Kitchen Ideas

Potential buyers commonly see the kitchen as the most important room in the house when viewing a property, and it can often secure or lose you a sale on its own.

A kitchen should match the style of the house - wood cabinets and an Aga for a traditional country home, modern units with chrome and stainless steel for a loft-style apartment. Having said that, there are also many neutral kitchen designs that would work equally well in either.

General Tips

However, unless the kitchen is really appalling and completely beyond redemption, it usually isn't worthwhile forking out for a new one to sell your house. A great deal can be done to smarten up a tired kitchen, including:

• First and foremost - make sure it's absolutely clean from top to bottom
• Pack away as much as you can. Buyers want to know there will be enough room for their things, and if they see your cupboards are crammed full of "stuff", they will not get the feeling of plentiful storage space
• Clear your countertops - pack away that breadmaker, sandwich toaster, and other non-essential items to create a spacious looking kitchen with acres of workspace

The essential rule when preparing your kitchen for sale? It must be clutter-free and absolutely spotless!

Smartening Up the Fittings and Decor

There are also a number of things you can do to improve the fittings and décor in your kitchen:

• Paint the walls white or a pale shade that compliments the units
• Stain or paint tired looking kitchen units
• Replace doors, drawer fronts and handles
• Replace chipped or cracked tiles
• Replace some cupboards with open racks and shelves, which will also give an impression of more space
• Cover a dark or old-fashioned tiled splash back with white tiles or try painting it white
• Fit new marble-effect or granite work surfaces
• Replace the hob or oven if it's beyond cleaning
• Install good quality, second-hand appliances - an Aga or Rayburn is a huge selling point in a country home
• Ensure the kitchen is brightly lit. If you have a kitchen/dining room, install dimmer lights to provide both bright light for cooking and softer lighting for dining
• Replace dark vinyl flooring or linoleum with light coloured vinyl or wood laminate
• Replace curtains with blinds