweaking your kitchen to attract the masses of buyers, here are a few design trends you may want to consider.
1. Hidden Appliances
Stainless steel appliances have vastly improved the look of a kitchen compared to those outdated and unattractive green or yellow appliances that plagued kitchens through the 1970s and early 1980s. Although white appliances provided homeowners with a much better color option, they still pale in comparison to the esthetics of stainless steel.
That said, sophisticated homeowners of today are opting to hide appliances altogether. Rather than have them stand out in the kitchen, appliances are being camouflaged to blend in with the rest of a kitchen’s cabinetry and walls.
2. Commercial-Grade Appliances
If you don’t want to conceal your appliances, show them off. But if you do, make sure they’re commercial-grade. Buyers love watching all those home improvement shows on TV, many of which tend to use these higher-end appliances in their kitchen renovation jobs. As a result, more and more buyers want these appliances in their own kitchens.
If commercial-grade is out of your budget, consider just one high-end piece to wow buyers, such as a Sub-Zero fridge or a Viking six-burner gas range. Statement pieces like these will surely get your buyers’ attention and nudge them in the direction of putting in an offer.
3. Reclaimed Wood
Today’s savvy homebuyers love the idea of anything natural or recycled in the homes they buy, including reclaimed wood. Not only is it esthetically pleasing, it also supports a sustainable home. But rather than using it all over the space, reclaimed wood can be added to an accent wall or an island countertop to add an element of natural beauty.
Reclaimed wood looks especially sharp when complemented with small doses of metal, which helps to harmonize both a natural and industrial look into the kitchen. Adding warm features like this into the kitchen can help you infuse some interesting character to the space while still keeping it modern and updated.
4. Quartz Countertops
Granite saved the day years ago when it became affordable enough to replace all those outdated vinyl and laminate countertops. And while granite is still a highly coveted feature in homes, buyers are becoming increasingly impressed with something a little different but just as classy: quartz.
This material is manufactured using crushed quartz mixed with resin, and comes in a wide array of different colors and patterns to help homeowners create a truly unique look in their kitchens while perfectly matching the rest of the space’s decor. Quartz has the look of natural stone but has a few added benefits.
For starters, quartz is more flexible than granite, which makes it easier to work with when it’s being installed. It’s also non-porous, which means that it is resistant to stains and bacterial growth, unlike granite which is porous and susceptible to staining.
Buyers will certainly be impressed when they see this durable, gorgeous material as your kitchen countertop.
5. Smart Technology
More and more homes are being controlled remotely through digital technology these days, so the fact that buyers appreciate and look for “smart homes” to buy is no surprise. But smart technology is increasingly taking over kitchen functions, in particular.
From smart refrigerators that let you make notes of your grocery list and upcoming events, to touch-sensor sinks and faucets, and even ovens and stovetops that can be turned off remotely, smart technology can make a kitchen a cinch to operate. No more fretting about whether or not the stove was left on – simply turn it off with the touch of a button from a smartphone!
6. More Space
Buyers want space, especially when it comes to kitchens. Even if they don’t necessarily want oodles of square footage in the kitchen, they still want a space that is large and open enough to be able to move freely and comfortably about as they prep their meals and entertain guests. If your kitchen is a little tight on space, you may consider opening it up by knocking down a wall.
If that’s not possible, you might even be able to create the illusion of more space by incorporating open-concept shelving, installing glass cabinet doors, or hanging pots above your island or stovetop. While you may associate such exposure of dinnerware and cookware with a cluttered space, these tactics actually have a way of creating a more open and warm feel to a kitchen.
The Bottom Line
If you’re going to invest some time and money into updating your home to make a good impression on buyers, focus on the kitchen. Buyers will often base their buying decisions on the state of a home’s kitchen, which makes this space worthy of your attention. Consider any one of the above trends, or something that your real estate professional recommends that would attract the specific pool of buyers looking in your area.
