Kitchen renovations: How to make your kitchen stand out to buyers

The kitchen has always been the focal point of the home. It's where a family comes together to eat, socialise and celebrate. Because we spend so much time here, it's also one of the most customised and tailored rooms in the house.

However, just because you've painstakingly created the perfect kitchen, doesn't mean that future buyers will see it with your eyes. During open homes, no matter what potential buyers come through, we want each of them to see the kitchen for what it is, the heart of the home.

In this article, we'll be looking at ways to make sure your kitchen is the selling point of your home.

1. Clean and clean again

Let's be clear, the kitchen is held up to a higher level of scrutiny than the rest of the house. It's where people and food mingle, so any evidence of dirt or bad odours will put you on the back foot. 

When we are familiar with something, we can often overlook certain areas or be unaware of persistent smells that comes with living in a place for a long time. In order to have the confidence that your kitchen is as clean and as tidy as can be, it might be a good idea to get the expert help of a professional to give your kitchen the cleaning of its life before hosting any open homes. Buyers will notice taps that sparkle and tiles that gleam, even if they don't consciously acknowledge it, building up a more positive impression of the room.

2. Reduce the clutter

Kitchens are full of 'stuff.' While we're not here to argue the necessity of the contents of the kitchen, during the selling process, clutter wins over function. Too much excess makes a room feel smaller and turns off potential buyers, says professional home stager Nerissa Kirby.

"I recommend to people that they rent storage space while they are trying to sell to put all their extra clutter into," she said, speaking to Fairfax Media.

"Less is best. Take everything off your benches. If you have a lot of things, it makes the space look small even if it's big."

By stacking everything away (neatly – buyers will be looking in drawers), and storing away what's not needed, you can give your kitchen a fresh 'minimal' look. 

3. Theme your kitchen accordingly

Understanding the types of buyers interested in your property is crucial when getting a good deal. 

As a hip and trendy community, Brunswick is sure to attract buyers cut from a similar cloth. With the abundance of stylish bars and cafes residents are accustomed to, you would be well off trying to imitate that sentiment in your own home – starting with the kitchen.

If you believe your house best suits a young couple, consider arranging your kitchen in a way that will appeal to them, as if they were in their local cafe. A home for families? Make sure there's enough seating for everybody to sit at at the counter.

4. Take advantage of colour

Colour is a great influencer on buyer perception. We place visual appearance well above other sensory factors, with it making up 93 per cent of our decision to buy property, according to Kissmetrics.

If you're considering a kitchen makeover when putting your house on the market, it pays to be aware of what people associate with different colours. Colours like blue, purple and green can incite calmness, security and relaxation, whereas colours like red, yellow and orange have much more energy tied to them. 

To find out more about staging your home for auction, get in touch with the team at Ray White Brunswick today.