Adding Value: The Best Kitchen Upgrades That Pay for Themselves

Are you looking for ways to increase the value of your home for resale? Or maybe your home needs a few upgrades to get you into the 21st century.

Whether you’re interested in making your home look fabulous to live in or you want to increase its value to put it on the market, there are an array of projects that will increase your home’s value.

At the top of the list reigns kitchen renovations and remodeling. You can redo the entire kitchen for a complete kitchen makeover or make changes to a few elements in your kitchen.

Either way, here are the best kitchen upgrades that pay for themselves.

Up the Value of Your Home with The Best Kitchen Upgrades

These kitchen upgrades will increase the value of your home.

1. Knock Down a Kitchen Wall for An Open Concept Look

Many older homes were built with small kitchens. But in recent times, homeowners and home shoppers prefer kitchens with open spaces.

An open concept kitchen makes your kitchen look more spacious and also makes the kitchen better for entertaining.

The host can do the cooking while still conversing with their guests, making them feel welcomed and comfortable. An open floor plan can be created by knocking down a non-load bearing wall.

It’s important to hire someone or find someone knowledgeable to ensure the wall you want to tear down isn’t part of the supporting structure.

2. Install New Cabinets

Installing new cabinets can really change the look of your kitchen. For this reason, they are one of the largest returns on kitchen upgrades and kitchen remodels.

If you have the budget, you can have cabinets that are custom designed to your preferences and liking.

But custom cabinets can cost between $500 and up for each linear foot. If you’re looking for a less expensive option, consider shopping for wholesale cabinets that you can view here.

3. Replace the Countertops

Damaged countertops look unattractive. And dings and scratches on your cabinets make them harder to keep clean.

To add, they don’t look nice to prospective home buyers during an open house and can be a major turnoff when considering whether or not to buy your home.

Replacing old countertops will beautify your kitchen, make it look fresh and also appeal to homebuyers.

Manufacturers make a variety of countertop options from cheap to more expensive. What’s popular these days are countertops made from stone such as granite and quartz. These range from $50 to $200 a square foot.

But if this price is not within your budget, you can find tile countertops and others for around $10 a square foot or less.

4. Install a Kitchen Island

Most modern homes feature kitchen islands. Just look at the kitchens in the homes for sale on Zillow. An island with barstools also adds extra seating for families and friends and additional workspace in your kitchen.

This makes it one of the most valuable kitchen upgrades for functionality and entertaining.

When installing a new kitchen island, make sure it fits the space. Buying one too big can make your kitchen less functional and difficult to move around the kitchen.

Like cabinets and countertops, kitchen islands come in a variety of surfaces and price ranges. They typically range from $300 to several thousand dollars.

Kitchen Island Sinks

Buying a sink for your kitchen island is a smart kitchen upgrade. And it makes it more comfortable when you have two cooks in the kitchen working at once.

One person can chop up meats, fill water in pots for soup or pasta and mix sauces on the main kitchen sink. The other can rinse vegetables in the kitchen island sink to prepare a huge salad for a dinner party or for the family.

If you have a big kitchen and several people prepping and cooking meals, a sink in your kitchen island is a must. It enables people to prepare meals faster and cuts down on stress when preparing large meals for company.

5. Put Down New Floors

Scraped up floors or broken tile floors can be an eyesore. It’s a big detractor for a home shopper when you want to sell your home. Damaged floors around the kitchen sink can also enable water to damage your kitchen subflooring.

Even when you’re floor is not damaged, if it was laid down in the 1970s, it’s time for an upgrade whether you’re planning to sell or want a kitchen floor update.

When choosing your flooring, make sure it balances with the colors and style of the rest of the kitchen, or the living room if you have an open concept kitchen.

If you have light flooring in the living room, you might want the kitchen to match. On the other hand, if your kitchen cabinets and wall color are dark and there isn’t much natural light, try a lighter color floor to brighten things up.

The cost of new flooring can range from hundreds to thousands, depending on whether you’re purchasing laminate, vinyl, engineered wood, hardwood, tile or stone.

6. Regrout Counters, Floors and Backsplashes

Tiled floors and counters can begin to look dull after a time. Especially when the grout gets old and stained from dirt and food stains. When grout isn’t sealed and maintained correctly, it can even begin to crumble and disappear.

Regrouting costs around $20 for a square foot when you have it done professionally. But handy homeowners can save money by doing a DIY regrouting project that doesn’t take much time.

Here’s how to regrout counters, floors, and backsplashes.

• Remove old grout with a grout saw
• Mix new grout in a bucket according to manufacturer’s directions
• Spread the new grout with a grout float on the cracks between the tiles
• Let grout dry according to manufacturer’s directions before you walk on or use the surface

And that’s how easy it is to do a DIY regrouting project!

7. Update the Appliances

Replacing old appliances can both save you money and make your home more appealing to homebuyers.

Newer appliances are made to save energy which can cut energy and water bills. They’re also better for the planet which is more attractive to millennials.

To make your kitchen more appealing to homebuyers, consider energy saving appliances made from stainless steel. Make sure to compare prices. Don’t buy the first appliance you see.

8. Install New Lighting and Fixtures

Installing a variety of lighting options for a kitchen upgrade can serve a variety of functions and can make your kitchen more efficient and attractive to homebuyers.

Consider placing brighter lights in areas where your children do their homework and dimmers when you want to control the lighting fixture’s brightness.

Another kitchen upgrade is kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. Make them match the walls and sink fixtures to tie in a design theme.

They’re available in a variety of finishes and colors, include shiny chrome, matte finishes, wood, ceramic, gold, white, black, colors and much more.

The Best Kitchen Upgrades Revisited

Incorporate these kitchen upgrades for a stunning, beautiful kitchen. You’ll not only enjoy spending time in your new space, but you’ll also get a higher sales price when you’re ready to sell your home.

Looking for more renovation tips? Explore the content on our website for a beautiful, stylish home that adds more dollars and value when you’re ready to move.