No homeowner goes into a major remodeling project without considering the project’s return on investment. This is true whether you’re upgrading the home to put it on the market or you plan to stay in the house for a while and just can’t live with its outdated look. Because at some point, you will sell your house, and every remodeling project presents an opportunity to increase its resale value.
Are you about to embark on this journey? You should know which home improvements will deliver the biggest increase in your home’s value — whether you anticipate moving in five months or five years.
Good Advice: Start with the Kitchen
It is often said the best home improvements you can make to increase the value of your home are in the kitchen and bathrooms. But we all know the kitchen is the undisputed heart of a home. In most families, every person lives in it every day — cooking, eating, entertaining, doing homework, and playing games, among the many other activities that take place in this revered space. And this creates memories. Just think of the kitchen you grew up in, and they all come flooding back.
The kitchen is also the workhorse of the home with its mission-critical appliances that most families simply can’t live without. An outdated kitchen can be an instant turnoff for potential homebuyers, who rarely want to go through a major remodel after moving in. An upgraded, modern kitchen, on the other hand, will often seal the deal. And you will recoup a large chunk of your investment when you sell.
Selling soon? A kitchen remodel makes sense. Staying for a while before you sell? You’ll eventually get the ROI — and you get to enjoy the benefits of a modern kitchen until then.
What are the best home improvements to increase value in the kitchen?
There are so many obvious upgrades you can make: Installing new countertops and backsplashes can brighten the workspaces. Replacing or refinishing cabinets and flooring will freshen the entire room, as will repainting and updating fixtures. These are all valuable components in a kitchen remodel — but the stars of every kitchen are the major appliances, and many experts recommend making their upgrades the top priority for several reasons.
First, today’s kitchen appliances come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and finishes, and this will influence design. Some designers won’t even begin developing design concepts until their clients have selected the major appliances. Families also rely on these appliances daily. And pop culture, with its abundance of celebrity chefs and cooking shows, has introduced us to professional grade appliances, like the convection ovens, six-burner gas ranges, and large, built-in refrigerator/freezers restaurant chefs use. People want them in their homes!
Here’s where to start:
- The major appliances: These workhorses are the cornerstones of any kitchen design. Replacing outdated refrigerators, ovens, cooktops, and dishwashers with modern appliances that have next-gen functionality, innovative features, and high performance (even if you remodel nothing else in the space!) will impress potential buyers and increase the value of your home.
Consider, also, incorporating unexpected appliances that have the potential to impress those buyers who already understand their value, for example:
- An induction cooktop: It may look like a commonplace electric cooktop, but it’s very different. An induction cooktop uses a magnetic field to induce currents in the pan to create heat. Pans get up to heat about 40% faster than they do with electricity. The cook has precise control, which creates predictable results. And induction cooking is much more energy efficient than cooking with electricity. Learn more.
- A warming drawer: These small, built-in appliances deliver mighty results. They keep food at the perfect serving temperature for hours without affecting its quality. For families with busy schedules who can’t always eat together, this can be a game-changer. They can also be used to warm dishes, napkins, and bath towels! Learn more.
- Refrigerator and freezer drawers: What used to be available only as an integrated part of a major appliance can now be installed in drawer form in a lower cabinet or island. You can place refrigerator and freezer drawers in virtually any room of the home and outside, giving you the ability to store food and drinks where they’re used most and freeing up space in your main refrigerator. Learn more.
Importantly, when you’re investing in kitchen appliances, don’t underestimate the power of trusted companies, like Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, which have a reputation for designing appliances with superior performance and quality, while providing the best customer service and warranties available. And when you’re ready to shop for these high-end appliances, here’s a checklist to help you make the most of your showroom visit.
About Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Appliances
At Clarke, we see the joy people experience when they lay their eyes and hands on the beautiful, functional Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances in our showrooms. You, too, can experience them in person (and even test drive them!) with the help of our knowledgeable showroom consultants and resident chefs. Whether you’re pondering replacing a few appliances or preparing to do a complete kitchen overhaul, we hope you’ll fill out an appointment request online to set up a showroom visit. We’re here to help.