If you’ve spent longer than a day around the property market, you will understand why the saying ‘kitchens sell homes’ has stood the test of time. When undertaking renovation work, it is important that the changes made, add both to the aesthetics and functionality of the space. However, if you are looking to sell in the future, it is essential to keep one more factor in mind - any renovation investment made, coupled with the renovation or remodelling work that you carry out, should be planned from a resale point of view. That is, every change that is made should be more appealing to buyers as well as offer a positive return on your investment.

Any experienced real estate agent will advise that kitchen and bathroom renovation upgrades add significant value to a property. Modern day kitchens are multi-use spaces that serve as cooking and casual dining zones and just in case you didn’t catch it – they sell homes. 

Your kitchen is much more than a place to cook. It can be a place to socialise and gather with friends or family, somewhere you grab a quick bite, or even a quiet space to work. Designing your kitchen renovation as a multifunctional space will provide incremental value to your home.

Research suggests that a newly renovated kitchen can add between 4% and 7% value to a home. Aesthetically, a kitchen design that is in keeping with the style of the existing home can further add to buyers positive impressions of a property. Research indicates that a well renovated kitchen can influence potential buyers more than any other room in a home, to the extent that they may even overlook certain flaws or shortcomings elsewhere in the property. 

In this month’s B&C Journal we explore what areas you should focus on when renovating to sell. We hope this article provides you with ideas on how to maximise the return on your kitchen renovation investment. 

Robert Fonti, Director

Balnei & Colina

Kitchen renovation by Balnei & Colina

Things To Focus On for A Resale Kitchen Renovation Project 

An expert kitchen designer will know exactly how to create an impactful and profitable kitchen design, while maintaining the movement flow, functionality and aesthetic appeal of the space. Here, we’ll examine what buyers look for in a kitchen and what factors have greater influence on their purchase decisions.

Image credit: Gossage

1. Flooring 

The kitchen floor sees a lot more traffic in the average home. Buyers will be looking for flooring that blends well with the rest of your home, but it should also be durable. Consider using stone flooring, or good quality, large format tiles (will create the illusion of space), with slightly textured surfaces. This will provide a durable, non-slip floor that will look great for years to come, as well as be easy to maintain. 

 

Kitchen renovation by Balnei & Colina

2. Opt For Custom Joinery 

Coupled with a high quality, countertop material, such as reconstituted stone which is durable and stain resistant, it is equally important to make sure that the joinery finish is superior to other homes on the market in every way. Buyers are looking for kitchens that make sense for them and their family. Custom cabinetry that perfectly fits your space will add four times the value of a flat pack counterpart. Smart storage solutions that only a custom kitchen can provide, can make a kitchen particularly appealing to prospective home buyers.

If you are renovating to sell, it is important that your custom joinery is planned to suit your potential buyers needs and lifestyle, while adding value to your kitchen. A Balnei & Colina kitchen design consultant can assist in incorporating all these aspects into your custom kitchen design to ensure you gain a higher return on your renovation investment. 

 

Image credit: Jennifer Baum Lagdameo

3. Lighting 

Regardless of how exclusive or luxurious the rest of the features in your kitchen are, you need the right kind of lighting. Task lighting and mood lighting form an essential part of any good kitchen design.

As mentioned, kitchens are the most used room in a home and tend to get heavy traffic, so it makes sense to invest in good lighting features that maximise the appeal of the room and offer practical functionality as well.

Task lighting should always be installed in key kitchen work areas, which can be balanced out with track lighting, under-counter lights and recessed lights. This will create the right ambiance without compromising on practicality. 

 

Image credit: Hannah Blackmore Photography

4. Movement Flow 

Depending on the layout of your kitchen and the available space, it is crucial to plan the kitchen counter layout well. For example, if you have a larger kitchen, you should consider including a kitchen island. This is an easy way to create clear kitchen zones between the food preparation, dining and cooking areas. 

Kitchen size and client preference are key determinants of how the flow of movement is planned in a kitchen renovation. Movement flow is one of the main factors that directly impact how easy it is to work in a kitchen and it is something Balnei & Colina kitchen designers always factor in when creating a custom kitchen design.

 

Image credit: Woodale Designs.com

5. Quality fixtures & fittings

With information readily available via the internet, ecommerce sites and social media, buyers are becoming more savvy and we now find they invest much more time in research. It’s very easy to find our how much appliances would have cost, or the grade of stone used for a benchtop. So it’s also important to have good quality, durable and attractive kitchen fixtures and fittings. 

An expert kitchen carpenter and installer will also greatly influence the final finish and look of your kitchen renovation. We cannot stress enough how vital it is, if you’ve invested in purchasing a new kitchen that you ensure budget is allocated to complete the job professionally. You can invest in the most expensive cabinetry and benchtop, but if not fitted and constructed correctly, the end result can look cheap and worse still, detract from the overall value of the kitchen renovation. 

The focus should always be on creating a quality, comfortable, welcoming and practical space that looks great and is easy to maintain. 

Still unsure how to create a kitchen renovation that’s going to provide the greatest return on investment? Leave it to the experts at Balnei & Colina.

For any more information on our custom kitchen renovation solutions feel free to contact Balnei & Colina at 1300 450 320. You can also send us your project details via this Contact Us form. 

Visit us at balneiandcolina.com.au or connect with us via Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date with the latest kitchen renovation and design trends.

Image credit: Clarendon

Image credit: David Lauer Photography